Best actors/actresses

Chain · 11-Aug-05, 01:02 PM

My buddy and I were driving to LA to pick up one of our friends from the airport and we got into a discussion about this and I'm curious what others think. The question is, who do you think is a great actor or actress? I'm not necessarily talking about who is the biggest movie star. But who is great at the actual art of acting. Most really big actors aren't really that different from role to role. Like, as much as I love Sean Connery, he's basically Sean Connery in almost every movie he's in. Not quite as much as John Wayne was, but still. Then there are those actors like Gary Oldman who are so different from role to role. You know some of the best actors we probably don't even know about because they blend so well and aren't the same character in a different role. So what do you think?

**threenorns** · 11-Aug-05, 01:05 PM

omg, gary oldman rocks!

oddly enough, jim carey.

morgan freeman.

denzel washington

robin williams

kate blanchette

christopher lee

DEFINITELY the depp-meister

ian mccallum (sp?) - gandalf/magneto

rosie o'donnell

damn.... that woman in "misery" - can't remember her name, never can..... kathy bates! she's *good*.

Chain · 11-Aug-05, 01:15 PM

Actually, I agree about Jim Carrey. The guy has become a damn good actor imo.

I'm a fan of both Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington, but don't you think they're kind of the same in all their roles?

**threenorns** · 11-Aug-05, 01:19 PM

... i never found that - their style's a lot more subtle than the over-the-top form most common.

oh - patrick stewart! he ROCKS!

Chain · 11-Aug-05, 01:27 PM

That's something I see. I like both Freeman and Washington, but the way I look at it, they are among those actors who are good actors, but they're not very versatile in changing who they are. They are better at making the character mold around them then molding around the character. Like, how is Freeman different between the Shawshank Redemption and Million Dollar Baby? It's basically the same guy. Same with Washington's roles. If we contrast that Oldman from Dracula to Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead to the 5th Element, he's totally different in each role. He just seems a lot more versatile.

Yeah, Patrick Stewart is a good actor too. He was good even back in Excalibur.

mrzool · 11-Aug-05, 01:36 PM

best actor woulg be sylvester stalone , van damme and will smith
best actress would be anglina jolie

**threenorns** · 11-Aug-05, 02:13 PM

my absolute favourite patrick stewart bit is in ST:TNG when he does a shakespearian turn to convince the ferengi to let lwaxana troi go, lol.

**Shen** · 11-Aug-05, 02:16 PM

Johnny Depp. Easily my favorite

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**maverick** · 11-Aug-05, 02:56 PM

Johnny Dep does some pretty awesome acting. You know he actually lived in Hunter Thompson's basement for weeks before shooting "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" to learn all of his mannerisms.

What the hell is wrong with you people! I saw no mention of Ed Norton here anywhere! If anyone saw "The Score" with him and DeNiro, you need look no further. His acting as a handicapped man was unbelievably on the mark. Throw on top of that movies like "Primal Fear", "American History X", or my personal favorite, "Fight Club", and I honestly think he's the best actor Ive ever seen.

Giovanni Ribisi
Monica Belluci
Gene Hackman (OK, he's not that versatile, but he was awesome in the Royal Tenebaums)
Tony Leung (most I'm thinking of are foreign movies, but you guys mighta saw him in "Hero")

Chain · 11-Aug-05, 03:41 PM

Joihnny Depp is a great actor. Exactly what I'm talking about. He went from Edward Scissorhands to Blow to PIrates of the Carribean and all the characters are vastly different.

Maverick, I agree Ed Norton is a great actor too. He (along with Depp and Oldman) is one of the ones I mentioned the other day. But I wanted to see what other people thought. I agree though. Great actor.

Another good one I just thought of who doesn't get much mention is John Lithgow.

**Shen** · 11-Aug-05, 04:57 PM

Bruce Campbell is great..also my favorite non movie actor would have to be richard dean anderson(macgayver, stargate sg1.)

Oldie actor would have to be gregory peck or errol(sp) flynn(robin hood, charge of the light brigade.)

**threenorns** · 11-Aug-05, 07:58 PM

alec guiness
lawrence olivier
peter sellers
michael keaton

Azanmi · 12-Aug-05, 12:15 PM

Hmm nobody mentioned Sean Penn! Excellent in Mystic river and I am Sam

Also versitile is Tim Robbins. He was the most memorable character in War of the Worlds, not to mention Shawshank, and Mystic River.
Kevin Spacey? Ususal Suspects?
Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man, Tootsie
I agree on Ed Norton and Giovanni Ribisi... definately talented! I loved Ed Norton on the Italian Job.
Dakota Fanning... Long career ahead of this girl!
Christian Bale, Method actor that really embraces the role.
Fav one dimensional actors:
John Cousak, Bruce Willis, hmmm so many to choose from! Steve Zahn, Matther McConoghy

Good but Overrated:
Merryl Streep!

luke.w · 12-Aug-05, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azanmi

Hmm nobody mentioned Sean Penn! Excellent in Mystic river and I am Sam

"I am Sam" for sure, Mystic River was good acting, but he seemed the same like most of his fims.
I'm surprised you didn't mention him in "CARLIO'S WAY" hell, I didn't even think that was Sean Penn.

What about Billy Bob Thorten in "Sling Blade"

Tom Hanks had some good ones

John Ritter

Ed O'Neil

the majority of actors have them few roles where they play a totally differant person, one of the greatest films that did that was-
"One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest"
I'd be surprised if anyone one this forum even saw that one, I'm not familiar with the more recent movies though.

**threenorns** · 12-Aug-05, 12:52 PM

"one flew" was a totally freaky movie that put me in a bad mood for a week, lol.

jack nicholson - now THERE is an actor's actor! he's bloody brilliant!

you ever see "as good as it gets" or "the witches of eastwick"?