I think Forrest Whittaker and Larry Fishburne should get some mention Esp Forrest - From Ghost Dog . . . to The Great Debates . .. to Rage in Harlem He is always solid! While I know these deal with THE BEST . . . . I think alot of folx are those character actors that fly below the radar but are pretty solid . . Those guys you see in like a million movies but don't know their names They are GOOD but just not NAMES Rocket River
Tom Hanks is kind of like Jimmy Stewart - he has an immensely likeable persona that makes him a good leading man but lacks the ability to disappear into roles. Same goes for Denzel Washington, although I would say he's more charismatic than likeable. Both of them are in the top tier when it comes to the ability to carry a film, however, and there really are few actors with their drawing power. Most of the best actors are rarely leading men - Phillip Seymour Hoffman is an amazing chameleon who can do any type of role. You won't see him in too many starring roles, however. Same goes for Chris Cooper and (as mentioned before) Paul Giamatti. I also think John Hawkes has the potential to be one of the great character actors - he was great in both Winter's Bone and Me and You and Everyone We Know. A couple of leading men choices that have been overlooked: Robert Duvall - this guy not only completely inhabits any role he takes, he also makes everyone around him better Joseph Gordon Levitt - may end up being more of a supporting actor in the long run, but he's been superb in just about everything I've seen him in.
Daniel Day-Lewis Leonardo DiCaprio George Clooney Will Smith Jeff Bridges Brad Pitt Robert DeNiro Al Pacino Ed Norton Johnny Depp Tom Cruise Robert Downey, Jr. These are in no particular order, but I find myself enjoying most movies these guys are in due to their acting.
I disagree. Hanks easily disappears into the "everyman" roles. Gump and Castaway are prime examples. Maybe not to a Day-Lewis level, but Hanks rarely picks roles that show depth of character Day-Lewis's picks. Denzel falls into the Brad Pitt category for me. Solid actor, good range, but every movie I never forget its Denzel.
William H Macy J.K. Simmons Hugo Weaver G.W. Bailey [local flavor] Bailey was born in Port Arthur, Texas. Bill Nunn Question: Sam L Jackson? he has done some roles that showed the ability but he seems to take alot of roles that are spoofs and easy checks. Rocket River
Daniel Day-Lewis Leonardo DiCaprio Robert DeNiro Ed Norton Johnny Depp Christian Bale btw, Sudeikis killed it on the MTV movie awards last night...
Norton, Day-Lewis, Malkovitch, Bale, Phillip Seymour Hoffman,, Duvall. DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Pachino, and Hopkins are sort of Best Actors Emeritus, I don't know how many great roles they have left. Johnny Depp has lost favor with me of late for making the same movie 11 times with Tim Burton and Helena Bonham-Carter.
Leonardo DiCaprio should get most improved award. The guy has straight killed it for last few years. He was absolutely incredible in Blood Diamond. From a pure blockbuster performance perspective: 1) Russell Crowe 2) Al Pacino 3) Denzel Washington 4) Tom Cruise 5) Tom Hanks 6) Leonardo DiCaprio 7) Robert DeNiro 8) Johnny Depp 9) Matt Damon 10) From a pure acting perspective: 1) Paul Giamatti 2) Ed Norton 3) Daniel Day-Lewis 4) Sean Penn 5) Russell Crowe 6) Robert Dinero 7) Al Pacino 8) Robert Downey Jr. 9) Forrest Whittaker 10) Leonardo DiCaprio 11) Christopher Walken 12) Christian Bale
Why is Robert Downey Jr getting so much love? Granted I haven't seen his one academy award nominated film but I've never been blown away by any of his performances. Can someone refer me to some of his stronger works?
Say what? Norton is amazing. I can't think of an actor in Hollywood with more range than Norton. He goes from playing a convincing Neo-Nazi in American History X, to a convincingly happy-go-lucky priest in Keeping the Faith, an excellently befuddled Barney knock-off in Death to Smoochie, and a magician with presence in the Illusionist. You can never say he's typecast because it seems he can play almost any role convincingly.
