Best actor of all time thread.

[browarod]

Fair enough. I don't remember what the rating on HoC is but I maintain my general nomination of Kevin Spacey as at least in my top 5.

I'll have to keep thinking (and make sure I don't mention titles, haha) about the other 4.

[YourMathTeacher]

I see that this thread is shorter, so I assume it was split off into OD. Since I cannot see the OD, someone else will have to verify that.

Since we started to be Divergent with this topic, I will go ahead and expound on my choices:

1. Denzel Washington is simply amazing to watch as an actor. He was great in one of my all-time favorite movies, Remember the Titans . His best performance IMO, though, was in a Civil War movie. 

2. Daniel Day-Lewis deserves all the credit he gets. His portrayal as Lincoln was memorable to say the least.

3. Harrison Ford was going to be my #1, mostly because he was distinctly Han Solo and yet distinctly Indiana Jones. But my favorite performance by him was in Regarding Henry.

4. Morgan Freeman is fun to watch, simply because he chooses interesting roles, often times as a supporting actor. He had a great role in another of my all-time favorite movies Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (of course, that is probably because it was my first date with my subsequent wife; Note that Kevin Costner would be near the bottom of my "Favorite Actor" list). His lesser roles in the Dark Knight and that aforementioned Civil War movie were memorable, but his best performance IMO was in Lean on Me.

5. In spite of the objections of others, I think Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man was brilliant, and exactly what I always envisioned Peter Parker to be like. Realize that I grew up a huge fan of the comics in the 70's and 80's. Having Parker Stevensen butcher the role in the live version back in those days made me appreciate Maguire's character all the more. I understand the generational gap to some extent, though, since my son enjoys the new Amazing Spider-Man actor more than Maguire. To each his own. 

[TheMarti]

They started a discussion thread about best acting performances over there, but that's not long either. I just think everyone's being quiet at the moment. Thread lost momentum and such.

[Prof Underwood]

I'm going to go with favorite actors because I'm not trained as an actor or film critic, so I really am not qualified to say who is actually the most talented according to whatever definitions those people would use.  So my favorite actors are the ones who are in the most movies that I really enjoy.  To make my top 5, they had to be in at least 3 movies that I either own or would like to own.

1 - Jimmy Stewart - "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", "The Philadelphia Story", "It's a Wonderful Life", "Harvey", "The Glenn Miller Story", and "Rear Window".

2 - Harrison Ford - Favorite roles would include "Han Solo", "Indiana Jones", "Jack Ryan", "The Fugitive", the President in "Air Force One", and the owner in "42".

3 - Will Smith - "Independence Day", "Men in Black", "I, Robot", and "I am Legend".

4 - Carey Grant - "The Philadelphia Story", "Arsenic and Old Lace", "North by Northwest", and "Charade"

5 - Patrick Stewart - "Star Trek: Next Generation", "X-Men", and "A Christmas Carol".

Almost made it:
Tom Hanks - "Forrest Gump", "Apollo 13", "That Thing You Do", and "Cast Away"
Robert Redford - "Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid", "The Sting", and "Sneakers"
Denzel Washington - "Remember the Titans", "John Q"
Gregory Peck - "To Kill a Mockingbird", "The Scarlet and the Black"
Jim Carrey - "The Truman Show", "The Majestic"
Johnny Depp - "Benny and Joon", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", etc. (is there anyone he can't play?)

[Warrior_Monk]

I had almost forgotten about Tom Hanks.  Absurdly great actor.

[YourMathTeacher]

I had almost forgotten about Tom Hanks.  Absurdly great actor.

I agree. It's funny how we overlook certain names that we would otherwise say "Of course they were great!"

I had forgotten to mention Hugh Jackman. I love his rendition of Wolverine, but my favorite performance by him was in Kate & Leopold.

[Alex_Olijar]

Christian Bale in anything.

[browarod]

I had forgotten to mention Hugh Jackman. I love his rendition of Wolverine, but my favorite performance by him was in Kate & Leopold.

Christian Bale in anything.

To combine these thoughts, my favorite performance of both actors was in The Prestige which, I totally forgot until today, also had Ms. Scarlett Johansson in it.

[TheKarazyvicePresidentRR]

The lack of Tim Curry in this thread makes me sad.

[browarod]

The lack of Tim Curry in this thread makes me sad.

I am so disappointed with myself that I contributed to the lack of Tim Curry here. My favorite film of his cannot be mentioned here, but everything he touches turns out amazing, like Clue.

[Red Dragon Thorn]

I had forgotten to mention Hugh Jackman. I love his rendition of Wolverine, but my favorite performance by him was in Kate & Leopold.

Christian Bale in anything.

To combine these thoughts, my favorite performance of both actors was in The Prestige which, I totally forgot until today, also had Ms. Scarlett Johansson in it.

You know who else was in that movie who is super good?  Michael Caine

[Warrior_Monk]

Christopher Nolan always gets great actors. I know this isn't about directors, but he's worth mentioning.

[AJ]

Christopher Nolan always gets great actors. I know this isn't about directors, but he's worth mentioning.

If we're going to mention directors, then Peter Jackson definitely deserves an honorable mention.

[Warrior_Monk]

Christopher Nolan always gets great actors. I know this isn't about directors, but he's worth mentioning.

I like Tolkien

[AJ]

Christopher Nolan always gets great actors. I know this isn't about directors, but he's worth mentioning.

I like Tolkien

I do like Tolkien his works are a masterpiece but now were going off topic.

[Warrior_Monk]

Not when Lord of the Rings is the only good film that Jackson has directed.

[Chris]

The acting in Lord of the Rings is, of course, one of it's many strong points, especially when most of the actors were relative nobodies at the time that Lord of the Rings released. Most of the actors had some titles under their belts, but really Ian McKellen was the only renowned part of that cast prior to the films releasing.  I always admire actors who go the extra distance, and Viggo Mortensen used to sleep outside and backpack in the wilderness by himself for days to give himself a genuine "rugged" look. When he kicks the helmet after finding the burn pile towards the beginning of Two Towers, his scream and falling to his knees isn't acting; he actually broke his foot (or came close, I forget which).

[Warrior_Monk]

The acting in Lord of the Rings is, of course, one of it's many strong points, especially when most of the actors were relative nobodies at the time that Lord of the Rings released. Most of the actors had some titles under their belts, but really Ian McKellen was the only renowned part of that cast prior to the films releasing.  I always admire actors who go the extra distance, and Viggo Mortensen used to sleep outside and backpack in the wilderness by himself for days to give himself a genuine "rugged" look. When he kicks the helmet after finding the burn pile towards the beginning of Two Towers, his scream and falling to his knees isn't acting; he actually broke his foot (or came close, I forget which).

I believe it was his big toe. Also incredible in Hidalgo.

[AJ]

Hidalgo is an awesome movie that my family loves and has watched over and over.

[Danny Mercury]

Not when Lord of the Rings is the only good film that Jackson has directed.

I object, King Kong was an absolute masterpiece.

[AJ]

What that stupid monster movie   Just kidding its actually a pretty good movie.

[TheKarazyvicePresidentRR]

The lack of Tim Curry in this thread makes me sad.

I am so disappointed with myself that I contributed to the lack of Tim Curry here. My favorite film of his cannot be mentioned here, but everything he touches turns out amazing, like Clue.
or Muppet treasure island which combines 3 of my favorite things, muppets, good literature, and tim curry.