But you have contributed. Not a lot, admittedly, but its still a contribution.
For me - and this one is heavily divisive anyway - I'd say Nicholas Cage. I expect there will be quite a few who'd say he's not highly regarded anyway, but there are a lot of people who say "oh, he just picks bad projects but he's a really good actor when in the right film." Sorry, don't see it. He's like a block of wood in everything.
I've never seen a block of wood overact as badly as Nicolas Cage.
Pacino was good before became shouty man and De Niro was also good before he did tons of comedies.
I still rate them as two of the best though and enjoy watching their movies.
I agree, especially about Pacino. He's stuck in 'Scent of a Woman' mode. I also agree about Anthony Hopkins. His best performance IMO was in Remains of the Day. For me, Brian Cox did Lector better.
I can't agree regarding Danel Day Lewis - from the time I saw him in My Beautiful Launderette I was blown away, and he continues to impress me even now when I don't always like the films he's in.
I agree with whoever said about Jack Nicholson vs. Gene Hackman. GH is a wonderful actor, Nicholson has had some really good roles, but I don't think he's the greatest actor in the world.
I'm guessing most people don't think he's that highly regarded as an actor. Now if it were a thread about people who think they're great, but everyone else thinks are raving nutbags....
I agree, especially about Pacino. He's stuck in 'Scent of a Woman' mode. I also agree about Anthony Hopkins. His best performance IMO was in Remains of the Day. For me, Brian Cox did Lector better.
Pacino's diner scene in Heat with De Niro is understated elegance. But generally, too shouty.
I just don't get it. I'd like to think I have good taste. I love the old actors. James Stewart, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, James Mason, Spencer Tracy, etc, etc, but I think Al and Robert suck.
Never been impressed with any of their performances.
i struggle to see how you can knock Pacino and De Niro. Hard to think of many (any) better living male actors.
couple of slightly lesser known films
pacino was top-notch in Any Given Sunday, and Devil's Advocate. I bet he wanted to be in Tropic Thunder!
de niro
great in A Bronx Tale - (his first as a director)
Especially when you read through some of the nominations.
Most of Cruise's work is awful, with a few exceptions.
This thread just seems to be an excuse to bad mouth some of the best actors around.
There is no excuse for mentioning Daniel Day Lewis, especially the reference to impersonating John Huston, what do you think acting actually is?
Presumably the person mentioning Robert De Niro hasn't seen Taxi Driver, The Godfather 2, The Deerhunter, Mean Streets, Goodfellas, Casino?
I agree with those saying Daniel Day Lewis, Nicholas Cage, Jack Nicholson. I don't dislike them but I don't think of them as great actors. Maybe I just haven't seen their best work, I don't know.
It pains me to nominate this one: John Mills. He was lovely and all, but there wasn't much variety to his performances. When I think of him, I think of his usual three screen performances: a) anxious, eager and naive, b) reserved and taciturn, and c) righteous, stiff-lipped and splenetic. Once in a while, he would combine all as one to spice it up, but that's about it. Granted, he pulled off a memorable performance now and then, but it happened once every ten years, it seems.
I take the point about quantity but Ryan's Daughter proved his greatness in terms of variety.
If you are talking about lack of variety surely Cary Grant, Gregory Peck or John Wayne should be considerd?
Jack Nicholson - THERE! I SAID IT! I still don't understand how could he get more accolades than Gene Hackman. Perhaps it's more fair to see Nicholson as a film star and Hackman as an actor?
Apologies in advance to those who disagree with those nominations.
I agree also! I have seen him in quite a few things, but even though they are different roles, it makes me think he's most probably protraying part of himself, as it always seems very much him! Like he could play the same characters in Witches of Eastwick, the Shinning, 1 flew over the cuckoos nest, as good as it gets, all good men and even Mars attack and still be the same character and no one would really notice!!! It makes sense in my head anyway!!!
I can't agree regarding Danel Day Lewis - from the time I saw him in My Beautiful Launderette I was blown away, and he continues to impress me even now when I don't always like the films he's in.
I agree with whoever said about Jack Nicholson vs. Gene Hackman. GH is a wonderful actor, Nicholson has had some really good roles, but I don't think he's the greatest actor in the world.
The first time I saw DDL was in MBL too and actually although I loved that film, his accent did grate on me. You could tell he wasn't really a south east London boy. After I watched the film about 1000 times, I got used to it!. Though I did think he played the part really well, even if his accent got me!!!!
Re Tom Cruise - I never could stand him and thought he was a pretty naff actor. But I do think there are some films he has been really good in, so I kind of have a like/dislike thing going on with him.
Sean Connery to me was always a one dimension actor, but have to admit haven't seen him in lots of things.
Larry Olivier in Boys From Brazil...his "are you a nutsy?" line is a classic of unintended humour.
Anthony Hopkins.
Maggie Smith. For me, she's always just Maggie Smith.
Especially when you read through some of the nominations.
Most of Cruise's work is awful, with a few exceptions.
This thread just seems to be an excuse to bad mouth some of the best actors around.
Does anyone actually consider Cruise to be a great actor, though? He's a famous actor who (at least once) could sell a movie on his name alone. But you can say the same for Arnie - and no-one would call him a great actor!
Same goes for "over-rated," too. Calling someone over-rated doesn't have to mean they're a bad actor or even that you dislike them. Just that you don't think they're as good as is generally accepted.
Especially when you read through some of the nominations.
Most of Cruise's work is awful, with a few exceptions.
This thread just seems to be an excuse to bad mouth some of the best actors around.
There is no excuse for mentioning Daniel Day Lewis, especially the reference to impersonating John Huston, what do you think acting actually is?
Presumably the person mentioning Robert De Niro hasn't seen Taxi Driver, The Godfather 2, The Deerhunter, Mean Streets, Goodfellas, Casino?
Perhaps that peron is young, and has ony seen DeNiro in those god-awful Focker films ?
I take the point about quantity but Ryan's Daughter proved his greatness in terms of variety.
If you are talking about lack of variety surely Cary Grant, Gregory Peck or John Wayne should be considered?
They were film stars, weren't they? Like the way Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp are. They all did provide memorable performances, but not as the norm. With Harrison Ford, for instance. When you see Han Solo, you see Harrison Ford. When you see Decker, you see Harrison Ford. When you see Indiana Jones, you see Harrison Ford. He doesn't need to go outside of his box to become his character because he has the face and the name to carry it off.
That would be applied to John Mills, true, but he isn't usually seen as a film star. Most see him as a character actor. Al Pacino has evolved from being a character actor to a film star, but as far as I know, this never happened to Mills. Hence, my nomination.
I just don't get it. I'd like to think I have good taste... but I think Al and Robert suck.
Never been impressed with any of their performances.
Trust me you don't, seeing as you also posted in another forum that The Godfather was rubbish. I can understand someone not rating any one of De Niro, Pacino or the Godfather but to dislike ALL 3 proves your taste is pretty dodgy...
Larry Olivier in Boys From Brazil...his "are you a nutsy?" line is a classic of unintended humour.
Anthony Hopkins.
Maggie Smith. For me, she's always just Maggie Smith.
I feel exactly the same re D. Judi Dench. So Incredibly up her own bottom with every I'm better than everyone else performance.
Comments
I've never seen a block of wood overact as badly as Nicolas Cage.
I agree, especially about Pacino. He's stuck in 'Scent of a Woman' mode. I also agree about Anthony Hopkins. His best performance IMO was in Remains of the Day. For me, Brian Cox did Lector better.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Ralph Fiennes
Johnny Depp
Russell Crowe
I agree with whoever said about Jack Nicholson vs. Gene Hackman. GH is a wonderful actor, Nicholson has had some really good roles, but I don't think he's the greatest actor in the world.
True, I was a bit harsh on the poor blocks of wood out there.
I'm guessing most people don't think he's that highly regarded as an actor. Now if it were a thread about people who think they're great, but everyone else thinks are raving nutbags....
Pacino's diner scene in Heat with De Niro is understated elegance. But generally, too shouty.
i struggle to see how you can knock Pacino and De Niro. Hard to think of many (any) better living male actors.
couple of slightly lesser known films
pacino was top-notch in Any Given Sunday, and Devil's Advocate. I bet he wanted to be in Tropic Thunder!
de niro
great in A Bronx Tale - (his first as a director)
come on
Olivier
Brando
Pacino
De Niro
who DO you rate, if these don't do it for you?
Especially when you read through some of the nominations.
Most of Cruise's work is awful, with a few exceptions.
This thread just seems to be an excuse to bad mouth some of the best actors around.
There is no excuse for mentioning Daniel Day Lewis, especially the reference to impersonating John Huston, what do you think acting actually is?
Presumably the person mentioning Robert De Niro hasn't seen Taxi Driver, The Godfather 2, The Deerhunter, Mean Streets, Goodfellas, Casino?
I take the point about quantity but Ryan's Daughter proved his greatness in terms of variety.
If you are talking about lack of variety surely Cary Grant, Gregory Peck or John Wayne should be considerd?
I agree also! I have seen him in quite a few things, but even though they are different roles, it makes me think he's most probably protraying part of himself, as it always seems very much him! Like he could play the same characters in Witches of Eastwick, the Shinning, 1 flew over the cuckoos nest, as good as it gets, all good men and even Mars attack and still be the same character and no one would really notice!!! It makes sense in my head anyway!!!
The first time I saw DDL was in MBL too and actually although I loved that film, his accent did grate on me. You could tell he wasn't really a south east London boy. After I watched the film about 1000 times, I got used to it!. Though I did think he played the part really well, even if his accent got me!!!!
Re Tom Cruise - I never could stand him and thought he was a pretty naff actor. But I do think there are some films he has been really good in, so I kind of have a like/dislike thing going on with him.
Sean Connery to me was always a one dimension actor, but have to admit haven't seen him in lots of things.
Anthony Hopkins.
Maggie Smith. For me, she's always just Maggie Smith.
Does anyone actually consider Cruise to be a great actor, though? He's a famous actor who (at least once) could sell a movie on his name alone. But you can say the same for Arnie - and no-one would call him a great actor!
Same goes for "over-rated," too. Calling someone over-rated doesn't have to mean they're a bad actor or even that you dislike them. Just that you don't think they're as good as is generally accepted.
Ah, King Of Comedy forgot about that one, must dig out that video i have. Top quality film, hardly ever see it on TV.
Perhaps that peron is young, and has ony seen DeNiro in those god-awful Focker films ?
They were film stars, weren't they? Like the way Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp are. They all did provide memorable performances, but not as the norm. With Harrison Ford, for instance. When you see Han Solo, you see Harrison Ford. When you see Decker, you see Harrison Ford. When you see Indiana Jones, you see Harrison Ford. He doesn't need to go outside of his box to become his character because he has the face and the name to carry it off.
That would be applied to John Mills, true, but he isn't usually seen as a film star. Most see him as a character actor. Al Pacino has evolved from being a character actor to a film star, but as far as I know, this never happened to Mills. Hence, my nomination.
I'm happy to be corrected, though, so fire away.
Anthony Hopkins
Michael Caine
Johnny Depp
Liam Neeson
Russell Crowe
Nicholas Cage
Those saying De Niro are having a laugh, surely?
I feel exactly the same re D. Judi Dench. So Incredibly up her own bottom with every I'm better than everyone else performance.