Who's the better actor ?

POSTED BY: AURaptor
UPDATED: Sunday, August 16, 2009 16:46
VIEWED: 6401
PAGE 1 of 4

1 2 3 4 NEXT PAGE

AURAPTOR

Saturday, July 4, 2009 1:53 AM

Was watching one of the Pirate movies last night, w/ Johnny Depp. I guess that was on my mind, when I heard an ad for his new upcoming movie, Public Enemies. Then came to mind... wow...he's been in a variety of stuff, and done them all pretty darn well. That got me thinking.... of actors about his age ( born in the 1960's ) there's some considerable talent.

Ed Norton

Robert Downey Jr

Paul Giamatti

Phillip Seymour Hoffman

I had even considered adding Nicholas Cage to the list, but then thought better of it. He's very successful, but I've not seen the range from him that I've seen from the others. I could be wrong though.

So, among the 5 ( Depp,Downey Jr, Giamatti, Hoffman and Norton ) which one is considered 'the best' ?

Or does it even matter ? I like them all.

The T.Rex they call JANE!

RIPWASH

Saturday, July 4, 2009 10:32 PM

Personally, I would consider them all some of the great actors of our time.

I heard Michael Caine say once that he was a "movie actor" not a "movie star." It was a little pretentiouse but it made a lot of sense. He said the difference was that a movie star chose film roles that he could tailor to his own personal style of acting whereas a movie actor looks for roles that he can disappear into.

I like Adam Sandler movies, but for the most part it's Adam Sandler being "himself" (i.e. Happy Gilmore, 50 First Dates, The Wedding Singer, Mr. Deeds, Bedtime Stories, ect.). He's playing basically the same person. There have, of course, been certain exception to this, like Punch Drunk Love and Spanglish. But with Depp, Giamatti, Norton, et. al. you get a broad mix no matter what they play. Depp can play extemely serious or extremely goofy. Heck, he even knocked many peoples' socks off when he sang for Sweeney Todd. He takes the role and makes it so you don't really know it's him and he can pull of anything. I'd lump Sam Rockwell in there, too. He can play a sick, twisted, perverted freak (The Green Mile) or a goofy bit-part actor (Galaxy Quest).

And this is the reason that sometimes you just gotta trust some directors to know what they're doing. Take Chris Nolan, for example. He cast Heath Ledger as The Joker which really made a lot of folks raise their eyebrows. But Nolan really didn't want someone who's name stood out over their acting ability. Much like Nicholson in the '89 Batman. He was great, but it was Jack as the Joker. Heck he was even billed over Keaton. But with Nolan's The Dark Knight, what did we get? Simply one of the best villains in cinema. The Joker. Not Heath Ledger as the Joker. Does that make sense?

The only thing I kind of wish Johnny Depp would do is distance himself a little bit from Tim Burton. Although I like their collaborative work, I think they really need to focus on doing more things one without the other. It seems like anytime there is a Burton movie, Depp is in it. It's almost like he doesn't want to push himself as a director and only work with people he's comfortable with.

My recommendations for these guys would be:

Depp - First two Pirates movies, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands
Downey - Heart and Souls, Chaplin
Giamatti - John Adams, Fred Claus
Hoffman - Mission Impossible III

Cage? My wife and I have this running joke because there are two movies I absolutely can NOT stand him in: Peggy Sue Got Married and Moonstruck. Two of the most annoying performances ever. And yet, the movie National Treasure was the first "official" movie poster I hung up in the family room.

*********************************************

"It's okay! I'm a leaf on the wind!!!"
"What does that mean?!?!?!"

ECGORDON

Saturday, July 4, 2009 11:00 PM

They are all very good, but if I had to make a choice out of those five I would pick Philip Seymour Hoffmann. He seems to lose himself in his characters just a bit more than the others.

However, I would nominate one other from the same generation that does not get the respect as an actor that I think he deserves. Brad Pitt. It's easy to think of him as just a pretty boy and Mr. Jolie, but he has a remarkably wide range of parts on his resume too.

And how about another who is just five years older than Pitt and Depp? Gary Oldman.

SERYN

Sunday, July 5, 2009 11:11 PM

I couldn't possibly comment on ability as i have no authority on acting - i got stage fright picking up some props in an empty auditorium - but i tend to find Depp absolutly unique. There really is no one like him.

But i thought i'd post this - http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,25676426-10388,00.h
tml

He's been on the acid again hasn't he?

And i agree with the Pitt thing - after 12 Monkeys i do take him seriously as an actor. Oldman too.

I think Christian Bale needs a mention too. Theres few who could carry off the roles he's taken and throw themselves so utterly into the characters as he's done. He's scarily intense, method acting doesn't strike me as the best way to go about things, but he's also utterly absorbing and convincing.

To be absolutly honest thought it may just be hormones. All i can say is thank god for Reign of Fire 'cause i'd have to put myself through therapy for fancying the arse off him otherwise.

GINOBIFFARONI

Monday, July 6, 2009 2:21 AM

How about Will Smith

most movies he plays the same sort of character,

but I was thinking of him in " Ali ". I thought it was a great character performance... after about a minute he stopped being Will Smith in a movie and was Ali, ... to me anyway

" I don't believe in hypothetical situations - it's kinda like lying to your brain "

" They don't hate America, they hate Americans " Homer Simpson

Lets party like its 1939

AURAPTOR

Monday, July 6, 2009 3:23 AM

Sean Penn and Don Cheadle both probably should be on the list as well.
Oh well.

Tack them both on there, if you'd like.

The T.Rex they call JANE!

STOWEAWAY

Monday, July 6, 2009 3:46 AM

I think you have a mighty fine list going on here. I don't think I could pick just one.

Incidentally, when Alan Tudyk appeared at FarpointCon in February, he talked about Philip Seymour Hoffman as a great actor. He also mentioned William Macy -- another great one.
He said he aspires to be the same kind of actor, good at the craft and left alone by the paparazzi.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out http://www.americasfunniesttshirts.com for hilarious shirts at a great price.

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Monday, July 6, 2009 9:12 AM

I'll take Giamatti with Private Parts (as Pig Vomit), Lady in the Water, The Negotiator, and Saving Private Ryan.
Also Cage in The Boy in Blue, and Gurading Tess (although I dislike MacLaine).
Bale is born in 74.
I also enjoy Cheadle's work, ditto for Rockwell.
The rest can be skipped.
Norton had his breakout in Primal Fear, but showing up Gere isn't that hard. Haven't been impressed since then.
Also add Jennifer Connelly (b 1970, although many times a similar role, actually some range in there too, but in roles she did not like), Laura Linney, and Marisa Tomei.
Where's the accolades for, um, that guy, Tom Cruise?

SERYN

Monday, July 6, 2009 9:54 PM

I don't know - he made a great showing in Interview with the Vampire and some of his later film still showed chops IMHO, but do we ignore him cause he's a scary crazy person?

Giamatti is one person i haven't seen in many films, but he made Lady in the Water very watchable, despite the directors best efforts. It occurs to me that i've probably seen him in more films than i can reccollect, not conciously recognising him in character - that has to mean something.

Jennifer Connelly is older than Christian Bale? Damn thats some good moisturiser.

GINOBIFFARONI

Monday, July 6, 2009 10:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
I'll take Giamatti with Private Parts (as Pig Vomit), Lady in the Water, The Negotiator, and Saving Private Ryan.
Also Cage in The Boy in Blue, and Gurading Tess (although I dislike MacLaine).
Bale is born in 74.
I also enjoy Cheadle's work, ditto for Rockwell.
The rest can be skipped.
Norton had his breakout in Primal Fear, but showing up Gere isn't that hard. Haven't been impressed since then.
Also add Jennifer Connelly (b 1970, although many times a similar role, actually some range in there too, but in roles she did not like), Laura Linney, and Marisa Tomei.
Where's the accolades for, um, that guy, Tom Cruise?

Hey now, Tom Cruise was hilarious in Tropic Thunder

I think he was channeling Dick Chenney

1 2 3 4 NEXT PAGE