Best Acting Performances Of All Time

[Ro]

I was thinking about some great acting performances the other day, and wondered why there weren't many websites out there strictly devoted to outstanding lead acting performances in a particular movie. Maybe they are out there. I don't know.

So, my idea was this- start a thread in which we can list some of the best, or at least some of our favorite, acting performances in the history of cinema. Feel free to list as many as you want, but eventually, it would be great if everyone could come up with a top 5 for both male and female actors. In other words, if you're having trouble coming up with a top 5 right off the top, we'll try to build a database of great performances first by just simply posting whatever comes to mind. After we get some ideas, we can reply in this same thread with our top 5 for each sex. And then come up with some unofficial rankings.

It will neat to see what different generations and types of viewers come up with. As I'm coming up with these starters, I'm realizing that I've seen very few of the films of the 80's and previous that contain strong or Oscar-nominated performances by women, and fewer of the pre-70's Oscar nominated performances for both sexes than I thought I had. And make sure to open it up a little to underrated performances. The academy nominating Johnny Depp for Pirates... was a step in the right direction, as great acting in action movies or even comedies often goes unrecognized. Don't forget about that here.

Sound like fun? To me it does. But I'm kind of a film nerd. And let's try to keep it limited to lead roles. As much as I want to vote for Billy Crystal in The Princess Bride, it's not quite what I have in mind here. Ok.

--

Male:

Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind
Russell Crowe in Gladiator
Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver
Robert DeNiro in Raging Bull
Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter
Marlon Brando in The Godfather
Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront
Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The ####oo's Nest
Jack Nicholson in The Shining
Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction
Nicholas Cage in Adaptation
Nicholas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas
Denzel Washington in Training Day
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Love Liza
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Owning Mahowny
Adam Sandler in Punch Drunk Love
Denzel Washington in He Got Game
Geoffrey Rush in Shine
George C. Scott in Patton
Kevin Spacey in American Beauty
Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects
Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Jim Carrey in Man On The Moon
Bill Murray in Lost In Translation
Michael Douglas in Wonder Boys
John Malkovich in In The Line Of Fire
Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot
Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs Of New York
Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man
Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove Or...
Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump
Tom Hanks in The Terminal (I thought he was incredible in this one)
Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade
Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa
Sean Penn in Mystic River
Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking
Al Pacino in Scent Of A Woman
Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II
Al Pacino in Scarface
Anthony Hopkins in Silence Of The Lambs
Jeremy Irons in Reversal Of Fortune
Tom Cruise - Born On The Fourth Of July
Ben Kingsley in Gandhi
Steve McQueen in The Great Escape
Robert Redford in The Sting
Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Paul Newman in The Hustler
Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Warren Beatty in Bonnie and Clyde
James Stewart in Vertigo
James Stewart in Rear Window
John Wayne In True Grit
Clint Eastwood in The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven
Peter O' Toole - Lawrence Of Arabia
Orson Welles in Citizen Kane
Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption
David Carradine in Kill Bill Vol. 2 (I might get flack for this, but he was amazing)
Charlton Heston in Ben-Hur
Charlton Heston in The Third Man
Roberto Benigni in Life Is Beautiful
Bruce Willis in Die Hard
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep
Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca
Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski
Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Caribbean
Johnny Depp in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Benicio Del Toro in Traffic
Woody Harrelson in The People Vs. Larry Flynt
Val Kilmer in Tombstone



Female:

Charlize Theron in Monster
Ellen Burstyn in Requiem For A Dream
Frances McDormand in Fargo
Kathy Bates in Misery
Susan Sarandon in Dead Man Walking
Diane Keaton in Annie Hall
Louise Fletcher in One Flew Over The ####oo's Nest
Katherine Hepburn in Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
Catherine Deneuve in Repulsion
Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby
Ingrid Bergman in Spellbound
Reese Witherspoon in Election

Need some help with the female list...

[troutman]

Here are links to the official Academy Awards site:

Best Actors:

http://www.oscar.com/legacy/pastwinn...ad_actor0.html

Best Actresses:

http://www.oscar.com/legacy/pastwinn..._actress0.html

[Pagal4321]

Damn, beat me to it fotze.
Soon as I read the title fo the topic thought of that WONDERFUL performance.

[Ro]

In order...And I reserve the right to change these...

Male Top 5:

1 - Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind

What a performance. In my top three, no doubt, and for now, #1.

2 - Nicholas Cage in Adaptation

So underrated. A dual role, twins at that, and you can tell them apart every second they're onscreen by the subtle mannerisms Cage gives each one. Awesome stuff.

3 - Philip Seymour Hoffman in Love Liza

If you haven't seen this movie, you're missing amazing one man show by Hoffman. Truly powerful, gripping acting.

4 - Robert DeNiro in Raging Bull

The standard for method acting. That monologue at the end is one of favorite scenes ever.

5 - Geoffrey Rush in Shine

Did you know that was Rush playing the piano in the movie? Not only that, but his performance is incredible.

Honorable mention to Denzel in Training Day, Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs Of New York, Michael Douglas in Wonder Boys, and Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine.



Female Top 5:

1 - Ellen Burstyn in Requiem For A Dream

Great movie, but without Ellen, some would argue that it's all moviemaking and no acting. She knocks it out the park here. Her scene with Jared Leto in her apartment is another all time fave.

2 - Frances McDormand in Fargo

Some more method stuff. Not my favorite movie, but I've watched it a few times since just to watch her do her thing.

3 - Catherine Deneuve in Repulsion

Creepy movie, and creepy performance. Not a lot of dialogue, but maybe some of the best non-verbal acting I've ever seen.

4 - Kathy Bates in Misery

Kind of like McDormand in #2. She's great. Made the movie for me.

5 - Charlize Theron in Monster

Ebert called this one of the best acting performances in the history of cinema. I'd have to agree. Superb acting, especially conveying the sense of fragility and recklessness in the character.

[Krackt420]

Originally posted by Pagal4321@Aug 13 2004, 03:29 PM
Damn, beat me to it fotze.
Soon as I read the title fo the topic thought of that WONDERFUL performance.

I dunno....

I would have to disagree and go with St. Louis on this one. Riveting....just riveting...

[greerb]

I would have to say Bertuzzi at his press conference. Common the boy was crying on cue. Even an actor has a hard time doing that.

[octothorp]

You've got a lot of good ones that I would pick, so rather than name all my favorites, I'll just pick some that aren't already on your list

Male:
Bill Murray in Groundhog Day
Peter O'Toole in Becket
Adrien Brody in The Pianist
Jude Law in Enemy at the Gates
Finbar McBride in The Station Agent
Ben Kingsley in Ghandhi


Female:
Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's
Maggie Smith in Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Sigourney Weaver in Alien
Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Holly Hunter in The Piano

[Mccree]

Dustin Hoffman -Rain man
Al Pacino - Scent of a woman
Kevin Spacy - The Usual Suspects
Kevn Costner - JFK
Tom Hanks - Forest Gump

No Idea on any women Yet

[Krackt420]

Male:

Edward Norton - American History X...or Primal Fear (?) He was really good in that.

Sean Penn - I am Sam

Russell Crowe - Gladiator

Kevin Spacey- Usual Suspects

Leo Dicaprio - What's Eating Gilbert Grape
(I know he wasn't the lead, but it was a performance worthy of the Oscar IMO)


Female:

Renee Zellwigger - Bridget Jones Diary
(Thought she was WAY better in this than Chicago. I'll admit it, I was not a big fan of Chicago.)

Uma Thurman - Pulp Fiction

Nichole Kidman - Moulin Rouge

[Mccree]

Originally posted by Krackt420@Aug 13 2004, 10:27 AM
Male:

Edward Norton - American History X...or Primal Fear (?) He was really good in that.


Female:

Uma Thurman - Pulp Fiction

I forgot about Primal Fear. yes that was a great movie

Uma Thurman is great. Plup Fiction was awesome and she was pretty good in Kill Bill Vol 1 and Kill BIll Vol 2

[JohnnyO]

Definately not Riberio

[Ro]

Originally posted by fotze@Aug 13 2004, 09:42 AM
I go the other way with actors portraying mentally handicapped. I am of the opinion that it is not very difficult to do.

By the way, anyone see that weirdo Danish movie "The Idiots" about that cultlike group of people who act ######ed to get free stuff. Weirdest movie ever.

I agree wholeheartedly. Sean Penn's performance in Mystic River is ten times more difficult to acheive than his performance in I Am Sam. Of course there are exceptions, and there are many great performances by acotrs portraying disabled or handicapped people (#5 on my list, for example), but for the most part, it's an exercise in excessiveness. I'm a fan of more subtle, layered acting. Just my opinion though, I suppose.

[troutman]

IMO, comedy actors never get the respect they deserve. Consider the work of Mike Myers in Austin Powers. He played 4 or 5 different characters, all different, and all hilarious. I think that takes just as much skill (or more) than dramatic acting.

[Mccree]

Originally posted by troutman@Aug 13 2004, 11:08 AM
IMO, comedy actors never get the respect they deserve. Consider the work of Mike Myers in Austin Powers. He played 4 or 5 different characters, all different, and all hilarious. I think that takes just as much skill (or more) than dramatic acting.

I agree. That is why Jim Carey did not win the Oscar for The Truman Show. His roles in Dumb and Dumber (great movie) and Ace Ventura (another great movie) hurt him.

[Frank the Tank]

I'd have to put Brad Pitt's performance in 12 Monkeys right at the top for me. Just awesome. He was great in Seven as well.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

***hole customer that came into my store yesterday and called me a liar. He was pretty good

[JiriHrdina]

Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List - amazing performance and one that should have netted him the Oscar (instead Tommy Lee Jones got it for The Fujitive I believe)

Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Owning Mahoney

Billy Bob Thorton in Slingblade

Russel Crow in The Insider

Dennis Quaid in Wyatt Earp

Robin Williams in Awakenings

Daniel Day Lewis in everything he does.

Those are just some that come to mind.

[greerb]

Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean
Russel Crow in A Beatiful Mind
Nicholas Cage in whatever he plays in
Will Smith in Ali, iRobot, Enemy of the State, Bad Boys 1 and 2
Jim Carrey in Man on the Moon, Truman Show,


Women I'm not too sure.
I would have to agree with Kathy Bates though she is probably one of the most underrated actresses.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Val Kilmer

• Spartan
• Tombstone

Kevin Spacey

• American Beauty
• The Negotiator
• Se7en
• Glenngary Glenn Ross
• Usual Suspects

Philip Seymour Hoffman

• Owning Mahony
• 25th Hour
• Red Dragon
• Love Liza
• Almost Famous
• State and Main
• Magnolia
• Happiness

Paul Giamatti

• American Splendor
• Man on the Moon
• The Negotiator

Russell Crowe

• Master and Commander
• Beautiful Mind
• Gladiator
• The Insider
• Romper Stomper

Robert DeNiro

• Jackie Brown
• Casino
• Goodfella's
• This Boy's Life
• Awakenings
• Raging Bull
• Deer Hunter
• Taxi Driver
• Godfather Part 2

Johnny Depp

• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Blow
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
• Donnie Brasco
• Ed Wood
• What's Eating Gilbert Grape
• Benny & Joon

[Cowperson]

Sydney Poitier and Rod Steiger for "In The Heat Of The Night" from 1970. In fact, the entire freakin' cast of this movie.

Cowperson