Greatest Actor of our generation?

[Fungo Squiggly]

Other countries, notably the UK, aren't as particularly, ridiculously good looking?

Well, not with those teeth, they aren't. :chompy:

 

[generaladm]

Magnolia & Collateral

Eyes Wide Shut....

You guys are entitled to your opinions, I thought he sucked in all of those. To me, there's nothing more annoying than watching a movie, and you can tell an actor is trying to act, rather than reacting to the situation in a manner consistent with the character. Cruise has maintained the same basic mannerisms and facial expressions in nearly every role throughout his career (the most obvious, clenching jaw muscles = anger). He is photogenic, articulate, and can convey basic emotions, but I have not seen in him any ability to create compelling characters, or make bold acting choices. To me, most of his performances are only a notch or two better than Tom Brady hosting SNL.

He was good in Rainman, I'll give you that.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

You mean...coitus?

Certainly not.

 

[Folanator]

You guys are entitled to your opinions, I thought he sucked in all of those. To me, there's nothing more annoying than watching a movie, and you can tell an actor is trying to act, rather than reacting to the situation in a manner consistent with the character. Cruise has maintained the same basic mannerisms and facial expressions in nearly every role throughout his career (the most obvious, clenching jaw muscles = anger). He is photogenic, articulate, and can convey basic emotions, but I have not seen in him any ability to create compelling characters, or make bold acting choices. To me, most of his performances are only a notch or two better than Tom Brady hosting SNL.

He was good in Rainman, I'll give you that.

Pleaeese. You can feel the electricity of Cruise...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrzIaRwAMvc]YouTube - tom cruise kills oprah[/ame]

 

[Gatorubet]

By "our generation", I'll assume age 50 or younger.

Depp and Day-Lewis are good choices. However, I would choose either Gary Oldman or Tim Roth, perhaps Ralph Fiennes.

Oldman is a good choice. And I have to say I have a personal favorite in Chris Cooper. Just because they are more character parts does not make him any the less brilliant. Compare his roles in The Orchid Thief and American Beauty...brilliant!!!!!

 

[BayBuck]

Oldman is a good choice. And I have to say I have a personal favorite in Chris Cooper. Just because they are more character parts does not make him any the less brilliant. Compare his roles in The Orchid Thief and American Beauty...brilliant!!!!!

Cooper and Nicolas Cage both were terrific in Adaptation.

 

[cincibuck]

My wife was telling me about an article (or interview?) she read opining that the best actors generally are not American at this point because, In the US, only the best looking really get pushed into acting at a young age and there are far more roles, especially leading, available for good-looking actors. There are numerous immensely talented actors out there that you'll never hear from because they just aren't good-looking enough. Other countries, notably the UK, aren't as particular in that regard.

I have no idea just how true all that is, but it certainly makes sense to me.

Either Hoffman as stud muffin? And yeah, the guy who did Dewey Cox in Walk Hard is versatile and ugly as a boxer pup.

How about: most big studio films are about glamor or explosions (chic flics or guy flics) and aimed at teens. that seems to me to be a driving force for the use of good looking guys.

And then I start thinking that much of the best of Hollywood acting has been for TV, thinking Sopranos, The Wire...

Which brings up this recently learned fact, if you like Kate Winslet and Jack Black DO NOT rent Holiday What a giant crock of impossible Hollywood horseshit.

 

[generaladm]

Oldman is a good choice. And I have to say I have a personal favorite in Chris Cooper. Just because they are more character parts does not make him any the less brilliant. Compare his roles in The Orchid Thief and American Beauty...brilliant!!!!!

Good call on Chris Cooper. He was also excellent in many John Sayles movies, particularly Matewan. In response to the comments about only good looking actors getting the top roles, I think that there has been a decline in opportunities for "character" actors. Certainly, the leading man types have always gotten top billing, but it seems in the past, there were more major movies starring character types. Ernest Borgnine in Marty comes to mind. A couple of excellent modern charater actors: William H. Macy and Paul Giamatti.

 

[powerlifter]

Tom Hanks....Nice to see i'm not the only person that watches Bruce Campbell films though.

"Plenty of people will see 'Man With the Screaming Brain' and think it's the worst movie they've ever seen, ... But there's a group out there that'll be fine with it."

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

My wife was telling me about an article (or interview?) she read opining that the best actors generally are not American at this point because, In the US, only the best looking really get pushed into acting at a young age and there are far more roles, especially leading, available for good-looking actors. There are numerous immensely talented actors out there that you'll never hear from because they just aren't good-looking enough. Other countries, notably the UK, aren't as particular in that regard.

I have no idea just how true all that is, but it certainly makes sense to me.

Link to the NPR interview:

Foreigners Playing Americans Star In U.S. TV Shows : NPR

It focuses on why there are so many non-Americans playing Americans as leading characters on television. Mentions House, Life, The Mentalist, and a couple other shows.

 

[BUCKYLE]

Tim Tebow

 

[NFBuck]

Philip Seymour Hoffmann or Paul Giamatti are a couple of my favorites.

 

[powerlifter]

He did well in all his superman roles,and "the girl with the giant rack".

 

[jwinslow]

 

[Tits McGee]