Did we already do this?
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Did we already do this?
I'm currently watching the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and made a comment about what an amazing actor Donald Sutherland is. And then I got to thinking about who the greatest living actor is, and I sort of thought we'd had a topic on that, but I couldn't find it.
So here we go.....(or here we go to get merged into the other topic) Who's the greatest living actor?
One could make an argument for De Niro. One could make an argument for Pacino. One could make an argument for Redford. One could make an argument for Caine. One could make an argument for Eastwood.
I don't really know. I think that prior to the blacklisting, a strong case can be made for Mel Gibson. I think a very strong case can be made for Michael Caine. Ditto for Albert Finney. But what about Jack Nicholson? Or Meryl Streep? Or Glenn Close? Or Robert Duval?
I don't have an answer. You?
So here we go.....(or here we go to get merged into the other topic) Who's the greatest living actor?
One could make an argument for De Niro. One could make an argument for Pacino. One could make an argument for Redford. One could make an argument for Caine. One could make an argument for Eastwood.
I don't really know. I think that prior to the blacklisting, a strong case can be made for Mel Gibson. I think a very strong case can be made for Michael Caine. Ditto for Albert Finney. But what about Jack Nicholson? Or Meryl Streep? Or Glenn Close? Or Robert Duval?
I don't have an answer. You?
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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I see that and raise you Willem Dafoe.lorin wrote:I think it's about range. And when it comes to range there is no one that compares to DeNiro and Streep.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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And after some looking, I'll add Michael Douglas.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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Christopher Walken


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Obaki, Too Much Information
- Vraith
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I'm not sure Walken or Douglas have range, though I like them both.
I like most of the ones mentioned.
I've said before, I'm sure, somewhere...you can't talk about great actors and not include Daniel Day-Lewis.
He's brilliant, almost flawless [though I can't really get behind "Mohicans."
I like the movie [it grew on me], but it's his least interesting role IMO.]
I like most of the ones mentioned.
I've said before, I'm sure, somewhere...you can't talk about great actors and not include Daniel Day-Lewis.
He's brilliant, almost flawless [though I can't really get behind "Mohicans."
I like the movie [it grew on me], but it's his least interesting role IMO.]
[spoiler]Sig-man, Libtard, Stupid piece of shit. change your text color to brown. Mr. Reliable, bullshit-slinging liarFucker-user.[/spoiler]
the difference between evidence and sources: whether they come from the horse's mouth or a horse's ass.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
the hyperbole is a beauty...for we are then allowed to say a little more than the truth...and language is more efficient when it goes beyond reality than when it stops short of it.
the difference between evidence and sources: whether they come from the horse's mouth or a horse's ass.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
the hyperbole is a beauty...for we are then allowed to say a little more than the truth...and language is more efficient when it goes beyond reality than when it stops short of it.
No longer living, so not eligible. But yes, Williams had some real talent.rdhopeca wrote:I'll see that and raise you Robin Williams. All the dramatic range of the others, plus the comedic talent.Cail wrote:And after some looking, I'll add Michael Douglas.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
- Cagliostro
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It's so hard for me to make that bold of a statement, especially since every time I do, their very next role disappoints me.
So let me say one of my favorite living actors would have to be Toni Colette. I remember reading an article in Entertainment Weekly about her, and was amazed I had watched many of her movies at the time, but never put together that it was the same person. It was kind of an exploding head moment for me.
So let me say one of my favorite living actors would have to be Toni Colette. I remember reading an article in Entertainment Weekly about her, and was amazed I had watched many of her movies at the time, but never put together that it was the same person. It was kind of an exploding head moment for me.

Life is a waste of time
Time is a waste of life
So get wasted all of the time
And you'll have the time of your life
I second DDL. For the women, it has to be Meryl Streep.Vraith wrote:I'm not sure Walken or Douglas have range, though I like them both.
I like most of the ones mentioned.
I've said before, I'm sure, somewhere...you can't talk about great actors and not include Daniel Day-Lewis.
He's brilliant, almost flawless [though I can't really get behind "Mohicans."
I like the movie [it grew on me], but it's his least interesting role IMO.]
Every other actor mentioned lacks range, or is the same character no matter the role.
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Helen Mirren is up there (I think of her as a female Olivier). I'm also a fan of Cate Blanchett. Anthony Hopkins. Denzel Washington is pretty darn good. Gene Hackman. Gay Oldman. Kevin Spacey has to be mentioned. Joaquin Phoenix.
I guess at the end of the day I have to second Bobby D. He's limited as a romantic lead but it's hard to top his sheer commitment.
I guess at the end of the day I have to second Bobby D. He's limited as a romantic lead but it's hard to top his sheer commitment.

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Helen Mirren is superb, as is Gene Hackman. In fact, it's tough to argue against either one.
I have never seen a DDL film that I thought was worth my time. Not a single one. To me he's as over-rated as Dustin Hoffman.
And Rutger Hauer's best role was The Hitcher.
I have never seen a DDL film that I thought was worth my time. Not a single one. To me he's as over-rated as Dustin Hoffman.
And Rutger Hauer's best role was The Hitcher.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
- Obi-Wan Nihilo
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I put Hanks in the same category as Tom Cruise: an A-list movie star who is also an excellent actor, but not really in the conversation for greatest.

The catholic church is the largest pro-pedophillia group in the world, and every member of it is guilty of supporting the rape of children, the ensuing protection of the rapists, and the continuing suffering of the victims.
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I would never lump Cruise into the same catagory as Hanks. Cruise doesnt have half the acting chops that Hanks does nor is he half as committed to the roles that he plays.Doc Hexnihilo wrote:I put Hanks in the same category as Tom Cruise: an A-list movie star who is also an excellent actor, but not really in the conversation for greatest.
Think... Philadelphia.
Hanks is a solid actor, like Denzel. Neither of them rise to the "best ever" group.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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No love for Lincoln? There Will Be Blood?Cail wrote: I have never seen a DDL film that I thought was worth my time. Not a single one. To me he's as over-rated as Dustin Hoffman.
Helen Mirren is indeed superb.
Robert de Niro was great in his youth, but what has he done lately? He hasn't really stretched as an actor since Good Fellas, and that was 25 years ago.
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Heh...I didn't expect fannity from C.dlbpharmd wrote:No love for Lincoln? There Will Be Blood?Cail wrote: I have never seen a DDL film that I thought was worth my time. Not a single one. To me he's as over-rated as Dustin Hoffman.
But I did expect perhaps those, and especially "Gangs of New York" to be in his line.
But DDL is the real deal.
[spoiler]Sig-man, Libtard, Stupid piece of shit. change your text color to brown. Mr. Reliable, bullshit-slinging liarFucker-user.[/spoiler]
the difference between evidence and sources: whether they come from the horse's mouth or a horse's ass.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
the hyperbole is a beauty...for we are then allowed to say a little more than the truth...and language is more efficient when it goes beyond reality than when it stops short of it.
the difference between evidence and sources: whether they come from the horse's mouth or a horse's ass.
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
the hyperbole is a beauty...for we are then allowed to say a little more than the truth...and language is more efficient when it goes beyond reality than when it stops short of it.