Kevin's Watch

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?

I think it's about range. And when it comes to range there is no one that compares to DeNiro and Streep.

lorin wrote:I think it's about range. And when it comes to range there is no one that compares to DeNiro and Streep.

I see that and raise you Willem Dafoe.

And after some looking, I'll add Michael Douglas.

Christopher Walken

Cail wrote:And after some looking, I'll add Michael Douglas.

I'll see that and raise you Robin Williams. All the dramatic range of the others, plus the comedic talent.

rdhopeca wrote:

Cail wrote:And after some looking, I'll add Michael Douglas.

I'll see that and raise you Robin Williams. All the dramatic range of the others, plus the comedic talent.

No longer living, so not eligible. But yes, Williams had some real talent.

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.

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.]

I second DDL. For the women, it has to be Meryl Streep.

Every other actor mentioned lacks range, or is the same character no matter the role.

Rutger Hauer was the greatest actor ever, for one movie.

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.

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.

Tom Hanks should be mentioned in this list.

Forest Gump
Big
Cast Away
Capt. Phillips
Green Mile
Apollo 13
Charlie Wilsons War

I could name another half dozen or so pretty easy

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.

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.

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.

Think... Philadelphia.

Hanks is a solid actor, like Denzel. Neither of them rise to the "best ever" group.

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.

No love for Lincoln? There Will Be Blood?

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.

dlbpharmd wrote:

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.

No love for Lincoln? There Will Be Blood?

Heh...I didn't expect fannity from C.
But I did expect perhaps those, and especially "Gangs of New York" to be in his line.

But DDL is the real deal.