Who do you consider to be the best actor?

[Sixcess]

I have mixed feelings about the OP's choice of Tom Cruise. On the one hand he's made a lot of films that I really like - Eyes Wide Shut, Interview with the Vampire, Collateral, Valkyrie... and on the other hand he makes a lot of movies where he essentially does the same shallow thing he's been doing ever since Top Gun and Risky Business.

My personal pick would be Gene Hackman. From serious drama like Mississipi Burning, French Connection and Unforgiven to stylised action like The Quick and the Dead to comedy like The Birdcage. - I've never seen him give a bad performance.

And he's the definitive Lex Luthor.

 

[SlaveNumber23]

There's no one I really consider to be the absolute 'best actor' but Morgan Freeman is definitely my favourite. Also recently I've been enjoying Walton Goggins in Justified, Boyd Crowder is easily one of my favourite characters of all time.

 

[KingKickass]

Oh man, that's tough. If we're talking strictly movie actors I'd say either Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Jack Black... oh dear I don't have a quote unquote best actor. Personally, there is no such thing as a "best" actor because every actor brings something different to the table: Downey is mainly actiony type movies and he plays a snide or crude guy, Galifianakis usually plays the dopey lovable goof, Black is mostly comedic/musical based movies; so on and so forth for every individual actor. I can make a list about as long as half this page of the various actors I really enjoy watching, but I will not do that for the sake of my time (as I write this at 5:00 am) and for your time of reading my incredibly long list of actors and the movies by which they excel in.

 

[Rawne1980]

Samuel L Jackson. All the shit movies i've seen could have been so much better with a bit of Jackson in them.

Kiefer Sutherland. He was in 4 of my favourite films, Young Guns, Lost Boys, Stand By Me and Flatliners.

And a mention for Jason Statham. He's one of my favourite actors but alas one of the best.

 

[unindexedsearchengine]

David Hewlett. Whatever he plays, he plays it perfect, and he's more than just an actor. He directed his own movie, and its great.

 

[KoudelkaMorgan]

I'd say Gary Oldman for the reasons stated already. Also Robin Williams (mostly), Tom Hanks, Keifer Sutherland, Kenneth Brannagh, and Rufus Sewell. Special mention goes to Bruce Campbell.

Worst for me would be Tom Cruise, Ben Stiller, Ryan Reynolds, Vince Vaughn, both Luke Wilson and Owne Wilson, Chris Tucker, and Christian Bale.

However one actor that seemingly no one has mentioned, and most people don't even know is John Noble. While his part in Lord of the Rings movies was rather minor and mostly forgettable, his current roll(s) on Fringe have consistently impressed me. Often I'm literally brought to tears by the sheer amount of sorrow he conveys, even as he makes me laugh. I don't think that anyone in the cast could be easily replaced, and its a shame that there are only 3 episodes left.

Sure some of the earlier plot threads went nowhere, and some are needlessly convoluted and never really detailed, but it was still a great show. I feel that after the most recent episode they might just wrap it all up neatly, or at least neater than it has been in those final 3.

As for actresses I sadly can't think of any standout performances other than A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster from Criminal Minds, the women on Once Upon a Time, Rachael McAdams, Jodie Foster, Julia Roberts, Olivia Wilde on a few episodes of House M.D., or Amy Acker from Angel and Dollhouse. I know Charlize Theron is a good actress, but I can't name any movie of hers I have ever seen. I can't stand Scarlet Johansson, and Kristen Stewart can join Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, and Kim Kardashian on the list of women that need to exit our collective consciousness.

Just because I like Tina Fey, Emma Stone, Kat Dennings, Alyson Hannigan, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Emily Paige, Liv Tyler, Rachel Leigh Cook, Joely Fisher, and Jennifer Garner to name a few doesn't mean that they are great actors. It means that they are beautiful, smart, and funny and typically they aren't offered or encouraged to take on really demanding roles. Its just the nature of the business. They all have an image to maintain whether they want to or not. You usually don't get those kinds of roles until you are over 50 and typically British it seems. Whereas Nic Cage can literally take on any role for better or worse because he rivals Michael Jackson on having the most out there public persona in media. He may not be the best actor, many would contend he is the worst, but he certainly isn't niche.

Worst actresses for me would be Lindsey Lohan, Julia Stiles, Sarah Michelle Geller, Halle Berry, and Kristen Stewart.

Admittedly I don't watch movies often.

 

[Artina89]

I couldn't really say who is the best actor, but my two favourite actors are:

Nicholas Courtney: He usually played military types, his most famous character being Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (my avatar) in the classic Doctor Who most usually associated with Jon Pertwee's version of the Doctor. He tended to be typecast, but he did military types very well, but he was mainly in theatre, and played a wide variety of characters.

Vincent D'Onofrio: The "human chamelion" he is in my view one of the best character actors. He gets a role and immerses himself in it entirely, from playing serial killers, to cops, to aliens and lonely cab drivers he does it well.

 

[Korenith]

I'd say Gary Oldman for the reasons stated already. Also Robin Williams (mostly), Tom Hanks, Keifer Sutherland, Kenneth Brannagh, and Rufus Sewell. Special mention goes to Bruce Campbell.

Worst for me would be Tom Cruise, Ben Stiller, Ryan Reynolds, Vince Vaughn, both Luke Wilson and Owne Wilson, Chris Tucker, and Christian Bale.

Really? Christian Bale and Ryan Reynolds are the worst actors? Sure Reynolds is typecast and predictable but watch Buried and you'll realise he's actually reasonably talented as an actor. And Bale is a phenomenal actor, just look at the work he put into films like The Machinist and American Psycho (OK psycho was a shit film but he nailed the role). I agree with Stiller being on the list though. Can't stand him.

 

[AnarchistFish]

I don't really like A list actors. You're always gonna end up referring to the character by the actor's name and so I always find the story and characters more believable and interesting if they appear to have their own identity, performed by an actor I don't recognise.

Brad Pitt's probably one of the best of the top top actors.

 

[Tropicaz]

I'm a fan of alot Brad Pitt's films. I'm also a big fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt; Brick is a great film. Finally, I'm massive fans of loads of Gene Hackman and Kevin spacey's films.

 

[Mestraal]

I think a couple of my current fvourites have got to be Sam Rockwell (Moooooooooooon yay!), Colin Farrell (mainly for in Bruges) and Robery Downey Jr. (just because)

 

[fenrizz]

1. Daniel Day Lewis - The ultimate method actor. Everything he has done is pure gold.
2. Leonardo DiCaprio - Blood Diamond, Inception, Shutter Island.. Need I say more?
3. Brad Pitt - Ultimate bad ass. Se7en, Fight Club, 12 Monkeys.

Honorable Mention to Steve Buscemi.
Movies with Steve Buscemi are always worth your time.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

He generally takes supporting roles but I've never been anything but impressed with Karl Urban.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

Of the top actors at the moment my picks would be Michael Fassbender (despite being in 300), Christian Bale and Tom Hardy. Great actors all. Also I just got into Game of Thrones recently, and Peter Dinklage is absolutely phenomenal in it. Haven't seen any other works of his, though.

 

[shrekfan246]

I'll just throw a few names around and see what people think....

Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Michael Fassbender, Ian Holm, Jeff Bridges, Robert Downey Jr, Leonardo Di Caprio, Tom Hardy

In my opinion all of these actors have excelled in every single film I've seen them in. Tom Hanks in particular.

In very interested to see where Michael Fassbender ends up (i'm calling next bond). And Tom Hardy has nothing but a bright, diverse future.

When thinking about actors that move me the most I have to remember that whenever Will Smith cries on screen, that is your cue to get on your knees and fucking weep.

Yeah, people underestimate Will Smith's acting abilities.

DiCaprio too, I can't wait to see how he does as Gatsby in The Great Gatsby.

Other people I consider to be extremely talented are Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Brad Pitt, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Johnny Depp, Andrew Robinson (Garak from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), John C. McGinley (and the rest of the cast from Scrubs, but that's beside the point), hell, I could probably keep this up all day. So I'll cut it short right here.

 

[Coffeejack]

I think a couple of my current fvourites have got to be Sam Rockwell (Moooooooooooon yay!), Colin Farrell (mainly for in Bruges) and Robery Downey Jr. (just because)

Oh yes. The Rockmaster. Pure class.

"Don't open that! It's an alien planet! Is there air?! You don't know!"

 

[Oinodaemon]

Kurt Russel. He's amazing in every movie I've seen him in. By the by, imo, Tom Cruise is one of the worst actors ever. The only movie I have felt he was remotely good in was The Last Samurai. Granted, I haven't seen Top Gun ,(don't hit me!) but from what I have seen of him...not too great.