Best Actor of the modern era?

Burzum · 07-07-2020 12:12pm

Nicholas Cage.

Feel free to close the thread now

07-07-2020 12:22pm

Some favourites of mine already mentioned. Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day Lewis. Also Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Willem Dafoe, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Amy Adams, Frances Mcdormand, Matthew McConaughey, Mahershala Ali.

I love fillums

07-07-2020 12:25pm

jiltloop wrote: »

Couldn't agree more on Stephen Graham, he was also fantastic in The Virtues, he can really pull out gut wrenching performances.

How did I forget to include Stephen Graham in my list. He is incredible. As another person posted about Daniel Day Lewis you see the actor and not the man. That is exactly how it is with Graham. Also forgot to mention Sean Bean.

This is it · 07-07-2020 12:37pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Some favourites of mine already mentioned. Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day Lewis. Also Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Willem Dafoe, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Amy Adams, Frances Mcdormand, Matthew McConaughey, Mahershala Ali.

I love fillums

Casey Affleck doesn't seem to get too many leading roles but I think he's very good. Gone Baby Gone wasn't a fantastic movie but I thought he was brilliant in it.

Feisar · 07-07-2020 12:44pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Some favourites of mine already mentioned. Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day Lewis. Also Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Willem Dafoe, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Amy Adams, Frances Mcdormand, Matthew McConaughey, Mahershala Ali.

I love fillums

I forgot about Willem Dafoe

rossie1977 · 07-07-2020 12:48pm

Roddy Piper

07-07-2020 12:55pm

This is it wrote: »

Casey Affleck doesn't seem to get too many leading roles but I think he's very good. Gone Baby Gone wasn't a fantastic movie but I thought he was brilliant in it.

I loved that film

Manchester By The Sea is another one of his that I just love.

castletownman · 07-07-2020 12:59pm

Deleted User wrote: »

How did I forget to include Stephen Graham in my list. He is incredible. As another person posted about Daniel Day Lewis you see the actor and not the man. That is exactly how it is with Graham. Also forgot to mention Sean Bean.

Stephen Graham is absolutely outstanding as Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire. Really nails the madness and coldness of the man. In fact, there are a lot of brilliant performances in that show that makes me think of the actors as being among the best in the business.

The aforementioned Michael Shannon plays an ideal role in BE, and has a real brooding presence in everything I have seen him in since.

Bobby Cannavale plays arguably the greatest villian in the history of television in Gyp Rossetti, and does an excellent job. Michael Stuhlbarg and Shea Whigham are both excellent in it too. All the three are solid.

But a very underrated actor in everything he is in is Michael Kenneth Williams. Perhaps the star of the show in Boardwalk Empire as Chalky White, and is great in the Wire too.

As for some of the mainstream guys, has there ever been an actor who has tainted their legacy with a litany of bad films more than De Niro? Cannot bring to mind a decent film he has been in in my adulthood (I am 32 now), and he has been a lot of duds. Silver Linings Playbook was well received I suppose, but I thought it was ****e enough (mainly due to Bradley Cooper's bad acting). His career reminds of Wayne Rooney's in soccer- first half genuinely excellent, faded badly thereafter.

Intern. · 07-07-2020 1:00pm

Russell Crowe

Church on Tuesday · 07-07-2020 1:03pm

rossie1977 wrote: »

Roddy Piper

Church on Tuesday · 07-07-2020 1:04pm

Paddy Considine is a great actor I think.

07-07-2020 1:05pm

castletownman wrote: »

Stephen Graham is absolutely outstanding as Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire. Really nails the madness and coldness of the man. In fact, there are a lot of brilliant performances in that show that makes me think of the actors as being among the best in the business.

The aforementioned Michael Shannon plays an ideal role in BE, and has a real brooding presence in everything I have seen him in since.

Bobby Cannavale plays arguably the greatest villian in the history of television in Gyp Rossetti, and does an excellent job. Michael Stuhlbarg and Shea Whigham are both excellent in it too. All the three are solid.

But a very underrated actor in everything he is in is Michael Kenneth Williams. Perhaps the star of the show in Boardwalk Empire as Chalky White, and is great in the Wire too.

As for some of the mainstream guys, has there ever been an actor who has tainted their legacy with a litany of bad films more than De Niro? Cannot bring to mind a decent film he has been in in my adulthood (I am 32 now), and he has been a lot of duds. Silver Linings Playbook was well received I suppose, but I thought it was ****e enough (mainly due to Bradley Cooper's bad acting). His career reminds of Wayne Rooney's in soccer- first half genuinely excellent, faded badly thereafter.

Michael Kenneth Williams was also in a tv series The Night Of. He was great in that too. A very different character to Omar Little who audiences would have been sympathetic to I think. I love seeing those differences, how an actor can be amazing no matter the type of role they take.

I just don't know what happened to Robert De Niro. Wasn't he the dad in Meet The Fockers? Maybe it all went downhill from there.

Rodney Bathgate · 07-07-2020 1:07pm

kingtiger wrote: »

Has to be Leo from Fair City

No love for Zumo?

hi5 · 07-07-2020 1:19pm

Christoph Waltz.

Risingshadoo · 07-07-2020 1:26pm

I don't think there's a good answer to this question. I don't think you can compare actors or anyone in a creative field. It's such a subjective thing.

trashcan · 07-07-2020 1:50pm

Arghus wrote: »

I can understand that, to an extent, there aren't many films that he's appeared in that would qualify as easy entertainment. Personally, I think he's great in just about everything. If I was to recommend any of his films for pure entertainment I'd say Last of The Mochians or maybe even Lincoln.

I think Daniel Day Lewis is a superb actor, but, on the other hand I think he's never been in a really great film, if that makes sense. His performance has often been the best thing about otherwise average films.

Has anyone mentioned Jack Lemmon yet ? Himself and a Walter Matthau were both terrific. I also really rate Philip Seymour Hoffman, while Bryan Cranston is another with a good range. Glad to see Stephen Graham get a mention too. Brilliant in This Is England.

I Am Nobody · 07-07-2020 2:11pm

James Garner and Telly Savalas

earthwormjack · 07-07-2020 2:22pm

trashcan wrote: »

I think Daniel Day Lewis is a superb actor, but, on the other hand I think he's never been in a really great film, if that makes sense. His performance has often been the best thing about otherwise average films.

I thought Phantom Thread was a superb film that should have won multiple oscars that year.

trashcan wrote: »

Glad to see Stephen Graham get a mention too. Brilliant in This Is England.

He's excellent in The Virtues as well. It's a tough watch though.

Mysterypunter · 07-07-2020 2:37pm

No mention of another of my favourites Billy Bob Thornton. I'm not that in to films, but he was good in Fargo, the TV series, and Friday night lights

07-07-2020 2:57pm

Mysterypunter wrote: »

No mention of another of my favourites Billy Bob Thornton. I'm not that in to films, but he was good in Fargo, the TV series, and Friday night lights

Really? Why don't you like films?

07-07-2020 3:00pm

Mysterypunter wrote: »

No mention of another of my favourites Billy Bob Thornton. I'm not that in to films, but he was good in Fargo, the TV series, and Friday night lights

He was exceptional in Fargo. Lorne Malvo is one of TV's great characters.

JimmyVik · 07-07-2020 3:07pm

Jake the muss. Powerful.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 07-07-2020 3:57pm

Nathalia Damp Repairman wrote: »

Based on a very short but impeccable career, I think John Cazale deserves a mention too. His performance in The Deer Hunter was excellent, though that could be said of all the actors I think. An incredibly strong cast.

Cazale is the best part of Dog Day Afternoon. Gives Sal a loose cannon energy.

It’s heartbreaking to see his physical decline in the Deerhunter.

Rothko · 07-07-2020 4:54pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Some favourites of mine already mentioned. Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day Lewis. Also Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Willem Dafoe, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Amy Adams, Frances Mcdormand, Matthew McConaughey, Mahershala Ali.

I love fillums

Michael Shannon is a fantastic actor.

KungPao · 07-07-2020 4:58pm

Has Leo from Fair City been mentioned? Huey from the Pizza Parlour coming in a close second.

ShatterAlan · 07-07-2020 5:00pm

lickalot wrote: »

1) Christopher Waltz,
2) Leo
3) Denzel
4) Brad Pitt
5) Tom Hanks

And in that order.

Brad Pitt isn't really a great actor. He is fairly wooden like Keanu Reeves.

He generally plays the same role basically a handsome cool dude e.g. the Ocean's movies, Fight Club, Seven. Even as the lawyer in Sleepers.

He was good as a nutcase in 12 Monkeys and a psychopath in Kalifornia. The stoner, Floyd in True Romance was a good show but I'd say anyone could pull that off.

His performance in the Devil's Own was rank. The Irish accent was dire and you could see that he was struggling with it and it affected how he delivered his lines.

An actor should be versatile and be able to play a hero, a villain, a psychopath a convincing homosexual, be able to exude authentic emotion whether it's fear, rage, misery, etc.

Some that standout for me that can do this would be

Kevin Bacon

Sean Penn
Jake Gyllenhal
Cillian Murphy

Riddle101 · 07-07-2020 5:17pm

Robin Williams and John Goodman. Don't know if they would be the best actors of the modern era but I do think they deserve a mention. Both actors are very versatile and can play both comedic and dramatic roles.

Dennis Hopper is another legend too. His scene in True Romance is one of the finest pieces of cinema history i've ever scene.

ShatterAlan · 07-07-2020 5:25pm

Nathalia Damp Repairman wrote: »

So hard to pick one. Most of those mentioned here are brilliant. There isn't just one I think, and I think if I had to choose it would probably be one from an older era.

But the one I consistently enjoy the most is Tom Hanks. Very versatile and always believable. Such an amazing catalogue of great performances.

Probably not on any lists, but I also love Mark Ruffalo in everything that doesn't involve superheroes . And Reese Witherspoon. Some top performances.

I will say though, that I have never enjoyed a single Day Lewis film. I just don't get it.

I too can understand your position. His movies are very heavy. I will say that I enjoyed In The Name Of The Father. His scenes when he cracked up in the jail cell, when he started screaming during interrogation, when he confronted the IRA man who torched the prison guard were all very powerful performances. I liked him in The Boxer too. But his other movies like Gangs Of New York and There Will Be Blood, I just find so bleak. Doesn't take away from the actor's pedigree, I know.

AngryLoner · 07-07-2020 5:52pm

What, nobody for Ryan Gosling? He's the Gylfi Sigurdsson of modern cinema!

BattleCorp · 07-07-2020 5:52pm

Be right back wrote: »

Heath Ledger is another one that comes to mind.

Nah, he's made fcukall movies lately.

This is it · 07-07-2020 6:12pm

AngryLoner wrote: »

What, nobody for Ryan Gosling? He's the Gylfi Sigurdsson of modern cinema!

Middling? Bang average? Because that's what Gylfi is!

I Am Nobody · 07-07-2020 7:04pm

Charltan Heston,Kirk Douglas,and George C. Scott.Also Bill Paxton.

castletownman · 07-07-2020 7:31pm

ShatterAlan wrote: »

Brad Pitt isn't really a great actor. He is fairly wooden like Keanu Reeves.

He generally plays the same role basically a handsome cool dude e.g. the Ocean's movies, Fight Club, Seven. Even as the lawyer in Sleepers.

He was good as a nutcase in 12 Monkeys and a psychopath in Kalifornia. The stoner, Floyd in True Romance was a good show but I'd say anyone could pull that off.

His performance in the Devil's Own was rank. The Irish accent was dire and you could see that he was struggling with it and it affected how he delivered his lines.

An actor should be versatile and be able to play a hero, a villain, a psychopath a convincing homosexual, be able to exude authentic emotion whether it's fear, rage, misery, etc.

Some that standout for me that can do this would be

Kevin Bacon

Sean Penn
Jake Gyllenhal
Cillian Murphy

Just on your point about an actor's versatility, tell that to the 'woke' brigade.

There is no way Day Lewis would be allowed play Christy Brown today.

Sam Hain · 07-07-2020 7:42pm

This is it wrote: »

Casey Affleck doesn't seem to get too many leading roles but I think he's very good. Gone Baby Gone wasn't a fantastic movie but I thought he was brilliant in it.

Wasn't Casey Affleck a bit bold during the filming of I'm still here. Thinks he has a bit of a rep. Good actor though. Superb in both The assassination of Jesse James and Manchester by the sea.

Be right back · 07-07-2020 7:42pm

BattleCorp wrote: »

Nah, he's made fcukall movies lately.

Now, now!!

Sam Hain · 07-07-2020 7:48pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Some favourites of mine already mentioned. Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day Lewis. Also Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Willem Dafoe, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Amy Adams, Frances Mcdormand, Matthew McConaughey, Mahershala Ali.

I love fillums

Solid, solid list.

Mister Vain · 07-07-2020 9:57pm

ShatterAlan wrote: »

Brad Pitt isn't really a great actor. He is fairly wooden like Keanu Reeves.

He generally plays the same role basically a handsome cool dude e.g. the Ocean's movies, Fight Club, Seven. Even as the lawyer in Sleepers.

He was good as a nutcase in 12 Monkeys and a psychopath in Kalifornia. The stoner, Floyd in True Romance was a good show but I'd say anyone could pull that off.

His performance in the Devil's Own was rank. The Irish accent was dire and you could see that he was struggling with it and it affected how he delivered his lines.

An actor should be versatile and be able to play a hero, a villain, a psychopath a convincing homosexual, be able to exude authentic emotion whether it's fear, rage, misery, etc.

What about Mikey the pikey?

Eduard Khil · 07-07-2020 10:40pm

Sam Rockwell a very overlooked actor he has been excellent in many of his roles.

If this was 15 years ago John Malkovich would be top of my list seeing him in polar opposite roles of Lenny in Of Mice and Men and Cyrus the Virus in Con Air he still has that spark even now in The New Pope.

davidglanza · 07-07-2020 11:54pm

Tom cruise.

Capt'n Midnight · 08-07-2020 12:01am

davidglanza wrote: »

Tom cruise.

https://www.rogerebert.com/scanners/talking-heads--american-psycho--christian-bale--tom-cruise--miles-fisher--mad-men

Director Mary Harron, on working with Christian Bale to develop the character of Patrick Bateman in "American Psycho":

"We talked about how Martian-like Patrick Bateman was, how he was looking at the world like somebody from another planet, watching what people did and trying to work out the right way to behave. And then one day he called me and he had been watching Tom Cruise on David Letterman, and he just had this very intense friendliness with nothing behind the eyes, and he was really taken with this energy."

tom1ie · 08-07-2020 1:13pm

Denzel Washington. Brilliant in most films he does. Manages to make a mediocre film interesting just because of his acting talent.

bodhrandude · 08-07-2020 1:43pm

castletownman wrote: »

Stephen Graham is absolutely outstanding as Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire. Really nails the madness and coldness of the man. In fact, there are a lot of brilliant performances in that show that makes me think of the actors as being among the best in the business.

The aforementioned Michael Shannon plays an ideal role in BE, and has a real brooding presence in everything I have seen him in since.

Bobby Cannavale plays arguably the greatest villian in the history of television in Gyp Rossetti, and does an excellent job. Michael Stuhlbarg and Shea Whigham are both excellent in it too. All the three are solid.

But a very underrated actor in everything he is in is Michael Kenneth Williams. Perhaps the star of the show in Boardwalk Empire as Chalky White, and is great in the Wire too.

As for some of the mainstream guys, has there ever been an actor who has tainted their legacy with a litany of bad films more than De Niro? Cannot bring to mind a decent film he has been in in my adulthood (I am 32 now), and he has been a lot of duds. Silver Linings Playbook was well received I suppose, but I thought it was ****e enough (mainly due to Bradley Cooper's bad acting). His career reminds of Wayne Rooney's in soccer- first half genuinely excellent, faded badly thereafter.

He was in some classics too, Deer Hunter, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.

JupiterKid · 08-07-2020 2:06pm

How could I have overlooked Cate Blanchett? Superb in practically every role she played and did a seriously convincing Dublin accent in Veronica Guerin.

Heath Ledger showed so much talent and promise. He was amazing as a very disturbed Joker in Batman: The Dark Knight and Brokeback Mountain. Such a waste and a real loss.

Cillian Murphy is the best of our home grown younger actors. He is extremely versatile in his roles (a sign of a really good actor). Michael Fassbender would be a close second.

Ashbourne hoop · 08-07-2020 3:43pm

ShatterAlan wrote: »

I too can understand your position. His movies are very heavy. I will say that I enjoyed In The Name Of The Father. His scenes when he cracked up in the jail cell, when he started screaming during interrogation, when he confronted the IRA man who torched the prison guard were all very powerful performances. I liked him in The Boxer too. But his other movies like Gangs Of New York and There Will Be Blood, I just find so bleak. Doesn't take away from the actor's pedigree, I know.

I can also get what you're saying. There will be blood was very boring imo, I loved Gangs of New York though. The Crucible is one of my fav Daniel Day Lewis films, thought he was excellent in it.

Riddle101 · 08-07-2020 4:34pm

Joe Pesci. Nobody could play a psychopath gangster better than Joe. It's actually funny because the guy is about 5"3 but he played some pretty intimidating characters very well. Plus the guy also had comedic talent as well.

xzanti · 08-07-2020 4:39pm

Brian Cranston.

Ipso · 08-07-2020 6:41pm

Mads Mikkelsen is very good, done a great job in Hannibal. He has some Danish films that are supposed to be very good.

Capt'n Midnight · 08-07-2020 10:48pm

Klaus Kinski he played the hunchback in For A Few Dollars More and some other stuff.

Rothko · 09-07-2020 1:09am

Ipso wrote: »

Mads Mikkelsen is very good, done a great job in Hannibal. He has some Danish films that are supposed to be very good.

Pusher is a great film.

JustAThought · 09-07-2020 1:33am

Rachel Weiss.

Incredible actress. Saw her in a few arthouse films back in the day. She was the lead in A Constant Gardner.

Married to Daniel Craig now & semi retired.

Best Actor of the modern era?

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