A few months back Life As A Human hosted a lively discussion of readers’ picks for best film performances by actors and actresses. I weighed in then along with scores of other devoted film aficionados.
Movies have been a source of sublime escape and resplendent myth-making for me for as long as I can remember, so much so in fact that I made my way into the film business for a few very special years working for a Hollywood studio and then as a screenwriter. The cocoon of a darkened movie theatre carried me away on scores of magic celluloid carpets to far away locations, to times long past and still be come, into the lives and thoughts and feelings of hundreds of rich characters.
To choose just five actors from all those stunning performances is almost unfathomable, but here goes.
#5 – Peter O’Toole
From his Oscar nominated performances in “Lawrence of Arabia”, “The Lion in Winter”, “Goodbye Mr. Chips”, “The Stuntman”,”My Favourite Year”, and “Venus”, plus countless other stunning roles, Peter O’Toole has shown himself to be the consummate actor of incredible range and versatility.
#4 – Tommy Lee Jones
An everyman in every sense. “Coalminer’s Daughter”, “JFK”, “The Fugitive”, “Heaven and Earth”, “Blue Sky”, “Men in Black”, “The Missing”, “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada”, “No Country for Old Men”, “Lincoln”. Tommy Lee Jones is the consummate character actor with the strength and quiet brilliance to be a leading man in all respects.
#3 – Robert Downey Jr.
If there is a defining survivor in Hollywood, it is Robert Downey Jr. “True Believer”, “Chaplin”, “Air America”, “Soapdish”, “Short Cuts”, “Home for the Holidays”, “Wonder Boys”, “Good Night and Good Luck”, “Iron Man”, “Sherlock Holmes”. He’s a master at comedy and serious drama, lived through drug addiction and a number of arrests, and continues to prove himself to be an actor of gifted clarity.
#2 – Jack Nicholson
More than an actor; a living, breathing icon of film over the past 50 years. “Easy Rider”, “Carnal Knowledge”, “Chinatown”, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, “The Shining”, “Terms of Endearment”, “The Witches of Eastwick”, “A Few Good Men”, “As Good As It Gets”, “About Schmidt”. The list could go on and on. Irreverent, unafraid, authentic and true to each character he plays, Jack Nicholson is a true treasure.
#1 – Daniel Day Lewis
Embodying each role with rare subtlety and respect, Daniel Day Lewis is tops in my book. “My Beautiful Launderette”, “A Room With a View”, “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”, “My Left Foot”, “Last of the Mohicans”, “In the Name of the Father”, “Gangs of New York”, “There Will be Blood”, “Lincoln”. Lewis lives and breathes the characters he portrays and each performance shows it; from quiet leadership to vicious greed, he inhabits each role with unsurpassed talent and flawless skill.
Now, who are your top picks for actors and why?
Join in the conversation in the comments below.
Photo Credits
Peter O’Toole (Wikipedia), Tommy Lee Jones (Wikimedia Commons), Robert Downey Jr. (Wikipedia),
Jack Nicholson (Wikimedia Commons), Daniel Day Lewis (Wikipedia)
I couldn’t agree with you more, Ross. Kevin Spacey is a rare and most gifted actor. “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty” are two of my favourite films as well.
I have just watched The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, and I do believe that Kevin Spacey must be included on a list of top actors. Also great in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Tess, you hit it spot on! I’ve watched Last of the Mohicans many times, and I’m about to watch There Will Be Blood, just to watch the performance of Daniel Day Lewis. He is unparalleled. 🙂
Dan, thanks for your comment. I think “There Will Be Blood” shows his range on such a level that’s it’s hard to surpass. Let me know what you think of it.
I agree, Tess. I have seen it before – I think this will be my 3rd time to watch it. I agree – it really shows his range.
Going back to older actors – Gregory Peck is hard to beat. To Kill A Mockingbird, The Big Country, his list of leading roles is amazing!
Wow, Dan. You are a true movie lover! 🙂 Gregory Peck is one of my all time favourite actors. Add in Laurence Olivier, James Stewart, Burt Lancaster, Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, Spencer Tracy…oh, my, so so many and so much talent.
Tess, I guess I am a true movie lover! Gil and I put together a list of our “Top 10 Movies” one time, and it was amazing the similar entries on our lists.
Dear Tess:
I am as interested in your Hollywood background as I am in your choices for best leading men; the former we will perhaps discuss in another medium, while the latter invites my immediate (and preliminary as I need time to mull this one over a bit) comments.
I agree with your top choice 100%. IMHO DDL is the finest cinema actor working in the English language today. I do also like most of your other selections although I am not so familiar with the films of Robert Downey Jr. My list would definitely include Philip Seymour Hoffman – great range, sensitivity, courage. He was perfect in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Capote, Doubt, and many more.
He’s no longer around so I suppose he cannot be on a list, but one of my all-time favourites was Alec Guinness.
Hi Ross,
I completely agree with you that Philip Seymour Hoffman is outstanding. He could possibly knock Robert Downey Jr. from contention on my list except for the fact that I find Downey Jr. just so darn affable. Perhaps his range isn’t as immense as some other actors, but he never fails to delight me in his choice of roles. Hmm…except perhaps for Tropic Thunder, but I forgive him.
Tess
Alec Guinness … P.S. Hoffman .. great choices as well!
Jeremy Irons + Robert Duvall also would be great choices IMHO 🙂
Thanks Tess!
Gileeeeeeeee
P.S. I will post my 5 leading ladies soon 😉
Gil and Ross, yes indeed, Alec Guinness is a class act all around. And Gil, Jeremy Irons and Robert Duvall are superb. Just picking five was near to impossible. I could easily add Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Al Pacino, Denzel Washington, Anthony Hopkins, and Max von Sydow to the list. Tons of talent out there.
Gil, I can’t wait to see your picks for leading ladies. 😉
Hey Tess!
Yes! Indeed! And I might cheat on my leading ladies 😛
Gileeeeeeeeeeeeee
Robert Duvall, yes, I forgot about him – wonderful, Tender Mercies, The Great Santini, True Confessions, The Apostle. And how about Jeff Bridges? Wasn’t he perfect in Crazy Heart?
I LOVE Bridges! Starman, The Fisher King and Fearless are 3 of my faves!
Also love Duvall in Phenomenon … in which I thought Travolta was BRILLIANT!
Gileeeeeeeeeeee
Gil, agreed! Fearless shines with Jeff Bridges’ acting skills. Loved him in Starman, The Fisher King and The Big Lebowski too. And Travolta in Phenomenon, Michael and Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Saturday Night Fever – good stuff.
Thanks Gileeeeeeee!
Ross, how right you are! Robert Duvall is par excellence. He always brings integrity and a gentle strength to his roles. Jeff Bridges as well. He can so easily set aside the Hollywood leading man persona and dig deep into each of his roles.
Thanks again for your keen film observations, and your great movie reviews at LAAH!