I have written a number of film reviews and articles about film for Life as a Human over the past couple of years. And in these articles I have often given my opinion about acting performances. For example, in my review of Twelve Angry Men I praised the performance of character actor Lee J. Cobb, I loved Max von Sydow in Pelle the Conqueror, and I marveled at the acting of Jessica Lange in Blue Sky. In addition, I penned a long article in praise of the great Meryl Streep.
Recently, Life As A Human President Gil Namur and yours truly have been talking, via e-mail and Skype, about our favourite acting performances in film. The conversation began when Gil suggested that I watch the 1993 western, Tombstone; Gil thought that I might be impressed with the performance of Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday – I was.
A 90-minute Skype session we had a few days ago was like film actor speed dating: in our conversation about actors we covered a huge number of performances from the past fifty years or so, performances that have stuck in our memories. Naturally we did not always agree on certain actors and certain performances (I, the snobby guy, tend to dismiss people like Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks out of hand while Gil is far more generous, always considering the type of film in which the actor appears and his own purpose for seeing the movie).
So now it’s your turn: We’d like you to share with Life As A Human readers your view of the quintessential acting performance in a movie. Is it Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man? Is it Helen Mirren in The Queen? Is it Ronald Reagan in Bedtime for Bonzo? Or is it Bonzo in Bedtime for Bonzo?
Comment on this post with your favourite acting performance (actor and film) and let’s get a conversation going. Maybe if there is a clear “winner” we can present him or her with the Life As A Human First Annual Best Acting Performance By Popular Opinion Award.
Here’s a little Val Kilmer for you …
I’m your Huckleberry!
Photo Credit
Val Kilmer – Screen Capture From Video
Recent Ross Lonergan Articles:
- The Film-School Student Who Never Graduates: A Profile of Ang Lee, Part Four
- The Film-School Student Who Never Graduates: A Profile of Ang Lee, Part Three
- The Film-School Student Who Never Graduates: A Profile of Ang Lee, Part Two
- The Film-School Student Who Never Graduates: A Profile of Ang Lee, Part One
- Bullying, Fear, And The Full Moon (Part Four)
John Travolta – Phenomenon (1996) – BRILLIANT!
Thanks to everyone for the “nominations,” suggestions, and comments. The fact that there was no clear “winner” simply shows that we all have different ideas of what constitutes great acting or a great performance and that I should have narrowed the category somewhat. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and we will do something like this again in the not-too-distant future.
I think one of the best collection of performances came from The Prestige. The show stealer is David Bowie as Nicola Tesla. If you haven’t seen the movie, Bowie’s small role is terrific.
Shawn!
I did see The Prestige. Great flick. I had NO idea that Bowie was Tesla! Have to watch it again now!!
Thanks for that!
Gileeeeeeeeeeee
I’m going to go with Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark. I’ve been a Ford fan since Star Wars and I’ll be the first to admit that his action-star repertoire can get a little repetitive, but he truly brought Indiana Jones to life. Even today, more than 30 years later, it’s a movie where I only see the character, and not the famous actor playing him.
I vote for Liza MInnelli in Cabaret and Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange
Thank you, Susan. Two interesting choices. I agree that Minnelli was outstanding in Cabaret (see my review on this site); strange that I do not recall ever seeing her in any other role. I will have to watch A Clockwork Orange again as it has been a long time and I can only recall snippets of Malcolm McDowell.
Watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid this weekend. Some my favorite lines “Who are these guys?”, “The fall will kill you”. Some movies are just poetic like Field of dreams or Bull Durham.
I agree, Janet – great choice of Butch and Sundance. You are right about those lines – classics. And yes, Field of Dreams and Bull Durham – poetic is a great way to describe them! 🙂
An absolute classic!! Bite the bullet one of those movies you can watch again and again…everyone a
winner.
You know, Mary, I don’t hear Bite The Bullet talked about that much, but I remember feeling like it was a classic when it first came out – it just had a solid energy!
Cliff Robertson – Charly (Flowers for Algernon) – 1968
Wow, so many excellent performances already mentioned. I’ve always been a lover of film and it’s so hard to narrow it to one favourite or even two.
But, here goes…
Best Actress: Meryl Streep in Out of Africa
Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot
Yes, indeed, La Streep was her usual magnificent self In O of A. I have not seen “My Left Foot” but DDL is a mighty fine actor (great in “There Will Be Blood” and positively spookily good in “Lincoln”), so I will order that one from the library. Thank you, Tess!
Tess … for sure!
Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot … amazing!
Ross … a MUST watch!
Ross, absolutely. DDL was stellar in There Will Be Blood and perfection in Lincoln. To play that role with such quiet strength was a brilliant tour de force.
And I know you are a huge fan of Ms. Streep. I’ve loved her in everything from Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, Silkwood, The Hours, A Cry in the Dark, to one of my favs, Adaptation. Out of Africa, however, is probably my favorite movie of all time. The screenplay, music, set design, and, of course, Meryl and Robert Redford.
What more could you ask for?
Best Performance by an actor – Paul Newman, “Cool Hand Luke.” A close second – Gregory Peck, “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Best Actress – Barbara Streisand, “Funny Girl,” close second, Katherine Hepburn, “On Golden Pond.”
Just watched Tombstone again last week, and I totally agree that Val Kilmer was outstanding!
I see a LOT of great nominations and possibilities here!
A personal favorite – Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable, “It Happened One Night.” Some of the older movies were just brilliant!
Thanks, Dan. “It Happened One Night ” has been on my list for a long time. I am going to order it from the library right now (because, of course, Netflix doesn’t have it).
You bet, Ross! I think you’ll be pleased. The best of the old Hollywood! 🙂 Have we talked about “Bringing Up Baby,” with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn? The best of the screwball comedies, and a Must See!
Okay “Bringing Up Baby” and “Cool Hand Luke” are both going on my list. Thanks, Dan!
My nomination goes to Graham Chapman in the 1979 British comedy, Monty Python’s “Life of Brian”. The movie was brilliant on both a superficial slapstick basis and on a much deeper level which involved a certain knowledge of religion and Judeo-Roman politics of the First Century A.D. (or C.E. if you prefer).
It’s obvious that I’m a devotee of the older actors. Anything with Anthony Hopkins but I particularly enjoyed Meeting Joe Black.
Hi Dianne!
What a great movie that was! I think it’s a great Brad Pitt performance too!
I quite agree. The two of them together, both as individuals and as actors in the same movie, created a unique space for observers to experience a left-behind dimension of life, one we don’t often have the opportunity to experience.
Thanks, Dianne. Did not see Meet Joe Black but loved Hopkins in Remains of the Day.
Well, yes, choosing just one actor in one performance is difficult, but I will nominate Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain.
Agreed!
Recently, Sharlto Copley in District 9. A pretty amazing performance from a relatively unvarnished actor.
More obviously, O’toole in Lawrence of Arabia.
But picking one favourite in the acting department is a lot like asking about favourite gulps of air (to stretch the metaphor a little).
O’Toole was brilliant in Lawrence. I also loved Alec Guinness as Prince Feisal.(“How I long for the gardens of Cordoba”)
Paul Bettany…. just one of my faves
A Knight’s Tale
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
A Beautiful Mind
Jodi Foster – “Nell” – 1994 (Lost to Jessica Lange … love Jessica but not sure about that one!)
Christopher Walken in The Seven Psychopaths. (Walken in anything, really.)
Hi Pia!
Walken is very good for sure. Have not seen that one. Will look for it 🙂
There are so many perfect roles of actors in a movie:
Sean Connery in James Bond
Tom Cruise in Top Gun
Kevin Costner in Dancing with Wolves
Bruce Willis in Die Hard
Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally
Mel Gibson & Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon
Steve McQueen in Bullit
Julie Roberts in Pretty Woman
George Clooney in Oceans 11
Brad Pitt in Se7en
Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean or Edward Scissorhands
Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam
Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting
Tom Hanks in Big or Forest Gump
Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry or Good Bad and Ugly
Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy or Million Dollar Baby
….. and the list goes on!
Steve! Some good ones there … pick a fave or 2 from that list?
Peter O’Toole in the Ruling Class and Johnny Depp in …. any movie he has done but especially Don Juan de Marco – the Greatest Lover that Ever Lived
Don Juan de Marco … a perennial favorite of mine and I loved Brando in it. Have you seen Benny and Joon?
Never seen the Ruling Class but I will … Peter O’Toole is so great. Thanks for the tip!
Great stuff Ross!
I will start with this one …
Sean Connery in the role of ‘Mulai Ahmed er Raisuli’ in “The Wind and the Lion” – 1975
I finally saw this movie after you recommended it so long ago….and…well…um…..
Totally agree – Sean’s best role, IMHO. But not to be overlooked is Brian Keith as Teddy Roosevelt!
Agreed! Keith was excellent and so was Candice Bergen!
You know it’s an amazing movie, Gil, when I forget to mention Candice – yes, she fit the part and had the boldness to keep up with Sean!