Best actors, list your top 10

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Again, just do what the title says. You probably won't have to state why as some are so obvious, but here goes anyway;

1. Robert De Niro

2. Liam Neeson

3. Denzel Washington

4. Sir Anthony Hopkins

5. Heath Ledger

6. Clint Eastwood

7. Sean Connery

8. Bruce Willis

9. Christian Bale

10. Johnny Depp

As you may be able to tell I like the actors who come across serious, voice is important, helps with De Niro being the number one. I also appreciate the ones that can really throw themself into the character and vary their acting for different persona's in different films; with that said I think Bruce Willis can cry too much!

From Hell, Blow & Don Juan are also brilliant Depp performances

Well there was the fear he could've been typecast after those early pefrormances. Got to hand it to Scorsese for re-inventing him from scratch. Sometimes directors help change the fortunes of actors.

Also in Basketball Diaries was a young Mark Wahlberg and look how far he has come from that movie.

I think you mean Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (though Leaving Las Vegas is a brilliant film, it's got Nicholas Cage in it). It's one of my favourite films and him and Benito DelToro are amazing. Bill Murray is good as Hunter S Thompson in Where Buffalo Roam but Depp is absolutely amazing in Fear and Loathing - it's such an incredible film and very crazy.

yeah fear and loathing!!

I'd forgotten about Basketball Diaries, great film as is Mean Streets

Joaquin Phoenix is another who has had some stand out performances. In We Own The Night he was fantastic.

I should have done a top 20 I think! Dicaprio, Smith and Phoenix would have forced their way into my top 10 then, with De Niro staying at number one. I actually appreciate that he did a comical role in Meet the Parents. He brought his serious attitude to the father figure, I didn't ever think he could be that hilarious but he was. I also thought he gave standout performances in Raging Bull and Taxi Driver. Not sure how big those movies were at the time.

legendkillar, you can add Phoenix' performances in Red Dragon, Gladiator and Walk the Line to that.

People might be surprised at Ledger and Bale on my list. Well for Ledger look at Candy and Two Hands. For Bale check out the Machinist and American Phsyco.

bale is a top actor. He was brilliant in the fighter last year

Bale for Machinist and even Reign of Fire. I was watching his profile on bio and the amount of strain and effort he put his body through was just scary. That is what you call a dedicated actor. Liked Harsh Times too. Seeing his sinister side.

Ledger was really starting to come into his own and was doing some great parts - such a shame he didn't get the chance to really show what he could do, just like River Phoenix.

Joaquin in 8mm is really good as well, though Walk the Line is probably him at his best. Bale is ridiculous in the Machinist - I heard that the director told him he wanted him quite thin to play the part and 1st day of filming Bale turned up almost emancipated and ridiculously thin and ill looking - still great performance. (Us Welsh are nothing if not committed!)

Ain't seen Candy, will have to keep an eye out for it.

Matthew McConaughey plays a great part in Reign of Fire

Bale actually starved himself. I heard he was eating something ridiculous like 300 calories a day.

Yeah it's crazy isn't it? and not even necessary for the role - I don't want to know what he went through to do the Batman films - he was probably bench pressing his agent before free running and base jumping in the afternoons!

If you want to know about method actors- check out what DDL does. Its crazy insane. And the reason why he doesnt even have time to do that many films.

Candy isn't great to be honest Smirnoff. It's a bit like Neeson's great performance in an awful film known as Darkman.

Now I see Erik Bana didn't make anyone's top 10, does anyone else think he is a bit underated at actor? I rate him, and I'm yet to see Munich or the Time Travellers wife. His portrayal of Mark Chopper Read was about as perfect as you can get.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Yeah it's crazy isn't it? and not even necessary for the role - I don't want to know what he went through to do the Batman films - he was probably bench pressing his agent before free running and base jumping in the afternoons!

I think that was Bale back to his natural shape, he is built that way in the majority of his films.

Bales problem for me is only batman- thats all- I love him in everything else and even john wayne. His mouth and voice wind me up abit as batman.

I wasn't that impressed with Chopper to be honest (though you do think you're watching Mark Chopper rather than Eric Bana) and felt the build up and reactions to the violence realistic and as such the film didn't hit home as much. I much prefer Vincent Cassel in Mesrine or even the Spandau Ballet boys in the Krays.

well in the fighter he looked proper mashed up- and yet so toned in batman.. He also looked proper mashed up in the maschinist as well.. He does alot to his body thats for sure.

If your talking about candy- the australian ledger film- i like it alot. Ledger plays a very good junkie

but the voice makes sense as it shows his trying to hide his identity.

unlike in the Rami films of spiderman where he sounds the same but marry jane still struggled to figure out who it was.

the less said about Spiderman the better

yeah i dont really mind the acting part oif it- it just irratates.

Yep i havent seen spiderman either

Keaton did a very good voice change for his Batman. Bale's version really puts me off, plus his Bruce Wayne voice was coming out in his first duel with Bane. I'm not interested in watching the Amazing Spiderman, but would like to see Ifans' performance in it.

The best Australian actor for me is Guy Pearce.

Shows how much I know, I thought he was English. Gibson is the best Aussie for me, followed by Ledger. Crowe is the best (and only) Kiwi actor.

Morgannwg wrote:Shows how much I know, I thought he was English. Gibson is the best Aussie for me, followed by Ledger. Crowe is the best (and only) Kiwi actor.

Shows what I know as well, I thought Crowe was Australian!

I like Guy Pearce, but as Australians go Nicole Kidman must be up there (and nobodies even mentioned Paul Hogan yet!)

He was English born, but an Australian national

Who Guy Pearce?

Smirnoffpriest wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Shows how much I know, I thought he was English. Gibson is the best Aussie for me, followed by Ledger. Crowe is the best (and only) Kiwi actor.

Shows what I know as well, I thought Crowe was Australian!

I like Guy Pearce, but as Australians go Nicole Kidman must be up there (and nobodies even mentioned Paul Hogan yet!)

big aussie cricket fan is crowe- lived there for a long time as well- but he is a kiwi

and guy pearce is english born/ but i thought we all knew he was aussie((cough cough- due to watching neighbours as kids)

Well who didn't watch Neighbours?

"Neighbours pick your nose and taste the flavours..."

My favourite actor has to be John Candy. Absolute legend!

Yup what a guy, such a shame he died.

Personally I can never name a favourite actor as when I do (and a few just ran through my head) I think of all the other's I could name - Michael Caine, but what about Mel Gibson, or Al Pacino, or Russell Crowe, or Morgan Freeman (which I can't believe he hasn't been mentioned yet, or jack nicholson) or Will Smith ... ect

favourite is very different to my best. because many actors are just spot on for there roles so they dont even have to be that good at acting. but at the same time i couldnt like an actor(unless he is on a soap or something- that i am forced to see offcourse!!) that isnt that good.

Favourites at the moment in time is tom hardy, michael fassbender ,ryan goisling, ddl, gary oldman, dicaprio, that guy out of bbc's sherlock holmes, johnny depp, bradd pitt....

I think with John Candy I just think of the Uncle Buck he could've been to myself

Loved him in Trains, Planes and Automobiles.

I could watch his films and never tire of them. I probably do have other favourites, but I do wish I could've been in Uncle Buck.

Yeah Candy is definitely worth a mention. Uncle Buck was my favourite, he was also great in Cool Runnings and Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Chris Farley > John Candy (I cant believe people didnt question my inclusion of Farley in my list!)

I've enjoyed watching over many years a range of actors and their films, some even before my time . In no particular order of preference with one or two of their best works:

Anton Walbrook - Gaslight and La Ronde

Paul Muni - I Am A Fugitive From A Chaingang

Peter Lorre - M and The Maltese Falcon

Jack Lemmon - Some Like It Hot and The Great Race

Peter Sellers - Two Way Stretch and Being There

Jack Nicholson - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

Donald Pleasence - The Great Escape

Alec Guinness - The Ladykillers and The Lavender Hill Mob

Rod Steiger - Al Capone and In The Heat Of The Night

Skip Martin - The Masque Of The Red Death. I'll be amazed if anyone here has heard of him but Skip Martin was a magnificent actor who was sadly underrated and not considered for many parts due to his dwarfism. He deserved a Best Supporting Oscar for his performance in The Masque Of The Red Death which starred Vincent Price. Unlike all the others listed above, he was unable to make a full time living from acting (let alone enjoy a life of luxury) and worked for much of the time as a London tabacconist before his premature death in the 1980s.

Adam D wrote:Chris Farley > John Candy (I cant believe people didnt question my inclusion of Farley in my list!)

Ok I will start then- he worked for about 6 years and only did a few films- his best part was as a bus driver in billy madison.

he can't and shouldnt be considered on anyones list so

1. Christian Bale
2. Daniel Day Lewis
3. Leonardo DiCaprio
4. Tom Hardy
5. Sean Penn
6. Harrison Ford
7. Russell Crowe
8. Robert DeNiro
9. Ed Norton
10. John Hamm (literally, just for Mad Men)

In no particular order.

Has Pete Postheltwaite been mentioned?

DiCaprio the best of his generation in my opinion.

Agree with you on Dicaprio. However anyone putting down Pete Postheltwaite has a limited view in my opinion. He died and then a few people started saying he was the best actor in the world; which to me was ridiculous. Definitely one of the best British actors (I'd class him at the level of Sean Pertwee or Sean Bean), shame there aren't many big films to his name.

pete postheltwaite one of the best british actors but not one of the best in the world. Its like saying one of the best kiwi rugby players isnt the best in the world!

Good actor- RIP, no lead roles to his name that i can think of- so many bit parts, great recent performances in the town, killing buno, inception and the constant garderner.. But if you dont play lead roles you shouldnt pick him..

By the way many(not me) would use your rationale against your pick Heath ledger an all

In no particular order

Brad Pitt - Fight Club
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Departed
Jake Gylenhall - Zodiac
Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine
Kevin Spacey - American Beauty
Matt Damon - The Departed
Mark Wahlberg - Boogie Nights
Robert Downey Jr. - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Christian Bale - American Psycho
Jim Carey - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Actually mysti he (Ledger) was one of my favourites from a young age, when I saw '10 Things I hate about You.' Plus I've given further evidence to back up my pick, hence nobody could really use my rationale against poor Heath.

I do hear it alot though

Reaper wrote:In no particular order

Brad Pitt - Fight Club
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Departed
Jake Gylenhall - Zodiac
Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine
Kevin Spacey - American Beauty
Matt Damon - The Departed
Mark Wahlberg - Boogie Nights
Robert Downey Jr. - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Christian Bale - American Psycho
Jim Carey - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Surely if you're going to pick Spacey then his performance in The Usual Suspects is his tour-de-force performance?

I can't believe you've got Markie Mark in there! Though Boogie Nights is a good film and he is good in it, he's no where near the best in the World or Jake Gyllenhall (much as I like him).

Wahlberg was v good in the Fighter though

Wahlberg is great in every film I see him in, particulary Boogie Nights. Not sure why Gyllenhall or 'The Departed' are on any list. You could have picked like 10 other films for Dicaprio.