Favorite Actor

I didn't say he could save a horrible PREMISE

As an aspiring actor/voice actor I can only admire actors that create. That rules out: Denzel, Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, etc etc. If you can't tell one character you play from another, without knowing the plot or setting, you're really not that good.
Now, I do think these guys are good at showing emotion, and being the same guy in every movie they're in. (well, except eastwood, he's just terrible)

Johnny Depp
Edward Norton
Russell Crowe
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Leonardo DiCaprio
Christian Bale
Gary Oldman
Tom Hanks (and I even hate the guy for some reason, but do respect his talent)
John C. Reilly
Brad Pitt

I think I got'em all.

Without a doubt, without hesitation: Al Pacino

Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, And Justice For All, Scarface (my fav), The Devils Advocate, Any Given Sunday, Insomnia...

After that: Harrison Ford

I used to think I liked Harrison Ford, but it turns out that I just like his action characters. He and Jody Foster should get together and do a movie lookin' all serious.

Oh, I forgot Forrest Whittaker. Very underrated.

Daniel Day Lewis doesn't get the kudos the rest of those names do simply because he's so selective of his movies (ala DeNiro in his early career)..
He turns it in in every time though.. The Crucible, Gangs, jack & Rose .. Looking forward to There Will Be Blood very much so..

Gotta give a nod to Ben Kingsly for his role as wildman Don Logan in Sexy Beast..

Norton (all time fav)
DeNiro
Washington
Michael C. Hall (from Dexter and IMO the best show on TV)

Gabriel Byrne
John Malcovich
David Wenham
Edward Norton
Robin Williams
Alex O'loughlin

So you think the following characters are the same:

Quincy "Man on Fire"
Herman Boone "Remember the Titans"
Dudley "The Preachers wife"


but not

Rusty "Oceans series"
John Smith "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"
Jerry Welbach "The Mexican"


Just curious is all.


I have nothing but respect for Actors/actresses who have found a character that audiences love to see them play. There are enough of us who can't even find that much.


Nicholas Cage is a prime example IMO. Is he a great actor? Some people would say yes and others would say no, in the end there is no way to tell. Like in sports, art has no definitive answers. It is all about oppinions. One way or the other I can't stay away from Cage movies; the guy makes me smile. Mandy Patinkin, on the other hand, has made movies I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. As far as tallent goes I am in awe of his... have you seen the man on stage he is amazing. Why then would I go to all the movies Cage makes and select only a few of Patinkin's? This is why I love the theatre/movies.

The problem with Denzel, is he's the exact same guy in 99% of his films. Just in a different scenario. Being a nice humble guy in one, vs a harder crooked cop in the other isn't much of a stretch because he just acts like the good guy on a bad day. lol

Pitt however is the same in the lesser defined roles, but he shows versatility in many others. It's ok to just be basic in one or 2 if the character doesn't call for any development, as many don't. However all of 'Zel's are basic. Many of Pitt's are not.
Whereas Freeman, Denzel, etc need scripts that are written for them, Pitt, Norton, Whittaker, etc can read any script and fit the role by becoming the character, no matter what the character's personality, situation, etc.

Cage is ok. He at least tries to be diverse, he's just not very good at conveying emotion.