# Best Acting performances **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 6, 2000, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368 "2000-12-06T20:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/21 "2000-12-12T03:49:38Z")
How about Harvey Keitel in _Bad Lieutenant_? He’s playing a character in bondage to every vice there is. Keitel does an amazing job portraying the anguish of addiction and a life that has long past spiraled out of control. The scene where he throws himself on the altar of the church and cries out to God is beyond any description I could attempt. ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/22 "2000-12-12T06:41:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baker \* > **Derek Jacobi in most everything, but yes, I Claudius and the narrator in Henry V. Limited role, the latter, but great.** I highly recommend seeing the BBC productions of _Richard_ II and _Hamlet_ (the latter with Patrick Stewart as Claudius–reuniting the two, who were both in _I, Claudius_). Of course, it’s an interesting juxtaposition when Jacobi himself plays Claudius in the Branaugh version of _Hamlet_. A few more I would add: Sian Phillips in _I, Claudius_. Jimmy Stewart in _Mr. Smith Goes to Washington_. Katherine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole (actually, the entire cast) in _The Lion in Winter_. ---
**Author:** ![spazo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spazo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spazo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/23 "2000-12-12T06:55:42Z")
You are all naming the same actors that always get the awards. I think Eddie Murfey is one of the best actors I have ever seen,simply because he can play so many different characters in his movies.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/24 "2000-12-12T10:10:47Z")
Julianne Moore: **Magnolia** \* (I hadn’t cried in two years and her performance allowed me to let go of a lot of stuff. Of course i was a complet wreck for two hours after the movie but i needed it.)\* William Macey: Also **Magnolia** \* (he has a lot of love to give, he just dosen’t know where to put it and he’s having corrective oral surgery in the morning.)\* John Ritter: **Sling Blade** _(I think it is so cool to see an actor break out in a new direction and change everything about himself and Ritter did that with this role. Also he was funny, but not “funny ha ha”.)_ Mel Gibson: **Lethal Weapon 1** _(When he had the gun in his mouth I believed it. Probably the only time i have ever seen a man in a movie nearly commit suicide and had me feel it.)_ Willem DaFoe: **Platoon** \* (Arms upraised as if to ask “Why?”. It’s just too much for me.)\* Christopher Walken: **Things To Do In Denver (When You’re Dead)** _(The “Chugging cock” line just kills me. He is also the onle quadrapalegic ever to scare the shit out of me.)_ David Duchovny: **Playing God** _(His role as an autistic physician was incredible. He was supposed to be autistic, wasn’t he?.)_ Thats about all I can think of off the top of my head. You might notice there is only one felale actor on the list. IMHO most women in the biz are there because of looks not ability. Men have it easy and are judged less on looks then women so you can get some less attractive men in film but unless a woman is thin and pretty her talent is usually not a factor. Ms.Moore is a rare gem in that she is lovely and incredibly talented. [Edited by slythe on 12-12-2000 at 10:56 PM] ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/25 "2000-12-12T11:27:34Z")
Edward Norton in _Fight Club_ Brad Pitt in _12 Monkeys_ Gary Oldman in everything Jeff Bridges in _The Contender_ Alec Baldwin in _GlenGarry GlenRoss_ Angelina Jolie in _Girl, Interupted_ Holly Hunter in _Raising Arizona_ Linda Fiorentino in _The Last Seduction_ ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/26 "2000-12-12T15:00:10Z")
Don Cheadle and Delroy Lindo in anything they touch. Two of the best character actors in Hollywood, who unfortunately will never get any high-profile lead roles because Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson exist. (Not that Jckson and Washington are bad actors, but we all know there’s not exactly a plethora of juicy lead roles for black men.) Standout roles, IMO, are Cheadle as Snoopy in _Out of Sight_ and Lindo as West Indian Archie in _Malcolm X_. Also, Spencer Tracy in _Inherit the Wind_. Amazing dignity. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/27 "2000-12-12T16:29:16Z")
I agree with the great DeNiro, Oldman, and Spacey performances that have already been listed. But in my opinion, the single best acting performance goes to Nicholas Cage in “Vampire’s Kiss”. I saw this movie when very few people even knew who he was. I only picked up the movie because Jennifer Beals (one of the sexiest actresses I can think of) is in it. But Cage’s performance absolutely blew me away. I highly recommend this movie to everyone. The plot is adequate, but Cage’s acting is the best I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/28 "2000-12-12T16:43:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > \*\*Don Cheadle and Delroy Lindo in anything they touch. Two of the best character actors in Hollywood, who unfortunately will never get any high-profile lead roles because Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson exist. (Not that Jckson and Washington are bad actors, but we all know there’s not exactly a plethora of juicy lead roles for black men.) > > Standout roles, IMO, are Cheadle as Snoopy in _Out of Sight_ and Lindo as West Indian Archie in _Malcolm X_.\*\* I didn’t see _Out of Sight,_ but Cheadle impressed the hell out of me as Mouse in _Devil in a Blue Dress._ He actually outshone Washington, which is tough because I consider Washington the best American actor in the business today. I don’t think I’ve seen Lindo in anything except _Ransom,_ where I thought he was good but nothing super-special. > [@](#): > > - Originally posted by DRY \* > \*\*I highly recommend seeing the BBC productions of Richard II and Hamlet (the latter with Patrick Stewart as Claudius–reuniting the two, who were both in I, Claudius). > > Of course, it’s an interesting juxtaposition when Jacobi himself plays Claudius in the Branaugh version of Hamlet. \*\* I wasn’t overly impressed with Jacobi’s Hamlet, but I thought his Claudius was terrific, the best I’ve ever seen. He was the first actor to convince me that Claudius was actually in love with Gertrude, not just using her as a trophy wife. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/29 "2000-12-12T17:40:29Z")
Trying to name some that haven’t been named already (I may have missed a couple), but I agree with most of the choices here. Marlon Brando in _Streetcar Named Desire_, _On the Waterfront_, _The Godfather_, and _Last Tango in Paris_. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Danimal_: > Best ensemble performance: Guy Pearce as Ed Exley, Russell Crowe as Bud White, and Kevin Spacey as Jack Vincennes, L.A. Confidential. Oh hell yes! And I’m guessing you’re referring to _Patton_ when you mention George C Scott? John Hurt in _The Elephant Man_ Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro in _Awakenings_ Christopher Walken in _The Deer Hunter_ Kevin Kline in _A Fish Called Wanda_ Paul Newman and Robert Redford in _The Sting_ and _Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid_ Spencer Tracy in _Captains Courageous_ I’m sure I’ll be back as I think of some more. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/30 "2000-12-12T17:59:37Z")
I’m going to have to cast my vote for Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. He was absolutely amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Tymp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Tymp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tymp)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/31 "2000-12-12T18:14:30Z")
Vincent Cassel and Hubert Koundé in _La Haine_ ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/32 "2000-12-12T18:28:09Z")
The best acting performance I’ve ever seen, bar none, was Denzel Washington in “The Hurricane.” The supporting cast was horrible and the movie was otherwise cliched, but Washington was just astounding; I have never, ever seen an actor put on such a multifaceted, believable, perfect performance onscreen. I left the theatre with my jaw just hanging open. I’d never seen anything like it. What was amazing about his performance was that his character was doubly dynamic. Normally a lead character starts off with attitude A and goal B, then grows to accept attitude B and goal B. Washington grows and changes, and then he grows and changes again, going from A to B, and then B to C. And he does it without ever saying it; there’s little direct dialogue-exposition of his character. He does it all through acting. Denzel Washington is truly one of today’s great masters of his craft. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/33 "2000-12-12T21:13:20Z")
> [@](#): > > And I’m guessing you’re referring to Patton when you mention George C Scott? Yeah, that’s my guess too. But that wasn’t the first role that came to my mind when Scott was mentioned. I’ll always remember him best as General Buck Turgidson. I don’t know if that was “great acting,” but is _was_ an unforgetable performance. ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/34 "2000-12-12T22:01:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by divemaster \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > And I’m guessing you’re referring to Patton when you mention George C Scott? > > Yeah, that’s my guess too. But that wasn’t the first role that came to my mind when Scott was mentioned. I’ll always remember him best as General Buck Turgidson. I don’t know if that was “great acting,” but is _was_ an unforgetable performance. > \*\* Yes, I was talking about Patton. He was good as Turgidson too, all right, but Scott’s Patton was one of those epochal performances. He is one of the few men to effectively efface a historical character. Think of Lincoln, a picture of the Memorial or the five-dollar bill comes to mind. Think of Henry VIII, and Holbein’s portrait comes to mind. Think of Patton, and what comes to mind? Not any picture or portrait of the real man, but George C. Scott standing in front of that flag! ---
**Author:** ![Iolanthe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7bcc69/32.png) [@Iolanthe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iolanthe)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2000, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/35 "2000-12-12T22:58:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DRY \* > I highly recommend seeing the BBC productions of _Richard_ II and _Hamlet_ (the latter with Patrick Stewart as Claudius–reuniting the two, who were both in _I, Claudius_). > \*\* Let me fervently second **DRY’s** recommendation of the BBC Hamlet with Patrick Stewart and Derek Jacobi. Sir Derek (he is Sir Derek now, yes?) is wonderful, and Patrick Stewart scared the shit out of me during the “Mousetrap” scene. I would sell a kidney, and possibly parts of my liver, to get my hands on this video. (No luck yet.) ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/36 "2000-12-13T07:25:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iolanthe \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by DRY \* > > I highly recommend seeing the BBC productions of _Richard_ II and _Hamlet_ (the latter with Patrick Stewart as Claudius–reuniting the two, who were both in _I, Claudius_). > > \*\* > > Let me fervently second **DRY’s** recommendation of the BBC Hamlet with Patrick Stewart and Derek Jacobi. Sir Derek (he is Sir Derek now, yes?) is wonderful, and Patrick Stewart scared the shit out of me during the “Mousetrap” scene. I would sell a kidney, and possibly parts of my liver, to get my hands on this video. (No luck yet.) \*\* Umm, do you mean the BBC Hamlet? I believe it’s available in the States. I know of a place near where I live that used to sell it (I don’t know if they still do, but if you are interested, I can ask). Not all of the BBC plays are available (I tried desperately to get Richard III, Richard II, and the Henry VI plays), but I’m fairly certain Hamlet is, or at least, was. Seriously, if you’re interested, drop me a line (or post here) and I’ll make some inquiries. ---
**Author:** ![zen101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c68b51/32.png) [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2000, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/37 "2000-12-14T08:30:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jackknifed Juggernaut \* > \*\*I agree with the great DeNiro, Oldman, and Spacey performances that have already been listed. > > But in my opinion, the single best acting performance goes to Nicholas Cage in “Vampire’s Kiss”. I saw this movie when very few people even knew who he was. I only picked up the movie because Jennifer Beals (one of the sexiest actresses I can think of) is in it. But Cage’s performance absolutely blew me away. I highly recommend this movie to everyone. The plot is adequate, but Cage’s acting is the best I’ve ever seen. \*\* I heard he actually ate that cockroach. Him and Shelly long are two thespians who are willing to go the extra mile for the craft, or, they are just sick bastards. (If you don’t know what I mean about Shelly Long: She ate dogfood for her role in Outrageous Fortune) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2000, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/38 "2000-12-14T14:35:45Z")
I’ll try to throw in some more that haven’t been mentioned yet: Margaret Hamilton in _The Wizard of Oz_ Piper Laurie in _The Hustler_ Michael Caine in _Get Carter_ Julie Christie in _McCabe and Mrs. Miller_ and _Shampoo_ Sterling Hayden in _The Long Goodbye_ Robert Mitchum in _The Friends of Eddie Coyle_ Steve Martin in _All of Me_ Peter Sellers in _Being There_ William H. Macy in _Fargo_ Kate Winslett and Melanie Lynskey in _Heavenly Creatures_ Philip Seymour Hoffman in _Magnolia_ and/or _The Talented Mr. Ripley_ John C. Reilly in _Hard Eight_ or _Magnolia_ Philip Baker Hall in _Magnolia_ (dang, that’s most of the cast by now) Ok, enough… ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2000, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/39 "2000-12-14T14:44:35Z")
Oh, jeepers, how could I forget: Gene Hackman, _The Conversation_ Ok, really done now. ---
**Author:** ![horowitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@horowitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horowitz)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2000, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368/40 "2000-12-14T15:00:59Z")
**Pamela Franklin** in **The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie** You get to see her mature during the movie. She comes into her own person and is no longer just a student of Jean Brodie. Part of her development is out of bitterness and cynicism as she discovers Miss Brodie is full of shit. At the end of the movie she is at once spiteful and confrontational with her mentor, but at the same time the realization that she has ended this woman’s career sinks in and she is genuinely concerned for Miss Brodie. A truly complex and engaging performance. If you have not seen this thing I strongly recommend it. Oh and the posing naked for the painting part kicked ass too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-acting-performances/44368.md?page=3)