# Sean Penn and Robert Downey Jr. "finest actors of this generation"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710 "2002-03-23T15:38:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/1 "2002-03-23T15:38:15Z")
They’re good actors but are they really the top of the pyramid as [Stephanie Zacharek in Salon](http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2002/03/23/penn/index.html) seems to think? > [@](#): > > have cited him as the finest actor of his generation. Although I’d have a hard time deciding between Penn and Robert Downey Jr., I’d still say they’re pretty close to right. ---
**Author:** ![madcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@madcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madcat)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/2 "2002-03-23T16:28:09Z")
Some people confuse actor & poser. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/3 "2002-03-23T16:47:16Z")
She is obviously insane. Can anyone say “Edward Norton?” ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/4 "2002-03-23T20:04:28Z")
I cannot by any means agree with Sean Penn, but I think Robert Downey, Jr. is an absolute genius. If a tormented and very screwed-up one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/5 "2002-03-23T20:28:05Z")
Edward Norton is great, in American History X he was very good. but I don’t think I’d say they’re in the same ‘generation’. Penn and Downey Jr are a bit older than him. As far as Penn and Downey Jr, I’d say I pretty much agree. I’m sure there are others that age that would bear consideration, but if I had to pick two, these would be at the top of the list. I remember renting, I think it was Carlito’s Way, and noticing Penn was in it, I watched half that movie before realizing I hadn’t seen him yet, and I was wondering who the guy with the orange hair is, because I thought he was doing such a good job. Then it struck me-he was the guy with the orange hair and I hadn’t even noticed. he as so out of his normal character. He’s done an excellent job in so many films. Though I do admit, I only saw a clip of his latest, where he plays a mentally retarded person and it wasn’t that good, but it was just a clip. Downey, yea, he wasn’t acting in ‘Less Than Zero’, but it was a good performance, and he does such a good job in so many, ‘Chaplain’, and others. So much talent, so much wasted. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/6 "2002-03-23T21:17:15Z")
Better than Tom Hanks? Yeah, right.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Fingolfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@Fingolfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fingolfin)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/7 "2002-03-23T21:29:07Z")
You’re all wrong! The correct answer is: **Leo DiCaprio**! [ducks for cover] You just wait until **Gangs of New York** comes out, you’ll see! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/8 "2002-03-23T21:30:55Z")
point one: Tom Hanks is older than Downey & Penn (Hanks born in 1956, Penn in 1960, Downey 1965, Norton 1969) which makes the term ‘this generation’ difficult to judge. Point two: Norton, while he’s had some signficant roles, and done some fine work, really got his big break in 1996, hasn’t made that many movies, as compared to all the others mentioned here. POint three - my opinion is that Downey, Hanks and Norton all have taken substantial risks in their roles, portraying unsympathetic characters, etc. Hanks has mostly portrayed ‘nice guys’, his Oscars going for predictably ‘nice guy with some handicap’ roles (Forrest Gump & Philidelphia Story). I don’t see the range in portrayals for Hanks. And to me, the key to a great actor is when I don’t notice that it’s him. (for example, Ed Harris seems so different from say, Appollo 13 to THe Firm to the Truman Show, to Just Cause, but he was born in 1950, so he’s even older than the crew already mentioned). So, in range of roles, I’d give the nod to Downey, Norton & Penn. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/9 "2002-03-23T21:33:35Z")
ooops. I meant to say that Downey, Penn and Norton had taken substantially riskier roles than Hanks. ---
**Author:** ![Semp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Semp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Semp)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/10 "2002-03-23T23:27:06Z")
I think Downey is a hack, but I am biased because every time I see him I see a ghost of Anthony Michael Hall standing next to him, like a Marley tormenting a Scrooge. And it seems like he has only two characters: smarmy guy and earnest guy. And where were all the people annointing him as his generation’s greatest when he spent his (god-awful) year on SNL? Sean Penn I don’t argue with. He’s kinda like Brando, minus 700 pounds. And what about Johnny Depp? He falls in this age range, doesn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/11 "2002-03-24T00:41:50Z")
I like Tom Hanks acting, but I hardly think it is worth all the Oscars and nominations he has won. Penn, Depp, Norton are great actors deserving of most of the praise heaped upon them. I’ve been watching a Hillary Swank USA movie on cable this afternoon. She is really good too, but a lot younger. ---
**Author:** ![novacaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ea924/32.png) [@novacaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/novacaine)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/12 "2002-03-24T04:07:06Z")
I must agree with **Semp** about Johnny Depp. Personally I have never been exceptionally impressed with Downey Jr… I must say I do like Penn but not enough to say he is one of the best actors of his generation. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/13 "2002-03-24T05:31:03Z")
How could you guys leave our Keanu Reeves? \ ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/14 "2002-03-24T07:48:07Z")
**Sean Penn** , yep. **Downey** , nope. Downey is very, very good at a limited spectrum of roles, but I haven’t seen the range or the “transparency” from him that I expect from truly great actors. **Norton** , yep. Not as large a body of work, but phenomenal range, and he disappears into every role. **Depp** –borderline. I’ve had to revise my opinion of him steadily upward, but lately he seems to be repeating himself. Still, some fine talent behinf that vacant stare. Loved him in _Dead Man_. I would also consider **Val Kilmer** , **Tim Roth** , and **Brad Pitt** (another pretty boy who I have had to grudgingly admit has some fucking chops!) ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/15 "2002-03-24T07:55:38Z")
Oh, yes. **Brad Pitt** , too. I can’t believe I forgot him. I think he’s incredible (and not just to look at, either). If you want range, he’s got it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/16 "2002-03-24T08:01:13Z")
In my opinion, Gary Oldman’s the best. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/17 "2002-03-24T08:24:27Z")
Yeah, if you ever saw Pitt in **Kalifornia** you’ll know just how much talent and range he has. He’s completely unrecognizable. We should just rename this thread, “Who are the next generation’s best actors?” Picking a ‘best’ out of this bunch is impossible. Gary Oldman, Ed Norton, Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp… It’s going to be cool just seeing what these guys can do as they grow older. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/18 "2002-03-24T18:41:52Z")
No love for **Christian Slater**? And Tom Hanks has always seemed so much older than the rest of these guys. According to the birthdays above, he’s not, but he seems like it to me. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/19 "2002-03-24T19:39:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Semp \* > \*\*I think Downey is a hack, but I am biased because every time I see him I see a ghost of Anthony Michael Hall standing next to him, like a Marley tormenting a Scrooge. And it seems like he has only two characters: smarmy guy and earnest guy. \*\* _snork_ This is one big thing that always nags me about him too! I’ve always found that Downey is truly gifted when he’s really on his game. However, he can occasionally be inconsistent. He’s got one of the most animated faces (see the not-at-all-significant _Chances Are_) and soulful eyes, but when he loses his grip on a role, it’s like he’s on autopilot. Penn on the other hand is always consistent. I really respect his abilities. I’d like to see how Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard develop over the next few years. I don’t find them outstanding right now, but they seem to be on the cusp of growing into extraordinary. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710/20 "2002-03-24T19:46:51Z")
It’s a little too early to say, but Ewan Macgregor and Mark Wahlberg might join that list. How about Russell Crowe and maybe George Clooney? Clooney is younger than Sean Penn, and Crowe is younger than both of them, and even younger than Robert Downey Jr. Clooney hasn’t turned in the killer performance yet, but I think he’s got it in him. Crowe has been amazing. And how about Kevin Spacey? He’s Penn’s age. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-penn-and-robert-downey-jr-finest-actors-of-this-generation/99710.md?page=2)