Well, they both have impressive nipples, so there’s that, too.
Actually now that I’ve has time to think a bit more, I’d pick Kate Winslet or Charlize Theron instead.
Something about Sean Penn bugs me - I think it’s that I’m always aware that he’s acting; his performances seem to draw attention to themselves.
I’d agree with George Clooney (who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, I think, because of his dreamboat image) and Toni Collette, who I’ve never seen do any wrong.
I also like Steve Buscemi, though I don’t know if he’s the “best”.
Daniel Day-Lewis.
Are you saying his performance insists upon itself?
Yes, he’s on my list.
Anyone who can from *Training Day *to Courage under Fire and be equally believable has got some serious chops.
Dustin Hoffman said the best actor of our generation was Robert Downey Jr.
I assume he meant ‘if only stayed off heroin’. Robert is great, but has made some horrible, career derailing choices.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Samantha Morton
Have you seen 21 Grams?
Yes, I don’t recall her in it.
Was Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character in Boogie Nights an asshole? I don’t remember the character that way.
My favorite PSH role is Sandy in Along Came Polly. It’s a crap movie, but he totally steals the show.
Well, he’s pretty damn good. Better than he usually gets credit for. Any guy who can actually pull off a line like “I drove through three states wearing her head for a hat” deserves some love.
You’re right. And I thought he should have received an Oscar nomination for Ghost World. All right, no more being wishy-washy. I’m going with Buscemi.
Buscemi’s good but I would hardly say underrated. He gets the mad love all the time.
DiCaprio or Downey, Jr. for the gentlemen. Kate Winslet or Cate Blanchett for the ladies.
One who I think can be really good but gets overlooked for being a pretty boy is Brad Pitt.
I don’t know how so few people are mentioning Johnny Depp. The guy is convincing in everything he does, and he’s often unrecognizable as a famous movie star, a trait which few other stars can boast. The variety of roles he has played successfully are almost unparalleled. Some highlights:
Edward Scissorhands
Donnie Brasco
Gilbert Grape (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape)
Raoul Duke (Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas)
Ichabod Crane (Sleepy Hollow)
Sweeney Todd
James Barrie (Finding Neverland)
Roux (Chocolat)
Even when he’s in bad movies, Depp is often the best part of the production. When he’s in a good movie, his character sometimes becomes iconic. And he has the guts to take on some pretty damned weird roles.
As for actress, I’m far less certain. Emma Thompson sounds like a posibility.
I realise these kind of threads are all very subjective, and please believe me when I say I don’t have posters on my wall of Naomi Watts, but, how can you say she is one of the worst actresses working today when you don’t even remember her from this movie?
No love for Will Smith? Sure he’s done some crappy action roles, but I think he’s done a serious role to match every one of those. I guess I wouldn’t quite vote him Best, but I’m surprised he doesn’t even get a page one mention. He is the top earner lately right? Does that make one a bad actor?
And what about Tom Crudodges hail of tomatoes
I’ll vote Depp I guess, in spite of Pirates 2/3.
Actress… too many to list. Streep is always a great performer, even if she’s not the hottest.
Just another bit to add to my man-love for Depp; he’s the only actor whose presence in a movie makes me automatically want to see that movie. Samuel L. Jackson used to always bring me in, but he plays that angry vengeful son of a bitch schtick a bit too much and it’s getting stale and predictable.
Men: Clooney’s a great comedic actor, but otherwise meh.
Johnny Depp gets lots of credit for stretching himself with every role but I don’t think he’s naturally great.
Samuel L. Jackson plays the same character every time. Same with Steve Buscemi.
Matt Damon is underrated but not “great”.
Can’t argue with Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Christian Bale
Michael Sheen
Josh Brolin
Chris Evans
Bill Nighy is older, but since he’s just now getting some attention I’ll put him up there.
Women:
Naomi Watts: Are you high?
Julianne Moore
Patricia Clarkson
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Laura Dern (at times)
Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton and Toni Collette can’t be argued with.
Up-and-coming: Mia Wasikowska
Actually, I would have said the same thing for Charlie Wilson’s War.
Going with Christian Bale and Johnny Depp (can’t wait for Public Enemies), and as for actresses, Kate Winslet . I also agree on Denzel Washington and Ed Norton.
If she was good I would have remembered her right?