# Your favorite movie starring the particular actor **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948 "2011-08-16T20:45:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/1 "2011-08-16T20:45:22Z")
We’ve all probably gotten into an argument with a friend or coworker over a particular actor’s film and we said something to the effect of _“yeah but he was MUCH better in that…”_. Sometimes a particular actor you don’t really care for will be in a movie that you just love, and then when its over you just go back to hating the rest of his films. My favorite Kurt Russell movie is a small little TV movie called [Big Trouble in Little China](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_trouble_in_little_china). I know the Thing is awesome, and many remember Kurt as Snake Plissken in [Escape from New York](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_from_new_york), but something about that little TV movie with the weird martial arts and the evil weather characters with hats just spoke to little old7 year old Yog Sosoth before I became untold vigintillions of years old. Maybe because he did most of his best work in the 80’s, this little movie about some made-up Chinese legend became THE Kurt Russell movie for me. I love this movie so much that its weird that I don’t really like Kurt Russell at all. When I was a kid I saw him basically kidnap and brainwash Goldie Hawn in Overboard and disliked him ever since (I should clarify that I disliked his character’s actions, not his acting), ironic since they are actually in a relationship Other stars that did their work in the 90’s are much more predictable in terms of favorites. Favorite Stallone movie: Rocky IV (but I saw it on TV much later). Favorite Schwartzenegger movie: T2 with Predator as a close second. Bruce Willis: Die Hard (also saw on TV in the 90’s) I will continue to affirm, and I don’t care what anyone says, that the best Michael Keaton movie ever made was not the Batman films but Beetlejuice. Same thing for Geena Davis, Wynona Ryder, and Alec Baldwin though I suppose they aren’t the actual star of the film. It will never be topped!! One weird entry I suppose would be Nicolas Cage. I don’t care about his Oscar and I don’t care about his other B-movies he’s made since. But he was totally excellent in Kick Ass. Fitting for a guy who named his kid after Superman and dresses like Batman in the movie ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/2 "2011-08-16T21:05:46Z")
> [@](#): > > My favorite Kurt Russell movie is a small little TV movie called Big Trouble in Little China. I assume thast you’re being facetious here with the “small TV movie” thing. Primitive as it may look now, this was a big-budget state-of-the-art movie when it came out. (For years I wondered what the Chinese symbol made of lightning signified when the Lightning Lord met his demise. You can’t even see it on some TV prints, because it’s off to the side. Now, with the wonders of Wikipedia and IMDb, I know that it’s the Chinese character for “Carpenter”, a joke by the director, I assume.) ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/3 "2011-08-16T21:12:24Z")
It was a small movie for me! I saw it much later I think. The first time it was on TV, I had to go to bed before it was finished. Luckily they played it again within a week I think. It kicks so much ass I always watch it when its on ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/4 "2011-08-16T21:19:43Z")
I cannot stand Liam Neeson. I don’t know why, but even his voice (which, objectively speaking, is a beautiful, mellifluous voice) makes me cringe. That said, I got all the way through \*Love, Actually \*before I remembered I hate his work. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/5 "2011-08-16T22:35:50Z")
Bruce Willis’s best leading man role is _12 Monkeys_. Otherwise I can’t think of any other movies starring Bruce Willis that I would go out of my way to watch or re-watch. I liked Adam Sandler in _The Wedding Singer_, but the other movies I’ve seen with him in a major role leave me cold. _Punchdrunk Love_ at least had an unconventional story but I had difficulties relating to his character. Tim Allen’s character in _Galaxy Quest_ is a perfect parody of the over-the-hill blowhard actor living on past glory. I can’t help but imagine that he might be like that in real life. You would have to pay me to see any of his other movies (I’m not counting his voice work in the Toy Story series.) ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/6 "2011-08-16T22:42:42Z")
Will Smith - I will always bring up that he was absolutely pitch-perfect in **Six Degrees Of Separation** when he’s getting trashed by someone who just saw his latest annoying piece of shit blockbuster. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/7 "2011-08-17T15:56:21Z")
Paul Newman…The Long Hot Summer Paul Newman…Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Paul Newman…Cool Hand Luke I could go on… ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/8 "2011-08-17T16:05:34Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > Bruce Willis’s best leading man role is _12 Monkeys_. Otherwise I can’t think of any other movies starring Bruce Willis that I would go out of my way to watch or re-watch. Maybe doesn’t count since it’s supporting and not starring, but he’s fantastic in _Nobody’s Fool_. (And add that to your Paul Newman list, **Becky**!) ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/9 "2011-08-17T16:41:57Z")
Wait, are we posting our favorite roles of a certain actor or the movie we like best regardless of how good they were in it? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/10 "2011-08-17T17:22:40Z")
Assuming it’s favorite roles of a certain actor, I like Humphrey Bogart in _The African Queen_. He was in a lot of wonderful roles in his time, but I think he nailed Charlie Alnott the best of any. And he was funny! In fact, he was so funny that I compare this performance to some of Walter Matthau’s best roles. It’s a shame he didn’t do more comedy - he had the mug and the timing for it. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/11 "2011-08-17T17:30:39Z")
Steve Martin in _All of Me_. None better. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/12 "2011-08-17T18:01:52Z")
Tom Hanks. He’s done a lot of great movies. But the one I’ve watched the most is _Volunteers_. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/13 "2011-08-17T18:02:53Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > Paul Newman…The Long Hot Summer > Paul Newman…Cat on a Hot Tin Roof > Paul Newman…Cool Hand Luke > > I could go on… For me, it’s _The Verdict_. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/14 "2011-08-17T18:51:51Z")
Brad Pitt in Kalifornia. ---
**Author:** ![Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crown_Prince_of_Irony)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/15 "2011-08-17T19:05:11Z")
\ **Big Trouble In Little China** (also my fave Kurt Russel movie and easily in my top 25 of all time - so sue me) was made for _ **TV** _?!? I don’t [think so](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_trouble_in_little_china#Reaction), although I can’t fault **YogSosoth** for thinking this. It may have hit cable very soon after its theatrical run due to its miserable performance in the box office, but I can attest that it was a feature film - I remember being bummed that I couldn’t see it in the theater that summer (but I’ve seen it about 50 times since). In fact, it was the movie that turned John Carpenter off the Hollywood system, since Fox released it only 2 weeks before their own damn blockbuster hype machine, _Aliens_, with little to no publicity. :rolleyes: If they’d have pushed _BTILC_ by a couple months, box office would have been much better, and no one would be under the impression that it was a made-for-TV movie. \ Ok, per the OP: [ul] [li]Can’t stand Adam Sandler outside of SNL, but I loved him in _Punch Drunk Love_ (ok, _Happy Gilmore_ and parts of _Little Nicky_ are guilty pleasure).[/li][li]I’m not a fan of most Kevin Costner movies, but I love all his sports movies - _Bull Durham_, _Field of Dreams_, _Tin Cup_, _For Love of the Game_.[/li][li]Can’t really tolerate Jim Carrey much, but I really liked _Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind_.[/li][li]I’m ambivalent about most Tom Cruise movies (even _Top Gun_), but I loved him in _War of the Worlds_, and _Collateral_.[/li][li]I actively dislike William Hurt (I don’t know why - one of those things) but I loved him in _A History of Violence_.[/li][li]I loathe Andie MacDowell (again, I have no idea why) but I find her perfectly lovely in _Groundhog Day_.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/16 "2011-08-17T19:43:33Z")
My favorite performances by a select list of actors (not necessarily their best movies, just their best performances, in my opinion): Humphrey Bogart -\*\*\* The Caine Mutiny \*\*\*(the movie itself wasn’t great, but Bogart was brilliant as both the scary Queeg and the pathetic Queeg) Nicolas Cage - _ **It Could Happen to You** _ (Perhaps I give this movie too much credit, simply because it was the first time I’d ever seen Cage playing an ordinary man convincingly and charmingly). Jim Carrey - \*\*\*Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind \*\*\* Robert DeNiro - _ **The King of Comedy** _ Clint Eastwood - \*\*\*Gran Torino \*\*\*(he’s made many movies I’ve liked better, but this was his persoanl best acting job) Philip Seymour Hoffman - _ **Almost Famous** _ (considering how much I hated the real Lester Bangs, I give Hoffman a ton of credit for making the guy as interesting and likable as possible) Anthony Hopkins - \*\*\*The Remains of the Day \*\*\*(it’s hard to play a man who rarely reveals his feelings, but Hopkins conveyed a world of emotion with just his eyes in numerous scenes) Michael Keaton - _ **Night Shift** _. No role he’s played since was anywhere as memorable as Billy Blaze Paul Newman - _ **Nobody’s Fool** _ Kurt Russell - _ **Miracle** _ (he was a great Herb Brooks) John Wayne - _ **Fort Apache** _ ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/17 "2011-08-17T20:01:00Z")
Favorite roles by an actor, not movie… Nicolas Cage - _Adaptation_ William H. Macy - _Fargo_ Tom Cruise - _Magnolia_ Al Pacino - _Glengarry Glen Ross_ Jack Lemmon - _The Apartment_ Diane Keaton - _Annie Hall_ ---
**Author:** ![Bri2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@Bri2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bri2k)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/18 "2011-08-17T20:13:14Z")
When it comes to John Wayne, for me his best was _The Shootist_. I thought the Duke’s performance was outstanding and outside the box for him, a tough guy made vulnerable by cancer. The only Nicholas Cage movie I ever liked was _Leaving Las Vegas_. He was a totally convincing drunk. I’m a huge Anthony Hopkins fan and he never impressed me more than in _Nixon_. Granted, he looks nothing like Tricky Dick, but he got the mannerisms and voice down and after a few minutes, he had me believing the illusion. A very close second is his portrayal of Hitler in _The Bunker_. I also really like Peter Sellers. While he was in many great movies and was a genius playing multiple roles, I think _Being There_ was his greatest. I’ve got to agree that Clint Easwood was at his absolute best in _Gran Torino_. Bri2k ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/19 "2011-08-17T21:02:45Z")
John Wayne – **She Wore a Yellow Ribbon**. Wayne was pissed he didn’t get an Oscar nomination for this, and he was right to be. Boris Karloff – **Targets** , playing a washed-up old horror actor. Abbot and Costello – **The Time of Their Lives**. Costello, especially. The two were mad at each other, so had very few scenes together, but Costello was a touching comic hero. Pete Postlethwait – **Brassed Off** ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948/20 "2011-08-18T02:04:54Z")
**Brian Aherne** was in a 1938 screwballer called _Merrily We Live_, as a famous writer traveling simply who is mistaken for a tramp and hired by a rich family. So of course it’s always unfairly compared to \*My Man Godfrey. \* But Aherne, being Irish, always seemed generous and bemused, while Wiiliam Powell, as debonaire as he was, always remained a grouchy Missourian. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-movie-starring-the-particular-actor/592948.md?page=2)