Quin GootMY 15 ACTORS.....MALE
March 20th 2008 13:55
Hey, I'm bored again. My top twenty male actors, not the best 20 ever. I'm putting them in no particular order although the first one is my favourite. Here goes.......
GARY OLDMAN
When people say chameleon with regards to an actor they mean someone who can completely inhabit a different character from one film to the next. This perfectly describes Oldman. Ok, so he's propably played the bad guy a bit to much but hey, they say they're the funnest parts to play. Be it a flamboyant Dracula or the tragic Jackie Flannery in State of Grace he's always convinced me. Also one of the best at taking on convincing accents.
Best part; Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK (although it's a close run thing with his Sid Vicious)
Honourable mention; Drexyl in True Romance
Worst part; Dr Smith in Lost in Space
JEFF BRIDGES
I admit I propably haven't seen as many of his films as I should. But I have a real soft spot for the Dude in The Big Lebowski. I imagine he could be the Dude in real life. Just a funny part. A very unassuming actor. He doesn't go for histrionics. I saw an old film of his recently called Thunderbolt and Lightfoot which showed this guy has been quality for a long time.
Best part; The Dude Lebowski (who else)
Honourable mention; President Jackson Evans in The Contender
Worst part; Barney Cousins in The Vanishing
DANIEL DAY LEWIS
To say that this guy likes to get into character is like saying the Pope likes to pray. Borders on the insane when preparing for a role. Is arguably the best there has been. I mean, he's never really put in a bad performance. Only acts when he can pull himself away from making fucking shoes. And even when he gets it slightly wrong like in Gangs of NY, he's still so bloody powerful. You couldn't really say it was a bad performance. A bloody genius.
Best Part; Christy Brown in My Left Foot
Honourable mention; Hawkeye in Last of the Mohicans
Worst part; John Fryer in The Boumty (only because he was hardly in it)
SEAN PENN
Has become a great actor over the last 15 years or so. Sometimes I don't know if his heart is in it, but when the part is right he can be very powerful. Deserves his place in history for Mystic River and 21 Grams alone.
Best part; Jimmy Markum in Mystic River
Honourable mention; Paul Rivers in 21 Grams
Worst part; Jim in We're No Angels
RAY WINSTONE
I've followed this guy for years before he became well known. More often than not he plays the tough guy thug. But he does it so well. And when asked to soften up a bit he can be hugely effective (Last Orders). Was a great TV actor before films. Might have his best stuff ahead of him.
Best part; Gary 'Gal' Dove in Sexy Beast
Honourable mention; Vince Dodds in Last Orders
Worst part; Beowulf in Beowulf
WILLEM DEFOE
I never really liked him until I saw him in a film called the Boondock Saints where he played a gay FBI agent. I loved it and have watched more of his stuff since then. Has played some weird fucking parts which I think is what I like. Anyone who can go from playing Jesus to getting it on with Madonna in 5 years gets my vote.
Best part; Sgt. Elias Grodin in Platoon (if I have to go to war I wanna go with him)
Honourable mention; Max Schreck in Shadow Of The Vampire
Worst Part; John Geiger in Speed 2
JOHN TURTURRO
Such an under-rated actor. Has had some brilliant screen moments. The Coens and Spike Lee continually turn to him which is saying something. Be it Jesus Quintana in Big Lebowski or Groucho Marx in Brain Donors, the guy is always memorable.
Best part; Herb Stempel in Quiz Show
Honourable mention; Pete in O Brother, Where Art Thou
Worst part; John Shooter in Secret Window
JAMES GANDOLFINI
I'm being very biased here because I loved the Sopranos. As TV shows go I think it stands alone. And at the centre was Gandolfini. It was a great performance over 86 episodes. He's also had some good parts in film. Mostly supporting roles but always memorable. A powerful actor.
Best part; Tony Soprano
Honourable mention; Big Dave Brewster in Man Who Wasn't There
Worst part; Mike in Mister Wonderful
RICHARD HARRIS
Ok ok, so he's not really of my era. And he's dead. But he's the only one on this list I've met. And he was lovely. He was also a damn good actor over a long long time. Have only seen one of his early films but he was amazing in it; This Sporting Life. Had a late life career surge with the first two Harry Potter movies. Won a Grammy in 1973 don't you know.
Best part; Frank Machin in This Sporting Life
Honourable mention; Bull McCabe in The Field
Worst part; James Parker in Tarzan, The Ape Man
IAN McSHANE
While I have a soft spot for Lovejoy, it's his work in the last few years thats really got me hooked. Was volcanic in Sexy Beast and powerful in TV show Deadwood. Not to well known but definitely a quality performer.
Best part; Teddy Bass in Sexy Beast
Honourable mention; Judas Ascariot in Jesus of Nazareth (TV)
Worst part; Dr. Brinkman in Agent Cody Banks
BRAD PITT
Now I know pretty boy isn't everyone's idea of a good actor, but you can't deny that when given a good part, he delivers. Think Twelve Monkeys, Fightclub, Babel or Jesse James. There's a lot of good stuff on his resume. Doesn't mind losing the good looks for a roll which I like. His Irish Pikey in Snatch was awesome (I should know)
Best part; Tyler Durden in Fight Club
Honourable mention; Floyd in True Romance
Worst part; Achilles in Troy
GABRIEL BYRNE
Being a fellow Irishman gets him a few extra votes. Not the widest range, but when that brooding persona is used properly he can be excellent. Hell, I even liked him in End of Days (shite movie,I know). Has made more bad films than good, but the good ones tend to be very good.
Best part; Tom Reagen in Millers Crossing
Honourable mention; Stewart Kane in Jindabyne
Worst part; Cpt. Sean Murphy in Ghost Ship
JOHNNY DEPP
Has become a major star in the last few years thanks to Captain Jack, but has propably deserved it. Has been very good for a long time. Could have become the pretty boy leading man but instead picked smaller more interesting parts. Has a long association with Tim Burten in which they've drawn some great characters. A real talent.
Best part; Edward Scissorhands
Honourable mention; Keith Richards in Pirates of the Caribbean
Worst part; Tom Hanson Jr in 21 Jump Street
JEAN RENO
I don't pretend to know anything about his career in French cinema. But in english speaking rolls I like him. Was great in Leon as well as Ronin. Hell, he even made parts of Godzilla bearable. For this alone he deserves praise. Is best when he's not cast as the token Frenchman.
Best part; Leon in Leon
Honourable mention; Enzo Molinari in The Big Blue
Worst part; Bezu Fache in The Da Vinci Code
DENNIS FARINA
Now I know he basically plays the same part every time, but he does it so well. Especially when he gives it a comic touch, a la Get Shorty or Snatch. Really says the word FUCK how it's supposed to be said. A gift few possess.
Best part; Ray Barboni in Get Shorty
Honourable mention; Marshall Sisco in Out of Sight
Worst part; Jack Bangs in Reindeer Games
GARY OLDMAN
When people say chameleon with regards to an actor they mean someone who can completely inhabit a different character from one film to the next. This perfectly describes Oldman. Ok, so he's propably played the bad guy a bit to much but hey, they say they're the funnest parts to play. Be it a flamboyant Dracula or the tragic Jackie Flannery in State of Grace he's always convinced me. Also one of the best at taking on convincing accents.
Honourable mention; Drexyl in True Romance
Worst part; Dr Smith in Lost in Space
JEFF BRIDGES
I admit I propably haven't seen as many of his films as I should. But I have a real soft spot for the Dude in The Big Lebowski. I imagine he could be the Dude in real life. Just a funny part. A very unassuming actor. He doesn't go for histrionics. I saw an old film of his recently called Thunderbolt and Lightfoot which showed this guy has been quality for a long time.
Best part; The Dude Lebowski (who else)
Honourable mention; President Jackson Evans in The Contender
Worst part; Barney Cousins in The Vanishing
DANIEL DAY LEWIS
To say that this guy likes to get into character is like saying the Pope likes to pray. Borders on the insane when preparing for a role. Is arguably the best there has been. I mean, he's never really put in a bad performance. Only acts when he can pull himself away from making fucking shoes. And even when he gets it slightly wrong like in Gangs of NY, he's still so bloody powerful. You couldn't really say it was a bad performance. A bloody genius.
Honourable mention; Hawkeye in Last of the Mohicans
Worst part; John Fryer in The Boumty (only because he was hardly in it)
SEAN PENN
Has become a great actor over the last 15 years or so. Sometimes I don't know if his heart is in it, but when the part is right he can be very powerful. Deserves his place in history for Mystic River and 21 Grams alone.
Best part; Jimmy Markum in Mystic River
Honourable mention; Paul Rivers in 21 Grams
Worst part; Jim in We're No Angels
RAY WINSTONE
I've followed this guy for years before he became well known. More often than not he plays the tough guy thug. But he does it so well. And when asked to soften up a bit he can be hugely effective (Last Orders). Was a great TV actor before films. Might have his best stuff ahead of him.
Best part; Gary 'Gal' Dove in Sexy Beast
Honourable mention; Vince Dodds in Last Orders
Worst part; Beowulf in Beowulf
WILLEM DEFOE
I never really liked him until I saw him in a film called the Boondock Saints where he played a gay FBI agent. I loved it and have watched more of his stuff since then. Has played some weird fucking parts which I think is what I like. Anyone who can go from playing Jesus to getting it on with Madonna in 5 years gets my vote.
Best part; Sgt. Elias Grodin in Platoon (if I have to go to war I wanna go with him)
Honourable mention; Max Schreck in Shadow Of The Vampire
Worst Part; John Geiger in Speed 2
JOHN TURTURRO
Such an under-rated actor. Has had some brilliant screen moments. The Coens and Spike Lee continually turn to him which is saying something. Be it Jesus Quintana in Big Lebowski or Groucho Marx in Brain Donors, the guy is always memorable.
Best part; Herb Stempel in Quiz Show
Honourable mention; Pete in O Brother, Where Art Thou
Worst part; John Shooter in Secret Window
JAMES GANDOLFINI
I'm being very biased here because I loved the Sopranos. As TV shows go I think it stands alone. And at the centre was Gandolfini. It was a great performance over 86 episodes. He's also had some good parts in film. Mostly supporting roles but always memorable. A powerful actor.
Best part; Tony Soprano
Honourable mention; Big Dave Brewster in Man Who Wasn't There
Worst part; Mike in Mister Wonderful
RICHARD HARRIS
Ok ok, so he's not really of my era. And he's dead. But he's the only one on this list I've met. And he was lovely. He was also a damn good actor over a long long time. Have only seen one of his early films but he was amazing in it; This Sporting Life. Had a late life career surge with the first two Harry Potter movies. Won a Grammy in 1973 don't you know.
Best part; Frank Machin in This Sporting Life
Honourable mention; Bull McCabe in The Field
Worst part; James Parker in Tarzan, The Ape Man
IAN McSHANE
While I have a soft spot for Lovejoy, it's his work in the last few years thats really got me hooked. Was volcanic in Sexy Beast and powerful in TV show Deadwood. Not to well known but definitely a quality performer.
Best part; Teddy Bass in Sexy Beast
Honourable mention; Judas Ascariot in Jesus of Nazareth (TV)
Worst part; Dr. Brinkman in Agent Cody Banks
BRAD PITT
Now I know pretty boy isn't everyone's idea of a good actor, but you can't deny that when given a good part, he delivers. Think Twelve Monkeys, Fightclub, Babel or Jesse James. There's a lot of good stuff on his resume. Doesn't mind losing the good looks for a roll which I like. His Irish Pikey in Snatch was awesome (I should know)
Best part; Tyler Durden in Fight Club
Honourable mention; Floyd in True Romance
Worst part; Achilles in Troy
GABRIEL BYRNE
Being a fellow Irishman gets him a few extra votes. Not the widest range, but when that brooding persona is used properly he can be excellent. Hell, I even liked him in End of Days (shite movie,I know). Has made more bad films than good, but the good ones tend to be very good.
Best part; Tom Reagen in Millers Crossing
Honourable mention; Stewart Kane in Jindabyne
Worst part; Cpt. Sean Murphy in Ghost Ship
JOHNNY DEPP
Has become a major star in the last few years thanks to Captain Jack, but has propably deserved it. Has been very good for a long time. Could have become the pretty boy leading man but instead picked smaller more interesting parts. Has a long association with Tim Burten in which they've drawn some great characters. A real talent.
Best part; Edward Scissorhands
Honourable mention; Keith Richards in Pirates of the Caribbean
Worst part; Tom Hanson Jr in 21 Jump Street
JEAN RENO
I don't pretend to know anything about his career in French cinema. But in english speaking rolls I like him. Was great in Leon as well as Ronin. Hell, he even made parts of Godzilla bearable. For this alone he deserves praise. Is best when he's not cast as the token Frenchman.
Best part; Leon in Leon
Honourable mention; Enzo Molinari in The Big Blue
Worst part; Bezu Fache in The Da Vinci Code
DENNIS FARINA
Now I know he basically plays the same part every time, but he does it so well. Especially when he gives it a comic touch, a la Get Shorty or Snatch. Really says the word FUCK how it's supposed to be said. A gift few possess.
Best part; Ray Barboni in Get Shorty
Honourable mention; Marshall Sisco in Out of Sight
Worst part; Jack Bangs in Reindeer Games
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
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Movie Train
Artist Quirk
the only film ive really liked brad pitt in was Seven Years in Tibet, he actually showed some character development and vulnerability in that one
i like this idea for a post - list posts are always fun and make you think!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Nice choices.
Mine, in no particular order (and I don't like everything they do ...)
Christian Bale
Sean Penn
Johnny Depp
Robert De Niro
Al Pacino
Willem Dafoe
James Woods
Ray Winstone
Christopher Walken
Jeremy Irons
Peter Greene
Tony Leung
Jude Law
Clive Owen
Benicio Del Toro