chose the best

[elemental]

i want your opinion about the actors that you like the most and the respective movies you think they gave the performances of their lives.

For me i think it was Edward Norton in 25th hour, Denzel in Training Day and the great Sean Penn in Mystic River ( i'm influenced for the movies i've last seen but i think great of these 3 actors)

[butter1]

Mine would be Denzel Washington in Man on Fire, brilliant film, brilliant acting.  I'll have to think of some more!!

[natalie_1982]

I think for me it has to be Jack Nicholson in The Shining and Ray Winstone in Nil By Mouth.

[r_kimble]

Edward Norton's top performance was in "American History X". There is no challenge to this fact. Except maybe "Primal Fear", coming a close and brilliant 2nd. Denzel Washington is excellent, but no more so in Training Day than in any of his movies. He's |gold standard in everything.

 

Personally, i'm impressed by Matt Damon in The Bourne movies.

[ICEMANSAV]

Bradd Pitt in twelve Monkeys.

Bruce Willis in same film.

[Johnmof]

Going back a bit further, Spencer Tracey in Inherit the Wind, Peter O' Toole in The Lion in Winter (Katherine Hepburn got an Oscar for the same film), George C Scott in A Christmas Carol, Rod Steiger in In The Heat Of The Night, John Wayne in The Shootist. More recently, Richard Harris in Gladiator, Michael Caine in Little Voice. 

[greenday]

I'd go with James Stewart in 'It's a wonderful life' for an old film, he was extremly convincing and showed great emotion.

Also, Al Pacino in 'The Godfather', it's all in the eyes!

[galltin]

Ah greenday now you're talking. James Stewart in anything! Superb actor. Thumbs up also to Al Pacino.Also Jack Lemmon in Glengarry Glen Ross, Kevin Spacey in same and The Usual Suspects.Oh Spencer Tracy in Guess who's Coming to Dinner and Henry Fonda in 12 Angry Men.

[OBonio]

Rob de Niro in Deerhunter, Al Pacino in Scarface, Ray Liotta in Goodfellas.  Thingymabob from Forrest Gump.

[Mattk]

denzel washington in 'training day' and al pacino in 'scent of a woman' - that scene near the end when he gives his school speech is amazing !

[ermintrude35]

..jean reno ,, in Leon, superb...

..jack nicholson in As Good As it Gets..

...christopher eccleston in Shallow Grave..

[elemental]

r_kimble I respect your opinion but I really think that Norton top performance was in 25th hour but of course everything norton touches is better than good, and Denzel also. I forgot to mention in my question Al Pacino in scent of a woman but Mattk didn't and of course Jack Nicholson as many more. But I think you're all forgeting Sean Penn who is great in everything he does, and he does a lot...

[Litchick]

russell crowe in "a beautiful mind"

leonardo dicaprio in "what's eating gilbert grape"

johnny depp "fear and loathing in las vegas" and "pirates of the caribbean"

[blueeyedlass]

have to say patrick swayze in dirty dancing but thats for my own pervy reasons !

or i think joe pesci in goodfellas was brilliant.

[graemer]

In a pickle sadly I have to seriously disagree with you, I thought he was hilariously bad in "Meet Joe Black". When the girl first hugs him he does this hysterical eye acting. His hair looked nice though.

I like Litchick's choices I think

[natalie_1982]

I'm also going with Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman.

[ludwig]

Gene Hackman, Al Pacino are always watchable even if they're in a not so good film. Also Anthony Hopkins, with the exception of the Hannibal Lecter stuff where he completely hams it up.

[lindapinda]

My favourite is John Wayne in The Searchers,I never get tired of watching that film.I also rate Denzel Washington in Man On Fire,his performance stays with you long after you watch the film.

[little gem]

I totally agree with Ed Norton in American History X.....fantastic performance in that film.
Paddy Consadine in Dead Man's Shoes is one of the best personal performances I have seen in a long time...
After that I would say that I loved Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - totally different to anything he has done before and really effective.

[Little Lady]

I have to agree with r_kimble about the Bourne identity fils they were fantastic.

Also the last samurai is a favourite of mine although i would have prefered someone else other than Tom Cruise to play the part.

Matrix is always a good watch too....