Departed
Former Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 5:26:33 GMT -5
My number one has to be James Stewart. I love his all-american good guy persona, his mannerisms and he just so happens to be in a lot of my favorite films. Between Vertigo, It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Rear Window, Harvey and a dozen others, he's in more of my top films than any other actor by a mile. Even when he's in a lesser film like Bell Book and Candle, Rope or Little Shop on the Corner he brings a lot to the table so it's still an enjoyable experience. But I want to give a shoutout to three other actors who get a lot less recognition than they deserve. Claude Rains, Lee J Cobb and James Mason. For some reason they don't seem to get talked about the way Bogart, Cary Grant and Charlton Heston do when discussing the greats of Golden Age Hollywood. Claude Rains is in a lot of my favorites too, like Lawrence of Arabia, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Casablanca. In the last of those, I honestly think he upstaged Bogart and played a significant role in making the film better than it would have otherwise been. Humphrey Bogart is really good as Rick, but the character is basically a one-note gruff cynic. It's how other people talk about him and admire him that makes the character so fascinating for the viewer. And in that regard, Claude's character Louis is the most openly reverent. (I particularly love how he describes Rick as "the kind of man who, if I were a woman and I were not around, I should be in love with Rick.") The two have amazing screen chemistry together and a lot of Louis' fawning is what sells Rick's mystique to the audience. That last line of the film is so iconic because the whole story has been building up to it so well. I'd even go so far as to say I personally see Casablanca as more of a great bromance than a great romance. There's another movie Rains was in-- The Invisible Man--which I just saw a few days ago and would also recommend largely due to his performance. Lee J Cobb is a bit typecasted as the ornery tough guy from my experience, but he's the highlight of the two films I know him from: 12 Angry Men and On the Waterfront. In the former, he does a great job making you sympathize for what a miserable person Juror #3 is. The entire climax is his final monologue where he comes apart at the seams and can't hide his true motive for the guilty vote--misdirected anger from his estranged relationship with his son--from the others any longer. The mark of a great character is when I want to know more (perhaps even read a fanfic  ) and it was Juror #3's life I most wanted to delve into after the film ended. I really wanted to know what him and his son fought about and if they ever reconciled. It's not easy to leave such a huge impression with such a relatively minor character (I say that because all 11 get pretty equal spotlight behind Juror #8 as the lead.) As far as Waterfront goes, Cobb somehow made me feel sympathy even for a coldblooded corrupt killer like Johnny Friendly at the end...despite inspiring fear up to that point. He's got such charisma that I actually found myself attracted to him in his first scene where he buys off Terry following the hit on Joey Doyle. As I understand it, Cobb played Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman in the theater. I'd give anything to have been alive to see that. James Mason is stellar in every role I've seen him in, from the antagonist of North by Northwest to the minor role of Joseph of Arimathea in Jesus of Nazareth. Especially in the former, he does a great job as a sort of proto-Bond villain where he manages to be sophisticated and affable without descending into self-parody as many actual Bond villains do. In Lolita, his mounting jealousy and paranoia throughout the second half of the film is expertly done. As disturbing as their relationship is, you never doubt that Humbert truly does love Lolita...in his own sick, twisted way. Mason happened to play Captain Nemo in Disney's live action take on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as well. Now, that was one of my favorite books as a kid and Nemo always struck me as a larger than life figure. So I'll admit when my mom got me the film adaptation for Christmas the next year, I was disappointed with Mason's portrayal. He didn't have the athletic build, the long face, the deep voice or the intimidating presence I'd envisioned. Over time however, Mason's take has grown on me a lot. The scene where he rams a ship is incredibly powerful, and it relies entirely on his facial expressions without dialogue. Which brings me to my next point... This scene. Now, my girlfriend and I saw the remake a few months ago and it blew us away. I would have to say the 2018 version is the overall better film. That said, I really loved Mason's performance in the '54 version. In particular, this scene right here where Norman Maine just looks out over the ocean and you know exactly what he's thinking without having to say a word... I'll talk about actresses another time.
|
|
Departed
Former Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2019 15:31:16 GMT -5
It's that goosebumps music again. I could never match your erudition and eloquence on the subject so I'll just run through my favourites and leave it at that. I'd loved the acting and personality of Judi Dench since my school days. She was succeeded in my affections a couple of decades ago by Victoria Hamilton, another Shakespearean actress whom I just missed seeing onstage by rather stupidly passing out.  These days, the actress that moves me the most is Nicola Walker. Her performance as the ill-fated Helen Bartlett in the British TV detective series Scott & Bailey is out of this world. As for blokes: The first that came to mind was Ralph Fiennes, with Benedict Cumberbatch breathing down his neck. Two non-Brits that do it for me (before I get accused of xenophobia) are Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert de Nero. These are all actresses and actors I've seen and marvelled at on multiple occasions. |
|
|
|
Post by Vale on Jan 2, 2019 1:02:45 GMT -5
Uhmmmm ok here are my best actors:
Top 10
Al Pacino
Robert DeNiro
Tom Cruise
Leonardo DiCaprio
Michael J. Fox
Sean Connery
Harrison Ford
Keanu Reeves
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sylvester Stallone
|
|
|
|
Post by jasonaustin on Jan 2, 2019 2:30:42 GMT -5
I've been on a huge James Franco tear since the Disaster Artist came out last year. Recently watched all of 11.22.63, both seasons of The Deuce and the movie The Vault, and he was great in all of them. I'm curious to see where he goes from here, because his work has really been good as of late.
|
|
|
|
Post by Beach Boys Fan on Jan 2, 2019 7:29:50 GMT -5
Thanks to the OP, this is cool topic to discuss. James Stewart in "Rear Window" is really good. Besides, agree about James Mason's villain in NBN, it really fit him to play the character. He played the villain with class, taste, subtlety. But, what do you think about him in "Lolita"? I prefer his characterization than Jeremy Irons' but some reviewers say James Mason didn't fit to play such character, isn't "convincing". What will you say, @iluvleniloud?
I'd list these:
Bela Lugosi, Oscar Homolka, Douglass (with 2 "s") Montgomery, Robert Donat, Robert Mitchum, Robert Taylor, Roberto Benigni, Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Sylvester Stallone, Boris Karloff, Steve Martin, Mick Jagger, Harrison Ford, Donald Sutherland, Art Carney.
Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Olivia Hussey, Ruth Hussey, Gene Tierney, Dorothy McGuire, Abigail Breslin, Angelina Jolie, Joan Crawford, Lillian Gish, Helen Hayes, Ginnifer Goodwin, Amanda Plummer, the great Gena Rowlands.
|
|
|
|
Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jan 2, 2019 10:39:25 GMT -5
Favorite Actors:
Cary Grant
Humphrey Bogart
John Wayne
Spencer Tracy
Jimmy Stewart
Favorite Actresses:
Maureen O'Hara
Kathryn Hepburn
Irene Dunne
Myrna Loy
Katherine Ross
I have no favorites from the 1970's onwards. All run of the mill actors & actresses.
|
|
|
|
Post by Wicked Lester on Jan 2, 2019 11:13:37 GMT -5
My favourite actor from the Gold era of Hollywood would have to be Gene Hackman. I've never seen a bad performance from the guy. I think the best actor on the planet right now is Gary Oldman. He's been in some utter shite, but he's also done some fantastic performances. A very varied actor indeed. My guilty pleasure is Nic Cage. He'll take anything for a paycheck and is the King of OTT, hammy performances. A friend and I are engaged in a contest to watch as many films of his as we can. I'm currently at 77!!
|
|
|
|
Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jan 2, 2019 11:22:03 GMT -5
My number one has to be James Stewart. I love his all-american good guy persona, his mannerisms and he just so happens to be in a lot of my favorite films. Between Vertigo, It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Rear Window, Harvey and a dozen others, he's in more of my top films than any other actor by a mile. Even when he's in a lesser film like Bell Book and Candle, Rope or Little Shop on the Corner he brings a lot to the table so it's still an enjoyable experience. But I want to give a shoutout to three other actors who get a lot less recognition than they deserve. Claude Rains, Lee J Cobb and James Mason. For some reason they don't seem to get talked about the way Bogart, Cary Grant and Charlton Heston do when discussing the greats of Golden Age Hollywood. Claude Rains is in a lot of my favorites too, like Lawrence of Arabia, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Casablanca. In the last of those, I honestly think he upstaged Bogart and played a significant role in making the film better than it would have otherwise been. Humphrey Bogart is really good as Rick, but the character is basically a one-note gruff cynic. It's how other people talk about him and admire him that makes the character so fascinating for the viewer. And in that regard, Claude's character Louis is the most openly reverent. (I particularly love how he describes Rick as "the kind of man who, if I were a woman and I were not around, I should be in love with Rick.") The two have amazing screen chemistry together and a lot of Louis' fawning is what sells Rick's mystique to the audience. That last line of the film is so iconic because the whole story has been building up to it so well. I'd even go so far as to say I personally see Casablanca as more of a great bromance than a great romance. There's another movie Rains was in-- The Invisible Man--which I just saw a few days ago and would also recommend largely due to his performance. Lee J Cobb is a bit typecasted as the ornery tough guy from my experience, but he's the highlight of the two films I know him from: 12 Angry Men and On the Waterfront. In the former, he does a great job making you sympathize for what a miserable person Juror #3 is. The entire climax is his final monologue where he comes apart at the seams and can't hide his true motive for the guilty vote--misdirected anger from his estranged relationship with his son--from the others any longer. The mark of a great character is when I want to know more (perhaps even read a fanfic ) and it was Juror #3's life I most wanted to delve into after the film ended. I really wanted to know what him and his son fought about and if they ever reconciled. It's not easy to leave such a huge impression with such a relatively minor character (I say that because all 11 get pretty equal spotlight behind Juror #8 as the lead.) As far as Waterfront goes, Cobb somehow made me feel sympathy even for a coldblooded corrupt killer like Johnny Friendly at the end...despite inspiring fear up to that point. He's got such charisma that I actually found myself attracted to him in his first scene where he buys off Terry following the hit on Joey Doyle. As I understand it, Cobb played Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman in the theater. I'd give anything to have been alive to see that. James Mason is stellar in every role I've seen him in, from the antagonist of North by Northwest to the minor role of Joseph of Arimathea in Jesus of Nazareth. Especially in the former, he does a great job as a sort of proto-Bond villain where he manages to be sophisticated and affable without descending into self-parody as many actual Bond villains do. In Lolita, his mounting jealousy and paranoia throughout the second half of the film is expertly done. As disturbing as their relationship is, you never doubt that Humbert truly does love Lolita...in his own sick, twisted way. Mason happened to play Captain Nemo in Disney's live action take on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as well. Now, that was one of my favorite books as a kid and Nemo always struck me as a larger than life figure. So I'll admit when my mom got me the film adaptation for Christmas the next year, I was disappointed with Mason's portrayal. He didn't have the athletic build, the long face, the deep voice or the intimidating presence I'd envisioned. Over time however, Mason's take has grown on me a lot. The scene where he rams a ship is incredibly powerful, and it relies entirely on his facial expressions without dialogue. Which brings me to my next point... This scene. Now, my girlfriend and I saw the remake a few months ago and it blew us away. I would have to say the 2018 version is the overall better film. That said, I really loved Mason's performance in the '54 version. In particular, this scene right here where Norman Maine just looks out over the ocean and you know exactly what he's thinking without having to say a word... I'll talk about actresses another time.
I agree with you on Claude Rains. One of the best character actors ever. I never seen a bad performance by him. Even in The Adventures of Robin Hood, he played a great "little shit" as Prince John. |
|
|
|
Post by kds on Jan 2, 2019 12:27:19 GMT -5
Speaking of character actors, I think Hollywood really misses Robert Wuhl.
He was great in Good Morning Vietnam, Bull Durham, Batman (1989), and Cobb among other roles, including his underrated starring vehicle - the HBO show Arli$$.
|
|
Departed
Former Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 14:27:28 GMT -5
Thanks to the OP, this is cool topic to discuss. James Stewart in "Rear Window" is really good. Besides, agree about James Mason's villain in NBN, it really fit him to play the character. He played the villain with class, taste, subtlety. But, what do you think about him in "Lolita"? I prefer his characterization than Jeremy Irons' but some reviewers say James Mason didn't fit to play such character, isn't "convincing". What will you say, @iluvleniloud ? I'd list these: Bela Lugosi, Oscar Homolka, Douglass (with 2 "s") Montgomery, Robert Donat, Robert Mitchum, Robert Taylor, Roberto Benigni, Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Sylvester Stallone, Boris Karloff, Steve Martin, Mick Jagger, Harrison Ford, Donald Sutherland, Art Carney. Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Olivia Hussey, Ruth Hussey, Gene Tierney, Dorothy McGuire, Abigail Breslin, Angelina Jolie, Joan Crawford, Lillian Gish, Helen Hayes, Ginnifer Goodwin, Amanda Plummer, the great Gena Rowlands. Thank you. I think he was very convincing. I unfortunately can't find it online, but the scene where he tries to pick Lolita up from the hospital was pretty frantic and uncomfortable. I think he played the part superbly, but I haven't seen Irons in the role to compare. |
|
|
|
Post by E on Jan 2, 2019 15:12:15 GMT -5
Too many, but I'll start with Fonda, Stewart, Bogart, GRant and Garfield. Garner, Newman, Jeff Bridges, Ed Norton and Clooney
|
|
Departed
Former Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 16:15:08 GMT -5
Actor - Daniel Day Lewis, Robert De Niro
Actress - Julie Andrews, Marion Cotillard
|
|
|
|
Post by Beach Boys Fan on Jan 4, 2019 21:57:51 GMT -5
Recently watched "Coffee And Cigarettes", segment "Cousins" which stars Cate Blanchett playing 2 entirely different sisters - by status, class, hair color, make-up style, manner, speech. It made me suspect that Cate could be in your list of favorite actresses, @iluvleniloud. It seemed she could be the kinda actress you like, the type of acting you respect, appreciate, recognize as big talent, at last admire. Either way, looking forward to see who you consider favorite actresses.
|
|
Departed
Former Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2019 23:00:52 GMT -5
I have to agree completely with what was said earlier in this thread about James Stewart, particularly at the start of the OP. What I like most about him is the versatility that he displayed throughout his career, from the good natured family man in "It's a Wonderful Life" (and a number of other films), to the troubled and endangered protagonist in the Hitchcock films, to various types of characters in westerns later in his career. In fact, just the other night I saw him in a late 60s western (can't remember the title) where he was kind of a thug (and a bit of a badass at that).
|
|
Departed
Former Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2019 0:23:08 GMT -5
Recently watched "Coffee And Cigarettes", segment "Cousins" which stars Cate Blanchett playing 2 entirely different sisters - by status, class, hair color, make-up style, manner, speech. It made me suspect that Cate could be in your list of favorite actresses, @iluvleniloud . It seemed she could be the kinda actress you like, the type of acting you respect, appreciate, recognize as big talent, at last admire. Either way, looking forward to see who you consider favorite actresses. Im sorry but I haven't seen "Coffee and Cigarettes." I will take your praise as a strong recommendation to check it out in the future tho! I like Cate Blanchett in everything I've seen her in but admittedly that's not much. I haven't prepared a whole lot to say about them, but my favorite actresses are Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Julie Andrews and Kim Novak. It's a lot harder for me to pick favorite actresses for some reason. Maybe it's because most actresses don't get to be the focus of as many films, since once they got old they were dumped faster than male actors were. Maybe it's because a lot of female roles especially back then tended to be "the girl" aka "love interest"/"devoted wife." Or maybe it's something else, I'm not sure. It's rarer for me to recognize an actress from multiple films and piece together their stellar career, or be compelled to see a movie just because I know XYZ actress is in it. That's not to say it's a problem with the actresses themselves, it's just a weird quirk of mine I guess. I tend to get more invested in women characters than women actresses I suppose. I like a lot of specific portrayals of female characters and think the actresses played a great job in them. Some examples include Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace as well as the Bride. But even though I love those roles, I never really saw those actresses in enough other roles to where I think of them the same was as I do James Stewart and company. Im not doubting they were all in other great movies tho. Anyway, Judy Garland and Julie Andrews are insanely talented singers and actresses who are the high point in every movie I've seen them in. Even though she had no business in the role (it was Julie's on Broadway) I loved Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady and Breakfast at Tiffany's. She does a good job at being a sophisticated lady yet still appearing vulnerable and hurt by the world around her. Kim Novak I've only seen in Vertigo and Bell Book and Candle but she's great in both. The former she had an incredibly complicated dual-role which she was able to pull of flawlessly. In the later she's working against a mediocre script but manages to be a cool, compelling witch. |
|
|
|
Post by Beach Boys Fan on Jan 5, 2019 9:38:36 GMT -5
Hey you too like Audrey in "Breakfast At Tiffany's"? She's great in it. She commented about it (nearly verbatim) "It's very tough when you're introvert to play extrovert".
I'd seen "Vertigo", Kim Novak's good but the movie isn't likeable. We'll disagree here.
Judy Garland sings really well; think she's better singer than actress.
Julie Andrews seems like this nice English upper class lady. Which isn't quite diverse image.
Linda Hamilton is great in "Terminator", with big cool jawline, face looking with strength. But, she could be really feminine too, in movies such as "Children Of The Corn", "Mr. Destiny". She's got twin sister who doubled her in some movie scenes, doing stunts maybe.
|
|
Departed
Former Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2019 22:34:37 GMT -5
I ended up talking about some actors in another thread. But for this one, I wanted to return to the dedicated topic on the subject. I just saw The Children's Hour for the first time today. Overall, it's not a very great film; besides the two main female leads, the acting is pretty mediocre. It relies on two young girls whose overacting is borderline unwatchable in particular. And yet, I recommend checking it out all the same on the strength of the premise and this scene, expertly delivered by Shirley MacLaine. Basically, it's about two women that run a daycare who are accused of being lesbians. The lie (and puritanical culture) ruins their business, Karen's engagement, and leads to this fantastic monologue by Martha (Shirley MacLaine). Anyone who's had to come out of the closet, and lived in shame until they did, can relate to this scenario. It's so effective because it's still what a lot of people go through, and you wish Karen (Audrey Hepburn) would have just physically comforted Martha and she doesn't  I know it was a shock to Karen, and she probably holds some biases herself, but her best friend just made herself as vulnerable as a person possibly could and she doesn't even pat Martha on the back... (This might sound cheesy, maybe even virtue signaling, but so many times when I watch movies I wish the people involved would hug each other more. Or at least give an affectionate touch on the arm, explain their feelings clearly...something. When you can see interactions from a removed objective viewpoint you see the lack of compassionate touch a lot more blatantly between people.) |
|
Departed
Former Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 6:42:05 GMT -5
(This might sound cheesy, maybe even virtue signaling, but so many times when I watch movies I wish the people involved would hug each other more. Or at least give an affectionate touch on the arm, explain their feelings clearly...something. When you can see interactions from a removed objective viewpoint you see the lack of compassionate touch a lot more blatantly between people.) I like that. I don't see anything cheesy about it. |
|
|
|
Post by Beach Boys Fan on Feb 12, 2019 7:03:13 GMT -5
Replying to @iluvleniloud re: "Children's Hour" (when I got to this thread, nobody yet replied anything to her. Now, in such short time, there's new reply. Meant to just type this sign "^"):
I'd seen it last year. Not bad but not good. Frankly I shan't say I'm Shirley MacLaine fan. Isn't good actress imo. Here she's nice but Audrey played well too. I liked when she couldn't bear the guys staring at these 2 grinning & when the mail guy or who is it passed their school by staring & grinning at the girls, Audrey shouted "Stop it!". She got annoyed & in despair.
The main little girl who began this helter skelter really begged for punishment. That said, the girl's granny is stupidly too quick by believing her granddaughter's claims - surreal.
Btw, the other little girl blackmailed by the main culprit starred in "Birds" by Hitch, playing Mitch's (Rod Taylor we discussed) little sister Cathy. Here she's younger.
The ending is super-sad. Shirley's character could've stayed, not give up.
Audrey's character's fiancee (IIRC James Garner) sees her at distance but doesn't do anything to get her back due to media coverage/ bad rep. Then the girl's granny tries to do favor to her that she forgives her. Audrey ofc doesn't.
Generally, this could be advanced film in regards its topic subject, yet, maybe there's films that date way back to 50s which deal with this very subject, even if subdued. Food to think about, surely.
|
|
Departed
Former Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2019 7:53:05 GMT -5
Speaking of Lolita...Sue Lyon basically left the film industry and has been reclusive for decades. I like James Mason's performance in The Verdict and Peter Sellers in Being There.
Favorite Actors:
- Robert Deniro - Al Pacino - Samuel L. Jackson
- Richard Gere - Frank Sinatra - John Cassavetes - Alec Baldwin - Michael Douglas - Bruce Willis
Favorite Actresses:
- Madeleine Stowe - Diane Lane - Uma Thurman - Kate Beckinsale - Gena Rowlands
and two TV actresses: - Julie Bowen - Lisa Bonet on Cosby and A Different World 
|
|
|
|
Post by kds on Feb 12, 2019 9:17:46 GMT -5
He'll never appear on a list of great actors, but I really miss Robert Wuhl.
From Hollywood Knights, Good Morning Vietnam, Bull Durham, Batman (1989), and Cobb, his supporting roles added to every movie he was ever in. And I thought his starring role in HBO's Arli$$ was very underrated.
|
|
|
|
Post by Beach Boys Fan on Mar 8, 2019 15:27:32 GMT -5
Mick Jagger
Tom Waits
= 2 good singers who can equally well act. Exception rather than rule to excel in either.
edit. & Ringo - fine drummer & thespian.
|
|
Departed
Former Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2019 15:48:09 GMT -5
Mick Jagger Tom Waits = 2 good singers who can equally well act. Exception rather than rule to excel in either. UK singer Harry Styles (ex One Direction) acquitted himself really well as an actor in the film Dunkirk. |
|
|
|
Post by kds on Mar 10, 2019 10:40:09 GMT -5
David Johannsen of the New York Dolls was great as the Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged.
|
|
) and it was Juror #3's life I most wanted to delve into after the film ended. I really wanted to know what him and his son fought about and if they ever reconciled. It's not easy to leave such a huge impression with such a relatively minor character (I say that because all 11 get pretty equal spotlight behind Juror #8 as the lead.) As far as Waterfront goes, Cobb somehow made me feel sympathy even for a coldblooded corrupt killer like Johnny Friendly at the end...despite inspiring fear up to that point. He's got such charisma that I actually found myself attracted to him in his first scene where he buys off Terry following the hit on Joey Doyle. 
These days, the actress that moves me the most is Nicola Walker. Her performance as the ill-fated Helen Bartlett in the British TV detective series Scott & Bailey is out of this world. 
You're a great person BBF.'' - iluvleniloud about me and I.
I know it was a shock to Karen, and she probably holds some biases herself, but her best friend just made herself as vulnerable as a person possibly could and she doesn't even pat Martha on the back...