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Thread: Watching actors act: Best films for great performances by great actors

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    For whom nothing is written. Oliveloaf's avatar
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    Default Watching actors act: Best films for great performances by great actors

    What have you got? Please post some movies that include really fabulous, maybe slightly over-the-top efforts by your favorites.
    "I won't kill for money, and I won't marry for it. Other than that, I'm open to just about anything."

    -Jim Rockford

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    For whom nothing is written. Oliveloaf's avatar
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    I was actually thinking about this movie when this thread came to mind:



    Hepburn and O'Toole own this movie, and it's a thrill to watch.
    "I won't kill for money, and I won't marry for it. Other than that, I'm open to just about anything."

    -Jim Rockford

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    Oliphaunt Rube E. Tewesday's avatar
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    I'm pretty much indifferent to ACTING of the Meryl Streep/Robert DeNiro before he started doing stupid comedies type. However, since it's still January, I'll put forward Alistair Sims in the 1951 "A Christmas Carol". Talk about owning a part...every line reading, every reaction shot is pure gold.

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    Oliphaunt
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    The first thing I think of with capital-A ACTING:


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    For whom nothing is written. Oliveloaf's avatar
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    And for Duvall fans:

    "I won't kill for money, and I won't marry for it. Other than that, I'm open to just about anything."

    -Jim Rockford

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    Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo What Exit?'s avatar
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    Brando as Don Corleone in "The Godfather".

    Henry Fonda as Tom Joad in "Grapes of Wrath"

    I have to second "Lion in the Winter" and add for Peter O'Toole; Alan Swann in "My Favorite Year" and Katharine Hepburn in "The Philadelphia Story" as Tracy Lord

    Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in "Casablanca"

    Ernest Borgnine as Marty in "Marty"

    Gregory Peck in "To Kill a Mockingbird" as Atticus Finch

    Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday" as Princess Ann

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    For whom nothing is written. Oliveloaf's avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by What Exit? View post
    Brando as Don Corleone in "The Godfather".

    Henry Fonda as Tom Joad in "Grapes of Wrath"

    I have to second "Lion in the Winter" and add for Peter O'Toole; Alan Swann in "My Favorite Year" and Katharine Hepburn in "The Philadelphia Story" as Tracy Lord

    Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in "Casablanca"

    Ernest Borgnine as Marty in "Marty"

    Gregory Peck in "To Kill a Mockingbird" as Atticus Finch

    Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday" as Princess Ann
    I like this list. Big time agree with Bogie in "Casablanca."

    Never thought of Peck in "Mockingbird." It's such a sublime performance, but he is awesome as Atticus.
    "I won't kill for money, and I won't marry for it. Other than that, I'm open to just about anything."

    -Jim Rockford

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    Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo What Exit?'s avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Oliveloaf
    I like this list. Big time agree with Bogie in "Casablanca."

    Never thought of Peck in "Mockingbird." It's such a sublime performance, but he is awesome as Atticus.
    The trick with Peck and Audrey in Roman Holiday is they were their characters. Peck was so great in the role that his quiet sensible man was voted the Greater American Film Hero of them all and he deserved it. Audrey was so much the young Princess that I at least fell in love with her completely the first time I saw the film. She was perfect in the role and the role was perfect for her.

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    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Just about everyone in Casablanca. Great ensemble cast.

    Keira Knightley in Pride & Prejudice. Utterly luminous and delightfully headstrong.

    Edward Woodward in Breaker Morant. Stern, poetic, stalwart.

    Anthony LaPaglia, in the otherwise forgettable Betsy's Wedding, stole the show as a young mobster.

    Bradley Cooper in Limitless. Convincingly takes his character from being a schlub of a writer to
    Spoiler (mouseover to read):
    the likely future President of the United States. A tour de force.


    Jeff Daniels as Col. Chamberlain in Gettysburg. Quiet, humane, determined. Shoulda gotten an Oscar, dammit.

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    Prehistoric Bitchslapper Sarahfeena's avatar
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    I really like Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins' performances in Shawshank.

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    Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo What Exit?'s avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Sarahfeena View post
    I really like Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins' performances in Shawshank.
    Those are excellent.

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    Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love. Imperiously entertaining.

    Robert Downey Jr. in the first Iron Man. Struck the perfect balance between playboy and genius.

    Guy Pearce in Memento. Scary and tragic, all at the same time.

    Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski. Hard to believe he's not really like that.

    Does voice work count? Brad Bird as Edna "No capes!" Mode in The Incredibles. Stole every scene he/she was in.

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    Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo What Exit?'s avatar
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    "No Capes!"

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    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Is there an echo around here...?

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    For whom nothing is written. Oliveloaf's avatar
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    "I won't kill for money, and I won't marry for it. Other than that, I'm open to just about anything."

    -Jim Rockford

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    Wanna cuddle? RabbitMage's avatar
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    Geoffery Rush, Kate Winslet, and Joaquin Phoenix were all exceptional in Quills.

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    The Queen Zuul's avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Oliveloaf View post
    I was actually thinking about this movie when this thread came to mind:



    Hepburn and O'Toole own this movie, and it's a thrill to watch.
    I keep meaning to watch this and I keep failing.

    Ian McKellen in Richard III is phenomenal. It's the version that's set in an alternate 1930s England. The charm and manipulative power of the character just comes roaring through.
    So now they are just dirt-covered English people in fur pelts with credit cards.

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    Member Elendil's Heir's avatar
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    Quote Originally posted by Zuul View post
    ...Ian McKellen in Richard III is phenomenal. It's the version that's set in an alternate 1930s England. The charm and manipulative power of the character just comes roaring through.
    Oh, yeah, definitely. He also is superb as Gandalf in the LOTR movies.

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