Personal Ratings of Actors

[RadicalModerate]

William "b" Macy rules.
(especially in that "cult film" involving hired killers co-starring Donald Sutherland that almost no one saw =)

When is his OKC-themed film projected to debut?

[Achilleslastand]

William "b" Macy rules.
(especially in that "cult film" involving hired killers co-starring Donald Sutherland that almost no one saw =)

When is his OKC-themed film projected to debut?

Rudderless you mean?
Rudderless - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Achilleslastand]

I really liked William Macy in his portrayal of real life salesman Bill Porter who was stricken with cerebral palsy in Door to Door.

And sadly I did hear that the real Bill Porter passed away in Dec of 2013. He was an inspiration of making the very most out of what we are given.

[RadicalModerate]

As is William Macy.
(a really, really, good "character actor")

[Dubya61]

I also like Steve Buscemi (spelling alert). I wonder if it takes a better actor to be a character actor than a leading man or woman. Don't we all imagine ourselves to be the protagonist and take to the role easily? I would postulate that it takes a better actor to take a lesser part, figure out what makes that person tick, figure out how to best make that person relevant to the story being told (and hope that what you think the story is is the same as the director's idea of what the story is), and then to be that person and really shine.

[ctchandler]

At the risk of being called "UnAmerican", on the bottom of my list is John Wayne. King of the "B" movies. I can't remember very many movies where he played anything but himself. Was he entertaining? Probably, but I enjoy a performer that actually embraces a roll, as opposed to doing it "His way". I think he did a good job in "The Quiet Man" though. I also gained (dis)respect for him after his Playboy interview so that doesn't help my attitude about him. I have too many favorites to list, but James Woods comes to mind as far as those still alive. Jack Nicholson of course and how about Burt Lancaster? He was pretty versatile. I don't know if he ever won the dog and pony contest (Oscar), maybe for Elmer Gantry? I always enjoyed Paul Newman, but I don't know how I would Actually rate him. He was very good in some movies, but not a great actor.
C. T.
p.s. Let the boos begin.

[RadicalModerate]

A friend of mine . . . Back "in the day" . . . Who returned, uninjured (physically), from "The Nam" (Marine, Recon) once said: "Who the F--- is John Wayne? The dude hasn't ever really been a cowboy or a soldier. He's an actor. What the F--- is all that about?" My friend was probably suffering from a version of PTSD.

[kelroy55]

At the risk of being called "UnAmerican", on the bottom of my list is John Wayne. King of the "B" movies. I can't remember very many movies where he played anything but himself. Was he entertaining? Probably, but I enjoy a performer that actually embraces a roll, as opposed to doing it "His way". I think he did a good job in "The Quiet Man" though. I also gained (dis)respect for him after his Playboy interview so that doesn't help my attitude about him. I have too many favorites to list, but James Woods comes to mind as far as those still alive. Jack Nicholson of course and how about Burt Lancaster? He was pretty versatile. I don't know if he ever won the dog and pony contest (Oscar), maybe for Elmer Gantry? I always enjoyed Paul Newman, but I don't know how I would Actually rate him. He was very good in some movies, but not a great actor.
C. T.
p.s. Let the boos begin.

I think Burt Lancaster is probably one of the best actors of all time.

[ctchandler]

Kelroy55,
His versatility was amazing. Take a look at the list of movies he starred in. The range of parts is astounding. As for being one of the best of all time, I'm not sure, but dang, he was really good. Not to disagree with you though! I would really have to give some serious thought to the "Best of all time" performers. Burt Lancaster would be a finalist but I think would fall a little short. That's a pretty heavy title.
C. T.

I think Burt Lancaster is probably one of the best actors of all time.

[Achilleslastand]

Anthony Quinn was great as Zampano in LaStrada

[Prunepicker]

Kelroy55,
His versatility was amazing. Take a look at the list of movies he starred in.
The range of parts is astounding. As for being one of the best of all time, I'm
not sure, but dang, he was really good.
C. T.

Two of my all time Lancaster favorites are The Rainmaker and Elmer Gantry.

[Prunepicker]

I don't believe it's possible to honestly say who the best actor is/was. Every
time I use that label I see a movie the makes me say otherwise.

However, I've not seen a worse actor than Don Johnson and lord know I've
seen my fair share of community plays and musicals and Japanese monster
movies.

[Prunepicker]

... (Don Johnson) His forte at least for a while was on the production end
after he made a name for himself.

I didn't know that. I immediately think of Tommy Lasorda. He wasn't a
good pitcher but was a fantastic manager.

[Prunepicker]

James Bond.

Who was your favorite or what's your take on each actor who played him.

[Prunepicker]

There are a lot of actors who made a career out of basically playing themselves...

I immediately think of Jimmy Stewart. I can't think of a role that he wasn't
Jimmy Stewart.

Stanislavski (sp) began producing "method actors." Marlon Brando was one
of many.

[Jim Kyle]

I immediately think of Jimmy Stewart. I can't think of a role that he wasn't
Jimmy Stewart.

I agree fully that he pretty much always played the same character, but that character was in NO way based on himself! Back in the mid-50s I was assigned to interview him; in person, he was a very quiet but immensely self-assured person, and extremely well-educated and intellectual, not at all like the character he had perfected for his many roles.

Most of us probably know that he was one of the very small number of entertainers who in WW2 refused assignment to slots that made use of their professional skills, but insisted on a combat assignment. A private pilot since his youth, h became a B-17 pilot and personally led many missions over Europe. In fact, the lead role played by Gregory Peck in "Twelve O'Clock High" was, according to a Stewart biography I read, based almost literally on Stewart's wartime actions. And he remained an officer in the USAF Reserve after the war, retiring as a Brigadier General. That's a very far cry from his familiar "Aw, shucks!" screen character!!!

[kelroy55]

I think Burt Lancaster is probably one of the best actors of all time.

Kelroy55,
His versatility was amazing. Take a look at the list of movies he starred in. The range of parts is astounding. As for being one of the best of all time, I'm not sure, but dang, he was really good. Not to disagree with you though! I would really have to give some serious thought to the "Best of all time" performers. Burt Lancaster would be a finalist but I think would fall a little short. That's a pretty heavy title.
C. T.

Spencer Tracy was pretty good and so was Charles Laughton.

[traxx]

I can't believe I left out Jeff Bridges.

I agree with you about Jeff Bridges. He's gotta be one of the most underrated actors around. He's so believable in his roles. In Texasville I truly believe he's lived in small town Texas all his life. In Fisher King he imbues the personality of a self centered shock jock. But he doesn't stay there, his character experiences a change of character. In Big Lebowski he is The Dude.

I've gotta disiagree with you on Johnny Depp, though. He's the same in every movie. He's a quirky little character. I think one of his best roles was in Once Upon A Time In Mexico.

And I'm a little tired of all the British actors run amok in Hollywood. I think it's a thing of Americans hear a British accent and they assume they must be a good actor. It reminds me of that one episode of Frasier where he and Niles run across one of their favorite actors from their youth who is a British actor. They decide to produce him in a one man show and realize that he's really a terrible actor but they just didn't notice it when they were kids.

Many of our main super heroes are British actors. There's a bunch of them on TV. Are there not enough American actors trying to get jobs? Is that why we have so so many British actors on our airwaves and in our movies now?

[Prunepicker]

I agree with you about Jeff Bridges. He's gotta be one of the most underrated
actors around.

I first saw him in Starman. Terrific.

[Prunepicker]

I agree fully that he pretty much always played the same character, but that
character was in NO way based on himself!

I didn't mean that his roles were based on himself. He simply played the
same character because he played it as Jimmy Stewart. I never saw him act
in any role that he wasn't himself. The Thin Man, Mr. Smith goes to DC,
Liberty Valance, Destry, A Wonderful Life, Anatomy of a Murder, etc...
The roles were how Jimmy Stewart would play a cowboy, a lawyer,
a murderer, a cop, a banker, etc...

Cool that you interviewed him. A cousin of mine has his autograph. He'd
draw Harvey and sign his name.

[Prunepicker]

I just learned that Alan Arkin is an Oscar winner. I had no idea. Quite
surprising that such a not so stellar actor would win an Oscar. I mean, he's
a good actor. Maybe 2007 was a bad year for movies. I don't know.

[Prunepicker]

... I've gotta disiagree with you on Johnny Depp, though. He's the same in
every movie. He's a quirky little character...

I agonized through Sweeny Todd. He was Alda-ish at best. Maybe it was
the role or the script. At any rate, it was an awful movie. I believe he was
better in Pirates of the Caribbean, another lack luster production. Depp
wasn't convincing in that role, either.

[Prunepicker]

Stephen Segal approaches Johnson-esque proportions. He's somewhere
between Alda and Johnson and that's not good.

[Prunepicker]

I just discovered this site. I'm not saying it's accurate, but it's interesting.

I happen to like Nicholas Cage. He's not great but I like him.

Top Ten Worst Actors - TheTopTens.com

[Prunepicker]

William Holden is definitely one of the greats. Stalag 17 and Sunset Boulevard.
Two incredible movies.

As an aside, but related, I just realized that Shapiro, an important role in Stalag
17, is Harvey Lembeck who played von Zipper in the Beach movies with
Frankie and Annette.