Heath Ledger - the Joker (TDK)

Christoph Waltz - Colonel Hans Landa (Inglorious Basters)

Andy Serkis - Gollum (LOTR, and i don't care that he was animated over, he still provided the dramatic basis for one of the most awesome technological and artistic feats in cinema)

and one from television-

Michael K. Williams - Omar Little (The Wire)

@Dr. Ag 2015: This thread is about personal favorite performances, not acting range. So if people like DW or LdC pick roles that suit them and people like their performances in those roles, so be it.

My favorites:
Lead Actor: Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver
Supporting Actor: Harvey Keitel in Taxi Driver
Lead Actress: Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs
Supporting Actress: Amanda Plummer in Pulp Fiction

Also, I liked the previous poster's choice of Hanks in Charlie Wilson’s War, having grown up in Wilson’s Congressional District. I thought Hanks did a great job with that one.


[This message has been edited by Rincon (edited 3/22/2012 10:27p).]

[This message has been edited by Rincon (edited 3/22/2012 10:28p).]

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Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds is the only performance that comes to mind in the past 20 years that I have walked out of the theater absolutely convinced that I'd just witnessed an Oscar worthy delivery.

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No question. He was so badass it was scary

Gary oldman in The Professional

He must have been high or that good of an actor.

Casey Affleck: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

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@Dr. Ag 2015: This thread is about personal favorite performances, not acting range. So if people like DW or LdC pick roles that suit them and people like their performances in those roles, so be it.

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Word. This shouldn't be considered a "best" or "most critically acclaimed" performance thread, though your choice may easily fit that criteria. It's just which acting jobs you personally liked the most.

For example, another random choice is the job Leon did as David Ruffin in the Temptations movie that airs on VH1 all the time. He didn't get any real awards for it, but I just love the job he did.

I also like John Turturro's work in The Big Lebowski as much as De Niro's work in The Godfather II.

[This message has been edited by Head Ninja In Charge (edited 3/22/2012 11:19p).]

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Andy Serkis - Gollum (LOTR, and i don't care that he was animated over, he still provided the dramatic basis for one of the most awesome technological and artistic feats in cinema)

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Definitely agree with that. Serkis owned that character, and it's amazing how much of Serkis' facial expressions and physical movements you can see in the digital character. He loved the character and totally bought in, and put himself through quite a beating during filming.

I think the character would have been a lot more 2D with just about any other actor.

[This message has been edited by Ulrich (edited 3/22/2012 11:24p).]

Sorry if my post came off as being about acting range. What I meant was I could never pick Denzel because every single one of his performances is nearly identical. I feel like he is rarely completely invested into his character. His performances are good, but never amazing. As for Leo, I could never pick him because his accents are just so appalling. IMO, the only reason he gets so much respect is because he does a great job of picking the roles he does.

And I never said people dont have a right to their opinions, I'm just voicing my own, as well. Nothing but an opinion.

Robert Duvall as Augustus McCrae. Dead solid perfect.

Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch
Edward Norton as Aaron Stampler/Roy in Primal Fear
Steve Buschemi as Seymour in Ghost World (this is completely underrated as an amazing performance)

Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Love the movie and was when I finally realized Jim Carrey could act and where I determined Kate Winslet is the best young actress out there.

I thought Denzel was incredible in Glory.

I thought his best role was as Malcolm X. He had the voice and mannerisms down pat. Incredible. Much better than Training Day.

Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over Cuckoo's Nest
Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond
Gene Hackman in Hoosiers

some of my favorites

Maybe not my favorite, but way up there is Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler

I think of 2 combined performances off the bat.

Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt in "As Good as it Gets" are both simply incredible.

Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in "Silence of the Lambs" are the same.

Morgan Freeman in "Shawshank Redemption" is fantastic.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman in "Boogie Nights" is actually a better performance imo than Capote.

Steve Buscemi in "Resevoir Dogs" is a true favorite of mine.

Forgot to add:

Denzel Washington in Man on Fire
Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator

growing up I loved Ed Harris in The Abyss

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Forgot to add:

Denzel Washington in Man on Fire
Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator

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Phoenix did a better job in Walk the Line and had a memorable performance in 8mm.

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Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

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Damn you, stole mine

My personal favorites have already been named, but I just thought of this for some reason and thought I would throw it out there:

Morgan Freeman as Cross in Kiss the Girls.

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Phillip Seymour Hoffman in "Boogie Nights" is actually a better performance imo than Capote.

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This guy is amazing in almost everything he does.

Love Liza...one of the funniest and most depressing characters I've ever seen.

Doubt...the subtleties and nuances in his performance keep you constantly reevaluating your opinion the entire movie.

I'd put PSH is the top 3 best actors of his generation.

One scene comes to mind...Dennis Hopper in True Romance.

NSFW. Language not for the faint of heart.

Sicilians

Christopher Walken ain't too shabby here, either...

...and this is a close second. Also NSFW. Strong language.

Honorable mention goes to Dwight Yoakum.

Doyle Loses It

Love this guy.

Paris Hilton - House of Wax.

EOT.

another one for jim carrey that's a personal favorite, but i think a lot of people will agree with:

man on the moon

there were times where i couldn't tell if i was watching a clip of "taxi" with the real andy coffman, or jim carrey when they were showing him acting on set....absolutely brilliant

his tony clifton was spot on too

[This message has been edited by jokershady (edited 3/23/2012 1:26p).]

Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Reginald VelJohnson, and Alexander Godunov in Die Hard.

I was going to say Paul Gleason in Die Hard, but he's probably even better known for The Breakfast Club.

"Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns."

Norton in American History X

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Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator

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You can't be serious.

Ryan gosling in half Nelson.

Alan Rickman in all of the HP movies. He stole nearly every scene he was in.

Forgot about Rickman as Snape... another of my favorites.

George Clooney - O'Brother Where Art Though

Gene Wylder - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Keanu Reeves - The Matrix (sorry, great movie that he fits like a glove)

To add on some I haven't seen.

Brad Pitt - 12 Monkeys is 1st but have to give him Snatch as well

Michael Douglas - Wonder Boys (Love his take whatever comes attitude in this)

Gyllenhall - Donnie Darko