25th Hour

[bigspenda73]

Seriously, how good is that movie?

Just watched it for the 2nd time ever, but this time I knew what the title was. Fucking money if you ask me, two thumbs up.

Anyone else seen it?

[ProZachNation]

Downloading now, I'll prob give it a watch tomorrow or so

[givememyleg]

c'mon man this is old news! plus anything with edward norton is incredible. 25th hour is great but i don't think it is as good as american history x.

[will641]

c'mon man this is old news! plus anything with edward norton is incredible. 25th hour is great but i don't think it is as good as american history x.

yep. that movie is incredible.

[dthorne04]

c'mon man this is old news! plus anything with edward norton is incredible. 25th hour is great but i don't think it is as good as american history x.

spot on.

btw...norton is doing the incredible hulk this summer...zomg, a non shitty version of the hulk with probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now. woo.

[gabe]

i remember watching it a few years ago and thinking it sucked

whats so great about it

[givememyleg]

i remember watching it a few years ago and thinking it sucked

whats so great about it

give it another chance!

[bode]

i saw it a few years ago and it was a good movie but nothing outstanding. maybe i should watch it again.

[bigspenda73]

I'll admit I'm a huge Norton fan. The movie isn't probably in everyone's tastes.

[Silly String]

Is it wrong for me to drop him down the list of all time great actors simply b/c I HATE the way he runs?

He looks like Forest Gump. You know, pre "runnning" Gump.

[ProZachNation]

I'm a huge Norton fan, loved the movie

"Champagne for my real friends, and real pain for my sham friends"

[givememyleg]

Have you ever seen Primal Fear, Spenda?

[Aces]

Have you ever seen Primal Fear, Spenda?

That's another good one. I liked X as well, I'll have to check out 25th hour.

[bode]

Is it wrong for me to drop him down the list of all time great actors simply b/c I HATE the way he runs?

He looks like Forest Gump. You know, pre "runnning" Gump.

ha ha, he does run like the most unathletic person ever.

[zook]

Loved the movie. Spike Lee is underrated. Partly because he's made some shitty movies, but the great ones, like this one, make up for them.

[boost]

Loved the movie. Spike Lee is underrated. Partly because he's made some shitty movies, but the great ones, like this one, make up for them.

care to list some of those shitty ones?

(this isnt an underhanded request, Im not some huge spike lee fan boy or anything)

[boost]

Is it wrong for me to drop him down the list of all time great actors simply b/c I HATE the way he runs?

He looks like Forest Gump. You know, pre "runnning" Gump.

ha ha, he does run like the most unathletic person ever.

you know whos run ruined an entire movie for me, that was otherwise really good? The kid in a bronx tale. God I hate that kid. He has such an awkward run. He runs like hes recovering from a severe stroke.

[Pythonic]

c'mon man this is old news! plus anything with edward norton is incredible. 25th hour is great but i don't think it is as good as american history x.

spot on.

btw...norton is doing the incredible hulk this summer...zomg, a non shitty version of the hulk with probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now. woo.

I'm sorry, did you just say that Norton is probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now? You were joking right?

[boost]

c'mon man this is old news! plus anything with edward norton is incredible. 25th hour is great but i don't think it is as good as american history x.

spot on.

btw...norton is doing the incredible hulk this summer...zomg, a non shitty version of the hulk with probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now. woo.

I'm sorry, did you just say that Norton is probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now? You were joking right?

and your list would be?

not saying I think he is top 10, but I think hes pretty close if not in it.

[givememyleg]

c'mon man this is old news! plus anything with edward norton is incredible. 25th hour is great but i don't think it is as good as american history x.

spot on.

btw...norton is doing the incredible hulk this summer...zomg, a non shitty version of the hulk with probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now. woo.

I'm sorry, did you just say that Norton is probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now? You were joking right?

ummmm easily top 10

[zook]

Loved the movie. Spike Lee is underrated. Partly because he's made some shitty movies, but the great ones, like this one, make up for them.

care to list some of those shitty ones?

(this isnt an underhanded request, Im not some huge spike lee fan boy or anything)

Ones I've seen...

Great: Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, 25th Hour
Good: Crooklyn, Clockers, Jungle Fever, Inside Man
Bad: He Got Game, Bamboozled

I haven't seen She Hate Me, but I've been told it was shitty. Ok, so most of his movies are good... I just feel like he hasn't made a critically acclaimed movie for awhile, so he's underrated.

[ProZachNation]

Norton is top 5 alive or still acting actors.

[dthorne04]

c'mon man this is old news! plus anything with edward norton is incredible. 25th hour is great but i don't think it is as good as american history x.

spot on.

btw...norton is doing the incredible hulk this summer...zomg, a non shitty version of the hulk with probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now. woo.

I'm sorry, did you just say that Norton is probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now? You were joking right?

as someone who considers himself a movie buff, i can safely say that at WORST norton is top 15...however i would put him probably between 6-8. Norton is a SICK motherfucker. Rounders, American History X, 25th Hour, The Illusionist, Fight Club, the Italian Job, Death to Smoochy, Primal Fear (so fucking creepy/good), Red Dragon...he's just a great actor.

[DetroitHusling101]

Loved the movie. Spike Lee is underrated. Partly because he's made some shitty movies, but the great ones, like this one, make up for them.

Yeah i just watched a movie by him the other day. About a bank heist , Newer flick. Sick movie too.
25th hour was really good. Kinda long , and didn't quite enjoy it the second time as much as the first. My fav part is when he is "confessing" i think and he is stereotyping all the different ethnicities throughout NYC.
I might give it another watch becuz of this thread

[zook]

Yeah i just watched a movie by him the other day. About a bank heist , Newer flick. Sick movie too.

Inside Man. Fun movie. I love the lead actor, Clive Owen.

[bigred]

c'mon man this is old news! plus anything with edward norton is incredible. 25th hour is great but i don't think it is as good as american history x.

spot on.

btw...norton is doing the incredible hulk this summer...zomg, a non shitty version of the hulk with probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now. woo.

I'm sorry, did you just say that Norton is probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now? You were joking right?

I'm sorry, have you been living under a rock for the last 20 years? Norton is easily in the top 10.

[bigspenda73]

Have you ever seen Primal Fear, Spenda?

yea, it was g-g-g-g-g-g-good.

[Pythonic]

c'mon man this is old news! plus anything with edward norton is incredible. 25th hour is great but i don't think it is as good as american history x.

spot on.

btw...norton is doing the incredible hulk this summer...zomg, a non shitty version of the hulk with probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now. woo.

I'm sorry, did you just say that Norton is probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now? You were joking right?

I'm sorry, have you been living under a rock for the last 20 years? Norton is easily in the top 10.

I've been right here dude for the last 30 yrs. Here is a list of just a few names that are way ahead of Norton. Norton is probably top 30 but doesn't even come close to these people.

1. Johnny Depp
2. Julia Roberts
3. Jack Nicholson
4. Matt Damon
5. Leonardo DiCaprio
6. Tom Cruise
7. Sean Penn
8. Kevin Spacey
9. John Cusack
10. Nicholas Cage/Harrison Ford/Robert De Niro/Al Pacino/Dustin Hoffman/Keanu Reeves/Jack Nicholson/Clint Eastwood/Samuel L Jackson/Ben Affleck/Jim Carrey/Will Smith/Brad Pitt

[bigspenda73]

you realize you have Keanu Reeves on that list thus taking away any possible credit to it.

[givememyleg]

boy, your list sure swayed me. it impacted my opinion a lot. he is no longer in my top 10. thanks!

[dthorne04]

Keanu Reeves/Ben Affleck

btw, being in a great movie doesn't necessarily put you on the level with other great actors. norton is amazing in every movie he is in. for about the past 10+ years now.

[Pythonic]

I don't care for reeves or affleck but they have been in more bigger movies, just stating the facts. Sure Norton is different and can act but he is not first choice material from the directors.

[ProZachNation]

1. Johnny Depp
2. Julia Roberts
3. Jack Nicholson
4. Matt Damon
5. Leonardo DiCaprio
6. Tom Cruise
7. Sean Penn
8. Kevin Spacey
9. John Cusack
10. Nicholas Cage/Harrison Ford/Robert De Niro/Al Pacino/Dustin Hoffman/Keanu Reeves/Jack Nicholson/Clint Eastwood/Samuel L Jackson/Ben Affleck/Jim Carrey/Will Smith/Brad Pitt

1. Great character actor, had played a lot of great roles, easily top 10 for me
2. Woman so fail
3. Amazing actor somewhere in my top ten
4. He amazing in Good Will Hunting, thats about it, he is good but nothing special.
5. Meh top 20 maybe
6. His being a fucking nut job kinda overshadows his acting.
7. haven't seen much with him in it
8. American Beauty and The Usual Suspects enough said
9. He is a good actor nothing too great
10. Cage(I love him but really he is not a top 20 actor), Ford(wtf has he been in besides Indiana Jones Air Force 1 lol nothing good lately), Deniro is a god, Pacino amazing, Hoffman again good but not really anything lately, Reeves(kidding right?), Eastwood ok maybe top ten, Jackson plays to many shit roles, Affleck is lol, Carrey too many shit roles, Smith doesn't do anything for me, Pitt gotta say I do like him

So I have to say half or more of your list is dog shit, with most of those guys having one good role/performance.

American History X, Fight Club, The Illusionist(might not have liked it but he played the part very well), Kingdom of Heaven(you don't see his face but still a cool part), and on and on and on there really isn't a role he hasn't been able to play flawlessly.

Ps. I am straight

[Pythonic]

You are dogging on Julia Roberts just because she is a lady? You fail just for saying that alone. Don't forget about Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Denzel Washington...etc. Has Norton even won a best actor award? Sorry but no.

[ProZachNation]

So you're suggesting that Julia Roberts has a penis?

Plus I would not think of he even as that great of an actress.

[Pythonic]

So you're suggesting that Julia Roberts has a penis?

Plus I would not think of he even as that great of an actress.

Didn't know that this was for best male actors only? Is this what it was?

[Pythonic]

Anyhow after doing more research here is my list for best male top 10 actors living today. Left out quite a few from my off the top of my head. (This is also my list for overall, not current times)

FYI: Norton has done some great movies so far but he hasn't reached elite status just yet.

1. Tom Hanks
2. Johnny Depp
3. Robin Williams
4. Jack Nicholson
5. Robert De Niro
6. Al Pacino
7. Sean Connery
8. Clint Eastwood
9. Denzel Washington
10. Woody Allen

Honorable Mention (In no specific order):

Eddie Murphy
Mel Gibson
Gene Hackman
Paul Newman
John Travolta
Anthony Hopkins
Matt Damon
Leonardo DiCaprio
Tom Cruise
Sean Penn
Kevin Spacey
Ed Norton
Richard Gere
John Cusack
Nicholas Cage
Harrison Ford
Dustin Hoffman
Daniel Day Lewis
Samuel L Jackson
Bruce Willis
Jim Carrey
Russell Crowe
Will Smith
Brad Pitt
Keanu Reeves
Ben Affleck
Ben Stiller
Burt Reynolds
Robert Redford

[bigspenda73]

If Denzel is not at the top of anyone's list they can never talk to me about movies again.

[Pythonic]

If Denzel is not at the top of anyone's list they can never talk to me about movies again.

Glad you feel that way.

[dthorne04]

FYI: Norton has done some great movies so far but he hasn't reached elite status just yet.

i have to disagree, again. the man is an amazing, top notch actor. several in your list i just can't consider top 10...clint eastwood just makes me think of action movies, very robotic. robin williams while having a great deal of movies i love such as what dreams may come and good morning vietnam, i do not think he belongs in that list. again, i'm forced to type him more as a comedic actor, but i am not discounting his work in the slightest bit. woody allen...just plain meh on that one. maybe as a filmmaker, but not an actor.

i would like to say, most of norton's best roles have not done well in the box office. fight club, american history x, 25th hour, etc. just movies that his best work sticks out in. a good test of those movies is the fact that even though they BOMBED in box offices, they became enormous cult hits. even rounders had the same situation. american history x is still one of my top 5 movies. even the ones that have done rather well, such as primal fear (though that only made around 50-60 mill iirc), red dragon (which to be fair did have a good cast, ralph fiennes, anthony hopkins, harvey keitel, phillip seymour hoffman), and the italian job, he was very good in all of those. i am truly excited for the incredible hulk this summer because this is going to be a summer blockbuster, and it's gonna be really good. besides, the adaptation with eric bana was fucking awful. also, pride and glory coming out in march sounds good.

[Pythonic]

You're crazy if you don't think Robin Williams is top 10. He can act any part put in front of him. Fight club did well because of Brad Pitt not Norton. American History X was just a plain old racial stomping movie so of course that one's gonna do well. Rounders was mainly because of Damon and Malcovich. Italian job was all Marky Mark.

[dthorne04]

i could see a point perhaps for financially...but man. you're insane. rewatch those movies. please. Not to be a jerk, but that is an incredibly ignorant view of American History X. That movie is...well, incredibly powerful. It's a really fucked up, and very violent movie...but man. I just cannot see how you can view a classic movie like that. If that movie does not evoke any emotions out of you then there is something seriously wrong. Norton is a supporting actor in Rounders, but shines through. Meh, Italian Job doesn't bother me as much, because that's one of my least fave movies featuring Norton. The movie was ok, and he was really good in his role. Fight Club again, must disagree wholeheartedly. While Pitt was excellent, Norton was clearly the center of that film. He portrays his delusional, and disillusioned character very well.

[DetroitHusling101]

sweet. argueing over male actors. top 10 lists are opinions. fuck who has won best actor or not , if you base your opinion on that than your a tool , plain and simple. I bet you follow the critics , siskel and whoever or ebert and whoever to make your movie picks. This thread went from pretty cool , reminded me of a good movie by a GREAT actor into an arguement over male actors. Pretty gay if you ask me.
Let's at least argue over some poontang or somethig

[dthorne04]

sweet. argueing over male actors. top 10 lists are opinions. fuck who has won best actor or not , if you base your opinion on that than your a tool , plain and simple. I bet you follow the critics , siskel and whoever or ebert and whoever to make your movie picks. This thread went from pretty cool , reminded me of a good movie by a GREAT actor into an arguement over male actors. Pretty gay if you ask me.
Let's at least argue over some poontang or somethig

then see your way out of it. you're making some pretty retarded assumptions too.

siskel died a while ago, btw.

making my picks by critics? while they were enjoyed by critics, a lot of the movies from him that i like the most and a lot of ppl do didn't do that well in theaters. they did awful, to be honest.

not to be a dick, but you added absolutely 0 to the thread. while we are making our arguments based on opinions, debates are great things.

why make this post? quit trolling imo.

[DetroitHusling101]

Has Norton even won a best actor award? Sorry but no.

Slow down . First off my post wasn't really directed towards you , the begining of my post stemmed from this.
Second , quit argueing over men IMO.
this thread was about the movie 25th Hour if i remember correctly , oh yeah it's the TITLE.
Now if the title was "Top 10 Male Actors" i could understand , and would have never posted in it , let alone open and read any of it.

[ProZachNation]

Detroit thanks for pointing out that the thread got derailed a bit, thats like never happened before so we don't know what to do....

[givememyleg]

this is stupid, it's all opinionated anyway, just because he has never won a "best actor award" doesn't mean he isn't good.

[DetroitHusling101]

this is stupid, it's all opinionated anyway, just because he has never won a "best actor award" doesn't mean he isn't good.

pretty much what i was trying to say , but i guess i came off as an ass , oh well.

[Reidak]

I really think the reason norton doesnt get as much attention as he should is that moviegoers like stars they can relate to. Pitt - sexy, Clooney - suave, Jolie - pretty, Cruise (pre crazy cruise) - handsome, Cheadle - great dramatic, Carrey - hilarious.

Norton - snarky

Most North American moviegoers aren't really into movies, they like entertainment, and seeing the stars they feel they can relate a strong symbol to. Denzel - honourable.

Norton is just a sick actor, and is undervalued in this day and age.

[ProZachNation]

holy shit, just watched Primal Fear, that movie was sick. Acting was so sick.

Thanks for mentioning it in this thread

[thizzSantaCruz]

im gonna go rent 25th hour and primal fear tommorrow.....sounds like they are gonna be good.

[boost]

c'mon man this is old news! plus anything with edward norton is incredible. 25th hour is great but i don't think it is as good as american history x.

spot on.

btw...norton is doing the incredible hulk this summer...zomg, a non shitty version of the hulk with probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now. woo.

I'm sorry, did you just say that Norton is probably one of the top 10 actors alive right now? You were joking right?

I'm sorry, have you been living under a rock for the last 20 years? Norton is easily in the top 10.

I've been right here dude for the last 30 yrs. Here is a list of just a few names that are way ahead of Norton. Norton is probably top 30 but doesn't even come close to these people.

1. Johnny Depp
2. Julia Roberts
3. Jack Nicholson
4. Matt Damon
5. Leonardo DiCaprio
6. Tom Cruise
7. Sean Penn
8. Kevin Spacey
9. John Cusack
10. Nicholas Cage/Harrison Ford/Robert De Niro/Al Pacino/Dustin Hoffman/Keanu Reeves/Jack Nicholson/Clint Eastwood/Samuel L Jackson/Ben Affleck/Jim Carrey/Will Smith/Brad Pitt

cage, reeves, cruise, and affleck have no place on this list. Julia roberts... srsly? You put julia roberts as the only female on the list? You lose.

[boost]

I don't care for reeves or affleck but they have been in more bigger movies, just stating the facts. Sure Norton is different and can act but he is not first choice material from the directors.

box office appeal != acting talent. Case in point: 50 cent. Kthxgg you can now stop posting.

[wufwugy]

You guys are across the board with what qualifies great acting. There's a difference between an actor that can nail a role and an actor that can nail any role.

When it comes to an actor who can become the true incarnation of ANY character, Daniel Day Lewis is second to no one, and actually far ahead of the game. Philip Seymour Hoffman is probably number two. I'd like to put Bale third, but that's debatable. I put Norton in top ten famous Hollywood actors, and probably DiCaprio as well.

Guys like Eastwood and Sam Jackson and Will Smith are good, but not that multi-dimensional, and thus cannot be considered in top lists. Denzel is borderline. He has done a few great roles, but if you've seen three of his movies you've seen them all. He is the same dude more often than his fans will admit.

Daniel Day Lewis is NEVER the same dude, and his roles are perfectly performed while being often antipodal in character. Just look at the differences between My Left Foot and Gangs of New York and In The Name Of The Father. The characters are as different as 'green' and 'A#', yet he embodies them all. Can't wait to see There Will Be Blood, will be seeing another entirely different DDL.

Lesser known actors like Chris Cooper and Ethan Hawke are better than most actors mentioned in this thread. However, it's hard to say exactly how good some actors are because they often gravitate towards roles that they're exceptional at. Actors like DeNiro, Crowe, and Pacino are awesome, but they tend to not pick roles that require a ton of adaptations. But they seem to be able to, and we saw as much by DeNiro in Awakenings.

[boost]

I agree with the man with the amazing ass avatar. Daniel Day Lewis is a sick actor.

Im really amazed that it took this long for Christian Bale to be metioned, whats wrong with you guys/me? I think Bale and Depp are def top 5.

[wufwugy]

Also, Nick Cage is actually very underrated. That's quite understandable though since he does a lotttt of movies that suck.

Once you watch Adaptation and Leaving Las Vegas you'll see a much better Nick Cage. Then he has a number of other great but not super exceptional roles like Lord of War and The Weatherman. He really does do a ton of shit movies, though, and that disguises his real talent imo.

[ProZachNation]

Thank you for saying that about Denzel, I agree, he just seems the same in a lot of his roles.

[givememyleg]

Yeah, Denzel is good but he is pretty much the same in every movie. Will Smith is like that as well, although I still like every movie I've seen him in.

[wufwugy]

It's rumored that DDL has a love-hate relationship with acting. Love because it's his career and a big part of how he defines himself, but hate because each role is so much more than just figuring some shit out then acting it for cameras. From the moment he decides to play the part to sometime after filming for the movie is completely over, he becomes the character. Not just on set, but in his personal life. This is why he plays his parts so motherfucking well. It's rumored that once filming is over he is no longer that personality and must move on, and this causes him feelings of depression and nostalgia. Guess that's why he doesn't do that many movies.

Also heard that Scorcese and DiCaprio had to trick him into looking at the script of Gangs of New York because he refused to look at scripts due to not wanting to make another movie. For some reason I wanna also say that Bill the Butcher was written for DDL specifically.

DDL probably turns down more roles than any other non-huge box office actor, and he never gets turned down when he wants a role. However, one role he fell for was Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction, but Tarantino preferred to go with Travolta. This is even more damning evidence that Tarantino is a complete fucking idiot.

As much as I love some other actors, like Chris Bale, my hat's off to DDL. I doubt even a medical professional specializing in cerebral palsy could tell a difference between DDL's Christy Brown and the real Christy Brown. The man is a better actor than Antonius is gorgeous.

[boost]

It's rumored that DDL has a love-hate relationship with acting. Love because it's his career and a big part of how he defines himself, but hate because each role is so much more than just figuring some shit out then acting it for cameras. From the moment he decides to play the part to sometime after filming for the movie is completely over, he becomes the character. Not just on set, but in his personal life. This is why he plays his parts so motherfucking well. It's rumored that once filming is over he is no longer that personality and must move on, and this causes him feelings of depression and nostalgia. Guess that's why he doesn't do that many movies.

Also heard that Scorcese and DiCaprio had to trick him into looking at the script of Gangs of New York because he refused to look at scripts due to not wanting to make another movie. For some reason I wanna also say that Bill the Butcher was written for DDL specifically.

DDL probably turns down more roles than any other non-huge box office actor, and he never gets turned down when he wants a role. However, one role he fell for was Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction, but Tarantino preferred to go with Travolta. This is even more damning evidence that Tarantino is a complete fucking idiot.

As much as I love some other actors, like Chris Bale, my hat's off to DDL. I doubt even a medical professional specializing in cerebral palsy could tell a difference between DDL's Christy Brown and the real Christy Brown. The man is a better actor than Antonius is gorgeous.

woah woah woah... you really think ddl would be better for the roll than travolta? Im not in any way shape or form saying that travolta is a better actor, but I am saying that youre dead wrong if you think hes not the best possible vincent vega there could ever be. He just has a certain swagger, that role is him. Its just like bruce willis is not the most amazing actor on earth, but he is butch theres no if ands or buts about it. Seriously, try to imagine DDL along side SLJ in bretts apartment. Or DDL taking uma thurman out for dinner and swing dancing... it just doesnt work man.


Oh and p.s. dont bash tarrantino, you go from making a lot of sense in this thread to losing all credibility.

[dthorne04]

It's rumored that DDL has a love-hate relationship with acting. Love because it's his career and a big part of how he defines himself, but hate because each role is so much more than just figuring some shit out then acting it for cameras. From the moment he decides to play the part to sometime after filming for the movie is completely over, he becomes the character. Not just on set, but in his personal life. This is why he plays his parts so motherfucking well. It's rumored that once filming is over he is no longer that personality and must move on, and this causes him feelings of depression and nostalgia. Guess that's why he doesn't do that many movies.

Also heard that Scorcese and DiCaprio had to trick him into looking at the script of Gangs of New York because he refused to look at scripts due to not wanting to make another movie. For some reason I wanna also say that Bill the Butcher was written for DDL specifically.

DDL probably turns down more roles than any other non-huge box office actor, and he never gets turned down when he wants a role. However, one role he fell for was Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction, but Tarantino preferred to go with Travolta. This is even more damning evidence that Tarantino is a complete fucking idiot.

As much as I love some other actors, like Chris Bale, my hat's off to DDL. I doubt even a medical professional specializing in cerebral palsy could tell a difference between DDL's Christy Brown and the real Christy Brown. The man is a better actor than Antonius is gorgeous.

woah woah woah... you really think ddl would be better for the roll than travolta? Im not in any way shape or form saying that travolta is a better actor, but I am saying that youre dead wrong if you think hes not the best possible vincent vega there could ever be. He just has a certain swagger, that role is him. Its just like bruce willis is not the most amazing actor on earth, but he is butch theres no if ands or buts about it. Seriously, try to imagine DDL along side SLJ in bretts apartment. Or DDL taking uma thurman out for dinner and swing dancing... it just doesnt work man.


Oh and p.s. dont bash tarrantino, you go from making a lot of sense in this thread to losing all credibility.

i don't think anyone else could've played vega but john travolta. the chemistry between he and jackson was just amazing.

also, tarrantino is a god.

[wufwugy]

What I say about Tarrantino is partly jest. He makes great movies, but is bit overrated. A reason for this is that so many people love what he does, and he's the best at it. But he still cannot make epic films same as Spielberg, Cameron, Kurosawa, and a few others. His films are different and very good, but unlike popular opinion, they are very hard to put in top lists. I really enjoy most of his movies, but in an effort to neutralize overboard fanboyism I often hyperbolize any distaste. Even though I think Tarrantino is very good, I'll stab at him any chance I get.

When evaluating a great performance (Travolta as Vega) it's impossible to say if somebody else would be better. My comment about DDL simply has to do with my speculation that in the industry it is common knowledge that DDL is one of the easiest and best to work with for any role. Besides, I believe DDL wanted in on Vega after Travolta was already given the part, making it more difficult for Tarrantino to alter plans.

And apparently he was very sought after for Aragorn in LOTR, but didn't want it. Viggo did an excellent job, but c'mon, it's just not possible to top DDL. The man is basically Jesus.

On a different note, one of the best movies of the decade would have been I Am Legend starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman or Ethan Hawke, directed by Michael Mann or Ridley Scott or Cameron, and written by somebody who actually understands how to write a deep and epic movie. Oh yeah.

[boost]

yah, I am legend should have been so much more, but what can you expect from a movie that went through more leading men than paris hilton...

[dthorne04]

i am legend could've and should've been much more...

however, now that you say it, ethan hawke would've been excellent for that part, imo, and i did love will smith in it.

[boost]

I think will smith did great. Im not really sure who was behind the screen play and who directed, but there was a lot to be desired...

[wufwugy]

Will Smith is good in every thing he does. Problem though is that he's almost a stereotype just as himself. He cannot play a role without just being really cool and always kinda frivolously funny. An epic I Am Legend actually doesn't want that.

It's hard to say how good of an actor he is because he hasn't done anything with an awesome director (I think), and a huge part of how the audience perceives acting is from the standpoint of cinematography. Another issue is that I just don't think Smith fit the character. I believe the character in the book (which the movie should not have deviated from. Would have been sooooooo much better) was more a nerdy scientist, but Smith was a super cool scientist on steroids.

I think Ethan Hawke would have been the optimal choice had the movie been made more a drama and just all around better yet still looking for some of allure that Smith's had, but PSH probably woulda been optimal had the movie gone the route of pure epic, which I think it should have. PSH could knock that shit out the park. With an actor like him the movie would have to stray from the 'action hero' aspect and gone more into the human condition and such. Honestly, I think there is a severe lacking in apocalyptic dramas. They're all apocalyptic gores or horrors or thrillers, some with just a hint of what makes dramas so profound. I would absolutely love to see directors like Cameron, Spielberg, and Gibson tackle the apocalyptic genre.

[bigspenda73]

Will Smith talks about his role choices. When he was still in TV he and his agent looked at the top 10 grossing movies of all time and realized a large % of them had special effects and/or alien/extra-terrestrials. He decided that those were the roles he wanted to start his career with.

I.E.- independence day, men in black, wild wild west, and I robot

[wufwugy]

If that's true that says a lot. A lot of bad, actually. Actors with integrity are artists. They choose roles that move them; they choose directors and writers that make great and passionate artwork. Bale picks roles because there are greatnesses there. Smith will never be as good as Bale, and if they both keep on for their lives Bale will probably be known as the greatest actor of all time.

Audiences want actors to be what they were from the beginning. We want Pacino to be a badass criminal and Eastwood to be a badass vigilante, and they will never be anything else to us. Actors who've merged their ranges (so to speak) are able to succeed in a wider number of roles. Way to pigeon-hole yourself, Smith. Even your 'unconventional' roles have a strong likeness to how you're remembered when we first knew you. Maybe when you're old like Bill Murray, but probably not. Nobody, even now, wants to see Murray be anything other than hilarious. Osmosis Jones ftw.

Tom Hanks and Kevin Spacey are probably good examples of actors who have not pigeon-holed themselves. PSH and obv DDL are probably the best examples though. Jamie Foxx is looking to be going about it the right way.

[salsa4ever]

If that's true that says a lot. A lot of bad, actually. Actors with integrity are artists. They choose roles that move them; they choose directors and writers that make great and passionate artwork. Bale picks roles because there are greatnesses there. Smith will never be as good as Bale, and if they both keep on for their lives Bale will probably be known as the greatest actor of all time.

I don't think there's anything wrong with treating acting as a professional rather than an art.

[givememyleg]

i highly enjoyed i am legend, however i had never read the book (nor even knew it was based off one until after i saw it)

[kingnat]

I'm chiming in here WAY late, but reading down the list I was going to mention Daniel Day Lewis as the best living actor and then wufugy brought it up... so I'm just here to say: word. I will go see a movie PURELY based on DDL being in it.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman is also sick good. I also wish Robert Redford did more acting... I really think he could do some amazing things.

[wufwugy]

Yeah Redford is pretty awesome. He's like an oldschool Damon/Pitt/Clooney but a little better. Jeremiah Johnson is a must see.

And Salsa, yeah there is really nothing wrong with approaching it the way Smith has. There's just something hollow about it. Life is about passion; it's what drives us, what makes us feel alive. And when something that is among the zenith of passionate endeavors (art) is adulterated I can't help but feel some manner of distaste.

[boost]

how do you feel about andy warhol?

[wufwugy]

Hard to say since I didn't know who he was until I wiki'd him. I won't make myself look foolish by opining on something requiring research that I haven't done.

Or I could say that from the looks of it I probably wouldn't consider him that much of an artist, but perhaps the opposite.

[boost]

yah Im not going to stomp on your opinion of him, it wasnt a question meant to size up your "intelligence." Moreso I was just interested to see what your opinion was on warhol, one of the most renowned contemperary artists, since his relationship with his art is pertinent to this conversation.

This is why art is fun, while we can argue and bicker about it, there cant really be a wrong opinion.