Best actors (of your generation)

[Brian278]

Originally Posted by Violinist

How is Will Smith underated??? Are you mixing it up with the worst actors thread?
While he can be spotty depending on the material, he was pretty spectacular in Ali. He does do a lot of action/comedy stuff but to be fair, he gives the performance that the majority of moviegoers are looking for in that type of film.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

Originally Posted by Chris "Italia"

Jack Lemmon.

Way to date yourself there, Grandpa.

I will agree with Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, Emile Hirsch, and Ryan Gosling.

But sort of a sleeper/underrated/frequently makes bad career decisions, but can also act his ass off occasionally: Josh Hartnett. When he's not good, he's wooden and horrible, so I expect to catch some flack for this, but go watch Black Hawk Down, Virgin Suicides, Resurrecting The Champ, and my guilty pleasure Lucky Number Slevin... then tell me he doesn't have any skills.

As far as the girlies go... its a little tougher.

Evan Rachel Wood, Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Polley, Christina Ricci, and Kate Winslet are the ones that come immediately to mind.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Tokyo Slim

Way to date yourself there, Grandpa.

How about even older?

Joseph Cotten.

Jon.

 

[acidboy]

Andy Lau

 

[Pennglock]

A random underdog that just crossed my mind: Gillian Anderson aka Skully of the X-Files. I still watch the show late nights when I can't sleep, and she is completely convincing in her role, which is what acting is all about for me. Watch a few interviews with Gillian Anderson- she's a completely different person than the role she plays.

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by Chris "Italia"

Jack Lemmon.
Yeah. Lemmon in "Glengarry Glen Ross" was one of the best things I've ever seen.

 

[LabelKing]

What about the Walken?

 

[chronoaug]

There are a few i'd put up there, but in defense of DiCaprio, he was very good in The Aviator i thought. He probably would've have won the Acadamy Award for Best Actor if Ray didn't have such impeccable timing for Jamie Foxx. I liked ray and thought foxx was good in it, but i didn't think he was near as great as everyone was raving about at the time. If ray charles didn't die, i think Leo wins the award. Not that Acadamy Awards mean all that much but just saying. gosling depp bale some others but i really need sleep. The my generation thing is tough. I'm 21 but not sure if i should put actors who are in the prime of their career during my generation or are actually in my generation age wise.

 

[Reggs]

I think David Caradine is worth mentioning since Kill Bill 2.

 

[RJman]

Originally Posted by Chris "Italia"

Jack Lemmon.

Dude, you're like 16. How is Jack Lemmon of your generation?

 

[Thracozaag]

Originally Posted by Connemara

Yeah. Lemmon in "Glengarry Glen Ross" was one of the best things I've ever seen.

+one billion, he was fantastic.

koji

 

[Thracozaag]

Originally Posted by acidicboy

Andy Lau

He and Tony Leung were just outside my self-imposed age-range--both are terrific, imo.

koji

 

[RJman]

Anne Hathaway.

 

[JBZ]

Some of my generation, some not (and leaving out many already mentioned):

Actors:

Philip Seymour Hoffman
John C. Reilly
Russell Crowe
Kevin Spacey (before he became KEVIN SPACEY)
David Straitharn
Chris Cooper


Actresses:

Sissy Spacek
Meryl Streep
Kate Winslet
Cate Blanchett
Anne Hathaway
Helena Bonham Carter

FWIW, I've always found Clive Owen to be kind of wooden.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

Originally Posted by JBZ

Some of my generation, some not (and leaving out many already mentioned):
I find it sort of puzzling how people define "their generation" on this list. Your disxlaimer notwithstanding, Your list ranges in age from 25 to 58. I KNOW LabelKing isn't even close to Christopher Walken's age, and Jack Lemmon? this poll should have read "best living actors? or something since nobody seems to be following the rules.

Where's Dakota Rube? He can vote for Walken!