What about Hanks in Saving Private Ryan ?



In order of who I'll go see and (maybe) the buy the movie.
Gibson
Hanks
Crowe.
I only have 1 Russel crowe movie.
I have more Gibson movies but I like Tom Hanks movies a little more. Thats the reason I voted for hanks.

I think some of you are confused. The question wasn't who has been in the most movies you've liked.

I don't think it's necessarily fair to compare Hanks and Crowe for 1 major reason: Hanks has been a "movie star" much longer than Crowe meaning that it's been harder to "forget" Hanks in a role longer than has been the case with Crowe.

For example, Crowe's first impact performance is arguably 1992's Romper Stomper. At the time, he was virtually an unknown, so it's easy to forget him as a movie star and instead just see him as the character he played. Thus, Crowe could get away with more during his early run between 1992-2003.

In contrast, Tom Hanks was already a movie star by the time 1992's A League of Their Own came along and already carried the screen persona of the "nice and funny guy." He'd already starred in 14 films. Therefore, it's naturally more difficult to see Hanks as a character as opposed to Hanks as a star. To me, that's what makes Hanks' metamorphisis so remarkable.

Had Russell Crowe had 10 years of "movie star experience" before his acting took a dramatic turn (in the sense that he became labeled a "serious" actor) , would we have as easy a time forgeting him as Russell Crowe?

What I ment is I'll go see a movie that looks good, not just because of who is in the movie.. That also applys to the movies I buy.

That being said I think Hanks has had a bigger impact on me as an actor. I think he is the better actor out of the four mentioned in the above poll.

Russell Crowe for his performance in L.A. Confidential alone, but then add Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, and The Insider (yet to see M&C), and he's lightyears ahead of the rest.

Pure acting skill? I'd go with Denzel.

Most versatile? Russell Crowe.

Tom Hanks.

Who else could of done 'Forrest Gump? Who else could of done 'Apollo 13'? Who else could of done the amazing performance he delivered in 'Cast Away'? Who else could of done 'Road to Periditon'? Yes, Tom Hank's is the only one who could nail these roles.

Mel Gibson is not even worthy of being listed.

I'm sorry but Crowe wipes the floor with Denzel. Mel's a good actor and so is Denzel. But Crowe and Hanks are the top two out of those 4. But Crowe is the best working actor today. L.A. Confidential, Gladiator, The Insider, Romper Stomper, Master and Commander, A Beautiful Mind, etc. The guy can do any role. Anyone that can go from The Insider, to Gladiator, then back to a role like A Beautiful Mind, and give a truly great performance, is the best.

Hanks is close, but he does tend to play a similar role and range in each film.

Whoever argued in favor of Hanks by using Bachelor Party as an example, should be ashamed of themselves. Nothing about Hank's performance in that film should be argued in terms of good acting. Hanks was silly in it, nothing more. Funny enough film, but c'mon.

Okay . . . let's level the playing field here and bring out a listing of the films that all of the actors have done to date. The reason I am doing this is that I hear a lot of people that are talking about how they can never view some of the actors as anything but that actor playing someone (instead of becoming the role). I think what is happening in some cases is that, because they so successfully "became the role", people forgot that they were in the movie. What makes me think this are the low instances of mentioning movies like Saving Private Ryan for Hanks and Malcolm X for Washington. So here we go . . . in reverse chronological order (thanks to IMDB):

Tom Hanks
- Catch Me If You Can (2002) .... Carl Hanratty
- Road to Perdition (2002) .... Michael Sullivan
- Honeymooners 50th Anniversary Celebration, The (2002) (TV)
- "Band of Brothers" (2001) (mini) TV Series .... British Officer
- Cast Away (2000) .... Chuck Noland
- Green Mile, The (1999) .... Paul Edgecomb
- Toy Story 2 (1999) (voice) .... Sheriff Woody
- You've Got Mail (1998) .... Joe Fox
- Saving Private Ryan (1998) .... Capt. John Miller
- "From the Earth to the Moon" (1998) (mini) TV Series .... Jean-Luc Despont/Host/Narrator
- That Thing You Do! (1996) .... Mr. White
- Toy Story (1995) (voice) .... Woody
- Apollo 13 (1995) .... Jim Lovell
- Vault of Horror I (1994) (TV)
- Forrest Gump (1994) .... Forrest Gump
- Philadelphia (1993) .... Andrew Beckett
- Sleepless in Seattle (1993) .... Sam Baldwin
- League of Their Own, A (1992) .... Jimmy Dugan
- Radio Flyer (1992) (uncredited) .... Older Mike
- Bonfire of the Vanities, The (1990) .... Sherman McCoy
- Joe Versus the Volcano (1990) .... Joe Banks
- Turner & Hooch (1989) .... Det. Scott Turner
- 'burbs, The (1989) .... Ray Peterson
- Punchline (1988) .... Steven Gold
- Big (1988) .... Josh Baskin
- Dragnet (1987) .... Pep Streebeck
- Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986) .... David
- Nothing in Common (1986) .... David Basner
- Money Pit, The (1986) .... Walter Fielding, Jr.
- Volunteers (1985) .... Lawrence Bourne III
- Man with One Red Shoe, The (1985) .... Richard
- Bachelor Party (1984) .... Rick Gassko
- Splash (1984) .... Allen Bauer
- Mazes and Monsters (1982) (TV) .... Robbie Wheeling
- "Bosom Buddies" (1980) TV Series .... Kip 'Buffy' Wilson
- He Knows You're Alone (1980) .... Elliot

Denzel Washington
- Out of Time (2003/I) .... Matt Lee Whitlock
- Antwone Fisher (2002) .... Jerome Davenport
- John Q (2002) .... John Quincy Archibald
- Training Day (2001) .... Detective Alonzo Harris
- Remember the Titans (2000) .... Coach Herman Boone
- Hurricane, The (1999) .... Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter
- Bone Collector, The (1999) .... Lincoln Rhyme
- Siege, The (1998) .... Anthony 'Hub' Hubbard, Assistant Special Agent-in-charge FBI Counter-intelligence Task Force
- He Got Game (1998) .... Jake Shuttlesworth
- Fallen (1998) .... John Hobbes
- Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special (1997) (TV) (voice) .... Humpty Dumpty/The Crooked Man
- Preacher's Wife, The (1996) .... Dudley 'Dud'
- Courage Under Fire (1996) .... Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling
- "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" (1995) TV Series (voice) .... Humpty Dumpty
- Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) .... Ezekiel 'Easy' Rawlins
- Virtuosity (1995) .... Lt. Parker Barnes
- Crimson Tide (1995) .... Lt. Cmdr. Ron Hunter, XO, USS Alabama
- Philadelphia (1993) .... Joe Miller
- Pelican Brief, The (1993) .... Gray Grantham, Washington Herald reporter
- Much Ado About Nothing (1993) .... Don Pedro of Aragon
- Malcolm X (1992) .... Malcolm X/Malcolm Little
- Jammin': Jelly Roll Morton on Broadway (1992) (TV) .... Narrator
- Ricochet (1991) .... Nick Styles
- Mississippi Masala (1991) .... Demetrius
- Mo' Better Blues (1990) .... Bleek Gilliam
- Heart Condition (1990) .... Napoleon Stone
- Glory (1989) .... Pvt. Trip
- Mighty Quinn, The (1989) .... Xavier Quinn
- For Queen and Country (1988) .... Reuben James
- Cry Freedom (1987) .... Steve Biko
- George McKenna Story, The (1986) (TV) .... George McKenna
- Power (1986) .... Arnold Billings
- Soldier's Story, A (1984) .... Pfc. Peterson
- License to Kill (1984) (TV) .... Martin Sawyer
- "St. Elsewhere" (1982) TV Series .... Dr. Philip Chandler
- Carbon Copy (1981) .... Roger Porter
- Flesh & Blood (1979) (TV) .... Kirk
- Wilma (1977) (TV) .... Robert Eldridge, age 18

Russell Crowe
- Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) .... Capt. Jack Aubrey
- Beautiful Mind, A (2001) .... John Nash
- Proof of Life (2000) .... Terry Thorne
- Gladiator (2000) .... Maximus
- Insider, The (1999) .... Dr. Jeffrey Wigand
- Mystery, Alaska (1999) .... Sheriff John Biebe
- Breaking Up (1997) .... Steve
- Heaven's Burning (1997) .... Colin
- L.A. Confidential (1997) .... Bud White
- Rough Magic (1995) .... Alec Ross
- Virtuosity (1995) .... SID 6.7
- No Way Back (1995) .... FBI Agent Zack Grant
- Quick and the Dead, The (1995) .... Cort
- Sum of Us, The (1994) .... Jeff Mitchell
- For the Moment (1993) .... Lachlan
- Silver Brumby, The (1993) .... The Man
- Love in Limbo (1993) .... Arthur Baskin
- Romper Stomper (1992) .... Hando
- Spotswood (1992) .... Kim Barry
- Hammers Over the Anvil (1991) .... East Driscoll
- "Brides of Christ" (1991) (mini) TV Series .... Dominic Maloney
- Proof (1991) .... Andy
- Crossing, The (1990) .... Johnny
- Prisoners of the Sun (1990) .... Lt. Jack Corbett
- "Living with the Law" (1988) TV Series .... Gary Harding
- "Neighbours" (1985) TV Series .... Kenny Larkin (1987)

Mel Gibson
- Singing Detective, The (2003) .... Dr. Gibbon
- Signs (2002) .... Rev. Graham Hess
- We Were Soldiers (2002) .... Lt. Col. Hal Moore
- What Women Want (2000) .... Nick Marshall
- Patriot, The (2000) .... Benjamin Martin
- Chicken Run (2000) (voice) .... Rocky
- Million Dollar Hotel, The (2000) .... Detective Skinner
- Payback (1999) .... Porter
- Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) .... Martin Riggs
- FairyTale: A True Story (1997) (uncredited) .... Frances' Father
- Conspiracy Theory (1997) .... Jerry Fletcher
- Fathers' Day (1997) (uncredited) .... Scott the Body Piercer
- Ransom (1996) .... Tom Mullen
- Pocahontas (1995) (voice) .... John Smith
- Braveheart (1995) .... William Wallace
- Maverick (1994) .... Bret Maverick, Jr.
- Chili Con Carne Club, The (1993)
- Man Without a Face, The (1993) .... Justin McLeod
- Forever Young (1992) .... Capt. Daniel McCormick
- Earth and the American Dream (1992) (voice) .... Narrator
- Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) .... Martin Riggs
- Hamlet (1990/I) .... Hamlet
- Air America (1990) .... Gene Ryack
- Bird on a Wire (1990) .... Rick Jarmin
- Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) .... Martin Riggs
- Tequila Sunrise (1988) .... Dale 'Mac' McKussic
- Lethal Weapon (1987) .... Sergeant Martin Riggs
- Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) .... 'Mad' Max Rockatansky
- Mrs. Soffel (1984) .... Ed Biddle
- River, The (1984) .... Tom Garvey
- Bounty, The (1984) .... Fletcher Christian Master's Mate
- Year of Living Dangerously, The (1982) .... Guy S. Hamilton
- Attack Force Z (1982) .... Captain P.G. Kelly
- Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) - Gallipoli (1981) .... Frank Dunne
- "Punishment" (1981) TV Series .... Rick Monroe
- Chain Reaction, The (1980) (uncredited) .... Bearded mechanic
- Tim (1979) .... Tim
- Mad Max (1979) .... 'Mad' Max Rockatansky
- Summer City (1977) .... Scollop
- I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977) (uncredited) .... Baseball Player
- "Sullivans, The" (1976) TV Series .... Ray Henderson

Okay . . . now, based on my last post (above) here are some observations.

Tom Hanks - I'm keeping him as my number one pick. I think that he has been able to play a good diversity of genres and do them very well (Big, Saving Private Ryan, Philadelphia, Toy Story).

Denzel Washington - Still my second choice. I think that his diversity is lacking, but I think that the quality of the roles he plays is outstanding (Malcolm X, Glory, Training Day, Remember The Titans). Side note . . . he really suprised me with how well he did in Much Ado About Nothing.

Russell Crowe - Quality of acting:strong . . . diversity: strong . . . longevity: I don't think that has been solidified yet. Might be because I need to see more of his movies. Lacking in the comedies and not sure he could pull them off. Still, some strong performances (A Beautiful Mind, Gladiator). Side note . . . I have not seen: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, The Insider, L.A. Confidential, or Romper Stomper, which seem to be big selling points for him.

Mel Gibson - I think that he may have jumped Russell Crowe, in my opinion, after having looked at his movie list. Of the four, I think that he has the most consistant ability to diversify throughout his career. What I mean is, for example, Hanks started out with, almost solely, comedies and slowly moved to, almost exclusively, dramas . . . Mel still mixes it up. He has had some really strong roles that have been very different from one another (Braveheart, Maverick, Signs, Mad Max, Lethal Weapon).

Diversity in one's acting career is good, but I don't think it makes him necessarily better than other actors.

I tend to lean toward Tom Hanks movies because I believe that just about any movie he makes is worthwhile. I really like Russell Crowe as well. But I really have to be into the subject matter for me to go see him at the theater. Same for Gibson. Have to be interested in the movie before I go to see his movie.

Definitely Crowe. He has played a wide range of characters wonderfully (The Sum of Us, Romper Stomper, The Insider) unlike that dullard Hanks (who ALWAYS plays it safe....even when playing a hitman).

Daniel Day Lewis' acting blows Hanks, Washington and Gibson away.

Edited to add the word "acting". :)

:eek:

:lol: Now you KNOW that is not what I meant. Plus, If he is going to blow anyone, it had better be ME!!

Then see them, seriously. They might change your mind. I haven't seen M&C, but I've seen the rest. Just see LA Confidential & The Insider.. that's enough.

I've seen most of the film buy all those actors and still think Crowe beats them all. I 'd put Denzel in 2nd, Hanks in 3rd, and Gibson last.

I like them all as actors.

5th choice
Other: Sean Penn

Agreed! You can't truly appreciate Crowe until you see those two films, especially the Insider. Crowe gives a very strong performance in Gladiator because he puts the movie on his back and carries it, as well as makes it believable. But his performance in the Insider and LA Confidential is better.

By the way, Crowe could do the roles of Saving Private Ryan, Road To Perdition, and even Forrest Gump exceptionally well. Anyone that can pull off the role of a schizo mathmetician and do it beautifully, can play Forrest Gump. Regardless of what you think of ABM, there's no question Crowe's performance is phenomenal. Saving Private Ryan and Road To Perdition are roles Crowe could eat up like candy.

Hanks is very good, but overrated.

His bad guy in "Perdition" even had to subtle and subdued.

the other choices also had moments but nothing special.

Gibson has done a lot all around with direction etc.