soxfandoug

I was wondering what you guys would consider the most well acted movies you have ever seen. Movies that don't seem to have a weak link, performance wise. Here are some of my recent favorites:

Almost Famous - This movie had so many people that delivered "career" performances: Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, Patrick Fugit, Noah Taylor. Hell, I think this was my favorite Frances McDormand role ever, and she is always good. And while it wasn't his best role, Philip Seymour Hoffman was his usual great self. Plus small roles played well by the likes of Anna Paquin, Jimmy Fallon, Faruiza Balk (whom I usually HATE), & Zooey Deschanel.

In the Bedroom - I was just astounded by the impact of the main actors' performances. Sissy Spacek, Marisa Tomei, & especially Tom Wilkinson. I felt he deserved the Little Golden Guy that year instead of Denzel Washington. Even Nick Stahl was good in this film.

Glengarry Glen Ross - Not only did some of our all-time great actors put on a clinic in this movie, but there were several unexpected performances as well. Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Jonathan Pryce, even Alec Baldwin shined in his few minutes of screen time.

What do you guys think?

Rypro 525

21 grams
kill bill vol 2
glengarry glenn ross (especially alec baldwin)
lost in translation
citizen kane

Coral

These 3 instantly come to mind where the performances are top-notch from the whole cast.

The Sweet Hereafter
Elizabeth
Magnolia

drjay

2nd (or 3rd) to 21 Grams and Glengarry Glen Ross.

Also I think Burt Reynolds is great in Boogie Nights, Dustin Hoffman in Straw Dogs, and Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs (although I certainly liked her in Taxi Driver too!).

Playitagainsam

Michael Caine in "The Quiet American"

thegame370

Obviously there are alot of well acted movies out there but ill mention one i just saw recently for the first time.
Narc- This movie was absolutely fantastic! Ray Liotta and Jason Patric were 100% awesome in that film, i loved it and it instantly became one of the best films ive watched in a long time!

Robert

Field of Dreams
The Majestic - Jim Carrey's finest hour.
Forrest Gump
We Were Soldiers
Face/Off - you can tell Travolta and Cage had alot of fun making this movie

shill66

Here are a few, in reverse chronological order...
Spider (2003)
The Gift (2000)
Hard Eight (1997)
Sling Blade (1996)
Twelve Monkeys (1995)
The Ninth Configuration (1980)
Stalker (1979)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
The Andromeda Strain (1971)
Two Left Feet (1963)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Tiger Bay (1959)
The Red Shoes (1948)
Brighton Rock (1947)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
My Man Godfrey (1936)

Hope you don't think that's too many... but I was being VERY selective! These are movies in which I think the entire leading cast does a superlative job.

Psychlowne

How about the recent Mystic River?

zero

The Shawshank Redemption
Fight Club
American Beauty
Leon

to name a few

Drexl

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
Bill Cosby: Himself

soxfandoug

I definitely agree with some of the movies named thus far. These ones I particularly agree with:

Shawshank Redemption - This film was carried by the two principles, but there are solid performances throughout the film.

Leon - Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, and Gary Oldman are all wonderful in this film. Natalie Portman's performance in this film reminds me of Kate Hudson's in Almost Famous. Absolutely stunning performance, but nothing nearly as good since.

Boogie Nights - Several outstanding performances balanced with several good ones. John C. Reilly, Luis Guzman, Don Cheadle, William H. Macy, & Burt Reynolds are all wonderful, and Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, & Philip Seymour Hoffman range from good to very good.

I would also like to add Traffic to this list. Benicio Del Toro, Don Cheadle, Luis Guzman, Miguel Ferrer, Michael Douglas, Erika Christensen, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dennis Quaid, & even Topher Grace were all excellent.

Lost In Translation - I would love to agree with this selection as it is one of my all-time favorite films. However, I just can't bring myself to enjoy Giovanni Ribisi in this film. That was probably Sofia's intention, so I guess he performed adequately, but he is just SO annoying!

Giles

All About Eve (1950)

wendersfan

Here's a random 10:

Persona
The Maltese Falcon
Glengarry Glen Ross
Two Women
The Grand Illusion
On the Waterfront
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Raging Bull
The Mother and the Whore
The Silence

Giles

the entire cast of Pedro Almodovar's
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

conscience

I agree with this one. Almodovar gets great performances from his actors --- even Penelope Cruz.

But my favorite "well acted movie" from him is Talk To Her. I can't get enough of this film.

-----
Others:

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Mulholland Drive
Raging Bull
Nashville

Shannon Nutt

Magnolia immediately popped into my head...glad to see another poster mention it.

Pulp Fiction also comes to mind, as does Apollo 13 and The Insider.

Rypro 525

how i could forget pulp fiction is beyond me.
true romance is also a great one, esspeically walken and hopper. and also James Gandolfini in his first staring role. (you can see tony soprano years before he became tony soprano

Jeremy517

"Don't you worry. If they could get a washing machine to fly, my Jimmy could land it. "

devilshalo

Some not mentioned that I think the whole cast did a stellar performance.

Se7en
Seven Samurai
Unforgiven
Sixth Sense
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Simon Birch
A Few Good Men
Courage Under Fire

soxfandoug

Wow, lots of excellent choices. Shannon Nutt, you picked 3 great ones that I forgot. I just thought of another fantastic cast performance that hasn't been mentioned yet:

Donnie Brasco - I think this is one of the most underrated movies of my lifetime. Johnny Depp was off the charts great in this movie! It is so wonderful to finally see him getting some recognition. This movie also contains one of only a few recent movies where Al Pacino actually acts. He was fantastic as "Lefty". Also great performances from Michael Madsen, Bruno Kirby, Ann Heche, & James Russo.

QuikSilver

Definately 21 Grams.

roger_d

Usual Suspects

talemyn

Dang . . . all of "what first comes to mind" were taken:

Pulp Fiction
The Shawshank Redemption
Apollo 13
American Beauty
Forest Gump

I need to think about this some more . . . I'll be back.

Daytripper

A lot of good films mentioned here. I was going to post "Elizabeth" and "21 Grahams" as well. "Mystic River" and "Shawshank" also full of great performances. I would also include:

"In America" (amazing film)
"Gosford Park"
"About a Boy"
"The Grifters"
"L.A. Confidential"
"Ghost World"
"The Ice Storm"
"The Opposite of Sex"
"Election"