wendersfan

My favorite (current) actor is Tony Leung. I couldn't hazard a guess whether he's the best actor or not. To be honest, I don't pay that much attention to actors. It seems like most of the really popular ones get paid to play the same role over and over again.

Banky

Can someone give me a specific example of why everyone calls Brando the best actor ever? It seems like something people just say, like they say 'citizen kane' s the greatest film.

I certainly dont get it. Brando is good, but doesnt have the screen presence or history of a Cary Grant or James Stewart or even Pacino

?
Justin

nemein

The one I can never figure out is DeNiro and in part I think it's related to what you are saying about Brando... I mean I think both are good when they are in their "role" but frankly, and esp for DeNiro, I don't think he has very good range. I've never enjoyed any of his comedies, I just don't think he has the persona/timing for it. That's not to say he's a bad actor or that he doesn't do good work, but it's like looking to Jim Carrey to do a heavy romance/period piece drama. It's just not his forte... JMO

wendersfan

I'm wondering if you've seen On the Waterfront, A Streetcar Named Desire, or Last Tango In Paris. The guy had more screen presence than anyone.

A specific example: The scene with Rod Steiger in the backseat of the car in On the Waterfront.

PopcornTreeCt

Marlo Brando revolutionized acting in movies in American films. He was subtle and acted without dialogue whereas acting before that had mostly been just about delivering lines. Though I tend to disagree with everthing I just said because having watched Renee Falconetti's performance in the Passion of Joan of Arc, Brando was certainly not the first.

wendersfan

Yeah, but she never acted in film again, while Brando went on to influence an entire generation of actors.

Banky

Ok,

Mr Smith Goes to Washington 1939

Arguably one of the best, if not the best performance by anyone, ever. My point is, long before Brando was Jimmy Stewart. Before brandos first film, James Stewart had the following amazing performances under his belt:

mr smith goes to washington
you cant take it with you
its a wonderful life
destry rides again
shop around the corner
philadelphia story
rope
you gotta stay happy
winchester 73
broken arrow
harvey
no highway in the sky

Come on now, James Stewart puts out classic performances in all of those films long before brando acted in any of the three listed above. Three brando performances inspired a generation?

Debaser

It's image. James Stewart is just an old dude to alot of people while Marlon Brando personified being a rebel.

I do agree that Marlon Brando has amazing prescence. It literally oozes off him.

I pretty much like them equally but I can 'relate' more to Brando because of his apparent youth in his famous films and his rebellious nature which I was discovering in myself when I found his films when I was a teenager.

Rivero

See these to see a master at the top of his game:

soxfandoug

My very favorite actor of all time is Johnny Depp, and I do happen to think he is the best actor of his time. So I guess my answer would be yes.

After him, my favorites are Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Nicolas Cage, Jason Lee, Toshiro Mifune, Marlon Brando & Chow Yun Fat. Brando & Mifune could hold their own in a discussion of the best actor of all time, but the same can't be said for the others.

necros

I agree about Jason Lee. Actually one of my favorite roles he's done was in Dreamcatcher. I read the book before I saw the movie and thought he played the character perfectly and exactly how I envisioned he'd be. It's a shame that right after his scenes were done, the movie just started sucking.

Daytrip

Jason Lee, Phillip Seymor Hoffman, and Johnny Depp i agree are among the best today. Depp being the only one that really has much of range IMO

fryinpan1

My favorite actor is Brad Pitt, but I think Johnny Depp (also one of my favorites), is probably the best actor today.

breaux124

What nobody like Tom Hanks? I think he has a very wide range as an actor -> Philadelphia - Big - Castaway

Maxflier

I voted no....my favorite actor is Van Damme but i think Al Pacino is the best.

Supermallet

Johnny Depp probably is the best actor working today.

As for Brando, the films he did and the way he acted were different from what Stewart did. It had a level of unrestrained passion that hadn't really been seen on the screen before, or at least in large numbers by the American masses (if we're going the Joan of Arc route). Just looking at A Streetcar Named Desire, it was something new to American acting. Yes, you could cite Toshiro Mifune for having as much if not more passion, but he was nowhere near as pervasive in America as Brando was. Would I call him one of the best actors ever? No. But at the top of his game he was in the top 5 at the time.

Charlie Goose

My favorite actor is Clint Eastwood. He's a good actor is his way, but certainly not a master thespian.

Mickey Rooney is probably the best all-around actor I've ever seen. This guy did it all, from child star to teenage star to adult star in musicals, drama, subtle comedy, broad comedy, stage & screen & television. He excelled in every level of the industry.

Supermallet

Eastwood is great, and has more range than people give him credit for.

flyboy

Brando was the best....he is not my favorite as that would go to ummm ....hell I don't know there are a few that I like really well. But Brando was by far the best when he was at the top of his game. I think today Tom Hanks is one of the better actors..sorta a Jimmy Stewart of our time.

Banky

I read a story about how James Stewart prepared for his big fillibuster on the senate floor in Mr Smith goes to Washington.

He actually went to a Doctor and asked to be prescribed something to give him a sore throat and make his voice hoarse. The doctor did, and It worked beatifully in one of cinemas most memorable scenes.

That, my friends is dedication.

Supermallet

And Dustin Hoffman stayed up for three days and three nights for Marathon Man, and De Niro gained 50 pounds for Raging Bull, etc. etc.

My favorite is that story about Hoffman staying up. Laurence Olivier asked him how he got such a realistic performance, and Hoffman said, "I stayed up for three days and three nights." Olivier got quiet, and looked at him, and said, "My dear boy, it's called acting."

Ruderic

Favorite actor- Harrison Ford
Best actor living- Robert DeNiro
Best actor all time- Marlon Brando

conscience

James Stewart was a wonderful actor, but in no way is he a better actor than Brando.

Put James Stewart in A Streetcar Named Desire and then put Brando in any of the above (excluding Mr. Smith. James's best). He would have blown Jimmy away.

fumanstan

Nope... my favorite actors, i admit, are pretty inept as far as "real acting" goes like Arnold.

duff beer

Martin Lawrence