Who do you think is the best actor, actress and director in movies today?
01-06-05, 01:24 AM
#1
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Thread Starter
Who do you think is the best actor, actress and director in movies today?
My picks:
Best Actor - Gene Hackman
Is always convincing no matter what character he portrays. Can do comedy and drama equally well. Isn't afraid to play slimy villains.
Best Actress - Kate Winslet
Was great in both ETERNAL SUNSHINE and (the crappy) FINDING NEVERLAND playing extremely different characters. Can play the wacky girlfriend role or the saintly mother role. Is attractive but still takes lots of chances with offbeat characters.
Best Director - Steven Spielberg
Makes the most consistently entertaining films. Tries to connect with mainstream audiences without completely pandering to them like a Michael Bay. Not always on target (see A.I.) but usually tackles ambitious projects and knows how to tell a story (unlike many directors these days). When it comes to visuals, he has few equals.
Best Actor - Gene Hackman
Is always convincing no matter what character he portrays. Can do comedy and drama equally well. Isn't afraid to play slimy villains.
Best Actress - Kate Winslet
Was great in both ETERNAL SUNSHINE and (the crappy) FINDING NEVERLAND playing extremely different characters. Can play the wacky girlfriend role or the saintly mother role. Is attractive but still takes lots of chances with offbeat characters.
Best Director - Steven Spielberg
Makes the most consistently entertaining films. Tries to connect with mainstream audiences without completely pandering to them like a Michael Bay. Not always on target (see A.I.) but usually tackles ambitious projects and knows how to tell a story (unlike many directors these days). When it comes to visuals, he has few equals.
01-06-05, 02:17 AM
#3
Actor: Johnny Depp
Has more range than any actor living today.
Actress: Natalie Portman
Kinda tough since I don't think of too many actresses standing out acting-wise. I'm going with Natalie because she's in 2 of my all-time favorite films.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Hasn't made a bad film yet. Only gets better with each new film he directs. I can't think of another director I can honestly say that about.
Has more range than any actor living today.
Actress: Natalie Portman
Kinda tough since I don't think of too many actresses standing out acting-wise. I'm going with Natalie because she's in 2 of my all-time favorite films.
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Hasn't made a bad film yet. Only gets better with each new film he directs. I can't think of another director I can honestly say that about.
01-06-05, 06:16 PM
#10
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 2,278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Favorites that are still alive.
Actor-Johnny Depp
Actress-Natalie Portman/Nicole Kidman
Director-Martin Scorsese/Quentin Tarantino
Actor-Johnny Depp
Actress-Natalie Portman/Nicole Kidman
Director-Martin Scorsese/Quentin Tarantino
Last edited by island007; 01-07-05 at 11:38 AM.
01-06-05, 06:57 PM
#12
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 1,690
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hmmm... I must be watching the wrong Natalie Portman movies. Yeah, she's hot, but best actress today??.... you people have seen the Star Wars prequels right?
01-06-05, 07:42 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actors
Edward Norton
Ewan McGregor
Johnny Depp
Samuel L. Jackson
Tom Cruise
Actresses
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jena Malone
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Scarlett Johansson
Uma Thurman
Directors
Chistopher Nolan
David Fincher
Michael Mann
Paul Thomas Anderson
Quentin Tarantino
Edward Norton
Ewan McGregor
Johnny Depp
Samuel L. Jackson
Tom Cruise
Actresses
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jena Malone
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Scarlett Johansson
Uma Thurman
Directors
Chistopher Nolan
David Fincher
Michael Mann
Paul Thomas Anderson
Quentin Tarantino
Last edited by Barry Woodward; 01-06-05 at 08:25 PM.
01-06-05, 07:57 PM
#14
Moderator
Actor: Kôji Yakusho
Actress: Maggie Cheung
Director: Abbas Kiarostami
cygnet74 - I almost went with the Dardennes myself, but I've only seen their last three films, and that's not enough to go by.
Actress: Maggie Cheung
Director: Abbas Kiarostami
cygnet74 - I almost went with the Dardennes myself, but I've only seen their last three films, and that's not enough to go by.
Last edited by wendersfan; 01-06-05 at 08:00 PM.
01-06-05, 08:08 PM
#16
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: NJ, the place where smiles go to die
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Originally Posted by Barry Woodward
Actors
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
My picks:
Actors: Depp, Crowe - Maybe more than anyone else they are never afraid to take risks & can completely transform themselves to fit their roles.
Actress: - Uma Thurman - I think there are a ton of incredible actresses but NONE of them can pull of being an action star & that gives Uma an edge. Range is what defines an elite actor/actress IMO. It's a rare actress that can do action, drama, & then even comedy.
Director: David Cronenberg - Maybe people just don't watch his movies. The last pure, innovative visualist alive in cinema, & unlike almost every director mentioned so far, he is never afraid to take risks & constantly push the envelope.
Last edited by Sessa17; 01-06-05 at 09:51 PM.
01-06-05, 08:11 PM
#17
DVD Talk Special Edition
Actor: Birol Unel
Actress: Renee Zellweger
Director: Michael Mann
p.s. Am I the only one who finds the nods for Ron Howard a bit disturbing?
Actress: Renee Zellweger
Director: Michael Mann
p.s. Am I the only one who finds the nods for Ron Howard a bit disturbing?
Last edited by Gerry P.; 01-06-05 at 08:14 PM.
01-06-05, 08:14 PM
#18
Moderator
Originally Posted by Sessa17
He makes my list of worste actors. He plays Samuel Jackson in everything he does.
P.S. Cronenberg's Canadian.
01-06-05, 09:53 PM
#20
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: NJ, the place where smiles go to die
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Originally Posted by Gerry P.
p.s. Am I the only one who finds the nods for Ron Howard a bit disturbing?
01-06-05, 10:07 PM
#22
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by SuprVgeta
Hmmm... I must be watching the wrong Natalie Portman movies. Yeah, she's hot, but best actress today??.... you people have seen the Star Wars prequels right?
01-06-05, 10:09 PM
#23
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Rypro 525
go out and rent garden state, and leon, and then see closer and you'll see what we mean, lets pretend that the prequels don;t exist.
01-06-05, 11:16 PM
#25
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Actor: Tom Cruise
Actress: Jodie Foster
Director: Michael Mann
Actress: Jodie Foster
Director: Michael Mann