Not a big fan of Synecdoche, New York but I did like his remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Shia LaBeouf.

Aren't you thinking of Philip Kaufman?

Obviously. He's been all over the news the last few days due to his heroin overdose.

And let's not forget "The Man Who Came to Dinner."

According to the poll results, everyone was pretty happy to be rid of James Gandolfini, Michael Clarke Duncan, and the guy from Glee.

That goes without saying.

Not to mention--which you didn't--Brad Renfro and Corey Haim.

Brad Renfo was a terrific actor. That's all I have to say about that.

I liked a lot of her movies. Heroic Trio/Executioners (and I'm one of the ones who likes the dark and depressing Executioners more than the silly Heroic Trio), Moon Warriors, and the movies she did with Jackie like Rumble in the Bronx and Drunken Master 2 (where she played Jackie's mom, despite the fact that she's several years younger than him...and somehow, it still works).

But Miracles is definitely her finest, not to mention Jackie Chan's finest work as a director and actor. Everything in that movie is top notch. The story and plot are first and foremost (mostly thanks to Capra, but still), and not just lead-ins to fight scenes. If anything, it almost seems like the fight scenes were edited in later to the film, 'cause no one wanted an epic gangster-era film from Jackie Chan.

The montage of Anita Mui performing in the club is just great cinema.

If we're going to expand this beyond the US, I'll throw in Juzo Itami. He wrote and directed one of the best comedies of the eighties and a personal favorite (Tampopo) and made many other movies that were almost as good (A Taxing Woman, Minbo, The Funeral etc). He had a fluid, uniquely identifyable Fellini-esque visual style. He also had terrific writing skills (he wrote every movie he directed), was comfortable with challenging non-linear structures and posessed a great ear for dialogue. His movies are a hilarious combination of slapstick, satire and cutural analysis. They're edgy, cutting and substantial works that make intersting points about Japanese culture, the sexes and the male ego.

He either comitted suicide or was killed by the Yakusa in 1997 at the height of his powers. He never made a bad movie and most of his comedies are world class. IMO, he stands as one of the best comedic filmakers in the world over the past thirty years. To me, he's basically Japan's answer to Woody Allen: an urban, neurotic, self-deprecating, more-than-slightly creepy man who was a genius at making wise comedy.

It's a toss-up for me between River Phoenix and James Dean. Largely because they were gone far, far too soon (early 20s) and it was such a loss to not be able to see how their talent would continue.

Surprised no John Belushi or Brandon Lee. I was never a big Belushi fan, but Brandon Lee could have gone on to amazing things after The Crow. I went for James Dean as he was an interesting actor.

Bruce Lee & Andy Kaufman

I voted for Steve McQueen but I would add John Cazale to the list.

In Drunken Master 2, Anita was Wong Kei-Ying's 2nd wife, not Jackie's birth mother.

Also Raizo Ichikawa. Died from cancer at age 38, but he still made something like 150 movies---mostly period samurai films. Great screen presence.

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The 90's was not my favorite era for martial arts movies, but I did love Moon Warriors and Drunken Master II. She was excellent in both.

yep and steve mcqueen should be removed. he was 50 and his last few movies were not hits.

Phil Hartman. At least finish the last season of Newsradio before getting murdered by his wife. If only....... Without him, Newsradio had to wrap. It just became utter crap.

Jim Varney

A testament to his brilliance is the fact that the lucrative Ernest franchise has never been rebooted since his untimely death.

I think things were pretty good until about 1995, after that they really lost the magic.

I have prerequisite "Rumble In The Bronx", "Miracles", "Drunken Master 2" and "Heroic Trio", beyond that I can't recall what else I have that includes Anita Mui in it. I saw a bit of "Executioners" but it was dubbed, so I quit watching.

I wish I could find a uncut version of "Rumble In the Bronx". It pains me to see the wedding outtakes when they cut out the entire scene! I know its not Jackie's best movie, but it was the first I saw, and its what spawned the collection I have today.

You know I always thought of Ernest as a blatant redneck rip off of Pee Wee growing up.

I'm not happy he died. I'm just saying he likely would have endured a life of constant agony and suicidal depression. His sudden death, though tragic, spared him all that.

Gene Hackman.