TOP TEN Lists - This Week: Film Performances by Actors/Actresses

Well I did not see that twist coming! (and I do recognize that it is possible for a really great location to be in a really shitty film).


Solid list.

 

Hmmm... maybe time for another one of these?

 

Topic #26 - Top Ten Film Performances by Actors/Actresses

This time around we're looking at movie roles where actors and actresses really hit it out of the park. For this list, do not include any TV show performances, we're looking strictly at movies.

I shall start us off:

1. Anthony Hopkins [Hannibal Lector, Silence of the Lambs] - the definitive performance in my opinion. In only a few short minutes of screen time he manages to completely steal the entire show. All eyes are completely focused on him in any scene he is in. Silence of the Lambs is an all time great movie, and the biggest contributor to its success is the masterful performance of Hopkins. He manages to convey a lethally dangerous intelligence, both creepy and sophisticated in equal measure.
2. Heath Ledger [Joker, The Dark Knight] - I always say that Heath Ledger's Joker is the best villain since Hannibal Lector... that explains his silver medal placing. Easily the most memorable character in not only the Dark Knight movie, but in the entire trilogy as a whole. Some people will prefer Jack Nicholson's Joker, but to me Ledger's Joker reigns supreme.
3. Tim Robbins [Andy Dufresne, The Shawshank Redemption] - Solid performances throughout this movie, everyone is fantastic, but the standouts have to be Andy and Red. It's a coin toss as to which one is better, but seeing as Andy carries more of the film, I've given him the nod. The Shawshank Redemption isn't normally my cup of tea in terms of genre, but against all odds, it makes it to number 3 on my all time list.
4. Morgan Freeman [Red, The Shawshank Redemption] - see above. Plus, the greatest narration of all time!
5. Andy Serkis [Gollum, LOTR trilogy] - his voice work is fantastic, but his movements via his motion capture is even better.
6. Mel Gibson [William Wallace, Braveheart] - the lead character in my second favourite movie of all time. An inspiring figure with many fantastic moments and lines. Equally good in introspective moments as in tense action sequences. Mel creates a character that is memorable and inspiring. Freedom!
7. Jodie Foster [Eleanor Arroway, Contact] - Jodie Foster delivers a highly emotive performance. There is a purity about her character and we get to experience that purity clash with the harsh unfairness of politics. But through it all she never stops believing, never stops striving and never stops dreaming. The story dances across a range of emotions, and that experience is masterfully delivered from the viewpoint of Foster's Eleanor.
8. Russell Crowe [Maximus, Gladiator] - Not quite William Wallace, but still pretty dam great. Strong and powerful!
9. Robert Downey Jr. [Tony Stark, Iron Man] - RDJ literally transformed a C level Marvel character into an A level flagship character Iron Man was a pretty low level character before the MCU and now he is easily one of the most recognizable figures in the entire Marvel IP. RDJ's Tony Stark is perfect, and anyone else playing the role feels like an imposter. As he said, he is Iron Man.
10. Leonardo DiCaprio [Cobb, Inception] - epic character in an epic movie. Leo DiCaprio is good in any role he plays, but this is by far my favourite movie of his. That said, I could just as easily have put his role as Calvin Candie from Django Unchained in this place.

Honourable Mentions: Bill Murray (Bob - What about Bob?), Matt Damon (Mike McDermott - Rounders), Matt Damon (Mark Watney - The Martian) Johnny Depp (Jack Sparrow - Pirates of the Caribbean)

 

You've mentioned Johnny Depp in POTC as an honourable mention. I'd have to agree.
He would be in one of my top ten for his performance as Hunter S Thompson in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I was always a big fan of Hunter's gonzo journalism style and his 'larger than life' life. Depp is superlative at bringing his persona to the screen.

 

He's a really solid actor.

I look forward to seeing which ones we have overlapping.

 

Time for the rest of that list!

 

He was really good in that!

 

Yeah, we're still missing a couple of our regulars.

 

Another interesting but challenging Top 10. I fear I "know of" more great performances, from traditionally great movies, than actually experiencing those great performances/movies. Realistically, I'm just going to list good/great performances in movies I like or have seen. Even then, I'm just trying to look over my DVD shelves (yes, I'm that old) for movies that jump out at me and borrowing from the two previous lists.

Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs)
Robert Shaw (Jaws)
Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction)
Mel Gibson (Braveheart)
Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump)
Robert Downy Jr. (Iron Man)
Russell Crowe (Gladiator)
Andy Serkis (LotR)
Morgan Freeman (Shawshank Redemption)

Christian Bale (American Psycho)
Brad Pitt (Fight Club, maybe Se7en)
Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense)