Favorite performance/role in a movie?

[Spaceman Spiff]

Not necessarily a favorite movie, but what about a favorite performance or a role played in a movie?

Pacino as Tony Montana in Scarface: At times I forget that I'm watching Pacino and think I'm watching a street urchin turned coke monster.

John Goodman as Walter in The Big Lebowski: Downright hysterical. "Am I wrong??"

Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller in Ferris Buellers Day Off: I still want to be Ferris Bueller.

Alec Baldwin as Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross: "A-B-C. A-Always, B-Be, C-Closing. Always be closing, always be closing."

Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in The Godfather: The whole scene where he sits in his fathers chair and starts plotting on how to kill the cop and Solozzo...the scene in the Italian restaurant...coming back from Italy...all around badass.

Sean Patrick Flannery and Norman Reedus as the McManus Bros. in The Boondock Saints: Badassery at its finest.

Dan Akroyd and John Belushi as Jake and Elwood Blues in The Blues Brothers: Great singing and dancing, good comedy, they both play off each other really well.

Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris in Training Day: Good to see Denzel play the bad guy for once. He's strangely likeable though, for some weird reason, until the end. "King Kong...ain't got **** ON ME!"

Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin in The Patriot: I guess this has passed on as one of his lesser known roles but the whole scene where he singlehandedly kills a bunch of British troops in the woods is awesome.

Sylvester Stallone as Rocky in Rocky 1-4: All around great performance, even though the guy isn't that talented. The role fit him perfectly. Rocky 5 just plain sucked.

Robin Williams as Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning Vietnam: Good mix of comedy and drama in this movie coming from this character. Williams shows good range of emotions.

I could probably go on, but I want to hear what your picks are!

[zoony]

I always liked Mr. Pink....that role was awesome
And believe it or not, I thought Brad Pitt's character in 'Snatch' as the gypsy was GREAT.

What about Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Lector in the Silence of the Lambs?... it's played out now, but that has to rank right up there

*edit*
best role ever... John Candy's character in 'Planes, Trains, & Automobiles' :rotflmao: just thinking about it



So many to choose though... I'll have to think about this one some more.

[HOF44]

How about Sean Penn as Spacoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High?

Clint Eastwood as Sgt. Highway in Heartbreak Ridge

Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry

Jackie Gleason as Buford T Justice in Smokey and the Bandit

[Cdowwe]

Steve Martin in the Jerk

Steve Martin and John Candy both in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...just too good

Chaz Palm...whatever ....in A Bronx Tale

Al Pacino in the Godfathers I & II

Johnny Depp in Blow

[chomerics]

Ed Norton as Aa-aa-aaron Stampler in Primal Fear one of the best
Nicholson. . . The Shining
DiNero. . . Godfather
Pachino. . . Scarface

My favorite for the big three.

[HOF44]

John Belushi as Bluto in Animal House

[HOF44]

I don't know th actors name but he was the drill sargeant in Full Metal Jacket

[Destino]

Al Pacino - Scent of a Woman, The Devil's Advocate, and of course Scarface (despite the bad accent).

Robert De Niro - Heat and Casino

Robin Williams - Insomnia, What Dreams May Come, and Good Will Hunting.

**As a side not Robin Williams is probably one of the most under rated actors ever. He is known for his comedy but delivers a great performance in just about every serious role he gets.

[HOF44]

How about Robin Williams in The World accroding to Garp

John Lithgow in The World according to Garp.

[CaseyJones7]

Pacino- Lt. Col. Frank Slade


Eddie Murphy- Axel Foley


Travolta- Vincent Vega

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday.

[gbear]

Kevin Spacey in the usual Suspects

Gene Hackman in Unforgiven

Gene Hackman in Crimson Tide

Harrison Ford as Solo

[CaseyJones7]

Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday.


I tryed to watch that movie a couple weeks ago and couldn't even get through- I use to love it

[CrabR]

George C. Scott as General Patton, Patton
Vivian Leigh as Scarlet, Gone with the Wind
Jack Nicholson as McMurphy, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Lee Ermey as Sergeant Hartman, Full Metal Jacket
Dustin Hoffman as Ratso' Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy

[Taylor 36]

Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting

Mel Gibson in Braveheart

Alan Rickman in Die Hard and Robin Hood

Dustin Hoffman in Rainman

Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Carribean

Leo Dicaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape

[Taylor 36]

Robin Williams - Insomnia, What Dreams May Come, and Good Will Hunting.

**As a side not Robin Williams is probably one of the most under rated actors ever. He is known for his comedy but delivers a great performance in just about every serious role he gets.

With the exception of Popeye, I totally agree with you.

[Destino]

With the exception of Popeye, I totally agree with you.
hahaha true! :laugh:

[zoony]

I'd have to agree on the Robin Williams opinion... guy is a great actor... has great range.

Back to the topic... what about Benicio DelToro in the Usual Suspects? (fenster) AWESOME

[DeanCollins]

Rodney Dangerfield in "Back to School"



"call me when you don't have any class" :laugh:

http://www.dvdreview.com/fullreviews/Images/BackToSchool/BackToSchool6.jpghttp://www.dvdreview.com/assets/images/dot_clear.gif

[pez]

Liam Neelson (spelling?): Schindler's List

[Larry]

Tommie Lee Jones in Men In Black.

John Lithgow in Buckaroo Bonzai.

Henry Fonda as the villian in Once Upon a Time in the West.

I really liked Tom Arnold in True Lies

Seconds (or thirds)

Lee Ermy in Full Metal Jacket

Johny Depp in Pirates.

[jrockster21]

John Goodman as Walter in The Big Lebowski: Downright hysterical. "Am I wrong??"

"SHUT UP, DONNIE, you're out of your element."

[jrockster21]

I'd have to agree on the Robin Williams opinion... guy is a great actor... has great range.

Back to the topic... what about Benicio DelToro in the Usual Suspects? (fenster) AWESOME


Insomnia, One-Hour Photo and What Dreams May Come all blew. And the lead actors' performance did not save the movie.

Don't get me wrong, I like Williams, but he's had his share of stinkers.

[jrockster21]

Most of mine have been said, but here's a few more:

Samuel L. Jackson -- Jules in Pulp Fiction; the funniest hitman EVER.

Cary Elwes -- Westley in The Princess Bride; who didn't grow up with this movie?

Cuba Gooding Jr. -- Rod Tidwell in Jerry MaGuire; his most excellent performance

Ice Cube -- Dough Boy in Boyz in tha Hood; Ice Cube is actually a very underrated actor...he was excellent in this film.

Jamie Foxx -- Ray Charles in Ray; I loved that movie and Foxx was spot on in his portrayal of Charles...I mean it was uncanny.

John Travolta -- Bobby Long in A Love Song For Bobby Long; talk about the perfect old drunken southern man. I really liked this movie as well...it has my future wife in the leading role.

Bill Murray -- Phil Connors in Groundhog Day; :rotflmao:

Wesley Snipes -- Sidney in White Men Can't Jump

[Spaceman Spiff]

Jrockster, i agree...ice cube was good in Three Kings

[rincewind]

my 3 favorite performances have already been mentioned but i'll list them anyway:

Jack in the Shining

Spacey in the Usual Suspects

Hoffman in Rain Man

i know people say Depp in Pirates, but i think a lot of people overlook Geoffery Rush's job as Barbosa.

i also liked Tom Hanks in Private Ryan

[bofluid]

Willem Dafoe as Sgt. Elias in Platoon

[SUNSTONE]

Pacino - Scareface
Hanks - Forest Gump
Vin Diesel - The Fast and the Furious
Arnold - The Terminator(the first one)
Bruce Lee - All of them, and none of them. :D (He was the same on screen and off screen, and that phrase is a little tribute to his saying "No way, as a way"[something like that])
Bruce Willis - Die Hard and Last Man Standing
Samuel L Jackson - Pulp Fiction
Stephen Chow - Shaolin Soccer
Adam Sandler - Happy Gilmore
Jack Nickleson - One Who Flew Over the CooCoo's Nest

[CaseyJones7]

Traci Lords - Suzie Superstar II

[MissU28]

Tom Hanks....Forrest Gump

Actually...Tom Hanks in ANYTHING. The man's incredible.

[mojo]

Brad Pitt's character in Fight Club was pretty righteous.

I also thought the part of Casear's son in Gladiator played the Phoenix brother (the guy currently portraying Johnny Cash) was phoenomonal. He was brilliant and in my opinion stole the show from Russell Crow.

[Gallntfox]

Hoffman in Rain Man and Denzel in Training Day........

And I have to also agree with a previous poster that Ed Norton in Primal Fear was great..

[Major Harris]

brad pitt in 12 monkeys

sorry- tom hanks in forrest gump

jamie foxx in ray

ewan mcgregor in big fish

chris tucker in friday

chris farley in tommy boy

[jrockster21]

I can't believe I'm on a football board and I'm the only one to mention Cuba Gooding Jr. as Rod Tidwell in Jerry MaGuire. What is wrong with you people???

[Mr. Grundle]

Bill Paxton as Pvt. Hudson in Aliens (Game over man, game OH-ver!)
John Goodman in The Big Lebowski
Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven
Vince Vaughn in Swingers
Benicio Del Toro in Traffic

[Barney B]

I also thought the part of Casear's son in Gladiator played the Phoenix brother (the guy currently portraying Johnny Cash) was phoenomonal. He was brilliant and in my opinion stole the show from Russell Crow.

Great minds think alike. :cheers: The scene where he kills his father was unbelievably great acting, I thought.

Rutger Hauer's acting in Blade Runner was mighty impressive as well.

Bill Murray - very underrated until the "Lost In Translation" Oscar nomination.

[jrockster21]

Tom Hanks....Forrest Gump

Actually...Tom Hanks in ANYTHING. The man's incredible.

I agree...Tom Hanks is generally pretty good in everything. I didn't like Road to Perdition though...I'm probably the only one. It did not live up to the hype, in my humble opinion. :whoknows:

Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies of all time. He was also excellent in Saving Private Ryan. But Tom Hanks best role of all time was The Burbs!!! :laugh:

[Mr. Nostril]

Everyone knows who Robin Williams is. Everyone seems to love Robin Williams. Robin Williams is a bankable star in hollywood. Critics almost always praise Robin Williams' performances. Robin Williams is considered one of the greatest comedic actors ever. Robin Williams has won an Oscar.

Yet you say
Robin Williams is probably one of the most under rated actors ever.

My question: How highly do you want him to be rated?

[chomerics]

I can't believe I'm on a football board and I'm the only one to mention Cuba Gooding Jr. as Rod Tidwell in Jerry MaGuire. What is wrong with you people???

Hell, Larry ADMITS to liking Tom Arnold in True Lies and your worried about no mentioning of Cuba Gooding Jr????

He STOLE the oscar from my man Ed Norton that year, wasn't even close ;)

[rincewind]

Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison (he was also good in Top Secret!)


Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction :applause:

[Mr. Nostril]

My favorites that haven't been mentioned so far are:

Jason Scwartzman as Max Fiscer in Rushmore
Klaus Kinski as Don Lope de Aguirre in Aguirre: The Wrath of God.
Helena Bonham Carter as Marla Singer in Fight Club
Jason Lee as Jeff BeBe in Almost Famous
Adam Sandler as Bary Egan in Punch Drunk Love
Jean Pierre Leaud as Antoine Doinel The 400 Blows
F. Murray Abraham as Salieri and Tom Hulce as Mozart in Amadeus
Charlie Chaplin as A Tramp in City Lights.
John Hurt as John Merrick in The Elephant Man
Kate Winslet as Juliette Hulme in Heavenly Creatures.
Jim Carrey as Joel Barrish in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind.

Oh, I though I should mention that of these. Only 3 were nominated for Oscars, and only one won. This makes me sad.

[just skins baby]

Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry.
Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones and Han Solo.
Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder in anything.
Jerry Lewis in Cinderfella and The Nutty Professor.
Rodney Dangerfield in anything.

[jrockster21]

Hell, Larry ADMITS to liking Tom Arnold in True Lies and your worried about no mentioning of Cuba Gooding Jr????

He STOLE the oscar from my man Ed Norton that year, wasn't even close ;)


What...for Primal Fear? Get outta here. I liked Primal Fear, but it wasn't all that. Norton was great in it, I'll admit, but he didn't have anything on my man Cuba!! That's one of the greatest roles of the 20th century!! Come on, man!!

"Heart?? I'M ALL HEART, MOTHA****A!!!"

Besides, Primal Fear wasn't even Norton's best role...I liked him in American History X much better.

[Chopper Dave]

Benecio Del Toro as Oscar Acosta in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy in Anchorman
Paul Reubens as Derek Foreal in Blow
Elijah Wood as Kevin in Sin City
Harvey Keitel as the Wolf in Pulp Fiction
Morgan Freeman as Red in The Shawshank Redemption
Alfred Molina as Rahad Jackson in Boogie Nights
Stephen Root as Milton Waddums in Office Space
Jason Lee as Azrael in Dogma
Bill Murray as Steve Zissou in The Life Aquatic
Brad Pitt as Jeffery Goines in 12 Monkeys
Edward Norton as Derek Vinyard in American History X
Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Unforgiven/Jim Morrison in The Doors
Kevin Spacey as John Doe in Se7en
Dustin Hoffman as Bernard in I Heart Huckabees
Adam Goldberg as Pvt. Stanley Mellish in Saving Private Ryan
Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump
Christopher Walken as Sgt. Toomey in Biloxi Blues
Jason Schwartzman as Ross in Spun

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison (he was also good in Top Secret!)

Don't forget his rolls in Tombstone and Willow.

http://ciredeschain.tripod.com/tombstone.jpghttp://www.planetkilmer.com/filmography/willow.jpg

[Larry]

Douglas Rains as HAL in 2001

:)

[Taylor 36]

After reading everyone's posts, I have to add a few to mine. So many good ones have been mentioned that I feel I short changed myself on my original lists.

Edward Norton in Primal Fear

Jason Lee in Mall Rats

Val Kilmer in Real Genius

Tom Hanks in Philadelphia (Most of his roles, ex. Bachelor Party. Great Movie though)

Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon

[SkinzRool]

Here are a few others that I really like that have not been mentioned yet:

Jack Nicholson - The Shining
Anothony Hopkins - Silence of the Lambs
Tim Robbins - Shawshank Redemption
Tom Hulce - Amadeus
Kevin Spacey - American Beauty