How would you rate these actors?

[johnnyboy]

Hey guys! I'm new to this wonderful site and would like to ask everyone, how would you rate some of these fine actors in the scale of 1 to 10, and if you can be bothered then tell a reason, why you rated them that way too, ok here goes:
Morgan Freeman
Sean Penn
Brad Pitt
Denzel Washington
Tom Hanks
Samuel L. Jackson
Russell Crowe
Marlon Brando
Robert De Niro
Edward Norton
Al Pacino
Kevin Spacey


Morgan Freeman 10
Sean Penn 8
Brad Pitt 7
Denzel Washington 9
Tom Hanks 10
Samuel L. Jackson 7
Russell Crowe 8
Marlon Brando 10
Robert De Niro 10
Edward Norton 9
Al Pacino 10
Kevin Spacey 9.5

That's how i would rate them, what about you guys?

[Sal Paradise]

Russell Crowe - 4
His best job was as Hando in Romper Stomper.

[Undertoad]

I'm lookin' at the list and I'm thinkin', who on there could do comedy?

Tom Hanks - obviously
Marlon Brando - a fine parody of himself in "The Freshman", otherwise... ?
DeNiro - "Analyse This", "Meet the Parents".

Morgan Freeman 6
Sean Penn 8
Brad Pitt 5
Denzel Washington 7
Tom Hanks 7
Samuel L. Jackson 7
Russell Crowe -2
Marlon Brando pass
Robert De Niro 6
Edward Norton 9
Al Pacino 7
Kevin Spacey 8

[Bromius]

Honestly a rather silly question, Johnnyboy. An actor is only as good as the material he's given, and then there's the question of how well he's suited for it. For example, Russell Crowe in Gladiator was nothing special. All he had to do was grimace, then look angry, then look sad, then die. If I had only seen him in that and, say, Proof Of Life, I wouldn't think much of him at all. Yet he was FANTASTIC in The Insider (for which he SHOULD have won an Oscar) and I wouldn't have expected that sort of acting coming from the guy who played Maximus.
All the actors you list are at least good (though Tom Hanks really plays maudlin far too much--let's hope Road to Perdition opens some eyes) but a few, IMHO Brando, Pacino, Deniro and POSSIBLY Penn and Norton, really are astounding. Keep in mind they've all been in stinkers, but when their game is on it is ON. Some great actors give one good performance and spend the rest of their careers in crappy movies---like Donald Sutherland, Malcom McDowell (does he just PICK bad movies?) and Dennis Hopper. The only Nic Cage movie I'd want to watch twice is Raising Arizona---proving even so-so actors can do well under the right circumstances.

Gah, that was far too long......just my 2, um, 28 cents.

[Nic Name]

and then there are actors who are so in character in their various roles that they are completely overlooked when one is ranking celebrities ...

Johnny Depp

[perth]

dammit.

now i have to watch sleepy hollow again. its wierd. someone mentions johnny depp and i have to watch that movie. of course, the best part of that movie is walkens time onscreen.

anyone ever see brando in guys n dolls? kinda silly, but i dig that movie.

~james

[Griff]

Morgan Freeman 7
Sean Penn 8
Brad Pitt 2
Denzel Washington 9
Tom Hanks 5
Samuel L. Jackson 7
Russell Crowe 7
Marlon Brando 9
Robert De Niro 8
Edward Norton 8
Al Pacino 5
Kevin Spacey 6

grades have to fall on a bell curve folks

So much is based on the roles they choose and their capacity to fill them. Pacino always plays stuff he can do well but its pretty limited, unless I've missed something. A friend of a friend was in Full Metal Jacket, he was well received but then started turning down roles, hoping I guess to manage his career as well as Denzel Washington does. I think he's stage acting in London now... maybe thats what he wanted anyway? I like Depp quite alot... I remember really trying to sell Benny and Joon to people, but its a matter of taste, one couple I was talking movies with went on and on about how bad Depp was, then went on to praise the "titanic" bore Out of Africa, talk about over-rated stars. Hanks only gets the 5 because I'm so tired of seeing him...he wasn't bad in the Fed Ex commercial or the WWII apology, but was funnier with breasts. Val Kilmer is one I can't figure out, he seems to have potential but what has he ever done? Ed Harris really suprised me in Pollock, he has more depth than his earlier roles allowed for. Kevin Kline gets a high rank from me as well, A Fish Called Wanda and My Life as a House were miles apart in style and two of my favorites.

[Undertoad]

So you didn't see Mr. Pitt in "Twelve Monkeys".

I'm tired of Mr. Hanks too, and I was the one person who hated "Forrest Gump", but I'll admit he was brilliant. And after "Philadelphia" I'll give him the 10.

[Griff]

I saw 12 monkeys and don't recall anything about the movie...maybe I'll surf around and shake the cobwebs he was in that awful thing with Redford last year (about which I remarkably held my tongue at a dinner party, after a glowing review... Griff showing restraint, weird)

yer right about Philadelphia though... I guess thats where career management comes in. Over-exposure kills, never follow up Dances with Wolves and Field of Dreams with The Postman and Water World.

<b>Morgan Freeman</b> - 9 - Definitely a good actor. Fuck, great actor. Has a distinct voice and can play a wide variety of roles. See <b>The Shawshank Redemption</b> and <b>Se7en</b> for proof.

<b>Sean Penn</b> - 8 - I like him, and I think he can act, but I don't fancy him some genius or astoundingly good actor. He's very good, no doubt, but I wouldn't put him in a top-ten list any day.

<b>Brad Pitt</b> - 8 - Brad Pitt has grown on me. I used to think he was just a prettyboy, but he's shown that he can handle real roles with depth. <b>Se7en</b> was great for him, but it was just scratching the surface. Pitt was great in <b>Fight Club</b>, but again, nothing compared to one of his very best roles, <b>Snatch.</b> He was, quite simply, amazing as Mickey O'Neil. He's also been enjoyable in <b>Ocean's 11</b> and <b>Spy Game</b>. Also enjoyed his part in <b>Sleepers</b>. I used to hate Pitt, but he's definitely a strong actor. Can't deny that anymore.

<b>Denzel Washington</b> - 9 - I don't need to justify or explain this. We all know he's great. One word: <b>Glory</b>. I'm not sure if he would be in a top ten, but if he wasn't, he would be damn close. Very fine actor.

<b>Tom Hanks</b> - 9 - I can appreciate that some would get tired of him. Personally, I'm not. He's shown that he can play a wide variety of roles and do well in them, and he has a wide appeal because he's an everyman. Again, I don't need to justify this one. Like Washington, if he wasn't in the top ten, he would be relatively close.

<b>Samuel L. Jackson</b> - 7.5 - I enjoy SLJ's roles very much, and I always love watching his movies. However, I don't think he's had the opportunity to play a wide variety of strong roles. He's generally given weaker material with which to work. I can't assume that this is his fault, but I can't rank him higher either - he simply hasn't shown me that he's capable of being considered one of the "greats".

<b>Russel Crowe</b> - 7.5 - He's a fine actor. Let's not kid ourselves. <b>The Insider</b> and <b>L.A. Confidential</b> were great flicks, and he was a big part of each of them. What I'm not impressed with is his off-the-camera attitude, but it doesn't change the fact that he can get into a role and own it when he has to. Unfortunately, he's only been given the opportunity to do this a few times. Hopefully we'll see more deep roles for him in the future.

<b>Marlon Brando</b> - 9.5 - another great actor with an ego. He's certainly one of the best actors of all time, and easy a "great", yet there are other contemporary actors that I'll rate above him. While I haven't seen all of his work (and really, who here has?), in general, I'm disappointed by his off-the-screen persona, but I can't hold that against his movies. Even so, there's no excuse for <b>The Island of Dr. Moreau</b>.

<b>Robert De Niro</b> - 10 - Come on. <b>The Godfather, Part II</b>. <b>Taxi Driver</b>. <b>The Deer Hunter</b>. <b>Raging Bull</b>. <b>Once Upon A Time In America</b>. <b>The Untouchables</b>. <b>Goodfellas</b>. <b>Cape Fear</b>. <b>A Bronx Tale</b>. <b>Casino</b>. <b>Heat</b>. <b>Wag The Dog</b>. <b>Analyze This</b>. <b>Meet The Parents</b>. How many great roles has De Niro had? And I haven't even named them all (and probably not even half). Simply one of the finest actors, <b>ever</b>. Easily in my top ten. Easily in my top five. Easily in my top two. An amazing actor.

<b>Edward Norton</b> - 9 - And an easy nine at that. If <b>American History X</b> didn't convince you, <b>Fight Club</b> probably did. And you probably missed him in <b>Primal Fear</b>. Edward Norton is an amazing actor. We'll be seeing great things from him in the future, guaranteed.

<b>Al Pacino</b> - 10 - Rating him any less is absurd. His portrayal of Michael Corleone and his hardening heart is simply amazing. He's been spectacular in nearly every movie he's been in. Easily in my top ten. Easily in my top five. Easily in my top two. And I don't need to justify it. If you haven't rated him higher, you haven't seen enough of his films.

<b>Kevin Spacey</b> - 9.5 - Kevin Spacey has been my favorite actor for a damn long time (actually, ever since I saw him in <b>Swimming with Sharks</b> on PPV way back in the day). He's only cemented that with his later roles. He was spectacular in <b>Se7en</b>, even though he had relatively little screen time. <b>The Usual Suspects</b> was my favorite movie until I saw him in <b>American Beauty</b>, and both of them were pretty fucking amazing. I simply can't rate him any lower than a 9.5, though I can't quite put him up there with the greatness of De Niro and Pacino. I imagine, however, that he'll be there some day.

As you may be able to tell, I'm a movie buff, and I take that shit pretty seriously, so all of these opinions are based upon repeat viewings of some of the finest movies of all time. Of course, I respect your right to disagree with me. However, you're wrong.

[Griff]

whoops, Twelve Monkeys/Pitt, now I remember yah he gets bumped up for that... we'll put a wait and see on his career. What shocked me about that movie was how good Willis was.

[Griff]

Thanks for mentioning Shawshank...great movie.

Spy Game, however, stank on ice.

American Beauty? Nope, still don't get it.


(edit added De Niro)

dmsaic is right on about De Niro, with his body of work he moves up just past Washington, to give Denzel something to shoot for.

[Undertoad]

"American Beauty" was brilliant. Spacey's transformation from beginning to end made it what it was. Watch the guy in the beginning and how tired and beaten down he is. Watch as he finds energy and goes from 0% confidence to 110% confidence.

[Griff]

I got the transformation and found the whole thing to be credibly creepy but all in all it was a story which I didn't didn't think needed telling. It just looked, to me, like a movie intended to offend middle american sensibilities and it suceeded at that simple task. If folks need to have it called genius to justify cheap titilation, thats their deal. Of course, I'm a Dad so I have my own agenda. Thats what I like about film though, one mans "brilliant" movie is someone elses wasted three (video) bucks and two hours. If you don't mind, I'm gonna have to scratch you off my baby-sitter list, though.