Best acting in a movie.....ever

[wvrevy]

Ok, someone posted in another thread about Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump and his reaction upon learning that the little boy is his son....The way he stutters and halts through the sentence "Is he smart"....Ugh...just tears me up inside watching it (and that's the ONLY part of that movie I actually like, which should tell you how good I thought this scene was).

So, what's your favorite acting performance of all time ?

 

[liznboys]

I posted that on the other thread , so yes I am with you, that scene is just amazing. I am all choked up now because I keep thinking about it more and more! As I said in the other thread, Tom Hanks is an amazing actor!!

 

[Saffron]

Without a doubt, Tom Cruise in Born on the 4th of July, from beginning to end. And I'm not sure which scene makes me cry more, but I know the last scene sometimes has me up on my feet cheering.

I've watched that movie so many times, I can't even tell you how many, and it was this 4th of July, 2004, when I recognized the real Ron Kovac in the parade scene in the beginning of the move, the parade scene which shows the disabled WWII vets, for the first time.

 

[arminnie]

Daniel Day Lewis in just about anything. He won the Oscar in 1989 for My Left Foot over Tom Cruise in Born on the 4th of July.

Kenneth Branaugh and the late Alan Bates.

Of course in a theatrical performance it would be Charles S. Dutton in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom or The Piano Lesson.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Both of those movies are great!

I like the line in "Mommy Dearest" where Joan is in a boardroom meeting after her husband has died. The members are trying to bulldoze her out of her shares in the company and she screams, "Don't bleep with me fellas!"


It's kind of a distasteful movie, but I feel like that line encapsulates her personality so well!

 

[jrydberg]

Well, it's not really one performance, but I thought the whole cast of Saving Private Ryan did an exceptional job at conveying the human experience of being at war. Everyone from Tom Hanks, Adam Goldberg, Matt Damon, even Vin Diesel, gave me a sense of the sheer magnitude of split second decisions that soldiers have to make, the immense sacrifices made and the incredible courage that ordinary people can find in the most difficult circumstances.

The movie gave me a whole new appreciation for those who risked everything so that my daughter and I could have a safe and prosperous existence. That, in my book, is a powerful acting performance.

Thank you to all those who have served, are serving or will serve the United States of America. I will always be in your debt.

 

[onecoolmama]

Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man

 

[snoopy]

Well most of my favorite actors I mentioned on the movie scene thread, but for all time best I'd have to go w/ Marlon Brando as Stanley yelling "Stell-lla" in the rain.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List.

 

[wvrevy]

Originally posted by jrydberg
Well, it's not really one performance, but I thought the whole cast of Saving Private Ryan did an exceptional job at conveying the human experience of being at war.

The first 15 minutes of that movie would be enough to scare the daylights out of anyone, and really did bring home the "reality" of war better than anything I'd ever seen.

I'll also add Kevin Spacey's performance in "Usual Suspects"....

 

[Distriv]

Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in 'To Kill A Mocking Bird'. Classic.

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by Distriv
Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in 'To Kill A Mocking Bird'. Classic.

Awww, man, no kidding. The late great Gregory Peck, what a gem.

 

[Tinks]

Vivian Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara. She nailed that role IMO. Incredible!

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's

 

[grinningghost]

Originally posted by snoopy
Awww, man, no kidding. The late great Gregory Peck, what a gem.

His performance in TKAM is pretty much as good as it gets.

But, I have to give Charlize Theron credit for "Monster". She took that role and really ran with it. She BECAME Aileen Wuornos. It's almost scary.

 

[Maleficent13]

Originally posted by Strawberry Lemonade
Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's

Do you know Capote originally wanted Marilyn Monroe for that role? I can't see it in retrospect.

 

[snoopy]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
Do you know Capote originally wanted Marilyn Monroe for that role? I can't see it in retrospect.

Really?! Wow, talk about your polar opposites!

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
Do you know Capote originally wanted Marilyn Monroe for that role? I can't see it in retrospect.

I did know that and I agree - I can't see it. Especially in the part it ended up being, since they rewrote the part of Holly Golightly a little to make it more suitable for Audrey Hepburn.

 

[jpd3]

Clint Eastwood in "Unforgiven". To see him go full circle from the Spaghetti Westerns was amazing. I don't think there could be a more realistic look at the life and times of the Old West.

 

[Barb D]

Mel Gibson in Braveheart. Definitely.