I had to make the title to this post a little dramatic in order to get you guys to read this. I will be ranking acting performances, but of course I can't order "the top 10 in film history," because I haven't seen every film in history. Based only on movies I've seen, here are the strongest performances to date (counting down):
#10-Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt in "Rain Man" (1988) and #9-Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone in "The Godfather" (1972)
These are the most cliche choices on my list, and that's partially the reason why they rest near the bottom. When everyone raves about a particular performance, it's terribly difficult for them to live up to the hype in my eyes...that's just the way it is.
But Hoffman gives us one of the most lovable characters in film history, and when you think mob boss, you can't help but think of Don Vito Corleone. Brando created an institution with his work.
#8-Denzel Washington as the title character in "Malcolm X" (1992)
Talk about one character carrying an entire film. Not that Mr. X's progression to his position of racial prominence wasn't interesting, but Spike Lee really took us through every little detail. Yet, because of Denzel, we want to be there every step of the way -- particularly when he's giving his speeches to massive crowds. Absolutely incredible.
"Brothers and sisters, I am here to tell you that I charge the white man. I charge the white man with being the greatest murderer on earth. I charge the white man with being the greatest kidnapper on earth. There is no place in this world that this man can go and say he created peace and harmony."
#7-Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland in "Cast Away" (2000)
Surely this is not the most noted performance of Mr. Hanks' illustrious career -- considering the fact that he won Oscars for his roles in both "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump" -- but it stands as the most difficult role to play. As Chuck Noland he spends the vast majority of his screen time alone (unless you count "Wilson") and yet does an extremely fine job of getting us to empathize and think, "What would I do in his situation?"
It hurts us when he returns home to find that his wife has moved on.
"And I've lost her all over again. I'm so sad that I don't have Kelly. But I'm so grateful that she was with me on that island. And I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?"
#6-Richard Dreyfuss as Glenn Holland in "Mr. Holland's Opus" (1995)
I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes at this one. I know, I know, the film was a bit melodramatic, but Dreyfuss' character is just magnetic. His depth is tangible, and as goofy and occasionally annoying as he may be, we root for Mr. Holland and appreciate his passion for music and persistence in one profession.
It's a coming of age tale that starts in adulthood; an interesting structure.
"You work for 30 years because you think that what you do makes a difference, you think it matters to people, but then you wake up one morning and find out, well no, you've made a little error there, you're expendable...I should be laughing."
#5-Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in "Tombstone" (1993)
I'm not a big "Western" guy, but Kilmer is just incredible in this one. Funny, smart, coy, deadly, and a helluva drunk. Doc has the quickest shot at the OK Corral and a drinking problem reminiscent of Paul Newman in "The Verdict." Both become heroes in their own way.
Doc Holliday was a great friend to his shootin' mates and his character represents, far and away, the best performance of Kilmer's career.
"It appears my hypocrisy knows no bounds."
#4-Kenneth Branagh as the Prince in "Hamlet" (1996)
It's the best on-screen portrayal of the most important character in the history of literature, and perhaps in all of fiction. Prince Hamlet is simultaneously one of the most complicated and normal characters ever written or acted; credit here going to Mr. Shakespeare himself and in this case, Mr. Branagh.
This version of the premier Shakespearean tragedy is all-inclusive and runs over five hours. Somehow, it's engaging throughout. Branagh's energy and execution are invaluable to the film; the only issue, for me, is his look. Wish they could have done better there.
"There is nothing either good or bad...but thinking makes it so."
#3-Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles in "Ray" (2004)
Here's the best example of a long film that remains interesting throughout, thanks entirely to one virtuoso performance. "Ray" is a well-acted movie from end to end, but its plot is fairly mundane and wouldn't be nearly as interesting without Jamie Foxx as Mr. Charles.
I don't remember Ray Charles that well -- all I really know him from is the old Pespi commercials -- but from what I do recall about his mannerisms, Jamie Foxx duplicates them perfectly. Foxx brings Ray's many torments to life, and brings back a man who was taken too soon. We learn that Ray Charles wasn't perfect, but he was a show-stopping entertainer and a unique musician. We forget that we're not actually seeing Mr. Charles; it's Jamie behind those trademark sunglasses.
"As far as I'm concerned, me and God is even, and I do what I damn well please."
#2-Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito in "Goodfellas" (1990)
The beef with this choice will be, "He played similar characters in other movies, like 'Casino,'" or "he just played himself," but both complaints aren't enough to devalue Pesci's work in "Goodfellas." Tommy DeVito is the best example of a "loose cannon" to ever hit the big screen, and in film with a number of incredible performances, Pesci's was easily the best of the bunch.
The "funny how?" scene is one of the most quoted of all time, one where Pesci showcases his uncanny ability to be scary, insane, and hilarious in the span of a few minutes on screen. Tommy probably has the highest curse-per-scene rate ever estimated, and his middle finger to the world attitude eventually gets him whacked.
"Good shot. Whaddya want from me? It was a good shot."
#1-Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris in "Training Day" (2001)
Would stuffy, elitist movie critics throughout the country agree with this selection? Obviously not. But let's pay them no mind; from what I've seen, Denzel's performance in "Training Day" is the most magnetic of all. "Training Day" is a fine movie, Ethan Hawke puts in excellent work and the plot has high entertainment value; however, the only reason it is one of my absolute favorite movies is Denzel's character, Alonzo.
Denzel commands the audience's attention better than any actor alive, and Alonzo is the most captivating of his many memorable characters. He's cocky, complicated, "ruthless," intelligent, unpredictable, funny, and cool as hell. Even though he lies to Jake and leaves him for dead, do we really want Alonzo to die at the end? I know I didn't...he was just too damn entertaining.
What is it with me? My top two performances are "villains" who don't even make it out of their films alive. Oh well.
"You've been plannin' this all day?"
"I've been plannin' it all week, son...this shit's chess, it ain't checkers!"
Bonus Lists:
Top Five Female Performances
#5-Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz in "Clueless" (1995)
#4-Julia Roberts as Vivian Ward in "Pretty Woman" (1990)
#3-Kate Hudson as Penny Lane in "Almost Famous" (2000)
#2-Ellen Burstyn as Sara Goldfarb in "Requiem for a Dream" (2000)
#1-Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in "Misery" (1990)
Top Three Villains
#3-Nicolas Cage as Castor Troy in "Face/Off" (1997)
#2-Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in "No Country for Old Men" (2007)
#1-Heath Ledger as The Joker in "The Dark Knight" (2008). See Review.
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