When it comes to rating actors, I personally think you have to take away your love for that particular movie. It leads to a biased view of the actor. I didn't like There Will Be Blood when I first saw it, but DDL's acting kept it in my mind for weeks after it. Because of this, I grew to appreciate the movie.

Laley23;1123591 wrote:I like Hanks, but I think his movies are incredibly overrated. And, while he carries a lot of films, his ability hasnt been tested all that much, imo. Forrest Gump was a tough role, and he killed it (though the movie sucks, imo). But the others are simple characters for the most part and dont take a whole lot of adapting to the role. He is very good in most his roles, but the range and what is required in his films dont add up like the others for me.

Saving Private Ryan was amazing. It had everything. Hanks killed it. But to be honest, that movie is A+ with me in the role lol.

Wut

His characters in Philadelphia, Green Mile, Forrest Gump, and Saving Private Ryan were very different and definitely showed his range. He's also voiced one of the best animation films of all time.

Tom Hanks is definitely one of the top actors of all time and I'd say he's at worst, top 7 or 8 current day.

wes_mantooth;1123461 wrote:Denzel would be in my top 5, but safehouse really dragged my opinion down.

Really? I thought he was one of the only saving graces of that film. I thought his character was very good.

Now, Taking Pelham 123 definitely was not one of his better performances, IMO.

hoops23;1123629 wrote:Really? I thought he was one of the only saving graces of that film. I thought his character was very good.

Now, Taking Pelham 123 definitely was not one of his better performances, IMO.

I just didn't think he fit the part and I agree about Pelham

Tom Hanks is a top 3 actor, nuff said. The guy has only made 2 bad films in his entire career. Those two happen to be last two, but never the less. Doesn't show range? Excuse me while I LMAO. Watch Big, Forrest Gump, Cast Away and then Road to Perdition. Tell me that's not range.

Commander of Awesome;1123691 wrote:Tom Hanks is a top 3 actor, nuff said. The guy has only made 2 bad films in his entire career.

Joe versus the Volcano?

Laley23;1123529 wrote:Ok, well just out of curiosity. Why so low for him? He has done many, many roles and killed them all. Pacino I agree with actually. He is very 1 dimensional. Scent of a Woman was one movie where he had to show a range, and got an Oscar, but other than that...not much. He owns the role he has mastered though, so hes in my top 15 maybe top 10. But Im surprised you have him higher than De Niro.

He is a fine actor and does well for roles he takes on. I am not as impressed with his range as you are.

Sonofanump;1123697 wrote:Joe versus the Volcano?

Oooo forgot about that turd. Good call.

Washington
Hanks
De Niro
Norton
and my underrated actor that will eventually go down as one of the GOATs...Will Smith

Smith has a pretty good range and outside of "I, Robot" hasn't made a movie I didn't like. From comedies to dramas I don't know if there is an actor right now who is more versatile.

Lewis is greatest of this generation

Did anyone see his portrayal of John Proctor from The Crucible

amazing job.

De Niro and Pachino are long since washed up - The last movie i remember liking that De Niro was in is Men of Honor and that was 12 years ago. The last good movie Pachino did was in the 90s. I put De Niro over Pachino but no way I'd pay to see a movie with them in it.

... It must be a generational thing because one name that has not been mention was Charlton Heston.

Some of his movie credits
Ben Hur
Ten Commandments
El Cid
Planet of the Apes
Touch of Evil
Agony and the Ecstasy
Khartoum
Will Penny
Omega Man + a couple of cameos in Tombstone and True Lies

4cards;1123797 wrote:... It must be a generational thing because one name that has not been mention was Charlton Heston.

Some of his movie credits
Ben Hur
Ten Commandments
El Cid
Planet of the Apes
Touch of Evil
Agony and the Ecstasy
Khartoum
Will Penny
Omega Man + a couple of cameos in Tombstone and True Lies

yep

ksig489;1123747 wrote:Washington
Hanks
De Niro
Norton
and my underrated actor that will eventually go down as one of the GOATs...Will Smith

Smith has a pretty good range and outside of "I, Robot" hasn't made a movie I didn't like. From comedies to dramas I don't know if there is an actor right now who is more versatile.

Cough, Wild, Wild West. Might be a bit unfair but that abomination of a film will always be attached to him.

4cards;1123797 wrote:... It must be a generational thing because one name that has not been mention was Charlton Heston.

I had a few elders on my list, maybe more like high 20's low 30's.

4cards;1123797 wrote:Planet of the Apes

[video=youtube;BKdSXfPl8vY][/video]

hoops23;1123626 wrote:Wut

His characters in Philadelphia, Green Mile, Forrest Gump, and Saving Private Ryan were very different and definitely showed his range. He's also voiced one of the best animation films of all time.

Tom Hanks is definitely one of the top actors of all time and I'd say he's at worst, top 7 or 8 current day.

Just different definitions. Cast Away was a movie he had to kill. But there was like no dialogue. I dunno, the role didnt seem that tough, at all. I think any top actor could have done it.

I kind of forgot about his voicing. Even though animation, I suppose we have to throw it in. That is impressive.

The other movies you mentioned are different roles. But how much range is required? He never plays the bad guy. He isnt in a whole lot of thrillers, or really action movies (again, SPR was awesome and he was awesome in it).

When I look at the top actors, he is certainly right there, however.

I have to agree about Hanks' last 2 movies. I couldn't get into either based on the previews.

...I found this online list of the 50 greatest actors of all time.

Tom Hanks # 1 and Daniel Day-Lewis # 40...interesting!
http://movies.amctv.com/movie-guide/the-50-greatest-actors-of-all-time.php

4cards;1123916 wrote:...I found this online list of the 50 greatest actors of all time.

Tom Hanks # 1 and Daniel Day-Lewis # 40...interesting!
http://movies.amctv.com/movie-guide/the-50-greatest-actors-of-all-time.php

I see that DeNiro is #11 and Pacino is #13. I voted them down to help the list be more realistic.

4cards;1123916 wrote:...I found this online list of the 50 greatest actors of all time.

Tom Hanks # 1 and Daniel Day-Lewis # 40...interesting!
http://movies.amctv.com/movie-guide/the-50-greatest-actors-of-all-time.php

Ive been looking at some lists after this thread. Those things are all over the damn map lol.

Ive seen Hanks #1 twice and not in top 50 twice. DeNiro top 3 in a bunch, an top 10 in most. Pacino top 15. DDL is all over the place as well, but never top 5...He gets hated on for not enough roles. Hoffman I saw #2 and #3, then like #35.

Hanks not in the top 50 is a total fail.

Commander of Awesome;1123976 wrote:Hanks not in the top 50 is a total fail.

Agreed. Its funny cause I agreed with much of the rest of the list. Particularly top 10. But how can anyone leave Hanks off the top 50, heck top 20?

Laley23;1123986 wrote:Agreed. Its funny cause I agreed with much of the rest of the list. Particularly top 10. But how can anyone leave Hanks off the top 50, heck top 20?

No clue, two time academy award winner (consecutive none the less) needs to be on the list.

Commander of Awesome;1123992 wrote:No clue, two time academy award winner (consecutive none the less) needs to be on the list.

Yeah, anyone with multiple wins needs to be one. Multiple nominations (3+) probably does as well.

Another one that hasn't been getting much love on this thread is Marlon Brando. One of the greatest ever. Pacino was in awe of him when they were in The Godfather together. It's all subjective, but my list is as follows when looking at an actor's collective body of work.

1. Daniel Day-Lewis: IMO this is the GOAT. As another poster mentioned, when you are watching him you always believe he is the character he's playing. 2 Best actor Oscars is quite an accomplishment as well.
2. Robert De Niro: Another 2x winner of the Oscar. I agree that his later work is not very good, however, his older roles in "Raging Bull", "The Godfather II", "Casino", "Goodfellas", etc are fantastic.
3. Tom Hanks: What can I say about this guy? He has won 2 Oscars and produced a bunch of great shows as well. The guy can do it all. For those who said he doesn't have much range, I think you are nuts.
4. Marlon Brando: Brando was an icon, 2x Oscar winner and played the epic role of Vito Corleone. The guy had range beyond belief.
5. Dustin Hoffman: Another brilliant actor that can play just about any role. With 2 Oscar wins under his belt, the guy his definitely top 5 on my list.
6. Jack Nicholson: Interestingly, Nicholson is 1 of 2 male actors that has won 3 Academy Awards (the other is Walter Brennan). I could move him all the way up to #2 because he still puts out good movies in his later years (The Departed, As Good as it Gets).
7. Phillip Seymour Hoffman: This guy is a tremendous actor that isn't getting enough recognition on this thread. His roles in Capote (which he won an Oscar for), Boogie Nights, Charlie Wilson's War are so versatile. The guy can play any role.
8. Joe Pesci: I haven't seen him mentioned much, if at all, in the thread. This guy can play comedic roles (My Cousin Vinny) and serious roles (Raging Bull, Casino, Goodfellas). I am surprised he has only won one Oscar.
9. Al Pacino: The guy is a legend. I do agree that his choice in role selection later in life wreaks of just wanting a paycheck though, but his work in the 90's and before is fantastic. Michael Corleone (The Godfather) and Lt. Col. Frank Slade (Scent of a Woman, he won the Oscar) are 2 of my favorite characters.
10. Leonardo DiCaprio: Nominated for several Academy Awards, he hasn't yet won one, however, the guy just cranks out hit movies. The Departed, Inception, The Aviator and yes....Titantic among just a few. He is very talented and I think before his career is over he'll win an Oscar.
11. Ed Norton: Another extremely talented actor. In his many roles he has played a white supremist, an attorney, a card cheat and a FBI agent to name a few. I don't think I've ever watched a movie he is in that I didn't enjoy.
12. Robin Williams: Sometimes he can overdo it, but I can't deny his talent. His role as Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting (which he won an Oscar for) is one of the greatest performance I've seen.
13. Denzel Washington: A 2x Oscar winner, Washington became only the second black actor to win the Academy award for Best Actor. I have him lower on this list because I feel many of his roles are too similar. It's easy to play the same type of character over and over. However, the guy is great.
14. Sean Penn: 2 Oscars for Milk and Mystic River. His range is phenomenal. I guess I just don't like his politics which really shouldn't factor into is acting, but I can't help but not like the guy personally. His acting ability is top notch though.
15. Matt Damon: Action star, can play comedic roles and serious ones as well. Damon is a force and his movies are some of the highest grossing ones. Multiple Oscar noms, he has yet to win it but I think someday he will.

Also mentions:

Will Smith
Jamie Foxx
Brad Pitt
Jonny Depp
Tom Cruise
Tim Robbins
Morgan Freeman
Mickey Rourke
Liam Neeson
Christian Bale
George Clooney

Remember, this list is my personal opinion. Don't take it seriously.