Always preferred a lot of the old film actors. Our own Leslie Howard (who was responsible for Humphrey Bogart getting his first film part), Edward G Robinson and probably the best, Spencer Tracy. James Stewart's presence in a film was normally a recommendation as well. Someone else mentioned Ronnie Barker. He was as good an actor as many supposedly good actors.
Oh aye i disagee with Tuckin Larry was a great. John Laurie, one of my favourite bits of Dads Army, The story of the Auld Empty Barn.... I seem to remember seeing a programme where he read Ghost stories, brilliant voice for it.
[video=youtube;KOdPnIQYBq4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOdPnIQYBq4[/video] Huddersfield's James Mason and Bristol's Archie Leach
I disagree. Years of manipulative experience is what Michael Caine is about. He understands the processes of film NOT the art of actor. He is untrained, unschooled. Just in Demand. Because of good Luck & having learnt the medium of Cinema & has a friend in the Director, Editor; Cinematographer makeup artist etc. Not a lot of ppl know that. But film is a fantasy of Illusion enhanced by the tricks of the trade learnt through experience.Michael Caines C.V is impressive. He is an Iconic presence and carrys a lot of sway in The Film World because of his longevity. Doubt he could teach you anything about ACTING.
on the other hand, if caine had done more tv and moore had done less, i can imagine people would totally reverse that.
I disagree GG, Caine is a great actor and a real actor. It's not all about overblown flamboyant expressions of emotion or about tuning in to and becoming your character. It can be merely about screen presence. Caine undoubtedly has bundles of presence. For all of his big lead roles, look at his recent stint as Alfred in Batman. His moments alongside Christian Bale, he steals the camera and demonstrates with very little apparent effort, how the emotion and understanding of a character can be effectively portrayed. Caine's acting often proves that less can give you a lot more.
There are at least 3 different types of 'great actor'. The ones with lots of Oscars, the 'actors' actor' types and the public's box office favourite type
Believability in portraying the role, then adding something extra. Caine is a good actor, but not a great character actor. Pete Postlethaite was superb.
Now you're talking. Postlethwaite and Day-Lewis together in In the Name of the Father were spellbinding.
I watched Abi Titmus at Hull Truck very closely. She was a very good actress. Lovely movement, nice soft voice.
Interesting that people seem to be mentioning the older ones. Is that because there aren't any younger ones?
Well, it takes time to build up a decent CV - and the most interesting roles often come a little later in life. Throw in the dumbing-down of big-budget movies and there's not much chance for young actors to show/develop their talent AND become famous and successful. The early deaths of Philip Seymour Hoffman and River Phoenix haven't helped - one of the best modern actors and another who would have been.
I don't really take much note of actors and their acting ability but Leanardo Di Caprio has been excellent in lots of roles. He's also a legend. Don't know how you'd rate him against all these greats.
I think the great actors are the ones that are making films despite not being "really, really good looking". People like Phillip Seymour Hoffmann, William H Macy, Hilary Swank, Ben Kingsley, Gary Oldman, Meryl Streep (I appreciate that I leave myself open to ridicule by listing those six together). Not many actors these days give "stand out" performances. There's so much mundane dross written and over-the-top "for the sake of it" special effects that it's hard to show acting talent.
I find that most actors become legends after they die. In fact, any celeb becomes instantly more amazing and awesome as soon as they snuff it. You get people pouring out little tributes to great actors, when you never once heard them talked about down the pub or on the golf course. If you want to be famous and loved, die. You are infinitely more loved when you're dead.
There's some talented actors around no doubt but as previous posts have says, great actor status generally comes with time and diversity of roles/characters. I recently watched 'The Place Beyond the Pines'. Both Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper give fantastic performances. Good film if anyone fancies it.
I guess it depends on how you view young; without scouring the memory to find really youthful actors (they are there) it is Frances McDormand who comes to mind as excellent with much to come.
