4. Dustin Hoffman <Kramer v. Kramer, Death of a Salesman, Rain Man, Runaway Jury, Tootsie)
-Dustin Hoffman is a man that I look up to very much as well, because he is a committed character actor that does not let the fact that he is short, stout, and not conventionally good looking get in the way of his stellar performances. My favorite performance of his is probably in Kramer v. Kramer (ironically, that is my least favorite Meryl performance). He brings so much heart, so much vulnerability, so much flaw to this character that he is completely believable. Hoffman is a living legend, and I hope that I can someday be half the brilliant actor that he is.
5. Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, Finding Neverland, Secret Window, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, Blow, Chocolat)
-And now we come to Johnny Depp. The absolute hottest man to ever walk the earth. The thing about Johnny Depp is that he isn't conventionally attractive. He has an inner mystery about him that makes him sexy and that comes across on the screen in almost any role he's ever played. I am continuously blown away by how some actors who have never had any formal training can be so incredibly naturally talented. Nicole Kidman, Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman - none of these people have ever studied theatre or acting in their lives. And then there are of course, the child prodigies like Dakota Fanning, Keisha Castle Hughes, and Anna Paquin that have these God-given gifts as early as age 7. But Johnny Depp, this man who never even considered being an actor until a friend of his (incidentally this friend was Nicholas Cage) told him he should pursue acting. I am always amazed at how actors can communicate so much on screen without the use of words. His subtle but heartbreaking performance in Edward Scissorhands was definitely Oscar worthy, and in every other movie he has ever been in, he has brought this originality, this uniqueness, this style to his characters that no other actor could ever replicate. I really could list Depp's entire filmography as his outstanding performances. And like Hoffman and Ribisi, he is a screen chameleon. From playing Icabod Crane to Jack Sparrow to J.M. Barrie? Dear GOD people, give this man an Oscar.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Olsen
another great job Chris, thanks! We really liked The Terminal an awful lot as well
2 - Natalie Davis
Bravo, Mr. Evans. The explanations give so much more insight into your views, not only of the actors in question, but of film in general. Here we get to see that you're a pretty knowledgeable film fan. Thank you!
3 - Jones Violet
Great list, I agree with it all (although I'm not very familiar with Giovanni Ribisi).
Mmm, Johnny Depp. Really. Beautiful. I have to look away sometimes, he's just that beautiful.
Glad to see Tom Hanks on the list. Can't imagine a top actor's list and not having Tom Hanks on it. Did you see The Green Mile? One of my favorites of his, another is Castaway, even though the movie itself has the potential to be boring, not too many other actors could pull off what Hanks did in Castaway.
Ok, done rambling!
4 - lien
Fantastic list! Great to see Tom Hanks, Denzel, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp and Sustin Hofmann. I agreed that Johnny is kind of mysterious the way the talented Nicole Kidman is.
How about a list of 6 screen actress?
Thanks
5 - Chris Evans
I think I will do a list of 6 screen actresses. This time I'll do explanations for it.
6 - Tan The Man
Denzel is super overrated.
7 - Tan The Man
"Nicole Kidman, Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman - none of these people have ever studied theatre or acting in their lives."
I'm not defending any one of these actors but Natalie - she didn't need to study theatre or acting because she's THAT talented.
8 - Chris Evans
That was my whole point. Like Johnny Depp...they are brilliant actors in spite of their lack of schooling. They have natural, intrinsic talent.
9 - Tan The Man
I don't know, the sentences seemed contradictory. It seemed like you were bashing those actors/actresses, yet praising J-Depp for pretty much the same reasoning.
10 - Chris Evans
Yeah, I understand. I can see how you could've made that mistake.
11 - Tan The Man
And you shouldn't let it happen again!
J/K
12 - visualsimplicity
Going to have to agree with Tan the Man, Denzel is overrated. Seems to me, every character he has ever played came off as just an overly serious tough guy (Remember the Titans, Bone Collector [even though he was crippled in this one], and the movies you listed).
13 - Aaman
Nicholas Cage, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Amitabh Bachchan
14 - Natalie Davis
Philip Seymour Hoffman.
15 - Bat Boy
You are going to LOVE charlie and the chocolate factory. Johnny Depp is amazing.
Review.
16 - JR
I never see Morgan Freeman on any of these lists. What's up with that?
17 - Bennett
I'm with you JR. His performance in Shawshank Redemption was fantastic. As president in Deep Impact?
The USA should be so lucky.
A tallented and seemingly sincere fellow. I always enjoy his performances.
18 - Sharly Farley
Morgan Freeman is a serious omission.
Also Hopkins. But what about the versatile Tim Robbins? Don Cheadle? Jeff Bridges? Sean Astin? Viggo Mortenson? Samuel L Jackson? Tommy Lee Jones? Robert Duvall?
Don't even get me started on the Brits...
19 - Aaman
Evidently, this is not a list by a cineaste, not that there's anything wrong with that
20 - visualsimplicity
Don't be condescending now Aaman. He's entitled to his opinion. You can disagree with his list, but just because he enjoys different actors from you doesn't mean he's not a devotee to film, or even if he's not, there's no harm in having favorites.
21 - Aaman
Yr right, I'm sorry for the tone of elitism. These are good actors, of course.
22 - Nancy
Morgan Freeman, definitely; Anthony Hopkins, Sean Astin. I wonder if Freeman would consider running for President? At least he can speak proper English & has presence.
23 - JR
Nancy: I wonder if Freeman would consider running for President?
Forget that, he's got my vote for God.
I do believe Morgan Freeman plays authority figures better than any actor in history.
24 - Nancy
Well...I'd have to make him share authoritarianism w/Alan Rickman, or James Earl Jones' voice.
25 - Natalie Davis
Ooh, Alan Rickman. And right, this is list merely recounts the favorites of the author.
OK, more great male actors: Chris Cooper, Paul Giamatti, Bill Murray (very underrated, I think), Morgan Freeman (yes!), Geoffrey Rush, Kenneth Branagh