Greatest Male Film Performances - On the Waterfront (1954) Discussion

[–] arittner 18 years ago

I think I would include DeNiro's performance in Godfather II. And as I despise American Beauty as a dishonest and truly dreadful film, I have a hard time crediting anyone in it. I do love Spacey's performance in L.A. Confidential. I found it very subtle, balancing cynicism, idealism, ambition and more.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] philmoore2008 15 years ago

are you kidding me the whole part was in sicilian your saying thats not a stretch youve got 2 be kidding me he made me forget that marlon brando played the same character in the previous movie

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[–] thomas-begen 11 years ago

I don't understand how anyone can dislike "American Beauty" or the performances of anyone in the cast, especially Kevin Spacey. I don't find a single flaw in the film or his performance.

Do you care to explain what is so wrong about "American Beauty" and Kevin Spacey's performance?

I hear a lot of people say they despise the film, but I have yet to hear a credible reason why. I think you just don't get it.

Without saying "American Beauty" is better than any of the other films listed, I still think it has greater philosophical depth than all of them. It's a tragedy in the historical sense and a comedy in the contemporary sense. That's a very difficult and unusual combination to pull off and the cast and crew pull it off expertly.

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[–] Theo87 18 years ago

great lists in this thread. i agree with almost every single one although kevin spacey in American Beauty does seem kinda out of place.

i'd add harrison ford in either Star Wars or Indiana Jones (he's got more screentime in the latter so he could develop the indy character better)

someone from the silent era is still missing...

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[–] donscarface2 18 years ago

i have to agree compared to the others on my list, spacey in American Beauty is kind of out of place. However, he is at the bottom of my list and i personally think it is a very good performance

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[–] Theo87 18 years ago

i will rewatch American Beauty but i agree. very good performance but spacey is not an outstanding, legendary actor as the other ones on your list.

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[–] Hokusai 18 years ago

And I disagree with that :). Spacey IS an outstanding, legendary actor. Just not in this particular movie.

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[–] no-haya-banda 16 years ago

i would like to say spacey is an outstanding, legendary actor.

..dont try to get tough with a keyboard

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[–] DavidVRJ 16 years ago

I'm guessing you didn't understand the movie, but he acted very very well in american beauty.

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[–] verdun2 16 years ago

George C. Scott in Patton, Gary Cooper in High Noon, and John Wayne in The Searchers could be added to this list.
v

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[–] hadialam 11 years ago

I've seen all the movies listed above and I have to say, honestly and hand on heart, Kevin Spacey should be in the top 3. I was absolutely blown away, completely and utterly blown away by his performance. American Beauty is my favourite film of all time and much of the credit goes to him in my opinion. Of course, this is all subjective but Kevin Spacey will always be considered by me as a legendary actor on the same level as Brando and Di Nero themselves. Few actors have allowed me to connect to the characters they play as well as Spacey does. All his films, not just American Beauty, Spacey's work is no less than art

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[–] Fire-in-the-Holes 16 years ago

harrison ford?? you must be taking the piss

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=30715620

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[–] weejockxxx 10 years ago

I can't believe you dismiss American Beauty then try to add Star Wars. Star Wars was kiddies Saturday afternoon viewing, American Beauty was a seriously tragic movie. Kevin Spacey is an amazing actor.

Oh gravity, thou art a heartless bitch!

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[–] ste_300 18 years ago

Brando is better in A Streetcar Named Desire, than in On The Waterfront in my opinion. However On The Waterfront is more enjoyable.

DeNiro's best performance or me is in Mean Streets, just the raw acting of it is amazing.

Pacino i don't beleive to have one brilliant role which just makes us worship him. He is good all round, but i guess The Godfather Part 1 is his best role entertainment wise.

Guinness was so damn goo in that, yet i don't think it's one of the best ever male performances.

Bogart's is in he Maltese Falcon for me.

Nicholson you got it spot on.

Hopkins im not to sure about your choise in movie roles for him. I prefer him in The Elephant Man to Silence Of The Lambs

Peck i'm not overly keen on.

Spacey is correct, i love that film. Everytime i watch On The Waterfront Karl Maldens character reminds me of him.

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Advertise Here: $1 -Number Of Studio Advertisments Rejected: 5

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] thatdrattedcat 18 years ago

Totally agree with Ben Kingsley on Gandhi. I can't even imagine what he must have done to get into that role.

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[–] zchwise-1 17 years ago

I applaud you for putting Daniel Day-Lewis on you list. He is fantastic in My Left Foot. He is great in every role, and I enjoy There Will Be Blood and The Crucible almost as much as My Left Foot.

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[–] obieone87 15 years ago

ill take bogart in the treasure of the sierra madre

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[–] colour-me-kubrick 18 years ago

marlon brando-last tango in paris
marlon brando-godfather
marlon brando-on the waterfront
robert deniro-raging bull
jack nicholson-one few over cuckoo's nest
george c scott-patton
malcolm mcdowell-a clockwork orange
anthony hopkins-silence of the lambs
daniel day lewis-my left foot
robert deniro-godfather II
(no particular order)

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[–] i-shot-mavin-in-the-face 18 years ago

Robert De Niro - Raging Bull
Al Pacino - Scarface
Jack Nicholson - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Anthony Hopkins - Silence Of The Lambs
Alec Guiness - Bridge On The River Kwai
Johnny Depp - Pirates Of The Carribean
Dustin Hoffman - Rain Man
Christopher Walken - The Deer Hunter
Marlon Brando - The Godfather
Samuel L Jackson - Pulp Fiction

(My personel favourite is Jack Nicholson's performance; truly amazing)

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[–] urkel123 18 years ago

what about james stewarts amazing performance in harvey? so sweet

Van Damage

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[–] zcid47 18 years ago

has nobody mentioned Paul Newman ???

i loved his performances in The Hustler and Cat On a Hot Tin Roof.

..

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[–] BrandoCharlton 18 years ago

i think Paul Newmans best in Cool hand Luke which i would is one of the great performances, but number 1 of all time is Brando in On The Waterfront

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[–] Hokusai 18 years ago

I second this. Paul Newman was fantastic in The Hustler.

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[–] no-haya-banda 16 years ago

so sweet yet so dumb. without the special effects ( us being able to see bunny) we could see how crazy his role was. in a good way.

..dont try to get tough with a keyboard

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[–] TheCarlton 16 years ago

De Niro - Raging Bull
Nicholson - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Brando - On the Waterfront
Pacino - Dog Day Afternoon
Hopkins - Silence of the Lambs
Fonda - On Golden Pond
Nicholson - Chinatown
De Niro - Taxi Driver
Stewart - Harvey

"This is some *beep* up repugnant *beep*

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[–] ryankent1984 16 years ago

Robert De Niro - Taxi Driver/Raging Bull/The Deer Hunter/Once Upon A Time in America/Heat

Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood/Gangs of New York

Al Pacino - The Godfather

Marlon Brando - On The Waterfront/Apocalypse Now/The Godfather

Mickey Rourke - Angel Heart/The Wrestler

Jack Nicholson - The Pledge

Henry Fonda - Once Upon A Time in the West

Stephen Graham - This is England

Paddy Considine - Dead Man's Shoes

Harrison Ford - Blade Runner

Olivier Gourmet - Le Fils

Gene Hackman - The Conversation

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[–] risingapple 15 years ago

Johnny Depp?? Haha...why not add Rob Schneider in The Hot Chick...

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[–] sambuddha-ghosh26 13 years ago

guys... no offense meant, but where in the hell is Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight? And you are including Malcolm McDowell in this list? Ahead of him?

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[–] stevodon 18 years ago

WHat about De Niro in Taxi Driver
Joe Pesci in Goodfellas/Raging Bull
Brando in APocalypse Now
James Stewart- Vertigo
De Niro- Raging Bull
Pacino- Dog Day Afternoon
Anthony Hopkins- Silence of the Lambs
Jack Nicholson- One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Humphrey Bogart- Casablanca
Brando- On the Waterfront

and being a little controversial Di Caprio in the departed, i thought it was that good.

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[–] kallizmartin 18 years ago

No particular order

- DeNiro - Taxi Driver (Stays with me forever)

- DeNiro - Raging Bull (Watched this on a sunday - the following wednesday the impressions settled, and I almost started crying in class)

- Bruno Ganz - Der Untergang

- Paddy Considine - Dead Mans Shoes

- Jack Nicholson - The Shining

- Al Pacino - Dog Day Afternoon

- Nicholson - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

- Marlon Brando - The Godfather pt.1

That's it for now

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[–] aireric123 18 years ago

Edward Norton: American History X
Roberto Benigni: Life is beautiful
Marlon brando:Godfather/On the waterfront
Christopher walken:The deer hunter (wow)
Robert de niro:The deer hunter and raging bull
Lee j cobb: Both 12 angry men and on the waterfront
Ray liotta: Goodfellas
sorry about the spelling I know some things are spelt wrong and this list isnt in any particular order

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[–] scotheine 16 years ago

My two personal favorites are Pacino, And Justice For All, and Dog Day Afternoon.

Close seconds being Spacey in Seven (I know I know)and DeNiro in Taxi Driver.

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[–] Fanchmaster 18 years ago

Yes!

Paddy Considine- now there's a dark horse I can root for!

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[–] BeirutWedding 12 years ago

Veeeerrrry interesting idea, DiCaprio in the DEPARTED. He was pretty amazing. In particular in the scenes in the psychiatrists office. I'd have a hard time putting it up there with some of the other names on your list though. I don't know if you saw him in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD but in that film (and THE DEPARTED for that matter) when he's on, he's the only actor out there who can do what he does. Amazing work.

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[–] jojoleheros 18 years ago

After much thought, here’s what I’ve come up with for lead actors in English language (because there’s also Depardieu, Mastroianni, Noiret, Raimu, Mifune, Von Stroheim, Michel Simon and Erland Josephson in all those Bergman films to name a few top foreign performers). I found the other lists quite good, but it seems everyone is forgetting about actors in comedies (much like the Oscars, who dismiss any comedic performances). In no particular order :

Bogart: Maltese Falcon / Treasure of Sierra Madre
Hoffman: Graduate / Little Big Man / Death of Salesman
Brando: On the Waterfront / Last Tango
DeNiro: Taxi Driver / Raging Bull / Deer Hunter
Nicholson: One Flew Over / Five Easy Pieces

Pacino: Godfather / Serpico / Scarface
O’Toole: Lawrence of Arabia
Chaplin: City Lights / Great Dictator
Stewart: Wonderful Life / Vertigo
Sellers: Party / Dr Strangelove

But let's not forget George C Scott, James Mason, Burt Lancaster, Ray Liotta, Daniel Day-Lewis, James Dean, Robert Duvall, Clint Eastwood, Laurence Olivier, Richard Burton, Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Orson Welles, Monty Pyhton and the extraordinary Kirk Douglas. Am a bit sceptical on Malcolm MacDowell despite great performances in If... and Clockwork. Walken in Deer Hunter doesn't count, because he's a supporting actor (though he'd make it in that list, assuredly). Though you can always say he belongs for King of New York.

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[–] BeirutWedding 12 years ago

Love much of what you've said. Really love throwing in Charlie Chaplin and Jimmy Stewart. Surprised by your throwing in SCARFACE. I think that performance borders on comical, it's so over the top. Nothing like the humanity and realness he brings to DOG DAY AFTERNOON, SERPICO and THE GODFATHER movies.

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[–] besoin 18 years ago

I agree with most films listed, but I would also add
Tom Hanks - Forrest Gump
Russell Crowe - Romper Stomper
Brando's best performance IMO was in Last Tango In Paris and Kevin Spacey was really good in American Beauty, one of my favouite films.

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[–] joeyd_21 18 years ago

marlon brando-on the waterfront
orson welles-the third man
al pacino-dog day afternoon
humphrey bogart-the maltese falcon
ed norton-25th hour (i think its significantly better than the history x performance, which is also quite good)
robert deniro-raging bull
peter otoole-lawrence of arabia
terrence howard-hustle and flow (i am dead serious)
anthony perkins-psycho
woody allen-manhattan

special mentions for michael madsen in resevois dogs, and tom hanks in philadelphia. my favourite performance ever is up there....orson welles for the third man.

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