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Greatest Film of all time and greatest Male-performance of all time?

posted 15 years ago by naveen-gta
32 replies | jump to latest

Do you agree??

James Berardinelli named Patton as "The Greatest Film of all-time" and also the "the greatest Male Acting Performance ever bar-none".
[See the top100 list here: http://www.reelviews.net/top100/toc.html]

So my question is do you think the movie is underrated. I mean many people know this movie and is included in the all-time greatest lists frequently but underrated in the sense- that it isnt a top 5-ish movie like I mean along with the top names like The Godfather and all the other movies that are on the top 10?

Also do you think George Scott's performance is underrated? It is in the public's mind as a great performance also included at #82 in Premier Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances and is also infamous for his refusal to accept the Oscar. But generally when someone is asked "THE greatest acting performance" DeNiro's Raging Bull and Al Pacino in Godfather comes into mind. Not many ppl will think of George C. Scott as George Patton. So in that sense is it underrated in your view?

[–] normalrog 13 years ago

Scott as Patton is world-class. Best ever? Among the best ever; that turns into a matter of of personal taste.

The soundtrack & score are also among the best ever.

Here's the rub. Almost all of the other acting performances are absolutely awful. Fawning, heavy handed, overacted, wincingly bad community theater performances. Malden, my God, what an embarrassment! The worst is the guy playing Patton's personal assistant, but seriously, they are almost all dreadful.

So, no matter how fine a performance from Scott, no matter how visually and aurally intoxicating the film might be, it just can't be considered among the best ever. There's just too much ham.

[–] pgharett-676-553123 10 years ago

Malden, my God, what an embarrassment!

Are you nuts? Malden did a great job. He's a great foil for Patton. He has some memorable lines like:

There's one big difference between you and me, George. I do this job because I've been trained to do it. You do it because you LOVE it. (He pauses and takes off his glasses before saying "you love it").

I didn't pick you! Ike picked you! ... You're a pain in the neck.

[–] spasek 13 years ago

As a bio-pic, this is one of the best ever done. George C. Scott gives one of the best acting performances of all time. Still for me, Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot is the single greatest acting performance in film history, in my opinion.

[–] deadpool2008 13 years ago

I rate Scott's performance ahead of De Niro in Raging Bull but behind Taxi Driver. If I were to rank, maybe something like this:

1. De Niro - Taxi Driver
2. Abraham - Amadeus
3. Scott - Patton
4. De Niro - Raging Bull
5. Pacino - Dog Day Afternoon
6. Lewis - There Will Be Blood
7. Ganz - Downfall
8. Hoffman - Kramer vs Kramer
9. McKellen - Gods and Monsters
10. Newman - Cool Hand Luke

That was too hard, I could've put half a dozen more in their easily. Note that I haven't seen Lawrence of Arabia and this is only for leading roles.

[–] ejr-4 13 years ago

Tough to pick ONE greatest, but certainly right up there on both counts, I agree. The film is damn near perfect!

[–] franklinlj 13 years ago

This is very contentious territory, but you have a case. Geo. C. Scott would have to be on any shortlist for the title of World's Greatest Actor. (In English, anyway).

As for Greatest Film of All Time....not while 'Zulu'(1964) exists!

[–] KobiyashiMauru 10 years ago

George C. Scott won an Acadamy Award for his performance as Gen. Patton. Which he declined to accept by the way. This was during the time of the height of the Vietnam War protests also. 🌼

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] WhenGreyjoysCry 10 years ago

Its certainly in the discussion. I personally would put George C. Scott's performance in the top 10 all-time.

Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not.

[–] aciolino 9 years ago

Whoa Nellie!

"Greatest" anything, or anyone is an absurd statement to begin with, and certainly impossible to say regarding anything in the fine arts.

Best to enjoy these extraordinary performance and not worry about placing them in order of greatness. It's childish.

[–] generalusgrant 9 years ago

It's mind boggling that anyone would seriously claim Patton is the greatest movie ever made, or that Scott's performance is the greatest acting performance ever.

Make no mistake, Patton is an excellent movie and I've seen it at least 30 times in my life. I always love watching it, again and again. George C. Scott gave an exceptional performance. But "greatest" of all time? ROTFL! Not even remotely close, get real.

[–] califor123 8 years ago

Please!!!! There is no absolute. Just like there's no absolute best art or artist.