MovieChat Forums > Short Cuts (1993) Discussion > Favorite performance of the cast?

Favorite performance of the cast?

posted 15 years ago by brianwdunphy-1
30 replies | jump to latest

I know this may be a daunting task for this type of movie (22 main characters), but who does everyone think gave the best performance?

You can break down it by male/female, give your top 10, top 5 or top 3... just want to get an idea of who's performances affected lovers of this movie (like me) the most.

Mine is a tie- Jack Lemmon and Julianne Moore. I think Lemmon should have a recieved an Oscar nom for supporting actor that year. His scene when he apologizes/confesses to his son is devastating. He may not have been in the movie very long, and that scene was brief, but it was very well done and acted.

Onto to Moore now. Haha I know I know everyone's gonna say its cause of the famous (or infamous) scene where she walks around naked from the waist down for like 10 mins. But that scene, and all her others, were brilliant. She became one of my fav actresses after this movie, and she's generally very good.
Her nudity was not sexual in any way, and the brilliant mix of her baring her soul to her husband by confessing to an affair while she bare down there is brilliant. As is Moore's performance.

What does everyone else think?

Are you feeling stupid cause I know I am! -Homer

[–] GirlwonderReturns 15 years ago

It's tough, it's a great cast, but if I had to pick one person out of the cast it would probably be Julianne Moore. So natural and believable. Madeleine Stowe was excellent too. I actually didn't care for Lemmon's performance, I thought it was kind of hammy. I love Jack Lemmon, don't get me wrong, but not so much in this.

I also thought this was Andie MacDowell's best performance of her career. Which isn't too tough, she's never been pegged as the next Meryl Streep or anything, but I thought she was very good in this. There was something off about her character, somehow. She was so naive, like a kid almost. Weird.

Let us take the risks of peace upon our lives, not impose the risks of war upon the world.

[–] MariaLoathesDTWig 15 years ago

ROBBINS
MOORE
STOWE
JASON LEIGH
LEMMON
ARCHER
MCDORMAND
TOMLIN

"This is a giant cock!"(boogie nights,1997)

[–] rudeboy_murray 15 years ago

What an incredible ensemble cast... if I had to pick a favourite it would be Lily Tomlin. Of the guys, I think Bruce Davison stands out.

[–] brianwdunphy-1 15 years ago

I forgot about Madeline Stowe... she was also great. I've always thought she was one of the most natural beauties in Hollywood. Too bad she hasnt go any bigger roles.

And Bruce Davison was quite good..

All in all, great cast... they were all excellent.

Are you feeling stupid cause I know I am! -Homer

[–] stephencheevers 15 years ago

Chris Penn showed he could have been as good as his brother the way he kept his anger in check until the last scene was amazing.

Tom waits should get some love he was brillant in this

[–] Zoomorph 15 years ago

The guy who trashed the house and Tom Waits.

~ Observe, and act with clarity. ~

[–] franzkabuki 15 years ago

Tim Robbins - he´s absolutely hilarious as this morally upright serial adulterer with a rather bizarre self image. I mean, "this is Gene Shepard of the Los Angeles Police Department. We are currently experiencing an earthquake". All this delivered in an iconic pose of some ancient hero.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] BobStage 14 years ago

Chris Penn, Matthew Modine and Tom Waits were my favourite male performances. Chris Penn's last scene in particular is really well done, the way that murdered girl is lying there and the shaking camera goes up to that psychotic face, barely aware of the earthquake happening around him

As for female performances, I'd say Lily Tomlin and Lili Taylor.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] akonfan911 14 years ago

For males it was probably Tim Robbins; I would have liked to see more of him during the second half of the movie, though. Female-wise is would be Jennifer Jason-Leigh, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned her ye.

[–] the_bends92 14 years ago

Of the guys, I'd say Tim Robbins gives the best performance. He was absolutely hilarious, especially when he goes and snatches the dog from those kids so casually. I was really fond of Chris Penn's and Matthew Modine's performances as well.

As far as the girls go, I'd say Lily Tomlin does the best. Followed by Jason Leigh and Julianne Moore.

"Just another freak, in freak kingdom."

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] makaroney 13 years ago

Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jack Lemmon

[–] jimmmylee 12 years ago

Lily Tomlin
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Tom Waits
Annie Ross

I do like this movie!

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Benedict_Cumberbatch 12 years ago

I can't choose...

"Live on, love all, and let live" - River Phoenix.

[–] tinoynk 12 years ago

Jack Lemmon and Frances McDormand, hands down. Peter Gallagher was awesome too, but then again so was everybody.

_____________________________________________________________

Live and learn. At least we lived.

[–] SupermanDude90 12 years ago

Penn and Robbins

All the cast are fantastic though