Nick Nolte: First-Rate Acting

i thought the plot was perfect. But I agree on Nolte. He surely has done a lot of crap but IMO he is one of the best actors alive. There is one scene in The Thin Red Line after the battle where he does not say anything and the change on his expression tells you he just realized how insane ambition and bitterness had transformed him in a maniac...

I saw something similar in Paul Giamatti (half smile in Cinderella Man showing insecurity). So subtle...

I agree with you. I think Nolte's acting was better than the script or the cinematography.

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See a list of my favourite films here: http://www.flickchart.com/slackerinc

Nolte was amazing. Today was a good day for me. I saw two of the greatest performances I've ever seen in one day.

First it was Farnsworth in 'The Straight Story' and just now Nolte in 'Affliction.'

Two totally different performances, but both so powerful in their own way.

I liked Nolte even before this, but seeing this performance has just elevated him to a whole other level in my mind.

Personally, I realised how good an actor he is already back in 91 when he played Sam Bowden in Cape Fear. That film may be best remembered for De Niro's villain, but Nolte's acting was superb.

When I first saw the movie I thought Nolte deserved the Oscar more than Coburn, and I held that opinion for years. I thought his performance was more complex and a greater achievement, and that Coburn won because he had the showier role. Viewing it again last night i noticed some things in Coburn's performance that completely blew me away and made me glad he did win. But the two of them acting together was just a master class on brilliance and synergy. The scene where Wade touches his father's head, then his own - when I watched that I had the thought that it was Nolte's way of showing his love and respect for Coburn.

I agree I think it’s one of his best performances.

Have you never seen Q&A ? He’s a balls to the wall beast in that film, the best corrupt cop in cinema history