Is RDJr the best actor of our generation? - Iron Man Three (2013) Discussion

[–] Nikostratos 12 years ago

I agree with most of your choices, and I have to give the nod to DDL. He literally becomes the characters he portrays. But RDJ is certainly right up there, along with Johnny Depp and Leo Di Caprio.

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[–] sagerbj 12 years ago

Daniel Day Lewis is the only guy who can carry any movie on his own. I don't think he's just the best actor of this generation, but I'd say he's the best of all time. His There Will Be Blood performance could be the greatest of all time.

Downey Jr is great, but I don't know how much range he's shown. He's great at playing a type, that confident fast-talker, but I can't remember the last time he really stepped outside of that.

I think the best of the younger generation right now are Ryan Gosling, Tom Hardy and Christian Bale. I think Bradley Cooper is catching up, though his choices are very hit and miss.

And I completely agree with your choices of older actors; Pitt, Denzel and Norton are always great, and I'd like to add Gary Oldman.

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[–] DesiredFX 12 years ago

Not that I'm arguing in favor of Downey over Daniel Day Lewis--you may be right that he's the best film actor ever--but if you want to see some different turns for Downey, check out The Singing Detective and Charlie Bartlett.

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[–] shacklefort 8 years ago

Have you seen Doctor Strange yet, DesiredFX?

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[–] McGrit 8 years ago

Take me home.

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[–] agilebrit 12 years ago

If you're worried about his range, just watch "Tropic Thunder," "Restoration," and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" back to back.

Even in a terrible movie ("US Marshals" and "Danger Zone," I'm looking at you), he's amazing. I'm convinced he can do anything.

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[–] ImkindaaBIGdeal 12 years ago

Throw Chaplin in there as well.

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[–] Dash1969 12 years ago

The fact that RDJ was robbed of Oscar for Chaplin still ticks me off.

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[–] IsabeauMichelle 12 years ago

Don't get me started - again. Russell Crowe for A Beautiful Mind and Robert Downey, Jr. for Chaplin. And (lucky for you all) "that's all I have to say about that."

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[–] CaviarMeths 12 years ago

Can add Less Than Zero to that too. Critic consensus was pretty close to "Well, the movie kinda sucks, but holy hell, this kid can act."

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[–] lukecage92 12 years ago

Forgot about "Les Than Zero". He was great in that.

"In 4th Grade, I built a robot for the Science Fair and called it Optimus Prime"- Tony Stark

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[–] Giobea 12 years ago

"Forgot about "Les Than Zero". He was great in that."

So I've heard but never managed to watch that one.

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[–] Kia00 11 years ago

The Judge coming out next year is a must see! RDJr is going to rock this one.

"A successful lawyer returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral only to discover that his estranged father, the town's judge, is suspected of murder."

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[–] DSo1976 11 years ago

Gary Oldman was the first name that came to my mind as well.

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[–] Coneydogg 11 years ago

Is that certified?

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[–] ethanradd 12 years ago

Maybe the most charming and likable actor of our generation, best could be Brad Pitt (this admission comes as shocking to me as I really, really used to underestimate the guy due to his "pretty boy" image, but over the years there is no denying the quantity, quality and range of his projects, he is one of the most well rounded actors today, Pitt can do grim and serious and he can do lighthearted as well (something that DiCaprio sort of lacks)

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[–] Giobea 12 years ago

What I like about RDJ's acting is that he seems very natural and effortless.
He's in my opinion the most charismatic actor working today.It's a pitty he lost so many years due to his personal problems as he could have had a greater career.

DDL is a great actor but I find his acting style ( method acting ) a bit too histrionic.

Pitt is not a bad actor at all.I like him and he has chosen very good roles/films over the years.

I kind of agree about DiCaprio.He makes good choices ( mostly oscar baiting roles)
but there is something missing about his acting I think.

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[–] KJax50 12 years ago

not by a longshot. I like RDJ as Tony Stark but he can hardly be put up there with legends.

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[–] DesiredFX 12 years ago

Who are these "legends" from the same generation?

DDL is the only one that I'd put head and shoulders above him, but I'm still not sure DDL could do justice to some of RDJ's roles, while RDJ has proven--with Chaplin--that he can handle meaty roles.

RDJ's problem--if you can call it a problem--is that he's a commodity, now, while DDL is still an actor. If you're casting DDL it's because you know he can bring your character to life. If you're casting RDJ it's because you know he'll bring RDJ to the character and people to the box office.

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[–] KJax50 12 years ago

The OP talked about guys like Deniro, Washington, and Pachino, those are the legends.

As far as our generation, I still wouldn't put him up there as the "best". He is a great Tony Stark but very far from the "best actor of our generation" title.

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[–] DesiredFX 12 years ago

How many things have you seen him in outside of the Iron Man films? I don't mean that to sound adversarial. I'm genuinely curious. I've seen a lot of stuff with him in it and not generally because I go looking for it, and he just has a presence that pops on the screen in everything he's in.

I'd definitely put him slightly ahead of Denzel, who doesn't exercise much range at all. What he does, he does well, but it's rarely anything you've never seen from him before.

The OP's point with De Niro and Pacino was that they're not delivering like they used to. De Niro has been whoring himself out so much for the past 15 years that we only get a rare remarkable performance (like Silver Linings Playbook) anymore and Pacino's about two roles away from having his own TNT Original Series.

Not that they're bad actors by any stretch...it's just that his point in bringing them up is that they're not doing legendary work anymore.

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[–] lukecage92 12 years ago

Denzel has range. You are saying that the characters he played in Malcolm X, Hurricane, Flight and Training Day is on the same spectrum? It is true that he tends to play some characters that have the same traits but he has definitely showed range. People can say the same with DeNiro until they watch Angel Heart.

"In 4th Grade, I built a robot for the Science Fair and called it Optimus Prime"- Tony Stark

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[–] lukecage92 12 years ago

Well, I think it is impossible to say the BEST in something so subjective. However, he is one of them. Also, can we say what "generation" are we talking about? I would call Leo Di part of that generation since he started in the 90's with Norton, Affleck and Damon, all just as brilliant. Denzel and Hanks, imo, are head and shoulders above the class though because they can carry bad movies by themselves in more than one occasion.

"In 4th Grade, I built a robot for the Science Fair and called it Optimus Prime"- Tony Stark

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[–] Giobea 12 years ago

I agree that it's subjective.Also would like to know what generation the OP is referring to.
RDJ used to be mainly a character actor playing suporting roles, never was a lead man in his earlier years with the exception of Chaplin.Only after he was able to overcome his issues(circa 2003)and with the help of Mel Gibson push( lead in The Singing Detective)managed to became a lead actor with Iron Man.

Dicaprio, Damon and Affleck are not from the same generation and in my opinion they are not that brilliant, specially Affleck, acting wise of course.
Norton Denzel and Hanks are pretty good actors.

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[–] lukecage92 12 years ago

Gio, that is what i was trying to infer. What is an acting "generation"? Because technically RDJ belonged in the "Brat Pack" group in the 80's and there is no question he is the best of the group with John Cusack ( another great actor no one mentioned). I would put Denzel in the DeNiro and Pacino group because isnt he around 60?

"In 4th Grade, I built a robot for the Science Fair and called it Optimus Prime"- Tony Stark

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[–] agilebrit 12 years ago

Wait, what? He played several lead roles in his earlier years; looking at my own collection I'm seeing Only You, Chances Are, Fur, Heart and Souls, and Restoration, to name a few.

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[–] assman200 11 years ago

He's the best I've ever seen.

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[–] blackdoug 11 years ago

None have been finer. None.

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[–] scotts863 12 years ago

This movie cements his legend.

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[–] DesiredFX 12 years ago

I still don't get the love for Hanks, especially after seeing him play a bunch of roles in Cloud Atlas.

In one, he was very good. In two more, he was solid. The last three were little more than cameos in their stories and they ranged from good through unremarkable to downright bad.

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[–] lukecage92 12 years ago

I have much more respect for Hanks after Saving Private Ryan and Cast Away.

"In 4th Grade, I built a robot for the Science Fair and called it Optimus Prime"- Tony Stark

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[–] IronBallsM 11 years ago

Being the best means asking everyone. Most people put RDJ in their top five. No one else can say that. So, the math is on RDJ 's side.

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[–] tenement-funster 11 years ago

If you ask everybody, that means asking the massive populations of India and Asia, who have their own favourite actors, huge stars in their own part of the world. Ask everybody, and popular names of Hollywood quite likely wouldn't get a look in.

Also, let's not forget that when you start asking ordinary members of the public, they inevitably seem to confuse "best" with "favourite". Or even "best-looking". We've probably all cringed at a few awards that were voted for by the public!

RDJ is bloody good, don't get me wrong, but "best actor of our generation" is an impossible ask. "Best Western actor" would be much safer. It's time that he stretched himself a little more though. Stark has layers, and RDJ is brilliant at illustrating them, but he could probably do that in his sleep. He needs to remind us what he's really capable of.

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[–] Coneydogg 11 years ago

RDJ is as loved in India and Asia as he is in the states. Did you see what they did for him on his last birthday in Asia???

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[–] sacflyzone 12 years ago

Robert is the very best actor working today. Marvel knows it, that's why they opened up the vault to him.

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[–] Dash1969 12 years ago

The best by quite a LARGE margin.

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[–] thewolfchild 12 years ago

"The..."? No.

"One of..." Definitely

Wolf

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[–] scotts863 12 years ago

"The..."? No.

"One of..." Definitely

That's fair. Has anyone ever been the consensus best ever during their lifetime? It's always a split crown.

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[–] sacflyzone 12 years ago

People were always split between DeNiro And Pacino in the 70's/80's.

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