MovieChat Forums > Iron Man Three (2013) Discussion > Is RDJr the best actor of our generation...

Is RDJr the best actor of our generation?

posted 12 years ago by McGrit
86 replies | jump to latest

Now that DeNiro and Pacino are well past their prime, is RDJr this generation's best actor and the best actor alive today?

Sure, there are a few contenders but RDJr does get my vote.

Then again, I'm in the camp that thinks story and choice of role should be considered and this is what sinks a lot of people's choice in Daniel Day Lewis. The guy has the awards and the hype to back it up but I find many of his films to be overrated. Sure, he is a superb performer but he's only been in five movies this century and a few of those are very overrated endeavors.

Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington and Ed Norton certainly can deliver when given the right material.

[–] Kia00 12 years ago

He's the best actor still drawing breath, yes.

[–] assman200 11 years ago

He could be the best actor on the planet. In fact, I doubt there are any actors on Mars that could beat him.

[–] chinawhite252 11 years ago

He is the best Iron Man, and comic superstar, that's for sure.

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[–] Coneydogg 11 years ago

Can a guy like Bradley Cooper take over as Stark and have the public buy in to it???? That's the big question at some point.

[–] Maegnas 11 years ago

I cannot really say if he is, nor can I claim that he is not, as I have not seen enough of his work - just the recent Marvel stuff which, by the way, are NO measure for an actor (99% is CGI/SFX, .5% is story and the rest falls to the actors). He seems to be in his element playing "light entertainment" but I really need to see him in other stuff too.

Norton would be my first choice in the "under 50 generation" and Hanks/Washington in the "50 to 60". DDL sure is recognized as one of the best ever (3 Oscars for main actor is something nobody ever done before) but his body of work has grown too "thin" (for lack of a better word, I mean he has done so few movies after 2000). Also, Cruise had his very good moments in the past, and he's still around. Pitt is sure someone to be reckoned, if you can get past his pretty boy image (which he tries to do in recent years).

For the one who asked if anyone had the unanimous recognition of being "the best" while alive, yes, Brando did! And if you measure talent by peer recognition, few can stand shoulder to shoulder to John Cazale (5 feature films, plus one where he appears in archive footage, 6 nominations for Best Movie, 3 of them successful, although he was short lived enough to not show his full potential and garner personal recognition)

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[–] Allswell007 11 years ago

Well I CAN really say if he is... so, YES he is the best.

Next question.

[–] Mr_McSuave 11 years ago

Cough Leonardo Di Caprio cough

[–] IronBallsM 11 years ago

Leo is always chasing awards and not actual quality or entertaining roles. That lowers him in my book. Sure he should never turn down Martin Scorsese but choosing to spend years trying to make Wolf Of Wall Street and only signing to do Gatsby because he thought he could win an award seems cheap to me.

[–] IsabeauMichelle 11 years ago

He (Leonardo) was good in The Quick and The Dead, I mean in actual acting performance. Cameron's Titanic was good, no matter what Leonardo DiCaprio was doing, performance wise. I haven't seen the new Gatsby because the one with Robert Redford in it will always be Gatsby to me.

I've tried to come up with an answer to the OP's question for a long time. I haven't seen the movies for which Day-Lewis is famous, so being unable to judge his performances fairly, I would have to say, judging from the movies I've seen, yes - it's RDJ. I guess if you haven't watched Downey's movies, you can say it's someone else.

However, I have also seen 20 of Robert Duvall's movies and I really like his performances. Watching the movie I can believe he is who is supposed to be in the movie, not Robert Duvall saying lines. He's another one of those believable actors like Robert Downey Jr. which leads me to believe that The Judge is going to be awesome. So, in summary, Mr. Downey for the younger generation & Mr. Duvall for people my age.

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[–] scotts863 11 years ago

Leo was just a child in The Quick and The Dead and that film had more cheese than Kraft.

Then again, Robert Downey Jr. wasn't exactly lighting up the screen in Back To School.

[–] ponstan 11 years ago

No to Cruise. Copy&paste his characters, like Gibson.
I feel Leo clinches it. I agree that DDL doesn’t make enough, else he wins it. Don Cheadle I think is on par with RDJ, but less successful or less star power. That’s just how it is. Have to give a nod to Ben Kingsley too, that’s a lot of talent in a superhero movie!
Oldman is right up there. Pitt is not bad. Hanks very good but not as good recently. Washington still got it. What about Tommy Lee Jones? I suppose he is past it, but only just.
Best Asian- hmm probably Tony Leung.

[–] billbrown7071 11 years ago

I just went through this Thread Started By The Uber-Troll, and he responded to his own thread at least 17 different times from different screen names ,pretending to have similar but different opinions

My God

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Coneydogg 11 years ago

DeNiro hasn't been good at any time this century. He should retire just like Gene Hackman knew when it was time to hang them up.

[–] joechar4444 11 years ago

I knew it wouldn't happen and had no chance but RDJ really shouldhave been nominated for any one of his three turns as Tony Stark.

[–] shacklefort 11 years ago

They should take a poll on Oscar night and ask this question. I'm sure Daniel Day Lewis would get autmatic votes but he's so trendy that it kind of sours results. DDL's resume falls way short of RDJ in reality.

[–] ba_bam_bam 11 years ago

RDJ being in so many hits and being loyal to guys like Mel Gibson means he'll win no popularity contests in hollywood.

[–] assman200 11 years ago

Really should we even ask any more?

[–] ba_bam_bam 10 years ago

I hope all movie fans never tire of asking questions or of seeing a master like RDJ work.

[–] SloberDon 11 years ago

My goodness he's just so good here right?