MovieChat Forums > Southpaw (2015) Discussion > Jake Gyllenhaal is the best actor of thi...

Jake Gyllenhaal is the best actor of this generation!

posted 10 years ago by Zulfmanauthor
99 replies | jump to latest

Having grown up watching iconic greats like Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, it becomes difficult to rate many actors in that type of league. However aside from Denzel Washington, the only actor who can produce the sort of epic performances in such diversity of roles is 'Jake Gyllenhaal'. I am such a huge fan of Gyllenhaal's career, you only have to watch four movies in succession to know this guy is one of the best actors of all time. Movies like 'Prisoners', 'Enemy', 'Nightcrawler' and now 'Southpaw' is testament that there has not been a more refined actor than Jake in the last fifty years.

[–] everymanaking6488 10 years ago

I 100% agree.

To me it used to be Gosling or Hedger but Gyllenhaal has now surpassed them.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] LotsaMotsa 10 years ago

Did you even see southpaw? Sure the movie was a typical predictable boxing movie but he was incredible

[–] robbyc41 9 years ago

Name the 7 or 8.........................

[–] batigoal9-1 9 years ago

Lol, he didn't name one and you expect him to name all 8 ?

[–] MonoEnojado 9 years ago

He has been incredible in Prisoners, Nightcrawler and Southpaw. And I haven't even seen that many movies starred by him.

[–] nickbotic 10 years ago

I agree Gyllenhaal is one of the best of this generation. But I'd have to give THE best to Leonardo DiCaprio. Not taking anything away from Gyllenhaal though, it's blasphemy that he doesn't have an Oscar.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nickbotic 10 years ago

Well obviously it's a matter of opinion, so yeah, I do consider it blasphemous. He should've gotten nods for Zodiac, definitely one for Prisoners, and Brokeback Mountain. Again, my opinion

[–] everymanaking6488 10 years ago

For me he should have been nominated for Jarhead and Prisoners as well as Nightcrawler of course.

[–] JurijFedorov 9 years ago

You don't like his performance in Prisoners? I don't believe you. That was some of the best acting of our generation.

[–] exactlypointpoint 10 years ago

I agree with you Nick. I also think the Johnny Depp is a great actor - but right now it has to be DiCaprio.

[–] whatwazdat 10 years ago

I don't get why Depp is great. He just puts on white face paint in all his movies. LOL!

[–] Vincen7 9 years ago

wow, that's the stupidest thing I've read in a while..

[–] slazev 9 years ago

Is it really?

Until Black Mass, it seemed like Depp wasn't even trying anymore.

[–] luvie2003 9 years ago

Depp is just Depp now, he has become a cult of personality. The Cutting Room Movie podcast guys, analyzed Depp to a T.

Always look for the positive in every situation.

[–] robbyc41 9 years ago

Dicaprio is the most overrated actor EVER.

[–] Ammesty 9 years ago

agree.

[–] Alanrad 9 years ago

Two words Basketball Diaries.

[–] johndeckbose 9 years ago

Is that meant to prove how pedestrian DiCaprio's performances are?

[–] MNPhatz 9 years ago

This.

[–] mmathur5689 10 years ago

agreed! Nightcrawler, Zodiac, Prisoners, Enemy, End of Watch, Brokeback Mountain, Love & Other Drugs

what a resume

MathurMarquee.Blogspot.com Facebook.com/MathurMarquee

[–] atg_commish 10 years ago

Gyllenhaal's work is quite impressive, until you watch The Prestige, Batman Begins, American Psycho, Equilibrium, 3:10 to Yuma, The Fighter and American Hustle, all starring Christian Bale.

[–] goldpink23 10 years ago

@atg_commish. 

[–] schall1991 9 years ago

Don't forget Out of the Furnace and The Machinist!

[–] MisterMovieGuy 9 years ago

Both great movies! The Machinist was like Bale's Nightcrawler role. He lost an incredibly unhealthy amount of weight to look the part of a man who hasn't slept in a year, and he absolutely killed it in that movie.

Just look at this picture and how emaciated he is:

http://puu.sh/jTFQP.jpg

I consider both men among the elite actors of this generation, although Gyllenhaal has really only caught my attention in the past couple of years. Bale's been one of my favourites for years.

[–] MNPhatz 9 years ago

He is fantastic in American Psycho. All of those other roles are adequate but not exceptional performances. What he did for The Machinist was remarkable, but why did he do it again? The Machinist sucked.

[–] mat_w2010 9 years ago

He was amazing in the fighter. A good recommendation to people that enjoyed this film as it is better imo.

[–] zsabellaa 9 years ago

True!! Bale is the best of this generation, Gyllenhall is the second best. I like them both

[–] HuGoL1101 9 years ago

You talk about Christian Bale without naming The Machinist?

[–] Burnettkirby 10 years ago

I agree. In my opinion Jake Gyllenhall is the BEST actor in his generation. Just taking a look and Nightcrawler and Southpaw...he did as much as DeNiro ever did to get ready for his roles. His acting is even better with sincerity and realism that surpasses anyone in the realm of acting today

[–] fcastig0220 10 years ago

Gylenhaal is a great actor but all of these cats are better IMO:

1) Tom Hardy
2) DDL
3) Phil Hoffman
4) Christian Bale
5) Michael Fassbender
6) Matthew McConaughey
7) Bradley Cooper

Keep in mind, I haven't seen Northpaw yet.

[–] everymanaking6488 10 years ago

But all those actors are at least 3 to 11 years older right?

Gyllenhaal's competition should be guys in the 80s. Otherwise youd rank him against someone like Robert Downey Jr which seems odd.

[–] delusionalthomas 10 years ago

3 years older is still same era

[–] a-padilla1967 10 years ago

I think Benedict Cumberbatch deserves some credit. He's a great actor.

[–] babaroga73 9 years ago

This .... Tom Hardy in "Warrior" gave so much wider emotional spectrum and intensity that unfortunately "Southpaw" just looks like star power boost for Gylenhall ... Not everything is in pumping muscles. I give him big credit for "Nightcrawler", though ... But not as big as Hardy in "Locke" , though .. I mean, dude carried the whole movie.

[–] WhiteDiablo 9 years ago

If you're including older guys, you cannot omit Russell Crowe.

Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, Master and Commander, Cinderella Man, LA Confidential, Body of Lies, American Gangster...

He's one of the best in the business without a doubt.

[–] FeeFake 9 years ago

^ this. I would only replace Cooper with DiCaprio here ( even though I think that Cooper is great too).

[–] fcastig0220 9 years ago

I was a fan of Gylenhaal before but I've become an even bigger fan after watching him in Enemy.

Brilliant performance(s) in a great, if not, brilliant flick.

[–] Always_Curious 9 years ago

I loved that film, he won me back over as a fan with that and Nightcrawler, but mostly Enemy.

[–] tehfynx 9 years ago

Surely you're not being serious ranking Bale and Cooper above Gyllenhaal? Both have peaked at above average at best, nothing spectacular.

[–] zsabellaa 9 years ago

Obviously you havent watch The Prestige, The Fighter, and American Psycho. I agree about Cooper, tho, nothing spectacular

[–] tehfynx 9 years ago

I have watched all of those, pretty sure all of them are on my public ratings too. American Psycho was the only one of those three where Bale acted above mediocre.

[–] everymanaking6488 10 years ago

I'm also amazed at how he really enjoys working in artsy films or films where his character really develops and his talent is allowed to shine.

HE TRIED to be a movie star with Prince of Persia but has re-focused his career and been knocking them out of the park ever since.