The Three Greatest Movie Performances Ever

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:18 pm

1. This was originally going to be a top five list, but I couldn't think of two others that fit the criteria I will list in #2 below. Which is not to say there aren't any, so if I think of them, I will add to this list. Hopefully you one or two people who still read this BBS can come up with your own nominees and I'll add them where appropriate.

2. There have been hundreds, maybe millions of great performances in movies over the past thousand years, and this list is not to discount any of them. However, what I'm going for with this list is performances that electrified and defined a movie, performances that command full awe and attention for every second the actor is on film. Not just great acting, but something where you go such and such film was great, but I don't remember much else about it except for (performer's name). Pacino was fantastic in Taxi Driver, but I remember the movie Taxi Driver more than his specific performance. Hopefully you'll see what I mean as the list is listed:

#3: HEATH LEDGER, THE DARK KNIGHT

The Dark Knight was a good, but not great, action/comic book movie. EXCEPT for the 24-some-odd minutes that Ledger was on the screen, because from the very first shot of his back, as he stares up at the bank, there is no way to take your eyes off him or otherwise not be completely enthralled in what he did up there. He seems like he's in the movie a lot longer than he actually was, because who the hell cares about any of the rest of it. Added to the performance was just the fact that it was the JOKER, but so fantastically reimagined that all other Jokers kinda totally suck now, I think. And then he died. But damn. Way to go out, buddy.

#2: DENZEL WASHINGTON, TRAINING DAY

He's had a wonderful career playing largely moral, conflicted, good guys, but Jesus Christ, nobody who's seen this movie could ever see him as anything but Alonzo ever again. I'm conflicted on how good a movie this actually is, because once again, I do not care. Every single inflection and movement and delivery he offers here is so perfect and adrenaline-infused that you don't want anyone to hurt him because then he'll stop saying and doing things and then there's no reason to keep watching the movie. Holy Christ, I can't believe how great this goddamn performance is, from the first frame to the last. King Kong truly ain't got shit on him.

#1: CHARLIZE THERON, MONSTER

What else is there to say other than Charlize Theron broke acting with this. Since this came out, they are still having to come up with something else for actors to do because she already won at it. You probably haven't seen this movie, though, because you only like movies about spaceships and teen roadtrips.

There ya go. Other performances I considered for this were the aforementioned Pacino, Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream, and a couple others I can't remember anymore.

Jack Straw · Post by **Jack Straw** » Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:27 pm

1.) Jack Nicholson - Batman
2.) John Travolta - Pulp Fiction
3.) Robin Williams - Aladdin
4.) My Fist - Your Ass

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:03 am

#4: William H. Macy, Fargo

I forgot about this one. The perfect picture of desperation as the screws slowly tighten from beginning to end.

Jack Straw · Post by **Jack Straw** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:35 am

if you forgot about it, does it really fit the criteria? All I rememeber from that movie is the horrible accent (by everyone throughout) and the wood chipper.

On the other hand (heh), I can picture my fist going in and out of your ass like it just happened yesterday.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:15 pm

RE: #4

Howzabout Michael Douglas in 'Falling Down'? Granted, he turns out to be an asshole by the end of the movie but because the viewers don't know this at the beginning; he is just an ordinary schlub, victim of his environment. You feel so strongly for his helplessness that when he turns out to be less than stellar you don't know what to think. Certainly not electrifying but maybe honorable mention status.
An interesting transformation. A similar moment exists in 'The Dark Knight'. When Joker tries to blow up the hospital but the remote doesn't work. He responds just like anyone would in the same situation with a faulty device. He shakes it or bangs it and the unexpected boom makes him jump. That scene made him truly human, despite the scars, makeup, bad clothes and twisted mind. You know he's evil as fuck but look, he's just had a Murphy's Law moment. You never see stuff like that in 'Flash Gordon'.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:23 pm

Other food for thought:

Bogart-- Casablanca

Johnny Depp-- Ed Wood.*

*This is stretching the requirements a bit thin, I know, but there aren't many others that could have done it as well.

I would like top include the ill-fated ship Titanic in the movie of the same name. All the actors paled in comparison to it's stately grandeur just by being on screen.

THE
AARDVARK
ON A MOTHERFUCKING
BOAT

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:10 pm

AArdvark wrote: Howzabout Michael Douglas in 'Falling Down'?

Falling Down sucked. Michael Douglas sucked in it, but not as much as the movie itself sucked, which was tremendously.

As soon as anyone tells you Falling Down was a good movie, it is important that you kill that person immediately.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:22 am

So...if I thought it was a good movie I should contemplate suicide?

It only sucked because you cheered for MD in the beginning when he shot up the movie in order to get his way ( the Korean grocery scene, ect.) and then you had to hate him at the end when he turns out to be a stalker/maniac guy.

It's that very contrast which includes him in this thread.

THE
PSYCHE 101
AARDVARK

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 1:29 am

I saw Monster on Youtube tonight. Man, she wasn't messing around, was she?

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:28 am

Ice Cream Jonsey wrote:I saw Monster on Youtube tonight. Man, she wasn't messing around, was she?

That was actually the original marketing tagline: "Monster -- She's Not Messing Around, Is She?"

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:03 pm

I would really like to watch the movie again, because it was a horrible world in which to experience.

Pinner and I had a conversation about the fact that the real Charlize Theron is almost six feet tall. I thought it was the only remotely distracting thing about the movie. If you're that tall and female, you get to be in the movies.

Pinback believed it added to what a goddamn monster her character was.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 1:06 pm

If she was thin, you had a point, but in this movie she is a giant, lumbering mess of a woman, which I think added sympathy and weight (HAH HA HA) to the character. She had everything going against her, PLUS she was a big, gawky, disgusting beast.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:05 pm

Yeah, you convinced me. This is why this BBS sucks these days.

ICJ: TERRIBLE OPINION
Pinback: Actually, REASONABLE OPINION
ICJ: Oh yeah, that's right

We need terrible people on this BBS. I'd troll it myself except it's got logins here.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:14 pm

Anyway, I'd still do her, serial killer makeup and all.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:35 am

pinback wrote:Pacino was fantastic in Taxi Driver

It is the ultimate condemnation of this sickhole of an internet forum that nobody, nobody called me on this.

It even ended up on the front page, which means my drunken idiocy is, once again, inscribed into history.

Christ.

I need help.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:39 am

No, seriously. I'm not kidding this time. You all have to come at me Intervention(tm)-style. This is cry-for-help material.

I am crying for help.

Try to get the guy who makes you go to that place in Florida with all the palm trees.

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 12:40 am

P.S. It was DeNiro. That was the guy in fucking Taxi Driver. ROBERT DeFUCKING NIRO. Jesus.

Jesus.

Enjoy your holidays.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:47 am

Hey, how about Kathy Bates in 'Misery'? She's gotta be honorable mention someplace. I sure would get freaked out if she showed up anywhere with a sledgehammer.

THE
RESTAURANT CHECK ROOM
AARDVARK

RealityCheck · Post by **RealityCheck** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:02 pm

I was also going to say that, but I couldn't decide between Misery and that other one that she rocked.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:19 pm

I thought you were making a joke about Italian-Americans, Pinner.

The Three Greatest Movie Performances Ever

The Three Greatest Movie Performances Ever

Re: The Three Greatest Movie Performances Ever