Ledger You know that moment in Brokeback when...
Washington King Kong ain't got nothin' on him...
Bloom How long has it been since a movie star swashbuckled this well?
Bardem Hollywood actors don't seem half as manly...
Grant He threatened to retire earlier this decade...
Read the rest... then discuss right here in the comments!
A new poll is now up for your ranking pleasure.
tags: Heath Ledger, Orlando Bloom, Denzel Washington, Javier Bardem, Hugh Grant, movies, celebrities, actors, lists
Posts
33 comments:
Orlando Fart Sucking Bloom?
???
??????
ick.
Even Keanu has been good, at least once (The Gift). Bloom just sucks the air out of any scene he's in.
fart sucking. ewww...
Javier's the best :P
I went in to Elizabethtown expecting the worst movie ever, and ended up not hating it, and not finding Bloom to be completely horrendous. Maybe it was my horrid expectations. It was by no means a great film, it suffered heavily from Crowe's ability to filter everything onscreen through a Lite FM radio station, but both Bloom and Dunst were... okay. Not bad. Bloom does have a likeable presence, and Nate's right, no one can deny Legolas.
If someone asked you, what the greatest film of our decade is, wouldn't you say, it was LOTR? And Bloom played an essential part in that movie, add Pirates to it and you have four much loved film, that he was in in a lead role and made a good job. How many other actors are there of whom you can say the same?
Bloom's voiceover in E-Town was just about the worst one I've witnessed in film.
Likeable presence? He's a one note actor, the male Jessica Alba (ie. liked by straight gals and gay lads cuz of his looks, not his talent).
But... That's just my opinion of course.
PS. Bloom wasn't a lead in LOTR, not by a long shot. When he attempted to carry a film, as in Kingdom of Heaven and E-Town, the whole movie suffered as a result from his lack of screen presence and acting ability.
I don't like Bloom because of his looks- he couldn't be less my type. Way too girly. So that's got nothing to do with why I tend to like him.
I also ended up liking Kingdom of Heaven more than I expected to because to its reviews, though, so what do I know...
I think "male Jessica Alba" and "the new Keanu Reeves" hit the nail right on the head.
But he has been in some great films. I just want him sticking to the sideliness instead of trying to carry films... then maybe I'll stop resenting him so much.
wow. y'all are harsh. No way is he equivalent to Jessica Alba. She has about two expressions. Orlando's has at least five ;)
Bloom makes me see a movie. And see a movie in the hope that he'll one day catch me off guard and deliver something really spectacular. I think that's perhaps part of the feeling that Nat is describing. Notice that nobody is suggesting that Bloom is a better actor than, say, Bardem. Simply that he's one to watch (whatever your reasons may be!)
Rob
(Sponsored by FYC Gyllenhaal, Bale and Bernal incorporated)
I thought Orlando was quite good in KoH. Haven't seen Elizabethtown however.
Orlando convinced me that he can't carry a movie in KoH. Where have all our world conquerors gone?
For me, it's Penn or Ledger. Jimmy and Ennis just left indeible imprints in my mind.
Penn is one of cinemas finest. Period. And while some may quibble Ledger is only credible with his performance from Brokeback I object; Ledger’s work in Monster’s Ball, playing a quite, haunted prison guard whose just given up inside, deserved a supporting nod in 2001.
Evidence: His fight with Thorton in the prison bathroom. He barley specks and yet we see he’s emotionally disintegrating by the second- that he doesn’t yell or fight back at Thornton makes the scene which follows all the more profound.
Hence, when I saw Brokeback I was glad I had saved a review where I stated "Ledger deserves at least a nomination for so effectively exposing the emotional tumult plaguing his character.” Yes- he’s only in the beginning of the film but he haunts the remainder of it- and long past the closing credits. The two performances he gave in Monster’s Ball and Brokeback easily merit a vote.
when are we allowed to start guessing at the remainder of the list? or is that poor form?
I actually didn't like Orlando Bloom all that much in 'LOtR' but I liked him much more in 'Ned Kelly.' I think the only things I've seen him in besides those are 'Pirates' and 'Troy,' both of which I liked him in. Not saying I was blown away, but I certainly didn't think he sucked. I think Nathaniel did a good job justifying his placement at #26 on the list. And it's not like he was #5 or anything.
I was kinda annoyed when everyone was acting all surprised about Heath Ledger in 'Brokeback.' "Oh, so he can act, after all" seemed to be the kind of thing a lot of people were saying about him, as if he'd just been a pretty boy all along. But I thought he'd always shown his committment to acting. Just because 'Brokeback' was the best role he's had thus far doesn't mean he hadn't shown any talent before.
I wonder how high Jake will end up. He's had quite a decade, what with Donnie Darko, Lovely & Amazing, The Good Girl, Moonlight Mile, Proof, Jarhead, and of course Brokeback. I actually wouldn't be surprised to see him in the top 10.
I also wonder how high Johnny Depp will be. I know Nate loves him like no other, but really the only great thing he's done this decade is Pirates, plus that cameo in before night falls... I don't think a top 5 placement is appropriate, and yet I think he'll get one anyway.
Ewan will probabl be top 5... he has a lot other than Moulin Rouge to justify that.
The only ones I'm SURE will be top 5 (and deservedly) are Law and Bernal. One of them will probably top the list. And I think I know which one. Though it'd be really cool if it was the other.
Also old brits Ian McKellen, Jim Broadbent, and Tom Wilkinson... no clue where they'll end up... but it'll be high. Christian Bale's placement, also, is a mystery to me. But I'm very excited about the top 25. I think it's officially time to start the guesswork.
With all due respect, I can't fanthom Orlando Bloom being over Javier Bardem, Denzel Washington, Liam Neeson and Heath Ledger, who has rightfully justified all his hype by giving one of the decade's finest performance.
If their is any cinematic justice in the world, these 3 names will place high on THE list:
LAW
PENN
LEDGER
And I really hope Crowe makes it as well. Strip away his movies (and public antics) and JUST look at the performances... Yeah, he deserves a spot.
Also I'm really curious to see how these two will fair in the polling:
Clive Owen
Jake Gyllenhaal
AHHHHHH!!!!
I'm just sad, PISSED, and fuming Ledger is only at #29. How in the hell could Nathaniel leave him out of the Top 25.
Brokeback Mountain
Monster's Ball
(a galaxy or 2 away but still)
Casanova
I know this about the actor’s work in quantity but still.
It makes NO sense. NO Sense. Performances of this magnitude belong in the Top 25 (or higher). PERIOD.
Shame Nathaniel. Shame.
-Okay, it was hard to write that. I still worship the cinematic scholar to no end.
AHHHHHH!!!!
I'm just sad, PISSED, and fuming Ledger is only at #29. How in the hell could Nathaniel leave him out of the Top 25.
Brokeback Mountain
Monster's Ball
(a galaxy or 2 away but still)
Casanova
I know this about the actor’s work in quantity but still.
It makes NO sense. NO Sense. Performances of this magnitude belong in the Top 25 (or higher). PERIOD.
Shame Nathaniel. Shame.
-Okay, it was hard to write that. I still worship the cinematic scholar to no end.
i did want to put Ledger higher and I'm fairly sure he'll be way the hell up there when the decade closes. provided of course that his vacation doesn't last long.
Well, when you consider that Juli made it to #7 (right?) with just FFH and the Hours, and a bunch of crap, you'd think Ledger would be higher... he seems to be about that level this decade, no?
I seem to have seen all of Orlando's movies (even his random appearance in Ned Kelly) and other than the LOTR movies and Pirates I haven't seen much. I hated Kingdom and the half of Elizabethtown I watched on a plane (the second half) wasn't pleasant all (hate Dunst there too).
I'm not big on Dsnzel either. I didn't actually think he was that good at all in Training Day (Hello OBVIOUS!) but I can see how others liked him.
Heath all the way. And just like the anonymous person, I too was defending Heath for months against people who were saying he couldn't act and then when they saw he could it was like "I've been trying to tell you that"
I recently saw the film Candy which has just opened here in Australia and Ledger's just _amazing_ in it. Between this film and Brokeback I'm a convert to the cult of Ledger for life. I hope he doesn't take too long a break from acting. He's so brilliant.
Denzel Washington was brilliant in MAN ON FIRE. Much better than his performance in TRAINING DAY, and the sort of visceral, emotionally raw performance Robert Deniro used to give in his better days. And there was nothing earnest about that performance. Just harnessed brutality. Denzel actually accomplished the impossible, by making me like Dakota Fanning in a movie. So kudos for that.
Anyway, I was enjoying this list, so it's a shame Orlando Bloom's placement comletely killed any credibility that it may have had. If Bloom gave the same weak ass, lacklustre performances, and looked like Steve Buscemi, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be here at all.
The weakest performances this decade of Liam Neeson, Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Sean Penn, Morgan Freeman, Javier Bardem, Jeff Bridges, Paddy Considine, Brian Cox, Chris Cooper, Billy Crudup, Benicio Del Toro, Eric Bana, Billy Bob Thornton, Edward Norton, Paul Giammati, Don Cheadle, Jeffrey Wright...
....have shown more discernable craft, skill and acting talent than Orlando Bloom has evinced in the past 6 years. That any one of these actors (and several I didn't mention) is placed below Bloom is comical, to say the least.
Arguing that Bloom looks "delicious" and half-heartedly saying he gives allegedlly engaging performances cannot justify where he's so high. He's a bland journeyman leading man. The modern equivalent to Troy Donahue or Tab Hunter. Legolas did not demand acting ability. It demanded a guy in a blond wig to occassionally look into the middle distance, and shoot some arrows. Every actor in LOTR (including the usually mediocre Liv Tyler) impressed me more than Bloom.
People had "no gripe" with Will Turner, because he simply didn't register as a character. No one cared enough about him to hate him. Turner (as played by Bloom) was a bland cypher, completely overshadowed by Depp's Captain Sparrow.
He's been in some good films, no doubt.But he's almost always the weakest thing in them.
there are a number of actors who clearly are going to show up on this list (right??) that haven't yet that I'm beginning to wonder how high they'll be.
like Tom Hanks, Nic Cage, Will Smith, Philip Seymour Hoffman. nate's not a particularly huge fan of any of them, but it's hard to see them missing the list entirely. they all must be coming pretty soon.
I will bet anything that Tony Leung (In the Mood for Love, Infernal Affair, Hero) will be in the top 10.
xiayun -that's a safe bet.
right said --i hate to disappoint but this is a one person list. i.e. SUBJECTIVE and really. i can't imagine what some of those listed have done to warrant my particular praise.
anonymous --again. it's a subjective list. one person's opinion. it would only be lacking in credibility if i just listed the 100 homogenous choices for top men this decade (which I'm sorry to inform you would still include Orlando Bloom given the public response to him and his multiple blockbuster status) and thus lied about my own opinion.
also... i don't feel it's any mark against me to enjoy Orlando's beauty. There are several female stars who are oft overpraised due to their undeniable beauty... do you really think Roger Ebert's feelings about Cameron Diaz deserving an Oscar nomination for The Mask were based solely on her performance?
I'm EEO when it comes to film stars and beauty.
Wait...what? Ebert pushed Diaz for an Oscar nom for that? Where did you get that from?
-Jason
"If Bloom gave the same weak ass, lacklustre performances, and looked like Steve Buscemi, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be here at all."
But I thought this list was about which actors gave its creator the most 'viewing pleasure,' not about the 100 Most Skilled Actors of the aughts?
yes, it's favorite actors of the past six years. Not "most skilled"
I feel when you do big lists you have to mix your personal feelings with reactions to films, the actor (or actresses) skill, and the nature of the roles themselves, whether or not you have much to go on as far as number of films how often they work.
All of these factors play in. Most skilled then obviously would be a different thing --though it certainly affects the list.
Post a Comment