Posted March 22, 2012 by Scott Lawlor in Daily Posts

Thursday List – The Ten: Best Actors of All Time – Relay Race

For this weeks list it is FRCs turn to take the baton in the latest craze going around, The Ten: Best Actors of All Time – Relay Race.

Many of you that frequent here will know Nostra of MyFilmViews. He has been called in the past the ‘King of Blog Series’, and it is very true. He does have the uncanny knack of coming up with original ideas for series / memes / blogathons. I am super jealous.

Well this is the latest one – The Ten: Best Actors of All Time!!! But what does this even mean? Well here is the low down…

So what’s the idea behind the relay? I’ve created a list of what I think are the best actors. At the end of the post I, just like in a real relay race, hand over the baton to another blogger who will write his own post. This blogger will have to remove one actor (that is an obligation) and add his own choice and describe why he/she did this. At the end the blogger chooses another blogger to do the same. The idea is to make this a long race, so that enough bloggers get a chance to remove and add an actor. We will end up with a list (not ranked in order) which represents a common agreement of the best actors.

Got it? Good. I would like to thank Terence from The Focused Filmographer for bestowing FRC with the baton this week. You devil you!!

So I have to remove one actor from the list and replace it with a choice of my own. Now this seems an easy task but take a look at the list. They are ALL heavy hitters! Who would I remove and replace?

My choice is at the bottom. I am sure I will get flamed by many for removing who I did. But hey, this is the beauty of blogging!! The Freedom of speech hey? (Do not panic my initial joke choice of Jason Statham didn’t pan out!!)

Here we go…

Robert De Niro

Although he may not have had any roles that stood out in the last couple of years, he has proven what an amazing actor he is. Just think of his roles in Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Godfather: Part II, Goodfellas, The Untouchables, Heat and Cape Fear.

Samuel L Jackson

Probably the hardest working actor around, with 139 roles to his name, he has proven to be an actor that can take on any type of role and make it convincing. Whether it is a small role of a drug addict or big role as a hitman, he always manages to give it his all. Some of his movies include Pulp Fiction, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Jackie Brown, The Negotiator and Unthinkable.

Daniel Day Lewis

Although he might not have appeared in as many movies as some of the other actors in this list he makes up for it in the amazing performances he gives. He really disappears in his roles. Some of his best work includes My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood, Gangs of New York, In the Name of the Father and Last of the Mohicans.

Charlie Chaplin

Now this might not be someone you’d immediately think of, but when it comes to comedy and silent movies he was perfect, funny and knew exactly how to make his audience care about the character he played. Some of his best work can be enjoyed in The Kid, City Lights, The Great Dictator and Modern Times.

Gary Oldman

He has proven that he is a true chameleon, with a very distinct look in every movie he appears in. His acting is always a joy to watch. Some of his best known work is that in the Harry Potter series, Leon, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the latest Batman movies and Dracula.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

He started acting in 1991 and really has had a very versatile career appearing in movies that are loved in art houses, but in mainstream movies as well. His movies include The Ides of March, Synecdoche, New York, Charlie Wilson’s War, Capote and Magnolia.

Marlon Brando

Now I must admit that I haven’t seen many of his movies, but he was stunning in his most famous role in The Godfather, but also roles in Apocalypse Now, On The Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire he wowed audiences.

Robert Duvall

Robert Duvall has had an amazing career as well. I don’t know much about his early work, but I always enjoy to see him on the screen. His characters always are injected with something that grounds them into reality. He appeared in movies like Get Low, The Godfather, Colors, Apocalypse Now and THX1138.

Christian Bale

With quite the diverse range in roles, Oscar-winner Christian Bale goes to great lengths for many of his roles. From losing weight to almost unhealthy standards twice (The Machinist, The Fighter) to taking dance and martial arts lessons for 10 weeks for Newsies (a film which he dislikes), Bale consistently goes to incredible lengths to bring a role to life. Other examples of his great work include: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Prestige, Empire of the Sun, Equilibrium, and 3:10 to Yuma.

MY CHOICE

Paul Giamatti

This is a guy who can do anything. He is the everyman of actors. From insane villains to hen-pecked husbands on the brink of depression. He has great comedic timing as well as some fantastic dramatic chops. From Win Win to Barney’s Version to Ides of March (which he owned) to Sideways. I could watch this guy paint walls and still be enthralled.

WHO I REPLACED

Al Pacino

Now I know I am going to get flamed for this. But take a look at the list, they are all heavy hitters. All big names, all deserving of a place on this list. Although I liked Pacino in his earlier work, his gravelly voice and the fact that he seems to shout his lines in his latest roles kind of pushed me over the edge… Also Jack and Jill people… JACK AND FRICKING JILL!!

So now it is time for me to pass the BATON onto another blogger who has to replace one member of the list with a choice of their own. For that one I will choose Pete from ‘I Love That Film’.So come on Pete get thinking!! You have a week!!

About The Author – Scott Lawlor

Chief Editor of FRC. A self confessed geek with an unhealthy thirst for all things Home Cinema. Whether it is the latest Action film or Subwoofer. Check out his home set up HERE