What Actor owned this decade?

[DACrowe]

Aww... no one has mentioned Gary Oldman yet.

Has he really had an amazing decade of work though? I mean he has nicely transitioned to being a great character actor. But he has not done that many films and the ones he has have not been his best work. If we do character actors yes, Oldman, Reilly, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell, Javier Bardem, etc. have had amazing decades as well.

 

[Boom]

Johnny Depp
Leonardo Dicaprio
George Clooney
Viggo Mortensen

 

[Soapy]

I don't want to feed into the echo chamber you've got going on here, but DiCaprio was the first actor that came to mind when reading the thread title.

 

[Laderlappen]

Will Smith is the only bankable star in Hollywood. His résumé speaks for itself.

Take Seven Pounds for example. Put anybody else in that movie, and it doesn't make a dime. It made $168 million worldwide solely because of Will Smith.

Will Smith also makes the kinds of movies the american movie public just loves.

Yes Seven Pounds made alot of money because of Will Smith. I will admit that. But $168 million is not an impressive number compared to I Am Legend's numbers or Men in Black's numbers. The no1 reason these made money is because of what kind of movies they are. Actors are secondary. They would make alot of money without a star. This is the point Im trying to make.

 

[Max J Power]

The actors that grabbed my attention most in this decade and some of the movies I've seen them have great performances in. I'm not counting anyone who doesn't sell me on at least 3 performances, because I don't think that's enough to judge (for example, Daniel Day-Lewis would be a shoe-in, but the only movie I've seen of his this decade is There Will Be Blood).

Philip Seymour Hoffman--Capote, The Savages, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Charlie Wilson's War, Doubt
Matt Damon--The Bourne trilogy, The Departed, The Informant!
Leonardo DiCaprio--Catch Me If You Can, The Departed, Blood Diamond, Revolutionary Road
George Clooney--O Brother Where Art Thou?, Ocean's Eleven, Good Night and Good Luck, Michael Clayton, Burn After Reading
Johnny Depp--POTC trilogy (even though the movies aren't that good), Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd
Russell Crowe--Gladiator, 3:10 To Yuma, American Gangster
Meryl Streep--Adaptation, A Prairie Home Companion, Doubt
Viggo Mortensen--LOTR trilogy, A History of Violence, Eastern Promises

 

[Cmill216]

Will Smith also makes the kinds of movies the american movie public just loves.

Yes Seven Pounds made alot of money because of Will Smith. I will admit that. But $168 million is not an impressive number compared to I Am Legend's numbers or Men in Black's numbers. The no1 reason these made money is because of what kind of movies they are. Actors are secondary. They would make alot of money without a star. This is the point Im trying to make.

To that point, if Keanu Reeves was in I Am Legend, do you honestly think it would have been as big? You think Hitch would've made $350 million+ worldwide with any other actor? What about the Pursuit of Happyness?

 

[Figs]

Ledger gave two of the greatest performances? Brokeback was overrated and frankly he wasn't that good in it and he would've never received the praise he did for the Joker had he not died. It was a good performance. Not great.

I have to disagree with you on the Joker comment.

I haven't seen Brokeback Mountain yet, so I can't agree or disagree with you on that one but there was already a lot of praise from his costars as well as WB themselves after seeing the dailys for TDK. Before he died, WB had already said they wanted to put him up to get nominated for an Oscar.

One of the biggest ways I judge an actors performance is how different is this character they're playing than themselves. After seeing interviews and other films with Heath Ledger, I'm sorry but he disappeared in that role which only a small handfull of actors can do. I fully agree that he did not own this decade but to say he only got praise for that role because he died is in fact a load of bull.

For an example in regards to actors who disappear in their roles which I consider great acting and actors who don't and are just ok. I have a feeling I'll catch hell for this but take George Clooney. I like him as an actor but to be honest, although he does give pretty good performances(or the movie is well written at least)he tends to play himself too much, or at least the same character. I would like to see him become more of a method actor and take on some different roles in the future.

You may have found it overrated, and that's perfectly fine but he did a damn good job and myself as well as many others finally felt like we were watching the Joker come to life as opposed to an actor playing the Joker, if that makes any sense.

 

[Laderlappen]

To that point, if Keanu Reeves was in I Am Legend, do you honestly think it would have been as big? You think Hitch would've made $350 million+ worldwide with any other actor? What about the Pursuit of Happyness?

It might not be as big because like I said actors do have some effect. But it you still be pretty huge box office wise.

 

[Laderlappen]

I have to disagree with you on the Joker comment.

I haven't seen Brokeback Mountain yet, so I can't agree or disagree with you on that one but there was already a lot of praise from his costars as well as WB themselves after seeing the dailys for TDK. Before he died, WB had already said they wanted to put him up to get nominated for an Oscar.

One of the biggest ways I judge an actors performance is how different is this character they're playing than themselves. After seeing interviews and other films with Heath Ledger, I'm sorry but he disappeared in that role which only a small handfull of actors can do. I fully agree that he did not own this decade but to say he only got praise for that role because he died is in fact a load of bull.

For an example in regards to actors who disappear in their roles which I consider great acting and actors who don't and are just ok. I have a feeling I'll catch hell for this but take George Clooney. I like him as an actor but to be honest, although he does give pretty good performances(or the movie is well written at least)he tends to play himself too much, or at least the same character. I would like to see him become more of a method actor and take on some different roles in the future.

You may have found it overrated, and that's perfectly fine but he did a damn good job and myself as well as many others finally felt like we were watching the Joker come to life as opposed to an actor playing the Joker, if that makes any sense.

You know I agree with you about Clooney. He is a very talanted actor in my opinion but because of his fame and popularity and his looks etc. people dont like him. Same with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise and many others. Unless you cant live up to your fame and popularity people dont respect you as an actor. In these cases you have to be like in Daniel Day-Lewis or Philip Seymour Hoffman's level of acting.

 

[Figs]

You know I agree with you about Clooney. He is a very talanted actor in my opinion but because of his fame and popularity and his looks etc. people dont like him. Same with Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise and many others. Unless you cant live up to your fame and popularity people dont respect you as an actor. In these cases you have to be like in Daniel Day-Lewis or Philip Seymour Hoffman's level of acting.

Yup, that to me is true acting. I even include Johnny Depp, Gary Oldman and Christian Bale(I hope he starts doing some different characters and some more less mainstream films)with those two.

There are far too many actors out there that get praise mainly because everyone likes their personality and so they're fun to watch on screen for that reason.

 

[Bunker]

Viggo Mortensen
Matt Damon
Leonardo DiCaprio

 

[Ace of Knaves]

Depp
DiCaprio
Damon
Day-Lewis

The four D's

 

[That-Guy]

Sam Worthington!!!! He's the greatest actor of our time!!! Esquire said so!!!!

 

[hippie_hunter]

Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, Christian Bale, and Matt Damon were probably the biggest actors that people went to go see this decade.

 

[Raiden]

The actors that grabbed my attention most in this decade and some of the movies I've seen them have great performances in. I'm not counting anyone who doesn't sell me on at least 3 performances, because I don't think that's enough to judge (for example, Daniel Day-Lewis would be a shoe-in, but the only movie I've seen of his this decade is There Will Be Blood).

How about Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York? DDL is probably the best actor of his generation, but he's not very politic because I think he only makes movies he's passionate about, but once he does a movie he threw 110% to the roles that he plays.

 

[Raiden]

Double post.

 

[MadVillainy]

Clooney
Will Smith

 

[Doctor Jones]

George Clooney - you would think Batman and Robin would of ended his career but his resume speaks for itself

Daniel Day Lewis - I don't need to explain

Leonardo DiCaprio - Just when you think Titanic would be his peak, it isn't, he keeps growing and growing, same with Pitt

Johnny Depp - Sparrow landed him out of obscurity (though he was always great) and brought him into the mainstream

Philip Seymore Hoffman - Capote, an Oscar and another Oscar. It's awesome he's a local.

Heath Ledger - if you look at his resume since Ten Things the man had accomplished alot. From coming to here in the late 90's up until his death he accomplshed things many actors dream of. He didn't stop himself from being a teen heart throb and went away from it, taking on more daring roles that redefined people's opinions of him in many of his performances.

Will Smith - I think until this man's dead people will continue to see his films.

Brad Pitt - you can argue with this one, but he hasn't managed to be lost in the Branjelina ********. I mean sexiest man alive, most wanted man on earth, bedding Jolie, and oh yeah, he's a great actor. One of the rare few with talent that backs up his looks.

 

[hugekent]

I took "Actor" as meaning just the men. Actresses included, Kate Winslet owned the decade.

 

[lime]

Johnny Depp: POTC Trilogy, Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd...

Daniel Day-Lewis: Gangs of New york and There will be blood

Heath Ledger: The Patriot, Brokeback Mountain, The Dark knight

 

[javphonic]

I'm going to have to agree that Will Smith deserves the crown... America just loves him


IDK if posted but....

(less profitable)
The Legend of Baggervance
Ali

(BLOCKBUSTERS all over $100,000,000 US gross, over $250,000,000 WW gross)
MIB 2
Bad Boys 2 ($272,940,870) lowest WW gross of his hot streak, some lead actors don't pull in #'s like this even once
I, Robot
Sharktale
Hitch
The Pursuit of Happyness
I Am Legend
Hancock ($624,346,274 WW gross) highest WW gross

Seven Pounds
(no Blockbuster, but $69,369,933 US gross, $168,482,448 WW gross, that for me is impressive for a drama)


but I must say Dicaprio, Depp and Bale did pretty good this decade aswell

as for actress... Halle Berry (just 'cuzMonster's Ball (Oscar), X-Men Franchise) but Meryll Streep, Anne Hathaway, or Charlize Theron come to mind aswell, especially Hathaway...

 

[-Arya-]

-Daniel Day Lewis. His performance in TWBB alone is worthy.

-Leo Dicaprio.

-Philip Seymour Hoffman

 

[Max J Power]

How about Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York? DDL is probably the best actor of his generation, but he's not very politic because I think he only makes movies he's passionate about, but once he does a movie he threw 110% to the roles that he plays.

The only movies I've seen of his are My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood, in which he gave amazing performances. Either one would be enough to convince me he's a great actor, but I'm not sure I could say he "owned" a decade when he made four movies in the decade and I've only seen one.

Although I will definitely say that in There Will Be Blood, he gave the best performance of the decade.

 

[Roy Batty]

Daniel Day Lewis (in terms of performance)
Will Smith & Johnny Depp (in terms of box office success)

 

[Laderlappen]

The only movies I've seen of his are My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood, in which he gave amazing performances. Either one would be enough to convince me he's a great actor, but I'm not sure I could say he "owned" a decade when he made four movies in the decade and I've only seen one.

Although I will definitely say that in There Will Be Blood, he gave the best performance of the decade.

It completely depends on your own definition of "own". In this case its very ambigious.