What classifies a Great actor from a Crappy actor.

[KenK]

really? you think harsh times was a good movie? i hope youre joking.

If you're of the opinion that Bale didn't deserve a nomination for his role, that's one thing, but you seem to be taking the whole film and playing right into what Warhammer was talking about; The film sucks, so the acting must suck.

As for one note actors, the way I see it, if there's a role calling for an character that an actor can play, and that seems to be the only character they can play, who am I to argue if that actor keeps getting work.

 

[OptimusCannabis]

One possible criteria should be if the actor has played both heroes and villains. That may be the biggest problem with guys like Arnold and Sly. They are always portrayed as being right and being the best, they never lose! Of course, how many people could argue with Arnold or Sly and tell them they are wrong? Inreality, not many. What those neanderthals know best is how not to lose on the primal level - brute strength and kicking ass. They ARE the greatest of the meat-head actors, therefore, they ARE great actors.

 

[CFE]

One possible criteria should be if the actor has played both heroes and villains. That may be the biggest problem with guys like Arnold and Sly. They are always portrayed as being right and being the best, they never lose! Of course, how many people could argue with Arnold or Sly and tell them they are wrong? Inreality, not many. What those neanderthals know best is how not to lose on the primal level - brute strength and kicking ass. They ARE the greatest of the meat-head actors, therefore, they ARE great actors.

Again, Bale fits into that criteria (Bateman and Batman, oddly enough)

But also:

Sir Ian McKellen (The X Films AND the LOTR films)
And the king of all villain actors...Gary Oldman, who turned right around and played Gordon to near perfection.

CFE

 

[KenK]

One possible criteria should be if the actor has played both heroes and villains. That may be the biggest problem with guys like Arnold and Sly. They are always portrayed as being right and being the best, they never lose! Of course, how many people could argue with Arnold or Sly and tell them they are wrong? Inreality, not many. What those neanderthals know best is how not to lose on the primal level - brute strength and kicking ass. They ARE the greatest of the meat-head actors, therefore, they ARE great actors.

Arnold played a villain in the first Terminator.

 

[SolidSnakeMGS]

Good actor - Able to immerse themselves physically and emotionally into the role, and when you compare their different characters from different movies, they seem like totally different people. They can convey emotions subtlely, or they can go on am emotional rampage and still be believeable. Or they can simply sit there and look around, and you still feel exactly what they feel, like Jack Nicholson from One Flew Over the Cookoo's Nest.

Bad actor - Opposite of above, see Paul Walker in any movie. Or someone who acts too much, mugging for the camera, exaggerated facial movements and manners, see Robert Downey Jr. in a lot of roles.

 

[SolidSnakeMGS]

Arnold was also.... MISTAH FUHREEEZE!!

 

[OptimusCannabis]

Arnold played a villain in the first Terminator.

Yeah, and a lot will argue it was his best film. He really should have done more villainous roles instead of Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Last Action Hero, Junior, and Jingle All the Way.

 

[matrix_ghost]

Difference between a good actor and a crappy actor

1 Diversity in the movie roles :
Essentially playing the same role over and over again is the most annoying thing. The one thing you any good actor needs to do is try and not be typecast.
By comparison , Tom Hanks played a moron ( but a fun moron ) in Bachelor Party and then went on to play in Saving Private Ryan.
If any of you ever have the time , check out Bachelor Party and compare Tom Hanks then and Tom Hanks in Ryan. Huge difference.

2 Dedication to your craft and not doing it for teh money/awards
SOmeone mentioned Christian Bale here. He's the perfect example of what it means to have dedication to your role. The guy just shed so many pounds for The Machinst , gained it back for BB and again shed his weight for Rescue Dawn.
Sure getting recognition is all great but the thing that Bale does well is that he doesn't do it for the money or the awards. He just does it for the movie.


3 Being able to take any on script and still give a good performance
There are actors who , even if the movie is mediocre/crappy , still stand out.
Anthony Hopkins is a good example.

 

[matrix_ghost]

Again, Bale fits into that criteria (Bateman and Batman, oddly enough)

But also:

Sir Ian McKellen (The X Films AND the LOTR films)
And the king of all villain actors...Gary Oldman, who turned right around and played Gordon to near perfection.

CFE

And Sirius BLack

 

[Poetic Chaos]

Great actors portray great characters.

 

[SoulManX]

Difference between a good actor and a crappy actor

1 Diversity in the movie roles :
Essentially playing the same role over and over again is the most annoying thing. The one thing you any good actor needs to do is try and not be typecast.
By comparison , Tom Hanks played a moron ( but a fun moron ) in Bachelor Party and then went on to play in Saving Private Ryan.
If any of you ever have the time , check out Bachelor Party and compare Tom Hanks then and Tom Hanks in Ryan. Huge difference.

2 Dedication to your craft and not doing it for teh money/awards
SOmeone mentioned Christian Bale here. He's the perfect example of what it means to have dedication to your role. The guy just shed so many pounds for The Machinst , gained it back for BB and again shed his weight for Rescue Dawn.
Sure getting recognition is all great but the thing that Bale does well is that he doesn't do it for the money or the awards. He just does it for the movie.


3 Being able to take any on script and still give a good performance
There are actors who , even if the movie is mediocre/crappy , still stand out.
Anthony Hopkins is a good example.

Nice, well said.

 

[shapeshifter]

Morgan Freeman = very tallented actor. he can play many varried parts with dignity and poise
vince vaughn = horrible actor that plays the same frat boy every time. no range, no skill, he just is that drunken vile **** in every film

 

[OptimusCannabis]

Morgan Freeman = very tallented actor. he can play many varried parts with dignity and poise
vince vaughn = horrible actor that plays the same frat boy every time. no range, no skill, he just is that drunken vile **** in every film

Good point on Vaughn.

Matt Damon = Good Actor
Ben Affleck = Bad Actor

Robin Williams = Good Actor
Billy Crystal = Bad Actor

As for the awards. Marisa Tomei won best actress and I would hardly consider her a great actor.

 

[SoulManX]

Good point on Vaughn.

Matt Damon = Good Actor
Ben Affleck = Bad Actor

Robin Williams = Good Actor
Billy Crystal = Bad Actor

As for the awards. Marisa Tomei won best actress and I would hardly consider her a great actor.

She was hot in My Cousin Vinny.

 

[shapeshifter]

Good point on Vaughn.

Matt Damon = Good Actor
Ben Affleck = Bad Actor

Robin Williams = Good Actor
Billy Crystal = Bad Actor

As for the awards. Marisa Tomei won best actress and I would hardly consider her a great actor.

good calls on the good vs bad!

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

Its how good or bad the actor..acts.

 

[Poetic Chaos]

Robin William's comedy is too big. And he never turns it off. I can't stand him on talk shows.

 

[KenK]

vince vaughn = horrible actor that plays the same frat boy every time. no range, no skill, he just is that drunken vile **** in every film

Someone needs to see Return to Paradise and Clay Pigeons.

 

[SoulManX]

Lohan's Relaxed Approach to Acting

Reformed Hollywood wildchild Lindsay Lohan refuses to study her scripts ahead of filming, declaring "everything is on set." The Mean Girls star has been criticized by former co-stars, including Jane Fonda and William H. Macy for turning up late on set and last year film producer James G. Robinson criticized the 21-year-old for being "discourteous, irresponsible and unprofessional" on the set of Georgia Rule. And Lohan admits she doesn't spend too long preparing for film roles, preferring to avoid rehearsals and stay away from acting classes. She says, "I have never taken an acting class. I don't rehearse. I don't read my lines the night before. Everything is on set."

 

[CFE]

Lohan's Relaxed Approach to Acting

Reformed Hollywood wildchild Lindsay Lohan refuses to study her scripts ahead of filming, declaring "everything is on set." The Mean Girls star has been criticized by former co-stars, including Jane Fonda and William H. Macy for turning up late on set and last year film producer James G. Robinson criticized the 21-year-old for being "discourteous, irresponsible and unprofessional" on the set of Georgia Rule. And Lohan admits she doesn't spend too long preparing for film roles, preferring to avoid rehearsals and stay away from acting classes. She says, "I have never taken an acting class. I don't rehearse. I don't read my lines the night before. Everything is on set."

That's so incredibly...not surprising.

CFE

 

[Dark Donnie]

Good point on Vaughn.

Matt Damon = Good Actor
Ben Affleck = Bad Actor

Robin Williams = Good Actor
Billy Crystal = Bad Actor

As for the awards. Marisa Tomei won best actress and I would hardly consider her a great actor.

Go see Hollywoodland, Chasing Amy and Good Will Hunting

Yeah, and a lot will argue it was his best film. He really should have done more villainous roles instead of Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Last Action Hero, Junior, and Jingle All the Way.

Last Action Hero is Great....whats wrong with it?

 

[matrix_ghost]

Nice, well said.

THanks

 

[RockSP]

. Normally I would say "look at his/her awards", but they seem to be handing Oscars and Golden Globes out to everyone these days.

Having awards doesn't make one a great actor. (plus there are plenty of great talents with no awards)

 

[Mr. Credible]

Yeah, like, going back to Megan Fox...for me, in Transformers, alot of the time it seemed as though she said her lines as if in the back of her mind she knew what she was saying was ridiculous. But, it could have just been me.

i think it might have been just you... and maybe a handful of others.

considering the role she was given (popular girl, falls for the nerd, etc, etc...) she played it just as she should, and spoke just like 'that girl' would.

there was no line that came out of her that i thought 'wow, man, that's bad'

granted, i haven't seen her in anything else, but as far as transformers, i think she was great.

 

[Mr. Credible]

Robin William's comedy is too big. And he never turns it off. I can't stand him on talk shows.

very true, i hate that man in just about any comedic role, but his drama is nice.