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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Top 10 Favorite Actors Part 1: 10-6

Actors, possibly the most important aspect of any film, without them would there even be films? For this countdown I will be listing my Top 10 favorite actors. This is not a list of "best" actors, although none of these actors would be considered bad, it is a list of the actors that I enjoy watching the most. Remember, this is a list of my all-time favorite actors, not just the ones that are still acting, nearly half the actors on the list are either retired or dead, and the other half are currently acting. Also there are some that are among my favorites, but I have not seen them in enough movies to make this list like Chris Evans or Alan Tudyk. While many viewers are often negatively influenced by an actor's off-screen actives, what an actor does off the screen is of little interest to me. Typically, I avoid knowing about what an actor has done off-screen as to not influence my opinion of his acting ability. However, there are a few actors that have positively influenced my opinion them, mostly from interviews, kindness to fans, and general likeability off the screen. For each actor, I will say something him and why he is one of my favorite actors followed by list a few of his best movies/TV shows and best roles not in any particular order.
 
 
Honorable Mention: Tom Hiddleston
I have said many times that Hiddleston kills it as Loki. However, I have only seen him in the Avengers, Thor, and War Horse, therefore he is an honorable mention due to the lack of films I have seen in, certainly not lack of skill. Alec Guinness would be another honorable mention, he is one of my favorite actors. 


At Number 10: Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson makes any movie he is in infinitely more awesome and BA, that is one of the fundamental laws of the universe. While I have mostly seen him in supporting roles, that is no reason not to include him on the list because he is such a crazy and cool actor. Although most of performances are not Oscar worthy by any means, he is consistently one of the best parts of any film. For this number ten spot it was a real toss up between Morgan Freeman and Sam L. Both have epic voices and screen presence, and make movies better in general. Even though Freeman might be the better actor, Sam L. takes it for his sheer monkey fighting awesomeness (reference to video below).
 
Best Movies: The Avengers, Iron Man 2, Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, The Other Guys, The Incredibles, Die Hard 3, Jurassic Park,
Best Roles: Nick Fury, Mace Windu,


Censorship makes everything funnier.
 


At Number 9: Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion is the only actor on this list that I have seen mostly on television and just in a couple of movies, but that makes no less fun to watch. After becoming a Browncoat (Firefly fan) earlier this year, Fillion quickly became one of my favorite actors. Just like the other cast members of Firefly, I am always looking for great movies that Fillion is in because he is a fun actor to watch. His sarcastic wit and dialogue delivery are always perfect and hilarious as Captain Mal in Firefly, and he is hilariously cheesy as Captain Hammer in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Basically, anything that Joss Whedon works on with Fillion is pure gold. Please Whedon, cast him in something Marvel related!
Best Movies/TV Shows: Firefly, Serenity, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog,
Best Roles: Malcolm Reynolds, Captain Hammer,
  

 
At Number 8: Cary Grant

Cary Grant is an all too often forgotten actor by most of today's modern audience. Despite playing very similar character in all his films, I never get tried of Grant's humor and witty remarks. Grant's work with legendary director Alfred Hitchcock has produced some of his best films, particularly the revolutionary North By Northwest. Interesting fact: if it where not for his age, Grant would have played James Bond and he probably would have done very well in the role.
Best Movies: North By Northwest, Charade, To Catch a Thief, The Philadelphia Story, Notorious, Gunga Din,
Best Role: Roger Thornhill


At Number 7: John Wayne
John Wayne, the Duke, one of the most famous actors in the history of filmmaking. Everyone has at least heard of Wayne and most have seen a few of his films; he is an American icon. While his acting prowess is not always the best, particularly in his early films, he always plays the best cowboys and has starred in many of the greatest western films ever made. Wayne's strongest performances were in Rio Bravo, The Searchers, and his Oscar Winning role of Roster Cogburn in the original True Grit.
Best Movies: True Grit, The Searchers, Roster Cogburn, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Hondo,
Best Role: Roster Cogburn
 

At Number 6: Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart is considered by many to be one of the best actors of all-time, and it is a title that he is most certainly deserving of. I have yet to see a Bogart film that I would consider bad, or even below average. While I am not the biggest fan of his most famous film, Casablanca, his other films like the Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Big Sleep, and the Maltese Falcon are the three best films of the 40s and his other films are among the best of the era. His performance in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre was particularly amazing, one of the best performances I have ever seen.
Best Movies: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, To Have and Have Not, The Caine Mutiny, Casablanca, Key Largo, The Left Hand of God
Best Role: Dobbs, Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe
 
Please check back soon for the next part of my countdown. Are any of these among your favorite actors? Who are your favorite actors? Please comment below.

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

23 comments:

  1. Tome Hiddleston is AMAZING!!! Have you seen the trailer for "The Hollow Crown"? If not, you should look it up, I think it's going to be out of this world...I mean, Tom Hiddleston quoting Shakespear? Could there be ANYTHING better?!

    Cary Grant is another favorite of mine, and I haven't seen Humphry Bogart in enough movies to really tell if I like him that much. I've seen Nathan Fillion in a few movies, but again, I haven't seen him in enough to tell how much I like him. Great post!

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    1. Can't agree more! Until you mentioned it, I did not know about "the Hollow Crown" but after seeing the trailer, it does look great!

      I would recommend The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and the Maltese Falcon, if you haven't seen. Those are some of Bogart's best. And thank you!

      -James

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  2. I'm not a fan-girly-girl but I love Tom Hiddleston. Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp are my favorite actors along with Tom Hiddleston, and, actually, I watch all behind the scenes I can and I'm not negatively influenced by their off-screen stuff--that's actually why I like Robert Downey Jr. But it so true how much you may not like the actor because of off-screen!
    I've never seen anything with Nathan Fillion myself, but my sisters have. He's going to be in Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters!

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    1. RDJ is one of my favorites too, he will be making an appearance on the next part of this list actually, and I agree he is great in those interviews and behind the scenes stuff.
      Yes, I have heard he was in the Percy Jackson movie and that is the only reason I am slightly interested in it!

      -James

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  3. I want to see the new Percy Jackson movie simply because Nathan Fillion is in it. No other reason. I really love him. Haha

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    1. Same here, that is the only reason I want to see it.

      -James

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  4. Great list! :D I also love Tom Hiddleston, Nathan Fillion, and Samuel L. Jackson.
    I haven't seen the others in film yet, but I do know of them and I want to at some point.
    I do tend to like seeing actors who are good people, and seeing them be nice and kind and such makes me like them even more. :D

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    1. Thank you! :D Any of those films I have listed under the actors I would recommend watching sometime, especially Bogart's films since he is considered to be one of the best. :)
      I agree, when an actor is nice to the fans, I them more.

      -James

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  5. Very interesting list so far. Bogart was truly a great actor, and while oftentimes people dismissed Wayne if you see him in The Searchers it is a fierce, passionate performance, among the greatest in film history. Grant was genius through and through: he could do comedy and drama so well he made it look easy. Can't say anything about Fillion since I haven't seen Firefly, but I'm so glad it's Browncoats, not Brownshirts!

    Can't wait to see the next list, but so far looking good.

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    1. Thank you Rick. Exactly my thoughts on Wayne, his performance in the Searchers was truly incredible. Grant might be the best actor at adding humor to just about anything be does.
      Firefly is great, although I am not sure if it is something that you would enjoy. Yes, it is definitely not Brownshirts.

      More of the list will be coming next week.

      -James

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  6. Yay, you did this post!! Off the top of my head, my favorite actors include JOhnny Depp (I've seen sooo many of his movies), Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Harrison Ford, Charlton Heston, and John Wayne is good too! :) And I agree, try not to let an actor's normal life effect how I see their acting ability. :)

    ~Jamie

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    1. Yep, I finally got it finish last week! :) Depp is a lot of fun to watch, definitely one of my honorable mentions, although I haven't seen as many of his films as you have. :) Ford will also be coming up on part 2, and Cumberbatch is another honorable mention.

      -James

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  7. Cant wait to see your top picks, I will try an off the top of my head list from 10 to one. I could easily have included Cary Grant, Ed Norton, or Daniel Day Lewis.

    Charlton Heston
    John Wayne
    Gregory Peck
    Sean Connery
    Clint Eastwood
    Denzel Washington
    Harrison Ford
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    Bruce Willis
    Mel Gibson
    James Gardner




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    1. All excellent picks, and all of those actors are at least in my honorable mentions. Several of the actors on your Top 10 will also be coming up in my top 5 next week.

      -James

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  8. Samuel L. Jackson and no mention of Pulp Fiction!?!

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    1. second that and unbreakable.

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    2. @Daniel: I haven't seen Pulp Fiction yet, but it is on "Must Watch List" and I also want to see Unbreakable.

      -James

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    3. Pulp Fiction is what starts his reign as a badass :-)

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  9. So I'm just going to take a wild guess and say that Harrison Ford is going to be number one? Just a guess. :) :P
    I didn't work out Nathan Fillion was in Percy Jackson until I read the comments. And I remember you saying something about him being in it. He's playing Hermes, and he'd better do the part right. :)

    God Bless,
    Vellvin.

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    1. *whisper* Great guess, you are 100% right, Ford is the man. :D

      Hopefully he will do well in the role, although I haven't seen him in it yet. :)

      -James

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  10. Have you seen SLJ's The Long Kiss Goodnight? I think you would dig it. Does have considerable violence and some language.

    I like all your choices, and John Wayne is my #1 fave ever :-D

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  11. Nice choices! I've only seen Tom Hiddleston as Loki but really like him, partially because of hearing how nice a guy he is.

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  12. Nathan Fillion also acts on "Castle", a dramedy about a mystery writer who helps a pretty cop solve cases. He's goofy, adorable, sweet, and nervously brave in this one. I love him; he's hilarious and a very good actor.

    I need to watch the John Wayne movies you mentioned; I grew up on his B-movies, which were entertaining, but not great. My favorites include Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch, and pretty much everyone on your list.

    If you like Humphrey Bogart, you may also appreciate James Cagney. "White Heat" was my personal favorite.

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