To be or not to be. That is the question that ever actor or want to be actor has mumbled in front of dirty bathroom mirrors, or maybe that’s just me. Acting is not a hobby – it’s an art form. Ask old Willie Shakespeare – without great actors there would be no Romeo and Juliet, even though when the play first opened it was Romeo and Romeo. Acting is an art and actors are painters with their bodies and words. Here is my Mt. Rushmore plus one.
Joaquin Phoenix
The Joker is a great display of an artist displaying their talent for the world to see. From the loner in Her who falls in love with a voice, to the maniacal clown and failed stand-up comic – who in my opinion was the best Joker, whoever flashed that crooked smile. In my humble opinion, “The Master” was his greatest portal and “Walk the Line” was his greatest acting achievement. Joaquin takes the and one for my list.
Al Pacino
Serpico and Dog Day Afternoon are some of the block buster films that entranced Al Pacino into the minds of movie lovers everywhere. Pacino has been a master of the craft for decades. In Scent of a Woman, he played a suicidal, blind man. In Heat, he plays a cop looking to take down a bank robbing crew. Even in Gucci, he gives a masterful performance as Gucci. Who else could have played Gucci? The Oscar winner can play absolutely any character known to man. He played the Devil. Now, maybe he can play God or Batman. Has Al done Star Wars?
Daniel Day Lewis
Any man with three, first names, has to be an acting savant to the highest degree. He played a man with one good foot, a boxer, a tailor and gang leader – just to name a few characters – he has taken down, and remade into figures that are scorched into our medullas. He is a master among masters and in many people’s opinion – maybe be the best actor ever created. There Will Be Blood was my personal favorite. If Daniel Day Lewis in on the marquee, it is almost a guarantee you will see greatness.
Denzel Washington
St. Elsewhere is where I first saw him portray a doctor. I never imagined the TV doctor would be propelled to super stardom. He has been a part of many American Classics that have brought us into the worlds Denzel has crafted. Name the part – he has played it – to almost perfection. There will never be another Mr. Washington, who has redefined the leading man position in modern feature films. He has entertained the world since he first jumped in front of the camera lens. His passion is second to none and I cannot think of a Denzel movie that he did not give it his all. He is a beast. A beast with an Oscar.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
The world is still missing the talents of this classically – trained thespian. Conquered the movie world several times over. From little films, to foreign film to major roles in Hollywood blockbusters. Mission Impossible, Love Liza, Boogie Nights, and Synecdoche are some of my favorite. The death of Philip Seymour Hoffman left a hole in the cinema world and he is greatly missed. It gives the world pause to think about what he could have been. Salud.
