After today's loss, I couldn't even say who the greatest actor alive is

[morningfog]

Philip Seymour Hoffman was the greatest actor alive. Great in the sense that he became the character, or the character became him. It was too seamless to tell. He gave the roles everything he had, left it lying on the floor.

His death is a tragic loss. And, I can't think of anyone alive that comes close to him at his craft. Rest well, Mr. Hoffman.

[sked14]

1. How about Sir Anthony Hopkins?

[HipChick]

2. All in the eye of the beholder..

Sir Hopkins is still alive though..

[sked14]

7. That's what the OP said,

After today's loss, I couldn't even say who the greatest actor alive is

But you're right, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

[LuvNewcastle]

3. Or Sir Ian McKellen

[shenmue]

4. Certainly they're among the best.

Sigh. Just too damn soon to go.

[bluestate10]

47. Or De Niro or Pacino or Redford, or a large number of Actresses. There are many good ones

walking among us.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Daniel Day-Lewis holds the belt as far as I'm concerned.

Hoffman was very good when he was good, but he lacked consistency which may have been a function of the drugs and drink, but still....

[etherealtruth]

13. I would have to agree but, Hoffman was an amzing actor

The horror of addiction

[postulater]

17. I agree.

I watched In the Name of the Father last night.

[SMC22307]

27. That's an outstanding film...

and probably my favorite starring DD-L. Hell, I remember watching "My Beautiful Laundrette" back in the mid-'80s thinking "who the hell is this guy?!"

[Egnever]

6. I agree

Just an amazing talent. I cant think of anyone else who can make you feel a character so completely. I cant help feeling that ability played a huge part in his self destruction, He played a lot of very messed up roles and perhaps took them on too thuroughly

[LuvNewcastle]

8. Hoffman was definitely one of the best, if not the best.

I enjoyed every role I saw him play, and that's very unusual for me. I miss him already.

[pipoman]

9. I think Billy Bob Thornton

Is one of the most diverse actors alive now.

[nomorenomore08]

60. I know what you mean, but dramatic range is only one aspect of what makes a great actor.

I have nothing whatsoever against Thornton, but with the exception of "Sling Blade" he doesn't seem to truly disappear into a character the way the greatest actors do.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. There are several excellent underrated actors.

I would never award one of them with that title.

RIP Mr. Hoffman.

[Egalitarian Thug]

11. Meryl Streep. n/t

[bluestate10]

49. Yeah. Streep is at the very top of the heap. The best of them all, IMO. Her range of roles

is absolutely stunning. And she is a true Progressive, and a resident of my state.

[Egalitarian Thug]

73. And if she had a penis evey reply on this thread would be different. She and a score of British

trained actors constitute the state of the art, today. Americans can't even tell the difference between talent and personality any longer. Our most talented are buried under mountains of money that tries to hide the fact the picture they made sucked on the page and didn't improve at all on film.

John Depp is an amazing talent, but he's only allowed to turn out one good film in exchange for four or five pieces of shit to move product. Pirates of the Seriously? And they pushed out three of these soporifics? If you're under six years old, the loud noises and bright colors are expected to hold your attention, but we're supposed to outgrow that stage.

[tenderfoot]

75. Meryl Streep being hilarious...

[Egalitarian Thug]

77. That's it, right there. Talent. Cold on a live show with nothing to be gained.

I believe P S Hoffman would have got to her level, had he stayed around.

There are a few out there, but the manufactured celebrities and the scions of insiders tend to drown them out.

[bravenak]

76. Oh hells yes

I love Meryl Streep.

[Egalitarian Thug]

79. She is whomever she plays.

There is an amusing interview floating around with Roseanne talking about working with her on She-Devil. In addition to the usual insecurity of a non-actor working with someone of Streep's talent/stature, she was freaked out that Streep seemed to hate her. She didn't understand how method works and thought Streep hated her, personally.

[monmouth3]

12. Hoffman was extraordinary in that one Tom Cruise film I can't remember the name of. He

just exuded the evil of the character. What a horrible loss this is..

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. He was in "Mission Impossible" with Cruise and also "Magnolia."

"Magnolia" is one of my favorite films ever.

[monmouth3]

16. This is a horrible loss. I just loved him and he chose such great roles...n/t

[Whisp]

23. me too for Magnolia.

It was so rich in so many ways. So dark but forgiveness was such a large part of the message.

Awesome.

[itsrobert]

29. Rain Man

is the movie.

[OldEurope]

33. Rain Man was Dustin Hoffman.

Maybe you are confusing the two actors?

[itsrobert]

34. Oh, I am sorry

My mistake. I just seen Hoffmann and Cruise movie and thought Rain Man.

[nomorenomore08]

61. Dustin Hoffman is much older. The mistake is somewhat understandable.

[Egalitarian Thug]

80. If you're a fan, re-watch Boogie Nights and pay close attention to his portrayal.

He was on his way to becoming an icon.

[pipoman]

14. rip

[Fumesucker]

18. These two are pretty good

[Ilsa]

52. Great picture, but I'm soooo disappointed

in Patrick Stewart!

[Vashta Nerada]

19. Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellan.

[mstinamotorcity2]

20. Denzel Washington

and Tom Hanks. Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino but I am old school.

[sked14]

22. Just watched Captain Phillips the other night,

Tom Hanks was superb as Captain Phillips.

[erpowers]

46. He Was

I think he made the movie. His not getting an Oscar nomination was, in my opinion, a true snub. He should have gotten a nomination.

[cthulu2016]

21. Maybe Ed Norton

[DrDan]

24. absolutely one of the top! and you are correct, this is a tragic loss

[Contrary1]

25. Morgan Freeman

While watching his films, I tend to forget he is acting.

Mr. Hoffman was one of a kind too.

[Kablooie]

26. Both him and Heath Ledger were rare talents that were taken away way too soon.

Probably goes with the territory though.
True artistic talent often comes from tremendous pain, and that pain often destroys.

[itsrobert]

28. Byran Cranston was pretty good in

Malcolm in the Middle.

Also, not bad in Breaking Bad.

[A HERETIC I AM]

32. Beat me to it.

See my post below

[Initech]

74. He was awesome in Breaking Bad. Long live Heisenberg!

[A HERETIC I AM]

30. There are plenty of extraordinary actors.

While Mr. Hoffman's death is certainly a tragedy and he was without a doubt a fine craftsman, to say he was the "greatest actor alive" is a bit of a stretch.

I have as much respect for Gene Wilder, who has not acted in a theater released film for over 23 years primarily because he didn't think any of the scripts he was offered were worth doing.

George Clooney is a fine actor. As mentioned by another poster in this thread, Daniel Day Lewis is an enormous talent. Ditto Anthony Hopkins who, it is worth noting, sent a letter to Bryan Cranston praising his work on "Breaking Bad", saying "Your performance as Walter White was the best acting I have seen - ever."

Pretty high praise.

Yes, Hoffman was a great actor.

The best? Dubious.

Here's the funny thing about acting; Many people over the years have praised John Wayne as a "great actor". The thing is, the character John Wayne played in every movie he ever made was.....


John Wayne.

[1000words]

40. Wayne had screen presence ... and how!

His was far from a "great actor." Clint Eastwood comes to mind, in the same way.

[Nye Bevan]

31. Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Haven't any of you people even seen "Time Cop"?

[sked14]

35. Time Cop.

One of my favorite movies.

[hfojvt]

38. Bobby Morgan's still waiting for a 2nd chance.

I'm still kicking. I must be on Broadway.

[CrispyQ]

36. Christopher Walken will always be my number 1.

But RIP, Mr. Hoffman. There was not a movie that you did not make better.

[1000words]

37. When I saw him in "Happiness," I knew he'd be a star.

Amazing talent. A great loss.

[dixiegrrrrl]

39. Pacino.

He graciously said that Bryan Cranston was the greatest actor he had ever seen,
but watching Pachino in The Merchant of Venice was a revelation, an awesome performance.
He actually managed to make Jeremy Irons look wooden by comparison.

btw...you want good acting?
Catch cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine. so stunning I watched it twice.

[sked14]

42. I thought Pachino and DeNiro were great in Righteous Kill

and Heat.

[spooky3]

41. I've seen Matt Damon in several challenging roles

And think he is one of the best. Ditto Johnny Depp.

[HipChick]

43. I adore Matt...I must admit I have no idea who this dead actor is..

all the same may he RIP

[LittleBlue]

44. Agreed. He was immense. But I think the best actor alive is someone we've never heard of.

It's difficult to tell where good acting ends and good roles begin. Some actors were born to play certain roles, some actors stumble upon good roles and become acclaimed.

Someone above mentioned Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad. Had that show not come along, the mainstream public would have best known him for his role in Malcolm in the Middle, a cheesy kid's show with him as a father. Though he was recognized as a supporting actor in a comedy, his true calling is drama. He would have lived and died with his true ability unrecognized by the world. Same with James Gandolfini. He played an uncredited "Diner Cook" just two years before getting the lead role of Tony Soprano.

But you're right about PSH. He probably would have been recognized regardless of the breaks he got, he was that good. I just think some actors are unfortunate in that the breaks don't always go their way, even though they have ability.

[morningfog]

48. Excellent points.

[A HERETIC I AM]

51. It could very well be the greatest living actor just did his second High School play.

Your points are well taken.

[rudolph the red]

45. Bryan Cranston

[Dr Hobbitstein]

50. That's easy...

The 4 greatest actors alive are:

Gary Busey



Gary Busey



Gary Busey



and Dabney Coleman




Seriously, though. PSH was an incredible actor who will be sorely missed...

[appleannie1]

53. They think he might have gotten some of the fentanyl cut heroin that has been circulating

in the northeast. It has been responsible for over 20 deaths in Pittsburgh, over 20 in Rhode Island and this week a number in Long Island. It had gone by the street name Theraflu but is now called 24K. It is 24 karat death in a syringe.

[Ilsa]

54. There are great actors on tv serials, too, both

Daytime and nighttime TV. Iris Elba, Michael Muhney, Gillian Anderson, etc. Not "movie stars", but Helen Huntand many others did TV, too.

[alcibiades_mystery]

55. Meryl Streep is pretty clearly the greatest actor alive, but Hoffman came damn close

Apart from the jerks pretending never to have heard of him, the response is near universal shock and sadness. It's quite clear that he was the best (early) Gen X actor we had - sad for my generation. He also seems to have been a mostly decent person. I haven't seen a bad word spoken about the guy, ever. It';s a sad day.

Talent like that could have lit up our screens with genius for another 30 years. Hendrix-level loss here.

[polichick]

62. Definitely Meryl.

[defacto7]

56. Some actors have a personality

that can fit many roles and become completely at home in those roles and portray them very successfully.

Other actors can take on extremely different roles that are completely foreign to their own personality and make their character come alive in any persona. This was the acting genius of Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

[Lint Head]

57. You never caught him "acting". He was always convincing.

[linuxman]

58. I'll take a stab at it.

Edward Norton
Daniel Day Lewis
Anthony Hopkins
Christian Bale
Leonardo Dicaprio
Forrest Whittaker

All pretty amazing.

Hoffman was great, but I wouldn't say that we're even close to being without a suitable "greatest".

[Cha]

59. Oh NO! I just saw this and had no idea that

Philip Seymour Hoffman had passed on. RIP

[Lost_Count]

63. The worlds greatest actor/singer/musician...

... Is whoever died most recently.

[nomorenomore08]

64. I have to say that his obscene phone caller in "Happiness" was one of the funniest movie roles ever.

So grotesque, and inept, and (figuratively) impotent all at once. I just about died laughing.

This is a terrible day for cinema, hell, for art period. Whatever made him relapse after (supposedly) being clean so long, it couldn't possibly have been worth this...

[zinnisking]

72. +1

"I''ll fu** you so hard you'll be C*mming out your ears".

I have to watch that one again.

[PasadenaTrudy]

66. Robert DeNiro

Raging Bull, Taxi Driver...etc etc

[Skittles]

68. I had Phillip in my top five

[WonderGrunion]

69. John Hurt

Just look at the subtleties of expression used in his recent guest spot on Dr. Who

[zinnisking]

70. The last thing I saw him in was The Party's Over (2001)

when browsing documentaries a few months ago.

This is the first I heard of his death.

He was one of the greats.

[BrotherIvan]

71. Max Von Sydow

There will never be another.

SPH was laudable and likable and I'm sad he won't be gifting us with more of his great performances. But I doubt he would try to compare himself to the giants. That's what was so great about him, he was still reaching and growing as an actor.

[ellisonz]

78. Jack Nicholson

[Demo_Chris]

81. Tom Cruise, Chris Cooper, Kevin Spacey