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Hanks, erm....but you're quite right about all the...

Posted by Harmonia (A) on December 15, 2008 at 20:27:53

In Reply to: Of course, our lists are only English-speakers.... posted by tinear on December 15, 2008 at 18:32:12:

..white, English speaking males. I'm not familiar enough with stars of other nations to evaluate their star power, except perhaps for Gerard Depardieu, to say one Euro great who would be both a contender for "best" and is assuredly a "star".

Javier Bardem would be at the forefront of any internationl group of accomplished, charismatic internationl stars - he's got stature,a good internatinal CV and acting chops - I think it's fair to say that Anton Chigurh is surely one of the most chilly, memorable characters in movies.

Mea culpa for neglecting our great actors of color, however.

So - Denzel Washington, agree, absolutely a movie star, talented and very VERY sexy. Agreed. Much more versatile than his recent movie roles. I wish he'd do something really great, unusual and scary. (Training Day ain't it, good as Denzel was in it.) But I can't begrudge the guy making a little money. Maybe the remake of Pelham 1-2-3 will be better than I think it's gonna be. So we'll all remember Glory, Devil In Blueand the great roles he had in Spike movies - Mo Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game, Inside man -

Morgan Freeman is a very powerful actor, and we all wish we knew someone in real life like the characters he plays. One also wishes he had something more to do in movies than be the wise and kindly uncle, grandfather, sidekick, best friend etc. For heaven's sake someone give the man a lead and let him stretch. And may I never see Bucket List again as long as I live. (Back in the day, Freeman was a pretty good classical actor, let him play some villains at least.) MF was just as good in Unforgiven as Hackman and Eastwood. He's a big part of what made Shawshank Redeption so popular and enduring. Glory, Lean On Me, Million Dollar Baby...yup.

Danny Glover is far more talented than a lot of his recent movies as well. He was stunning in To Sleep With Anger, Places In The Heart...and didn't you love to hate him in The Color Purple? Lonsome Dove, Silverado, a looooong drought and then Royal Tenebaums....Saw (ARGH)...back to form in Sayle's Honeydripper. He's been busy lately, and I missed him in Gondry's Be Kind Rewind.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is someone I feel is a tremendously potent and capable actor. A star on British stage before he hit the movies, I think he could do almost anything. A chameleon, but a strong presence when called for. Love Actually, Dirty Pretty Things, Children Of Men, Inside Man, Talk To Me, Serenity...and he was a hoot in Kinky Boots. I loved the cop buddy bit he and Denzel had going in Inside Man - hope he's back for the sequel.I look forward to watching him in future, although apparently he's off making a disaster flick with John Cusack.

Don Cheadle is another young actor with tremendous talent. I saw him in Devil In A Blue Dress way back but really noticed him in Boogie Nights. He's been excellent in the Ocean's movies and broke through in a big way in Hotel Rwanda. He has that rare ability to be "believable" in a wide variety of roles, always authentic, no actor-y tics yet.

But I guess my fave nom for best African-American actor would be an underdog and outsider - Forrest Whitaker, because when he's good, he's so powerful he blows me away. Whitaker's certainly not had that many great roles in prestige movies. He's a character actor and not a "movie star", and his true calling may actually end up being behind the camera. But Whitaker is in my great actor hierarchy for three performances in three very different indie films: Bird, The Crying Game and Ghost Dog/Way Of The Samurai. Three monumentally moving performances, and the one in Crying Game is actually quite short (though pivotal). I didn't think his Oscar winning performance in Last King Of Scotland was actually his best, although it sure was scary. I was thrilled to see him recognized. Hope that Oscar gets him another fat, juicy, odd part to sink his teeth into. And yes, I know he has a droopy eye.

Hanks...what a nice guy and appealing actor - how can you NOT like him? No denying he's a star and beloved of audiences. Some of my friends met him when he was in Evansville, IN, making A League of Their Own, and they all adored him.

So...how good is he anyway? I'm probably not the best person to ask. I hated The DaVinci Code, hated Philadelphia, HATED Forrest Gump, HATED Cast Away. Not his fault the movies sucked. Just like Oscar to reward adequate performances in puffed up, mediocre movies.

I think Hanks doesn't get enough credit for his comedy and light romantic roles. There's a reason Sleepless In Seattle was huge, and it wasn't just because of Meg Ryan. I have a fondness for Big, which I suspect, despite Hanks easy charm and boyish looks, was harder to bring off than anyone knows. He's quite good in League Of Their Own, which is fun if not great cinema, and he's good in Appollo 13. I adore Hanks in Road To Perdition, which most folks do not...I like this second effort from Mendes far better than the more celebrated American Beauty and found Hanks quite believable. (That movie had great peformances from Paul Newman and Daniel Craig too._) I think Spielberg, with all the best intentions in the world, ultimately failed Hanks in Saving Private Ryan, in which he gave a fine performance, but which just misses the payoff. Hanks is in good form in The Green Mile, and pretty restrained, where the tone coud've gone out of whack at any number of points in that film. He was unrestrained and unbelievable in The Lady Killers, for which I blame the Coens equally. But he was terrific in Catch Me If You Can and Charlie Wilsons War.

I guess this must mean I like Tom Hanks, but I do rank him below Hackman, Caine, Fiennes, et al for sheer actorly fire power. Hanks is good, he just doesn't have as many colors on hie palette IMO.

And I confess The Money Pit is a guilty pleasure of mine - for the last 25 years I have lived *in* a money pit. Selling the sucker as is, I give up.

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