Is Philip Seymour Hoffman the greatest living American actor?

[Orrex]

Poll question: Is Philip Seymour Hoffman the greatest living American actor?

[Swede]

1. He was ok in Avatar.

:shrug:

[rcrush]

14. Was he the Blue Kitteh?

[flvegan]

2. Who?

[caitxrawks]

3. LOL how funny.

I just mentioned seeing him naked having sex in a movie.

*shudder*

I really like him. He was excellent in Doubt. Well, come to think of it, he was excellent in Capote too. And good lord, everything else he's ever been in. Even Boogie Nights.

[Orrex]

4. I was just watching a few of his scenes in Charlie Wilson's War

Hoffman's performance is magnificent. He also has terrific range. I mean, watch him in Twister and then in Capote and then in Punch Drunk Love and then in Doubt. You'll get whiplash!

[tigereye]

44. yes, he was excellent in that, in Pirate Radio, in Doubt, in Capote, in Almost

Famous, in pretty much everything I've seen, he's great.

Not sure he's the best, living male actor, though.

[Quantess]

13. Oh... I don't think I would want to see him in a sex scene.

Even less, naked in a sex scene. There's no need for that.

The last thing I saw him in was a documentary about the stolen election of 2000. We saw his transformation from an apathetic, non-political person before the election, into a rightfully disgusted American post-election.

[Skittles]

16. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead?

AWESOME movie

[JTG of the PRB]

33. *hurk*

Good gravy, that brings back some unpleasant memories. I saw that movie with some friends, and of course the first thing that comes on is PSH's pasty white bare ass doing a sex scene with Marissa Tomei. Kinda ruined the rest of the movie for me.

:puke:

[mnhtnbb]

5. Jack Nicholson, Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro would be on

my list of greatest living American actors (male)but for me, no one can compete with Meryl Streep.
What a talent.

[caitxrawks]

6. ohhhh

My husband has a total mancrush on De Niro. He says he identifies with Travis Bickle LOL! And I fell in love with Meryl Streep in Doubt. I was really able to see her talent for the first time in that, and since then I've paid more attention to her in her other roles. I loved her in the Devil Wears Prada, she personified the character exactly.

I like Johnny Depp :-3 So cliche, I know, but he can do no wrong.

[Auggie]

19. Sean Penn and Gene Hackman also

[mnhtnbb]

26. Morgan Freeman, too.

[Captain Hilts]

34. Yes. nt

[Captain Hilts]

29. I like Nicholson, but don't think he's in the ranks with S.Hoffman or Meryl Streep etc. nt

[joeybee12]

64. Jakc Nicholson plays Jack Nicholson fine...that's about it...n/t

[EastTennesseeDem]

7. I voted "Yes"

because I'm assuming "Philip Seymour Hoffman" is a synonym for "George Clooney."

[Orrex]

8. Clooney is a pretty goddamn fantastic actor as well.

[EastTennesseeDem]

12. I love Hoffman too

Have you seen 25th Hour?

Fanfuggintastic.

[Captain Hilts]

27. We under estimate him. Just as Gable's talents were under-estimated. nt

[struggle4progress]

9. I won't be able to decide how to vote until I find out who the f he is

[nuxvomica]

23. He's the blond guy who cries a lot

If you notice someone gnawing on the scenery in a movie, that would be Mr. Hoffman. :-)

[struggle4progress]

24. Hmm. Well, not just ANYBODY can gnaw scenery

:dilemma:

[Orrex]

41. What does that even mean?

I've heard every actor in the business described as a scenery-chewer, and I've heard it applied alternatively to every role they've played. There's no consistency in the application or context of the phrase.

It seems vaguely to be a disparagement of the actor's performance and/or ability, but it's applied so loosely and haphazardly that it's pretty much impossible to pin down.

:shrug:

[nuxvomica]

47. It's when an actor acts too hard

With Hoffman, it's when he gets the waterworks started, like in Capote and other roles. I didn't believe him in Capote because he seemed to be either crying or one the verge of it during the whole film. It's like "Look how hard I'm working at this." He's gotten more control since then, it seems. He turned in some fine performances in Charlie Wilson's War and Doubt and Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. I've avoided Savages because I figured he would overdo it.

[Orrex]

48. Well, that's kind of what I'm saying.

Pick any well-praised actor, and name any well-praised part they've played, and you'll find 51% of opinions saying they're doing a great job, while 51% say he's chewing the scenery (with a 2% margin of error).

And, more often than not, the role in which they're accused of scenery-chewing is the one that got them the Oscar. Capote is one example, as is Hopkins' Lecter, Pacino's Frank Slade, etc.

It just strikes me as an easy criticism to hurl, while it isn't especially descriptive.

[nuxvomica]

57. But it really is a fair criticism, I think

If something strikes one as overdone it's worth pointing out. That can happen with special effects, score, editing, etc. It's just as subjective as any other criticism, such as "wooden" when applied to, oh, say, Keanu Reeves, whose fans probably would describe as being "subtle". How else would you describe an overwrought performance?

[Orrex]

60. Of course there's no way to apply a single standard

If a role calls for an over-the-top performance, then the actor shouldn't be criticized for playing it that way. And if a role has a comedic element, it's hard to criticize the performance as "scenery chewing" if that performance yields an effectively comic result.

For comparison, I would say that Tim Burton's work is a consistently vapid and pretentious attempt at kitsch and camp, but I'm sure that his admirers would call him a brilliant director for the very same reasons.

[MilesColtrane]

10. He is definitely fearless.

That's a prerequisite.

[bamacrat]

11. Is amazing in everything he does. Loved him in The Big Lebowski.

I think he should play The Penguin if they decide to reprise that roll in a future Batman movie. Awesome.

[Skittles]

15. honesty, I think he very well may be

[jobycom]

17. Did Meryl Streep die or something?

Because if she's alive, there's only a debate about second place.

[Orrex]

20. Sorry. I just can't forgive her for She-Devil

[Captain Hilts]

31. Or Postcards From the Edge. She had NO BUSINESS being in "Heartburn." nt

[gmoney]

56. Postcards is cool... give it another look.

If nothing else, her singing makes the whole thing worthwhile.

Carrie Fisher's DVD commentary is pretty hilarious, too. She's sort of "what the hell am I supposed to do? I don't remember this or that."

[jobycom]

32. But you're okay with Hoffman in Along Came Polly an MI 3? Puhleese.

He co-starred with Adam Sandler, for chrissake.

[Orrex]

40. He was actually pretty good in MI3

And Along Came Polly is a horrible figment of your imagination.

[jobycom]

52. I actually liked MI 3

But everyone here hates anything Tom Cruise does so much I thought it would make my point better.

[Captain Hilts]

28. She's managed to improve on doing comedy. nt

[coyotespaw]

18. He's ok, but he's no Clancey Brown...

that is all.

[Orrex]

21. Him?

[coyotespaw]

51. No...

Him

[peekaloo]

22. If by Philip Seymour Hoffman you mean Kevin Spacey, then yes.

:dunce:

[Captain Hilts]

30. Yes! Spacey is very good! nt

[Captain Hilts]

25. He just might be. nt

[whistler162]

35. SInce he was born in Fairport and I was born in

Canandaigua. Yes, he is the greatest living actor. Even though I have only seen twister and patch adams.

[WinkyDink]

36. No. Gene Hackman is.

[blueknight]

37. only if

sean penn died

[Orrex]

39. I don't know. I like Hackman, but...

every role I've ever seen him play has been Gene Hackman, occasionally with a moustache. He's never "vanished into the role" for me, though he certainly always gives an entertaining performance.

[old mark]

38. No. Mos Def is. nt

[tigereye]

42. wonderfully versatile

but I don't know if he's the greatest. (although he was amazing in Capote)Stanley Tucci has a bit more depth and breadth, I think. Seems willing to take more risks.

[KG]

43. no, that would be Johnny Depp

[Zavulon]

45. Not even close.

John Lithgow is. Anyone who can play his role in 3rd Rock from the Sun and his role in Dexter and do both that well...the guy is beyond amazing.

[Orrex]

46. John Lithgow has had one role and one role only

All else is incidental.

[Broken_Hero]

49. nope, I won't buy it...I choose other

Christopher Reeve is the best actor ever, ever, ever....

He can make you orange juice, freshly squeezed...

[travelingtypist]

50. I liked him in Twister, but that was about it.

"Food. Food. Food."

[qnr]

53. Of course he isn't. n/t

[Orrex]

54. COGENT!

:wtf:

[qnr]

62. How does he live greatly? Does he have a stable stocked with ten thousand thoroughbred marmots,

trained to pull him around town in a crystal chariot? Now that would be living great!

Oh... wait... you meant greatest living in the other sense. Hmm, well, he's good, but his voice annoys me - so I'd not put him on the list, personally.

[Orrex]

63. Marmots? No.

But he has five hundred and three stoats trained and at his disposal. I'll have to get back to re: the crystal chariot.

[woo me with science]

55. I have no idea who this is. nt

[Starbucks Anarchist]

58. Definitely one of my favorites, and here's a pic for those who don't know him:

[cbdo2007]

59. His best role was in Boogie Nights. Besides that...he's alright.

[LeftinOH]

61. Not even. And Toby Jones was a better Truman Capote in 'Infamous'.

[xchrom]

65. None better. Nt

[valerief]

66. I liked his drag role with DeNiro. nt

[JonLP24]

67. I like Denzel Washington myself

Very difficult for me to think of a better actor. JMO.