Movies: Actor: Most Charismatic? Most Talent Proven?

[OzzyFan]

Who, in your opinion is...

The current most charismatic lead actor? All-time?

The current most talent proven lead actor? All-Time?

By talent proven, I mean successful wide range of roles completed successfully and/or multiple difficult roles.

Odd enough, I don't think he fits the bill, but James Franco got me thinking about this (pretty solid odd/different range of roles he's excelled at thus far in his career: 127 Hours, Spring Breakers, Milk, City By The Sea, and even Why Him/Pineapple Express honestly.)

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[Naych_PHX]

Tom Hanks

 

[Jumptheshark]

Who, in your opinion is...

The current most charismatic lead actor? All-time?

The current most talent proven lead actor? All-Time?

By talent proven, I mean successful wide range of roles completed successfully and/or multiple difficult roles.

Odd enough, I don't think he fits the bill, but James Franco got me thinking about this (pretty solid odd/different range of roles he's excelled at thus far in his career: 127 Hours, Spring Breakers, Milk, City By The Sea, and even Why Him/Pineapple Express honestly.)

I hate franco and would punch his face if I saw him--he smug--very smug and full of himself--just ask anyone who worked on his three "indy" films he shot there last year.

 

[Bubba Thudd]

Sean Connery? Anthony Hopkins?

 

[Habsrule]

Johnny Depp

He plays a wide variety of characters and always pulls them off.

 

[Osprey]

The current most charismatic lead actor? All-time?

For current, I'd probably go with Dwayne Johnson. He oozes charisma even if he may not ooze much else. 10-20 years ago, I might've gone with Will Smith, but, while he's still acting, he just doesn't seem to have the charisma that he did when he was younger.

For all-time, I might go with Jimmy Stewart. Beyond being so likable in all of his roles, he also served in WWII and the Vietnam war and rose to the rank of Brigadier General, and the definition of "charisma" does mean leadership through engendering enthusiasm, so he had not just acting charisma, but actual, proven, real-world charisma.

The current most talent proven lead actor? All-Time?

For current, I'd probably go with Tom Hanks. He's proven his talent for comedy (everything pre-'93), vulnerability (Philadelphia), innocence (Forrest Gump) and seriousness (everything since), not just with awards, but box office returns.

For all-time, wow, that's really hard. I'm tempted to name a classical actor, but there was a different standard in the past. Even some of the best classical actors would probably be judged as overacting when compared to the modern standard, so do you judge acting talent against other actors of the time or against the new standard?

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

All-time is someone like Bogart, John Wayne, or Steve McQueen. Nicholson and Harrison Ford are probably up there as well. As for foreign actors, Alain Deleon and Toshiro Mifune come to mind. There's so many though, tough to narrow it down to one.


As for right now, I don't think anyone owns the screen the way Tom Hardy does. He's on another level as far as charisma/screen presence goes. Dwayne Johnson is a good choice as well, honorable mention to Idris Elba.

 

[Osprey]

Johnny Depp

He plays a wide variety of characters and always pulls them off.

He seems to always play the same character, to me. I don't see much difference between his characters in, for example, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lone Ranger, Alice in Wonderland, Sleepy Hollow, From Hell and so on. Aside from Edward Scissorhands, has he ever played a character who isn't aloof, zany and dry in his sense of humor? He plays that character very well, but range isn't a talent that I associate with him.

As for right now, I don't think anyone owns the screen the way Tom Hardy does. He's on another level as far as charisma/screen presence goes.

I find him totally lacking in charisma. In fact, his performance in Mad Max: Fury Road was the complete opposite of charisma and one of the things that really hurt that movie, IMO.

 

[Legionnaire]

Charismatic? Meh.

Talent proven? Sir Lawrence Oliver.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

I think you have to put Tom Cruise in the mix for versatility. The guy's a complete weirdo but a hell of an actor.

Also would put Robin Williams in the conversation. Wasn't an 'action star' but could do comedic and dramatic roles extremely well. Even still had some action titles like Hook, Jumanji under his belt.

Robert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman are two other picks for me. Downey I feel is a better actor but less versatile, Jackman not as good an actor but more versatile.

 

[kihei]

Charismatic now: Idris Elba (in the right role, Luther, for example)
Charismatic all time: Marcello Mastroianni/Cary Grant
Talent proven now: Meryl Streep/Isabelle Huppert/Juliette Binoche
Talent proven all time: Laurence Olivier

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

Charismatic: Paul Newman had tons of charisma.

As for current actors with great range, I'd say Daniel Day-Lewis takes that crown with an honourable mention to Tony Leung. Ralph Fiennes is another guy with great range.

I want to see Tom Hanks play a "bad guy", somebody that is truly despicable. I just can't see it happening or being convincing.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Charismatic: Paul Newman had tons of charisma.

As for current actors with great range, I'd say Daniel Day-Lewis takes that crown with an honourable mention to Tony Leung. Ralph Fiennes is another guy with great range.

I want to see Tom Hanks play a "bad guy", somebody that is truly despicable. I just can't see it happening or being convincing.

I don't find DDL or Fiennes to be overly charismatic. Fine actors but they don't ooze personality to me.

Agree with you on Hanks.

 

[Shareefruck]

What I think is considered "charismatic" seems to be completely different from what some of you guys think is considered charismatic. It's not just likability, is it? Isn't it more about having a certain endearing charm, wit, and eloquence? I would never think of Dwane Johnson as charismatic.

 

[izzy]

Christoph Waltz for both

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

Christoph Waltz for both

Agreed. Just don't think he has much in terms of role versatility but he commands the screen and draws you in.

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

I don't find DDL or Fiennes to be overly charismatic. Fine actors but they don't ooze personality to me.

Agree with you on Hanks.

I wasn't very clear, I was only talking about Newman when it comes to charisma. The others I was talking about being "talent proven"/their range.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

I find him totally lacking in charisma. In fact, his performance in Mad Max: Fury Road was the complete opposite of charisma and one of the things that really hurt that movie, IMO.

Screen presence is a huge part of charisma, it's not just about being likable/charming. For my money I think Hardy's got the best screen presence of any actor today.

 

[GIN ANTONIC]

I wasn't very clear, I was only talking about Newman when it comes to charisma. The others I was talking about being "talent proven"/their range.

No, you were clear. I just misread now that I'm going over it again.

Anyway, I think this is tough just because the qualifications for this are fairly vague as mentioned. Interesting thread though.

 

[Bjorn Le]

I don't know why a very talented actor has to have proven success in a multitude of difficult/different roles. I think there's a good argument that DiCaprio is one of the greatest actors ever, and he plays similar roles in most movies. A specialist who does one type of role extremely well is just as impressive as an actor who is really good in lot's of different roles.

When I think of charismatic, I think of actors who can steal every scene they're in regardless of how good the rest of the movie is.

 

[Shareefruck]

I agree that you don't necessarily need versatility/chameleon-like abilities to be an amazing actor, but I disagree that DiCaprio is particularly good, let alone among the best ever. You can always feel him trying really hard to act, he relies too heavily on a few go-to moves, and it feels forced most of the time. I do think he's charismatic, though.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

I've always found Gary Oldman very charismatic.

 

[Bjorn Le]

I agree that you don't necessarily need versatility/chameleon-like abilities to be an amazing actor, but I disagree that DiCaprio is particularly good, let alone among the best ever. You can always feel him trying really hard to act, he relies too heavily on a few go-to moves, and it feels forced most of the time. I do think he's charismatic, though.

How do we define "trying to hard" however? His style is his style, and you can't deny that you are naturally drawn to him every scene he's in. If you're trying to hard, you're not drawn to a character, but you notice them standing out because it seems fake. I don't get that ever with DiCaprio.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

How do we define "trying to hard" however? His style is his style, and you can't deny that you are naturally drawn to him every scene he's in. If you're trying to hard, you're not drawn to a character, but you notice them standing out because it seems fake. I don't get that ever with DiCaprio.

I think you hit the nail on the head. I don't think DiCaprio's a bad actor but his performances often pull me out of a movie because they feel forced/fake. To this day I think Catch Me if you Can is his best performance, certainly his most natural, because he's basically just playing himself turned up to 11. Though I like that he takes chances and doesn't want to rely solely on his looks and natural charm, he's just not talented enough to be a true a chameleon/character actor like a Gary Oldman.

 

[OzzyFan]

For current, I'd probably go with Dwayne Johnson. He oozes charisma even if he may not ooze much else. 10-20 years ago, I might've gone with Will Smith, but, while he's still acting, he just doesn't seem to have the charisma that he did when he was younger.

For all-time, I might go with Jimmy Stewart. Beyond being so likable in all of his roles, he also served in WWII and the Vietnam war and rose to the rank of Brigadier General, and the definition of "charisma" does mean leadership through engendering enthusiasm, so he had not just acting charisma, but actual, proven, real-world charisma.



For current, I'd probably go with Tom Hanks. He's proven his talent for comedy (everything pre-'93), vulnerability (Philadelphia), innocence (Forrest Gump) and seriousness (everything since), not just with awards, but box office returns.

For all-time, wow, that's really hard. I'm tempted to name a classical actor, but there was a different standard in the past. Even some of the best classical actors would probably be judged as overacting when compared to the modern standard, so do you judge acting talent against other actors of the time or against the new standard?

Why not all the above in each category for you? I don't mind hearing all the different selections.