Favorite acting performances in a movie?

[ChrisFL]

Since the Oscars just happened....I didn't watch, but I feel in the mood to discuss great acting roles.

What are some of your favorites?

(Although it's obvious) Heath Ledger as the Joker in The Dark Knight

John Noble as Denethor in The Lord of the Rings movies (he was in both 2 and 3 in the extended editions)

Josh Brolin as the young Agent K in MIB 3 - it's always a challenge playing a younger version with a different actor, and he nails the Tommy Lee Jones impersonation perfectly. (imagine, a younger actor who looks, sounds and acts like the older version....if only that was done with the SOLO movie )

 

[The Mayor]

Bradley Cooper in American Sniper. He should have won the Oscar!!

Second would be Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman.

 

[AlohaNow]

I’ve always said that Sandra Bullock’s Oscar should be taken away from her and given to the woman who played Michael Oher’s mother. Nothing against Sandy at all, but c’mon, let’s right that wrong.

 

[Scifidiner]

The 1977 Trans Am in Smoky and the Bandit.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke in The Miracle Worker. One of my all-time favorite films.

 

[sjrec]

Colin Firth in The King’s Speech.
Tom Hanks in Sleepless in Seattle.
I’m on an old movie jag right now and really enjoying anything with Cary Grant or James Stewart.

 

[Suprachica79]

Julia Roberts in Erin Brokovich. Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty. Viola Davis in The Help. Rachel Weiss/Rachel McAdams in Disobedience. So many more that don’t come to mind but I admire strong women in movies.

 

[Hikergirl]

Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting
Denzel Washington in, well anything but my favorite movie of his is Fallen.
Gene Hackman in Unforgiven
Tom Hanks in Forest Gump and Apollo 13

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Recently, Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. Well deserved Oscar win.

 

[luvsJack]

Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday in Tombstone.

matthew mcconaughey in A Time To Kill. (Don’t like all of his movies but he was great in this one).

Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting and in Dead Poet’s Society.

 

[Kitty 34]

Al Pacino in about anything but one that I really loved was his character in Scarecrow.

 

[bellebud]

Ed Norton in Primal Fear.

 

[scrhsa]

Recently, Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. Well deserved Oscar win.

Pretty much Sam Rockwell in anything! He is just so good. I feel the same way about Gary Oldman.

I'm going way back here but Dwight Frye in the 1931 Dracula as Renfield. My dd and I were talking about this not too long ago and we just loved his portrayal!

 

[okeydokey]

Recently, Jeff Bridges in Bad Times at the El Royale.

 

[GreatLakes]

Ed Norton in Primal Fear.

Him in American History X is the first that popped to mind.

 

[RedAngie]

Elizabeth Taylor in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

 

[NHdisneylover]

The first thing that came to mind is Brie Larson in Room. Amazing performance---I just looked it up and she won an oscar for that, well deserved IMO

 

[elgerber]

Recently, Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri. Well deserved Oscar win.

Absolutely agree! I will add his performance in The Way Way Back, he was totally robbed of a nomination for that film!

 

[elgerber]

Him in American History X is the first that popped to mind.

Agree with this also, I was stunned for hours after watching that. Took quite awhile to shake it off.

 

[low-key]

Bogart and Hepburn in African Queen