Top 100 Actors
We here at You don't know Jack are counting down the top 100 living actors! There was a small criteria: Each actor must be alive and must still be working (or at least within the last three years). Now, for each actor I will list their three best performances. Keep in mind that these are NOT their three best films. I'll do my best to keep things short and sweet, so I will not be describing the films mentioned. 20 actors will be listed each day. Don't be shy and make sure to comment on your favorites and/or least favorites. Let the games begin...
100. James Franco
Young James got his start on the classic television series Freaks and Geeks. The Spider-Man series vaulted his career, and he stars in the highly anticipated Danny Boyle film 127 Hours, that opens this Friday.
-Pineapple Express
-Spider-Man
-Date Night
99. Ben Kingsley
Sir Ben Kingsley has had a very long career. 2010 has been a good year for Ben (Shutter Island, Prince of Persia).
-House of Sand and Fog
-Shutter Island
-Sexy Beast
98. Willem Dafoe
The Green Goblin has gotten better with age. His role in The Boondock Saints is a can't miss.
-The Boondock Saints
-Spider-Man
-American Psycho
97. Justin Long
Although I like him as a leading man, I prefer his supporting roles. He arrived in 1999's Galaxy Quest, and got his big break in Jeepers Creepers and of course Dodgeball.
-Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
-He's Just Not That Into You
-Strange Wilderness
96. John Goodman
His best work has been with the brilliant writing/directing combo Joel and Ethan Coen. Walter Sobchak (The Big Lebowski) is one of the funniest characters ever created.
-The Big Lebowski
-O Brother, Where Art Thou?
-Barton Fink
95. Javier Bardem
He hasn't been around long, but his Oscar-winning portrayal of Anton Chigurh gets him a spot on the list.
-No Country for Old Men
-Collateral
-Biutiful
94. Greg Kinnear
Here's one of those unheralded actors. He's never bad, and is actually quite funny even when his character isn't supposed to be.
-Little Miss Sunshine
-The Matador
-Stuck on You
93. Peter Sarsgaard
He made a perfect Marine in Sam Mendes' Jarhead. I have a feeling we still haven't seen his best yet.
-Jarhead
-An Education
-The Skeleton Key
92. Richard Gere
Yes, the guy from Pretty Woman (not a bad movie, for the record). He's fantastic opposite Diane Lane, in Unfaithful.
-Unfaithful
-The Mothman Prophecies
-Primal Fear
91. Kevin Bacon
We've all played Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon until 4 a.m, and regretted it. I personally think he's a great serious actor. He was fantastic in The Woodsman and Rails & Ties; two films most people have never heard of.
-The Woodsman
-Apollo 13
-Tremors
90. Danny McBride
Probably his best work is on the hit HBO series, Eastbound & Down. He plays ex-big league pitcher Kenny Powers, and oh my Lord is he funny.
-The Foot Fist Way
-Hot Rod
-Pineapple Express
89. Steve Zahn
There's never a dull moment with Steve Zahn. A lot of his films often get bashed by critics, but it's never his fault. He showed us a different side of him in 2009's A Perfect Getaway.
-Saving Silverman
-Joy Ride
-A Perfect Getaway
88. Rob Schneider
I love Rob Schneider, despite his recent brutal B-movies. The Hot Chick is still one of my favorite comedies.
-50 First Dates
-The Hot Chick
-The Benchwarmers
87. Tim Robbins
We all know Timothy from The Shawshank of course, but he's had a fantastic career. His small role in The Pick of Destiny is actually one of the funniest cameos of the decade.
-Mystic River
-The Shawshank Redemption
-Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
86. Thomas Jane
I highly recommend his new HBO series, Hung. Whether he's The Punisher, Mickey Mantle, Todd Parker or a Vegan Policeman, Mr. Jane is always interesting.
-Boogie Nights
-The Mist
-61*
85. Guy Pearce
He has Christopher Nolan (Memento) to thank for his spot on this list. He's had an up-and-down career, but I think he's just hitting his stride.
-Memento
-The Proposition
-Rules of Engagement
84. Dustin Hoffman
He's past his prime, but he's still got a handful of films left in him. The Graduate is probably my favorite film of the 60's, and it's thanks to him.
-The Graduate
-Rain Man
-Stranger Than Fiction
83. Mark Ruffalo
Mr. Ruffalo is one of my favorite serious supporting actors. You have got to love him in Zodiac with his constant urges for animal crackers.
-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
-Zodiac
-Shutter Island
82. Christopher Walken
"Hey! You're talking to my guy all wrong. It's the wrong tone. Do it again, I'll stab you in the face with a soldering iron." Enough said.
-Joe Dirt
-Envy
-The Deer Hunter
81. Michael Caine
Who would've thought he would have the wonderful decade he has had. I couldn't imagine a different Alfred.
-Children of Men
-The Weather Man
-The Prestige
100. James Franco
Young James got his start on the classic television series Freaks and Geeks. The Spider-Man series vaulted his career, and he stars in the highly anticipated Danny Boyle film 127 Hours, that opens this Friday.
-Pineapple Express
-Spider-Man
-Date Night
99. Ben Kingsley
Sir Ben Kingsley has had a very long career. 2010 has been a good year for Ben (Shutter Island, Prince of Persia).
-House of Sand and Fog
-Shutter Island
-Sexy Beast
98. Willem Dafoe
The Green Goblin has gotten better with age. His role in The Boondock Saints is a can't miss.
-The Boondock Saints
-Spider-Man
-American Psycho
97. Justin Long
Although I like him as a leading man, I prefer his supporting roles. He arrived in 1999's Galaxy Quest, and got his big break in Jeepers Creepers and of course Dodgeball.
-Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
-He's Just Not That Into You
-Strange Wilderness
96. John Goodman
His best work has been with the brilliant writing/directing combo Joel and Ethan Coen. Walter Sobchak (The Big Lebowski) is one of the funniest characters ever created.
-The Big Lebowski
-O Brother, Where Art Thou?
-Barton Fink
95. Javier Bardem
He hasn't been around long, but his Oscar-winning portrayal of Anton Chigurh gets him a spot on the list.
-No Country for Old Men
-Collateral
-Biutiful
94. Greg Kinnear
Here's one of those unheralded actors. He's never bad, and is actually quite funny even when his character isn't supposed to be.
-Little Miss Sunshine
-The Matador
-Stuck on You
93. Peter Sarsgaard
He made a perfect Marine in Sam Mendes' Jarhead. I have a feeling we still haven't seen his best yet.
-Jarhead
-An Education
-The Skeleton Key
92. Richard Gere
Yes, the guy from Pretty Woman (not a bad movie, for the record). He's fantastic opposite Diane Lane, in Unfaithful.
-Unfaithful
-The Mothman Prophecies
-Primal Fear
91. Kevin Bacon
We've all played Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon until 4 a.m, and regretted it. I personally think he's a great serious actor. He was fantastic in The Woodsman and Rails & Ties; two films most people have never heard of.
-The Woodsman
-Apollo 13
-Tremors
90. Danny McBride
Probably his best work is on the hit HBO series, Eastbound & Down. He plays ex-big league pitcher Kenny Powers, and oh my Lord is he funny.
-The Foot Fist Way
-Hot Rod
-Pineapple Express
89. Steve Zahn
There's never a dull moment with Steve Zahn. A lot of his films often get bashed by critics, but it's never his fault. He showed us a different side of him in 2009's A Perfect Getaway.
-Saving Silverman
-Joy Ride
-A Perfect Getaway
88. Rob Schneider
I love Rob Schneider, despite his recent brutal B-movies. The Hot Chick is still one of my favorite comedies.
-50 First Dates
-The Hot Chick
-The Benchwarmers
87. Tim Robbins
We all know Timothy from The Shawshank of course, but he's had a fantastic career. His small role in The Pick of Destiny is actually one of the funniest cameos of the decade.
-Mystic River
-The Shawshank Redemption
-Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
86. Thomas Jane
I highly recommend his new HBO series, Hung. Whether he's The Punisher, Mickey Mantle, Todd Parker or a Vegan Policeman, Mr. Jane is always interesting.
-Boogie Nights
-The Mist
-61*
85. Guy Pearce
He has Christopher Nolan (Memento) to thank for his spot on this list. He's had an up-and-down career, but I think he's just hitting his stride.
-Memento
-The Proposition
-Rules of Engagement
84. Dustin Hoffman
He's past his prime, but he's still got a handful of films left in him. The Graduate is probably my favorite film of the 60's, and it's thanks to him.
-The Graduate
-Rain Man
-Stranger Than Fiction
83. Mark Ruffalo
Mr. Ruffalo is one of my favorite serious supporting actors. You have got to love him in Zodiac with his constant urges for animal crackers.
-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
-Zodiac
-Shutter Island
82. Christopher Walken
"Hey! You're talking to my guy all wrong. It's the wrong tone. Do it again, I'll stab you in the face with a soldering iron." Enough said.
-Joe Dirt
-Envy
-The Deer Hunter
81. Michael Caine
Who would've thought he would have the wonderful decade he has had. I couldn't imagine a different Alfred.
-Children of Men
-The Weather Man
-The Prestige
Kevin Bacon...good candidate could be "Death Sentence"
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I surprisingly liked that film. Films like those are often dumb, but I quite enjoyed it when Kevin went on his rampage.
ReplyDelete