Defining Roles

Discussion in 'Movies & Televison: Reviews, Discussions & Debate' started by Joe King, Feb 1, 2014.

  1. Joe King

    Joe King WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

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    What do you think the career defining roles are for the following actors?:
    (feel free to add your own)

    Nicholson
    DeNiro
    Pacino
    Schwarzenegger
    Stallone
    Willis
    Cruise
    Russell
    Kilmer
    Van Damme
    Seagal
    Costner
     
  2. Nobleart

    Nobleart Narwhal King

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    I'll play I guess. All of the top of my head because I don't feel like IMDB'ing anything. These are not necessarily the BEST, but more in line with the topic.


    Nicholson - "One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest

    DeNiro - "Raging Bull"

    Pacino - "Godfather II"

    Schwarzenegger - "Conan The Barbarian"

    Stallone - "Rocky"

    Willis - "Diehard"

    Cruise - "Risky Business"

    Russell - "Escape From New York"

    Kilmer - "The Doors"

    Van Damme - "The One He Does The Splits In"

    Seagal - "Above The Law" (1st film, and he never came close to matching it again)

    Costner - "The Untouchables"
     
  3. Panchyprsss

    Panchyprsss Clogg's LORD PROTECTOR

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    Nicholson =One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
    DeNiro = Taxi Driver
    Pacino - The Godfather Part II
    Schwarzenegger = Predator
    Stallone =Rocky
    Willis = Die Hard
    Cruise = Top Gun
    Russell = Tombstone
    Kilmer = Tombstone
    Van Damme = BloodSport
    Seagal = Above The Law
    Costner= Dances With Wolves
     
  4. Panchyprsss

    Panchyprsss Clogg's LORD PROTECTOR

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    In the case of Arnold I was going originally with his breakout role as Conan, but that didn't put him in the map (see the failure of the sequel). Terminator is the most iconic one, but he was not the main character even though he gets top billing. Commando was his first hit as a star in a non-franchise film that told people in Hollywood 'this guy can open a film', but it was 'Predator' the one that defined his career as a box office superstar and an action hero. From that point on there was no turning back.
     
  5. ArturoGatti

    ArturoGatti WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

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    Nicholson- The SHining

    DeNiro- Taxi Driver, Raging Bull

    Pacino- The Godfather, Scarface

    Schwarz- Terminator 2

    Stallone- Rocky

    Willis- Die Hard

    Cruise- fuck him

    Russel- The Thing, Escape from NY

    Kilmer- Top Gun, The Doors

    Van Damme- Blood Sport

    Seagal- Above The Law

    Costner- Dances WIth Wolves
     
  6. Xplosive

    Xplosive X-MOD Bad Motherfucker

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    While I'd hardly say that it was best acting performance, and probably not his BEST overall movie, Jack Nicholson's most infamous role, and what he'll ALWAYS be best known for is The Shining.

    I mean, when anybody hears "Here's Johnny!"..... I assure you, NOBODY thinks of Johnny Carson. Jack's face in that door is the first thing people equate that to.

    One Flew Over is a CLASSIC movie, but I wouldn't say it's ICONIC in the same way The Shining is. And Jack is 90% of the reason why The Shining is so iconic.

    Therefore, it's Jack's defining role. Defining role and best acted role are two completely different things; although they're sometimes the same role.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2014
  7. cdogg187

    cdogg187 GLADYS

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    I would think of Johnny Carson first, to be honest, if I heard that:dunno:

    to add some famous actors:

    Hackman - The French Connection

    Newman - Cool Hand Luke

    Eastwood - Dirty Harry

    O'Toole - Lawrence Of Arabia
     
  8. ArturoGatti

    ArturoGatti WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

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    if you had to pick one for Eastwood, it'd be difficult to pick between DIrty Harry and The Good The Bad and the Ugly.
     
  9. Panchyprsss

    Panchyprsss Clogg's LORD PROTECTOR

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    "Ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do you, punk?"
     
  10. Joe King

    Joe King WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

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    What about DiCaprio?

    Denzel

    Affleck

    Diesel

    Damon
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2014
  11. cdogg187

    cdogg187 GLADYS

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    DiCaprio has been in better films, but he'll likely be most famous in the long run for "Titanic"

    Denzel, I would say "Malcom X"

    Ben Affleck is a pretty good director/writer and a shit actor

    Vin Diesel should never be referred to as an actor... He makes Affleck look like Gene Hackman

    Matt Damon is a tough one... Probably the "Bourne" films
     
  12. Xplosive

    Xplosive X-MOD Bad Motherfucker

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    Malcolm X is Denzel's BEST PERFORMANCE. However, he'll always be best known for Training Day.

    And for Matt Damon, I'd say it's Good Will Hunting.
     
  13. cdogg187

    cdogg187 GLADYS

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    I don't know about the first one, there, he was already Hollywood royalty a good decade before that film, already an icon

    Good shout on Damon, I might be inclined to agree
     
  14. Xplosive

    Xplosive X-MOD Bad Motherfucker

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    He was already an icon before Training Day and a Hollywood Star, however, Training Day made him a MEGA STAR, and when his career is over, if you ask the average joe the first movie that comes to mind when they think of Denzel, most will likely say Training Day.

    I can see a case for Malcolm X though. Def comes down to one of those two movies.
     
  15. Xplosive

    Xplosive X-MOD Bad Motherfucker

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    How bout these?:

    Crowe
    Bale
    Penn
    Clooney

    For me, Crowe is an easy one. His defining performance is Gladiator. Even though, his BEST performance is A Beautiful Mind.

    For Bale, damn, sadly he'll always probably be associated with Batman. Prior to Batman, I guess he was most known for American Psycho.

    Difficult for me to call it on Sean Penn, but I guess I'd say Mystic River.

    And Clooney is another difficult one.
     
  16. TKO

    TKO Administrator Staff Member

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    Bale: Empire of the sun
    Penn: Carlito's Way
     
  17. cdogg187

    cdogg187 GLADYS

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    Empire Of The Sun?? He was 12

    American Psycho was his best-known role prior to the Batman films
     
  18. cdogg187

    cdogg187 GLADYS

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    Penn's defining role is clearly "I am Sam"
































    :scared2:
     
  19. Xplosive

    Xplosive X-MOD Bad Motherfucker

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    Yeah, I dunno where the Hell Empire of The Sun came from.

    You could actually argue that he was just as well known for being in Shaft, prior to Batman. However, American Psycho is a cult classic, so he was indeed best known for that.

    BTW - you know what I've always found hilarious? They make Bale into an AMERICAN Psycho, with an AMERICAN Hustle, and the fucker is Welsh!
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2014
  20. Hut*Hut

    Hut*Hut The Mackintosh of temazepam

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    Does defining mean most iconic? If so:

    Nicholson - Shining
    DeNiro - Taxi driver
    Pacino - scarface
    Schwarzenegger - Terminator
    Stallone - Rocky
    Willis - Die Hard
    Cruise - Jerry McGuire?
    Russell - Escape from New York
    Kilmer - ?
    Van Damme - Universal Soldier
    Seagal - ?
    Costner- Bodyguard
     
  21. Xplosive

    Xplosive X-MOD Bad Motherfucker

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    For Cruise, I'd say Top Gun. That remains his most iconic role, to this day.

    And for Kilmer, it's Tombstone. Although, the mainstream will sadly always best know him for playing a TERRIBLE Batman.
     
  22. ArturoGatti

    ArturoGatti WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

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    yeah Tombstone, Top Gun and Doors are his biggest roles, though his character in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang has also achieved cult status.
     
  23. Rainmaker

    Rainmaker "Twinkle Toes" McJack

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    How about Cocktail for Tom Cruise?
     
  24. Xplosive

    Xplosive X-MOD Bad Motherfucker

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    Now that I think about Cruise more, I've changed my mind. I agree with Hut. I think he's best known for Jerry McGuire.

    How bout Kevin Spacey? I think the pretty easy answer for him is The Usual Suspects. With Se7en and American Beauty as honorable mentions.

    How bout Brad Pitt? I'd be inclined to say for him it's Troy. Prior to Troy, he was probably most infamous for Fight Club. What originally made him a superstar is when he co-starred with Cruise in Interview With The Vampire.

    How bout Morgan Freeman? That's a trick one.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2014
  25. cdogg187

    cdogg187 GLADYS

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    LOL, yeah that's true... I have to say though that his American accent is more believable than a lot of Brits have pulled off... It is funny though
     
  26. Xplosive

    Xplosive X-MOD Bad Motherfucker

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    American Hustle isn't even his best performance of the YEAR, IMO.

    I'm in the minority, but I think he was better in Out Of The Furnace. Not only that, but Out of The Furnace was a better movie than American Hustle.
     
  27. Hut*Hut

    Hut*Hut The Mackintosh of temazepam

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    I think I'd go with American Beauty and Fight Club for Spacey and Pitt.
     
  28. Captain Obvious

    Captain Obvious WBC Champion

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    A "defining role" is a role that defines you.
     
  29. cdogg187

    cdogg187 GLADYS

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    agree with the latter, but for the former I'd say "The Usual Suspects"
     
  30. TKO

    TKO Administrator Staff Member

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    So what?
     

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