Whose movie career would you rather have than....... (1 Viewer)

[D_House]

James Stewart has to be a contender. War hero fighter pilot, Oscar and a resume of established classics:

Its a Wonderful Life, Rear Window, Vertigo, The Philadelphia Story, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Anatomy of a Murder, The Shop Around the Corner. Across every genre, he was in movies that stand as classics of that genre. 

Along these lines, Paul Newman.

 

[Ghost Rider]

90's - you are talking two  plus decades ago.  I don;t need the list to know he's an accomplished actor - I am just not having a run of great movies in my head.  Plus it would help the argument if he did something in this century

Uh, he has.  If you don't remember them, oh well. 

 

[The Kerminator]

I'm not sure that Tom Cruise is even top 5 at this point. In no particular order, Newman, Hanks, DeNiro, Stewart,  Eastwood, DiCaprio, Grant to name just a few could all push Cruise out of the top 5.

 

[Ilov80s]

Uh, he has.  If you don't remember them, oh well. 

And getting to look like Paul Newman isn’t half bad. I would also argue Cary Grant for similar reasons. Lots of classic movies, all those cool old Hollywood parties and get to be the epitome of cool. 

 

[cloppbeast]

Quality over quantity every day. Cruise might have done a hundred movies, but not many are really great. Theres a lot I would take over him. Just to pick one: George Clooney.

Edit to add: Rain Man was pretty awesome though.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

And getting to look like Paul Newman isn’t half bad. I would also argue Cary Grant for similar reasons. Lots of classic movies, all those cool old Hollywood parties and get to be the epitome of cool. 

Grant was like James Bond, but most of the time he didn't have to deal with everyone trying to kill him.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I'm not sure that Tom Cruise is even top 5 at this point. In no particular order, Newman, Hanks, DeNiro, Stewart,  Eastwood, DiCaprio, Grant to name just a few could all push Cruise out of the top 5.

Yeah Leo has a pretty great combo of good movies and pulling quality tail 

 

[Foosball God]

Keanu Reeves

 

[The Dude]

I'm not sure that Tom Cruise is even top 5 at this point. In no particular order, Newman, Hanks, DeNiro, Stewart,  Eastwood, DiCaprio, Grant to name just a few could all push Cruise out of the top 5.

Good suggestions but Cruise is still top 5 in my rank based both on career span and and role span (heartthrob, comedy, drama, action).  If I wanted one of the above careers for my own, I would knock out Newman, Deniro, Stewart and Grant (which of course is subjective).

 

[Christo]

Quality over quantity every day. Cruise might have done a hundred movies, but not many are really great. Theres a lot I would take over him. Just to pick one: George Clooney.

Edit to add: Rain Man was pretty awesome though.

Give me a break. George Clooney doesn't have a movie that comes close to Risky Business.

 

[cloppbeast]

Give me a break. George Clooney doesn't have a movie that comes close to Risky Business.

Oh Brother Where Art Thou

Oceans 11

Perfect Storm

Batman

 

[Christo]

OMG, I just went back and looked at both Cruise and Clooney, Cruise had more great movies before 30 than Clooney has in his entire career.

 

[Christo]

Oh Brother Where Art Thou

Oceans 11

Perfect Storm

Batman

Exactly

 

[cloppbeast]

Exactly

You're getting pretty worked up and sarcastic about this. Are you the president of the Tom cruise fan club?

 

[Christo]

You're getting pretty worked up and sarcastic about this. Are you the president of the Tom cruise fan club?

I don't suffer fools lightly.

 

[dkp993]

Yeah Leo has a pretty great combo of good movies and pulling quality tail 

This and this.  Leader of the P posse.  Enough said.  

 

[Christo]

This and this.  Leader of the P posse.  Enough said.  

Hold it. Are we getting their career? Or are we getting their looks too? Because if it's the second I'm putting Clooney ahead of Cruise.

 

[Brony]

Keanu Reeves

Johnny Utah, Ted, John Wick. Where do I sign up? 

 

[Monkian]

Johnny Utah, Ted, John Wick. Where do I sign up? 

Dude...Tom Anderson.

 

[Monkian]

GIve me Bill Murray. I love to act goofy and make people laugh. Getting a butt-load of cash to do it has to be kinda cool.

 

[need2know]

In what way?  Acting talent?  Of course not. My comparison had to do with the fact that he’s somewhat selective, doesn’t go for volume, and has been acclaimed in multiple films (winning an academy award).  His added bonus is he’s a rock star in addition to being an Oscar winner. He’s also super good looking with great hair. 

In anything.   I dont think they should be in same sentence.  But yeah he doesn't make many movies

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Saving Private Ryan

Forest Gump

Philadelphia

Apollo 13

A League of their own

Road to perdition

Bridge of spies

Castaway

Captain Phillips 

The Green Mile

Catch Me if you can

Sully

a couple of solid rom coms in You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle

a handful of entertaining comedies in big, the burbs, splash, money pit and bachelor party

BIG (ETA: see it listed now, but this is an all-time classic for me)

Produced some monsters -- including Band of Brothers.

 

[bigbottom]

In anything.   I dont think they should be in same sentence.  But yeah he doesn't make many movies

DDL is overrated. There, I said it. Sure, he’s a great actor, but I find that his performances have zero nuance.

 

[NutterButter]

In honor of this thread, I'm watching All the Right Moves tonight.

 

[need2know]

DDL is overrated. There, I said it. Sure, he’s a great actor, but I find that his performances have zero nuance.

Hey I dont hate Leto but what has he done compared to ddl?  Seriously.   I cant think of one movie that leto has been in that I'm like wow I cant wait to see that jared leto performance again.  

 

[need2know]

Dont forget interview  with a vampire

 

[NutterButter]

Hey I dont hate Leto but what has he done compared to ddl?  Seriously.   I cant think of one movie that leto has been in that I'm like wow I cant wait to see that jared leto performance again.  

   Are we really comparing DDL and Jared ####### Leto?

 

[Pipes]

Denzel is worth a mention.  He’s won a couple of Oscars and had played some great characters such as Alonzo Harris, Frank Lucas and Robert McCall.

 

[bigbottom]

Hey I dont hate Leto but what has he done compared to ddl?  Seriously.   I cant think of one movie that leto has been in that I'm like wow I cant wait to see that jared leto performance again.  

He killed in both Dallas Buyer’s Club and Requiem for a Dream. But, yeah, I had no interest in watching those movies more than once. Same probably goes for most of DDL’s iconic performances, however. 

I know I’m out on a limb on this one. I’m also the guy who thought Tom Cruise deserved the Oscar over Dustin Hoffman for Rain Man. I thought Cruise’s performance was incredible in that movie and that’s Hoffman’s was a one-note borderline caricature. 

 

[bigbottom]

   Are we really comparing DDL and Jared ####### Leto?

Not on acting ability. I compared them because they both appear to be very selective about their films, have very little volume even though they could crank out three films a year if they wanted, and they have received critical acclaim for multiple performances. 

When I was describing why I’d like to have Leto’s career over Cruise’s, I called Leto a mini-DDL for the above reasons. And the reason I’d want Leto’s career is because he’s an academy award winner and a freaking rock star. 

 

[tri-man 47]

 Bill Murray is a great call ...fun career.  I’d have enjoyed standing in for Hanks in all his roles (incl Big).

John Cazale comes to mind.

 

[need2know]

   Are we really comparing DDL and Jared ####### Leto?

I'm not

 

[bigbottom]

I'm not

I don’t understand what is so difficult to understand about my point. I’ve stated multiple times that I’m not comparing them based on acting talent. It was a reference to selectivity and minimal output. 

As a separate point, I do think DDL is overrated as an actor as many consider him one of the best ever. 

 

[Christo]

In honor of this thread, I'm watching All the Right Moves tonight.

6-2 stack monster, 6-2 stack monster!

 

[Christo]

I don’t understand what is so difficult to understand about my point. 

New here?

 

[Ilov80s]

Hey I dont hate Leto but what has he done compared to ddl?  Seriously.   I cant think of one movie that leto has been in that I'm like wow I cant wait to see that jared leto performance again.  

Leto is fine, but DDL was Bill The Butcher. 

 

[Christo]

Leto is fine, but DDL was Bill The Butcher. 

and Hawkeye

 

[NutterButter]

and Hawkeye

one of my favorite movies and I had no idea who you were talking about.   

 

[Christo]

one of my favorite movies and I had no idea who you were talking about.   

Stay alive no matter what occurs! I will find you!

 

[comfortably numb]

Ron Jeremy 

 

[Otis]

Not even top 5

Lol Indiana Jones AND Han Solo? Top 5 easily especially when you throw in The Fugitive etc. 

 

[Otis]

Michael J Fox is pretty good too. Marty Mcfly and Teen Wolf is pretty solid, along with Alex P Keaton. 

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

I think I would go with Peter North.

 

[Slapdash]

I think I would go with Peter North.

NTTAWWT...

 

[gump]

Great topic for me...I’m from Clearwater, Fl, the religious HQ of the Scienos.  I know more than enough about that cult to take a stand vs Cruise by declaring passionately that I’ll never pay for a movie of his.  Then ultimately I watch every movie of his when it’s available via the channels I already pay for.  Then I can’t turn the channel when I run across one.  He’ll never be my favorite or officially who I consider the best, but his catalog is as much up my alley as any actor ever and I’ll trust a movie if he’s chosen to be in it.

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

C’mon, Hanks has the best credit to his name in my lifetime. Bosom Buddies.

I would go with Bachelor Party, but we can agree that the list of movies that prove his greatness needs to include both of these.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Whoa - did somebody just list Batman & Robin as an example for why George Clooney should be in the discussion?

 

[Ilov80s]

Whoa - did somebody just list Batman & Robin as an example for why George Clooney should be in the discussion?

As long as you ignore the movie itself, it is at least cool to be able to say you played Batman. 

 

[KarmaPolice]

Because he finds himself in a lot of my favorite movies, Brad Pitt came to mind, plus he's dreamy.  As did 80s' nomination of James Stewart.   I don't think I love the movies of Pacino like most do.  DeNiro would be close, but that would mean I would have to live with the embarrassment that is the 00s+ movies of DeNiro.  

 

[KarmaPolice]

As long as you ignore the movie itself, it is at least cool to be able to say you played Batman. 

Agree, but it's pretty hard to ignore that festering turd of a movie.