Alright folks, I felt like giving some of you something to talk about, and I'm even gonna start ya off. I want to know what you all think are the best individual acting performances from both the mens' and womens' sides, over the past, oh, 15 years. Have fun.



-Best Actor Performances-

1. SAMUEL L. JACKSON as "Jules" in PULP FICTION
2. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS as "Bill the Butcher" in GANGS OF NEW YORK
3. TOM HANKS as "Forrest Gump" in FORREST GUMP
4. ANTHONY HOPKINS as "Hannibal Lecter" in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
5. KEVIN SPACEY as "Lester Burnham" in AMERICAN BEAUTY
6. JOHNNY DEPP as "Edward Scissorhands" in EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
7. CHRISTIAN BALE as "Patrick Bateman" in AMERICAN PSYCHO
8. ERIC BANA as "Hector of Troy" in TROY
9. BILL MURRAY as "Phil Connors" in GROUNDHOG DAY
10. MATT DAMON as "Will Hunting" in GOOD WILL HUNTING



-Best Actress Performances-

1. CHARLIZE THERON as "Aileen Wuornos" in MONSTER
2. KATE HUDSON as "Penny Lane" in ALMOST FAMOUS
3. MARISA TOMEI as "Mona Lisa Vito in MY COUSIN VINNY
4. HELEN HUNT as "Carol Connelly" in AS GOOD AS IT GETS
5. ANNETTE BENING as "Carolyn Burnham" in AMERICAN BEAUTY
6. HALLE BERRY as "Leticia Musgrove" in MONSTER'S BALL
7. KATE WINSLET as "Rose Dewitt Bukater" in TITANIC
(alt.) JULIETTE LEWIS as "Mallory Knox" in NATURAL BORN KILLERS
8. KATE WINSLET as "Clementine" in ETERNAL SUNSHINE...
9. DIANE LANE as "Francesca" in UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN
10. NEVE CAMPBELL as "Sydney Prescott" in SCREAM




Later.

Hoo-boy, wow. While I respect the rather eclectic nature of your choices, and even agree with some of them - I'll merely wager that the remaining are for strict cult/cheesy value. With little forethought, I'll add my own (again, in no particular order)

Gentlemen:

1) Hopkins in 'Silence of the Lambs' (no doubt)
2) Bale in 'American Psycho' (or) 'The Machinist'
3) Jackson in 'Pulp fiction'
4) Pierce in 'Memento'
5) Pacino - 'Scent of a Woman'
6) Kingsley - Sexy Beast'
7) Spacey - 'The Usual Suspects'
8) The guy that hit the propeller and then flipped end over end - 'Titanic'
9) Depp - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'
10) Macy - 'Fargo' (or) 'The Cooler'
*) Ermey - 'Full Metal Jacket'
Ladies:

1) Thurman - 'Kill Bill'
2) Connelly - 'Requiem for a Dream'
3) Theron - 'Monster'
4) Swank - Million $ Baby'
5) Foster - 'Silence of the Lambs'
6) Moore - Either P.T Anderson film
7) Jaye Davidson - 'The Crying Game' (relax, I know it's a guy)
8) Shue - 'Leaving Las Vegas'
9) Sarandon - 'Dead Man Walking'
10 Bates - 'Dolores Claiborne'

I like these lists. Reading down and seeing Guy Pierce made me think of LA confidential, though, which made me think of Russel Crowe. That guy is pretty controversial and a little annoying, but I think he's got chops. I would add him to the men's list in one form or another.

Please edit to take out Kate Winslet in Titanic. It's not right. It's just not right. I full-on agree with Sunshine, though.

I can't agree about Umma, Just didn't seem right with a sword... the weapon she was supposed to be so adept with. Liked Lucy (sp) better.... and SUNNY FREAKIN CHIBA!!!

good lists so far. unfortunately i lack the patience to make one myself.
I just watched "Monsters Ball" and although I dig Halle I just didn't see all the hoopla of her acting in that part. Million Dollar Baby didn't do it for me with Swank either but I thought she was brilliant in Boys Don't Cry and tough competition for Benning in American Beauty. Kate in Titanic? No. Kate in Spotless..definitely!

I think Edward Norton was totally convincing as a nazi skinhead in American History X and his charater in Primal Fear. What happened to him lately?
I agree with both your lists. I'm sure there's a few forgotten but stellar lists they are.

I realize that it's not exactly the "smartest" of decisions to have Kate Winslet on the list for Titanic, but that film would have been TOTAL crap if it weren't for her. She carried the movie, and did a fine job at it. That's why I put her on there.



BUT, I definitely respect your opinions, and even second-guess myself because of them, so keep it up!!



Peace. Love. Rock n Roll.

I hear you. Plus, she showed boobies.