Favorite Film Performances

[Dr. Percival Cox]

I searched and didn't find any previous threads like this, but if one exists that I overlooked don't hesitate to delete/merge this one.

I know that there are threads about favorite film characters, villains, heroes, etc. I'm asking what are your favorite movie performances? Performances where it's not so much the character that you like, but the way the character's acted out by the actor or actresses playing them. Whether it's because of how funny it is or because of how just absolutely creepy. Either one works. Or neither. Here are some of mine.

Probably my favorite is Cuba Gooding Jr. as Radio. He did a very good job at playing this sympathetic, impaired man that's a little hard not to get attached to. The part of the movie that always got me (by which I mean I had to resist every possible urge to cry) was the scene where he's having a fit because his mother died.

Another that I think is hard not to mention is Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. It's hard not to love this one. His character's unsettling but at the same time you're kind of entranced by him. He could be gutting someone right in front of you, but he'd be polite about it.

A new arrival on my list is Brad Dourif as the Gemini Killer from Exorcist III: Legion. I only recently saw this movie but I saw clips of Brad Dourif online in this film and his character alone made me want to watch it. He kinda makes me think of Hannibal Lecter except instead of being completely calm, he's bipolar as fuck and constantly changes his mood.

I'll list more later but I'm just gonna leave it at this for now, just in case the threads not here tomorrow.

 

[Sultan]

I don't have absolute favorites, but I'll mention some that I found exceptionally good from recent memory.

1) Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds, as Hans Landa. I'm not going to rave on about how amazing it is to act in 4 languages, make it sound naturalistic and convincing, because that's not the only thing he deserves credit for. Every line he delivers, every movement and ever action complemented the character perfectly.

2) Daniel Jay-Lwis in Gangs of New York, as Bill The Butcher. Every good quote and line of dialogue in that movie is delivered by him. Bill has the wittiest of tongues and a fanatic demeanor on nationalism, gang honor and mutual respect with his rivals. It's a well written character no doubt, but the actor took the character to a whole new level.

3) Micky Rourke in The Wrestler, as The Ram. Natalie Portman and Black Swan can't even touch the level of gravitas that actor and that film have. Every emotion convincingly delivered in a subtle silent expression in the face, and in the voice. Even the actions and decisions he makes.

 

[Tom Badguy]

The scene in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back right before Han Solo was frozen in carbonite. Leia says, "I love you" and Han says, "I know." Best scene in ALL of Star Wars. Harrison Ford's reaction was so natural for the character. I mean, it's exactly what Han Solo would say.

Here's a fun fact. During the shooting of this scene, they tried many replies to Leia's I love you. It was Harrison Ford that came up with saying, "I know." And the rest was history.

The more you know.