May 11, 201412 yr I don't see it. They all seem like the same kind of roles to me. Will Smith has done comedy, action, drama and romance just like all those dudes listed have done. These dudes do the same things over and over. Define range. With Tom Hanks' early work, I'd agree...same character (goof ball), different story. But, I think he's done quite a few movies outside of that stereotype. Philadelphia Forrest Gump Apollo 13 The Green Mile Road to Perdition Captain Phillips
May 11, 201412 yr Hanks for instance, Philadelphia to Forrest Gump to Dragnet to everything in between. How were they anywhere near the same roles? You type faster than I do! :lol2:
May 11, 201412 yr Hanks for instance, Philadelphia to Forrest Gump to Dragnet to everything in between. How were they anywhere near the same roles? Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, Ali, Bagger Vance, Enemy of the State, Hitch, Six Degrees of Separation. How are those the same roles? Edited May 12, 201412 yr by PurplePride92
May 11, 201412 yr Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, Ali, Bagger Vance, Enemy of the State, Hitch, Six Degrees of Separation. How are those the same roles? Who are you talking to? I have made no comment on Smith.
May 12, 201412 yr Who are you talking to? I have made no comment on Smith. I thought you did in post 120.
May 12, 201412 yr With Tom Hanks' early work, I'd agree...same character (goof ball), different story. But, I think he's done quite a few movies outside of that stereotype. Philadelphia Forrest Gump Apollo 13 The Green Mile Road to Perdition Captain Phillips I feel the same way about Will Smith. Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, Ali, Bagger Vance, Enemy of the State, Hitch, Six Degrees of Separation.
May 12, 201412 yr I have never thought of Will Smith as a great actor. He is a likeable guy on screen like a Tom Cruise, James Garner, or Tom Selleck. None are bad actors, all of them have improved as actors over long careers, but none of them are or ever will be top 50 actors, IMO. In Will Smith's case, he still has a long career ahead of him and he could still develop into a great actor. I do agree that Smith has shown pretty good versatility already.
May 12, 201412 yr I thought you did in post 120. Nope, just giving an example of the range you asked about. I have not seen many of the Smith movies you mentioned therefore cannot comment on his range of roles.
May 12, 201412 yr Nope, just giving an example of the range you asked about. I have not seen many of the Smith movies you mentioned therefore cannot comment on his range of roles. Understood. :thumb:
May 12, 201412 yr I have never thought of Will Smith as a great actor. He is a likeable guy on screen like a Tom Cruise, James Garner, or Tom Selleck. None are bad actors, all of them have improved as actors over long careers, but none of them are or ever will be top 50 actors, IMO. In Will Smith's case, he still has a long career ahead of him and he could still develop into a great actor. I do agree that Smith has shown pretty good versatility already. I think he has shown enough to be amongst the top 50 living actors but I'll understand if he isn't.
May 12, 201412 yr I would include Woody Harrelson on the list. He is a great actor. When he played Woody on Cheers, the public completely bought in to him being a lovable, Jerry Van Dyke kind of dude. What an acting job. Woody is a bit off. He was also great in Natural Born Killers and is A+ in the HBO series True Detective.
May 12, 201412 yr I guess it's an indication of how few movies I watch, but I seriously doubt I could pick him out of a police lineup unless you told me there was a famous person mixed in there with the ne'er do wells. Could also be that I find his name clunky and keep wanting to change it to Daniel Simpson Day in my head. Only actor I've ever felt inclined to define as brilliant.
May 12, 201412 yr I would include Woody Harrelson on the list. He is a great actor. When he played Woody on Cheers, the public completely bought in to him being a lovable, Jerry Van Dyke kind of dude. What an acting job. Woody is a bit off. He was also great in Natural Born Killers and is A+ in the HBO series True Detective. I really enjoy Woody Harrelson.
May 12, 201412 yr I feel the same way about Will Smith. Pursuit of Happyness, I Am Legend, Ali, Bagger Vance, Enemy of the State, Hitch, Six Degrees of Separation. Interesting, I thought about all those films you listed for Will Smith as they were some of my favorites that he was in, but I still see the same character sneaking out in all of them. When I think of Will Smith I think of the John Wayne category. John Wayne was a favorite actor among many but he always played...well John Wayne. Now I will say that Ali was the one movie where Will Smith did stray from his usual acting. I'm not saying Will is a bad actor, qutie the contrary, but when I think of the best I think of someone like Jaquin Phoenix who play such different roles that you can't compare any two. From Gladiator to Walk the Line to Signs to Ladder 49 were such different characters that really stood apart to me. I guess maybe I as someone who love acting and used to be one just have a different set of criteria for what I think "Best" really means.
May 12, 201412 yr So???? I'd argue that 98% of these actors on this list don't show much range and they all play a small tweak of the same person over and over again. Hell, even Leo plays a small tweak of the same person over and over again. McConaughey, Bradley Cooper. Matt Damon. Clooney. Pitt. Nicholson. Hanks. Penn. Same guys. Everytime. Sean Penn is always a favorite of mine also. His role in Mystic River was phenomenal. I know it has been said by some on here that he plays the same role. Sorry to disagree but if anyone can see the same acting in Fast Times to Mystic River to Milk to Dead Man Walking to I am Sam , well I just don't no what to say then lol. Sean Penn I can't believe I forgot about, but he is awesome! He and Joaquin Phoenix and Johnny Depp are probably 3 of my favorite actors still living.
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