re: who is the best actor of the past generations?

quote:

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No way he is in the same league as DeNiro, Pacino, DDLewis, Hanks, and DiCaprio

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I disagree and I like all of those guys, although I don't think as highly of DDL as the M/TV board does, generally (and this really should be there, not on the OT, but, whatever).

DiCaprio has really come a long way since Titanic - really good from The Aviator on.

He just hasn't had the number and high quality of the impressive performances as PSH has (and it is tough for leading men to compete - that's what Hanks has going for him - he does support quality work in leading roles like Philadelphia and Forrest Gump).

To a certain degree, the leading man gets the role because the filmmakers see the character as a version of the leading man, plus the automatic draw he brings with his fans. A few really impress from time to time (Clooney, occasionally Pitt, but usually Pitt is more impressive in his support roles, honestly), but for the most part - you give the role to John Wayne, Tom Cruise or Johnny Depp because you see him as the character. Not a situation where you cast Hank Azaria and he disappears into the role of Agador Spartacus, for example.