Comments on: Hoffman vs. Hanks: Who is the best actor of our time?

By: Theresa Lawson

Theresa Lawson — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:30:43 +0000

Robert De Niro without peer!! Actors say "stay away from kids and dogs in your scenes". With this gentleman in the frame everyone around is diminished a wee bit. He took the "roll" and ate it all up ! God bless him.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:05:30 +0000

No one has mentioned Richard Burton, Laurence Olivier, Peter O'Toole, Leslie Howard, Humphrey Bogart, and Claude Rains. And one can't forget Marlon Brando and many of the actors previously mentioned by others. There is a difference between a great actor and a great leading man. Not always the same thing. Between only Hanks and Hoffman, I think Dustin Hoffman would get my vote.

By: William Flax

William Flax — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:34:07 +0000

You have not defined "our time," of course, but neither Hanks nor Hoffman would be in my list of the top dozen actors of the past twenty years; probably not in the top forty or fifty, if you go for the past fifty years. They are talented performers, but certainly not great.

Neither one has ever made a movie that can touch the power of one of the performances of say an Anthony Hopkins.

By: Baz

Baz — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:25:08 +0000

Not quite certain of what constitutes 'of our time' but it's a very subjective debate anyway. What amuses me is the general presumption that to be great, the actor must be a native English speaker and be paid $20mill. per movie. There are many actors and film industries worldwide and in terms of versatility and sheer brilliance, Hanks and Hoffmann would be well down the list. But if the discussion must be confined to such narrow criteria, I'd like to throw Brad Pitt's name into the mix. Like Johnny Depp, there is an intelligence and increasingly capable acting talent behind the looks- I think his body of work will be much respected once his career is over, much like Robert Redford. Fortunately, neither of them has squandered their talent like Brando, who remained compelling in the same way that a car crash is but who gave up trying very early in his career.

By: NameFrank DeCavalcante

NameFrank DeCavalcante — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:42:37 +0000

I like the old goofy Tom Hanks of The Bachelor Party and The Money Pit. As he got older, he seemed to become a SERIOUS ACTOR and lost his appeal for me. His more dramatic roles seemed too studied although he did stretch himself in some films like Philadelphia. I thought he was absolutely horrible in two horrible movies, The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons.

Hoffman reminds me of both Pacino and DeNiro, just too intense and overbearing in far too many movies. All of them were great in their early movies, but then became mannered and made bad acting decisions as they matured.

By: Erik Stottrup

Erik Stottrup — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:20:08 +0000

While it is awfully tough to pick just one, my first choice is Clint Eastwood because he has been at it for so long and has deliberately sought out such a wide variety of roles and has handled nearly all of them very well. He would also be a top choice for best movie maker. After him it's Jack Nicholson, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, & Morgan Freeman. I'm considering only actors still living.

By: David

David — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:56:46 +0000

Does the name Robert DeNiro ever come to mind? He is the best living actor period !

By: sherry

sherry — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:33:50 +0000

I really think Marlon Branflakes (er Brando) is outstanding. I also like the diversity of Burt Lancaster.

By: martin moore

martin moore — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:12:35 +0000

When you said Hoffman, I immediately thought of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. I go with Tracy, Hoffman, and Hoffman.

By: christina west

christina west — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:20:13 +0000

I like them both, but only Hoffman is on my list of great actors. Tom is good, but Dustin's been around the block a few more times.