View Full Version : Who the best black actor out today talent wise?
rondre sleazde
06-19-2006, 01:12 PM
Who is the best black actor out today talentwise? Who makes the best movies?
Jamal
06-19-2006, 01:15 PM
Hands down, Denzel Washington.
rondre sleazde
06-19-2006, 01:19 PM
I would say him too, but lately his movies have not been that good except for Inside man and Man on fire
HomerJay
06-19-2006, 01:39 PM
Denzel might be the biggest STAR, but Cheadle is the best black actor working today, IMO. He's never not riveted me in a film he's been in with the exceptions of the OCEAN'S movies.
He's one of three on that list that pass my "phone book" test (the others being Freeman & Jackson). He would be interesting reading out of the phonebook for 90 minutes.
rondre sleazde
06-19-2006, 02:20 PM
Who do you think did the best acting In Devil and a blue dress Cheadle or Denzel.
Lord of Denial
06-19-2006, 02:22 PM
Morgan Freeman.
I would watch a movie about him watching a movie of a guy watching paint dry.
Scorpion13
06-19-2006, 02:27 PM
Damn, thats tough.
Jackson, Washinton and Freeman are all really good. I cant decide.
Ontir
06-19-2006, 02:55 PM
You left out Eammon Walker.
Jamal
06-19-2006, 03:33 PM
Have to give it to Don on that one. He's Mouse perfomace made Don a star.
By the way I thing it's time those two did a sequel the have plenty book to go off of.
Haunt
06-19-2006, 03:44 PM
i give it to Denzel because i don't think Don Cheadle can really change himself. he just happens to be able to fit himself into different roles. by that i mean he's the same guy whether he's a cop or a criminal; same inflection of voice and mannerisms. Denzel has learned to switch it up; a little.
Red Jack
06-19-2006, 04:14 PM
i give it to Denzel because i don't think Don Cheadle can really change himself. he just happens to be able to fit himself into different roles. by that i mean he's the same guy whether he's a cop or a criminal; same inflection of voice and mannerisms. Denzel has learned to switch it up; a little.
I agree. I enjoy seeing Cheadle when he shows up but there's no variation. Denzel is top of the pack. A real actor's actor.
Aggie
06-19-2006, 04:51 PM
You left out Eammon Walker.
dude...you have to stop doing that...;)
...i looked at the list and was like "damn, where's eammon walker and chiote chediwe??"...but to be honest...andre braugher is not just the best black actor in hollywood...but probably the best u.s. actor working...it's just a damn shame he doesn't have box office clout or exposure beyond who ever watch homicide or remembered glory...but of the names listed, morgan freeman hands down...
Jamal
06-19-2006, 04:52 PM
I'm sorry I thing Don stole that one, but that's still early Denzel, I already said that nobody can touch Denzel right now.
Gotta go with Denzel, but I give a special shout out to Jackson, Freeman, and Cheadle. I give Denzel the slight edge becuase I think he's the most versatile.
Black Atom
06-19-2006, 06:37 PM
Gotta give it to Denzel on versatility alone. Check out his roles from Training Day, to Manchurian Candidate, to Out of Time to Man on Fire to Inside Man (and that's just recently). It's hard for me to think of anyone in Hollywood that can cover the ground he can, white or black.
rondre sleazde
06-19-2006, 07:27 PM
did you like out of time. I thought it was so so.
rondre sleazde
06-19-2006, 07:28 PM
Jamie is versatile as well give him a couple of years.
Valmore
06-19-2006, 07:36 PM
Morgan Freeman could out-act every single person on that list... and all of the white actors, too.
cactusmaac
06-19-2006, 07:50 PM
Samuel L Jackson.
Nobody else has shown the variety he's done in movie like Jungle Fever, Pulp Fiction, Unbreakable, Caveman's Valentine etc.
Even when he's doing junk, he's still entertaining.
edit - Dennis Haysbert? Cuba Gooding Jnr? Why put them on the poll when you could have Jeffrey Wright there?
DrewTheXenocide
06-19-2006, 07:55 PM
I've got my eye on Don Cheadle. His stint on ER was pretty amazing, not to mention his part in Crash, and a little known movie called Hotel Rwanda.
HomerJay
06-19-2006, 08:30 PM
i give it to Denzel because i don't think Don Cheadle can really change himself. he just happens to be able to fit himself into different roles. by that i mean he's the same guy whether he's a cop or a criminal; same inflection of voice and mannerisms.
I take it you haven't seen HBO's THE RAT PACK.
He BECAME Sammy Davis Jr. without doing a lame impersonation of him. An absolutely unbelievable performance that blew me away.
jerrymcl89
06-19-2006, 08:35 PM
I voted for Denzel, but as a big fan of "Homicide", I'd also like to give some credit to Andre Braugher.
The Mirrorball Man
06-19-2006, 09:28 PM
Andre Braugher is so obviously the best that it's not even funny. If I have to pick someone on the list, though, it's Denzel.
Isn't it a little strange that Will Smith is not even mentioned on the list, by the way?
Magneto_X
06-19-2006, 09:31 PM
Morgan Freeman, followed by Denzel Washington.
rondre sleazde
06-19-2006, 09:34 PM
My fault on Will Smith and Andre baugher. I couldn't remember everyone I ha in mind for the poll.
DWEarhart
06-19-2006, 09:34 PM
Isn't it a little strange that Will Smith is not even mentioned on the list, by the way?
Nope. Not really.
Andre Braugher is so obviously the best that it's not even funny. If I have to pick someone on the list, though, it's Denzel.
Andre Braugher is definitely on top of the game.
I wanted to go with Laurence Fishburne, but Denzel's been a bit, just a bit more versatile than him, that's why I voted Denzel. But make no mistake, if Laurence is in it, I'm giving it a shot.
The Mirrorball Man
06-19-2006, 09:38 PM
Nope. Not really.
Yes, really. Will Smith is one of the most popular actors in the world, he should be on the list. I mean, come on now, Dennis Haysbert is on the list!
rondre sleazde
06-19-2006, 09:39 PM
Is their anyway a can edit the poll
Scorpion13
06-19-2006, 09:42 PM
Gotta give it to Denzel on versatility alone. Check out his roles from Training Day, to Manchurian Candidate, to Out of Time to Man on Fire to Inside Man (and that's just recently). It's hard for me to think of anyone in Hollywood that can cover the ground he can, white or black.
Lets not forget him in Malcolm X.
I can watch that over and over again. He really is awesome.
And although he isnt really a modern day guy, Sidney Poitier did kick ass back in the day.
"They call me MISTER Tibbs!!"
DWEarhart
06-19-2006, 09:52 PM
Yes, really. Will Smith is one of the most popular actors in the world, he should be on the list. I mean, come on now, Dennis Haysbert is on the list!
But, Haysbert has an awesome voice. :D
FINE. I'll give you Will Smith, but I don't have to like it.
I don't think Terrence Howard really belongs on this list. Sure, I think he's cool in a modern day Billy D. Williams sort of way, but I wouldn't say he's anything all that special in terms of acting.
bfrank
06-19-2006, 11:32 PM
Fish....
Sam and Denzel play all their characters alike....
Morgan's getting that way as well....
KameTen
06-20-2006, 12:52 AM
This is not fair:(
Freeman, Washington, and Fishburne are probably some of the strongest actors I've seen (with all due respect to Andre Braugher). They all command a presence that comes forward in a lot of their roles. But if I had to choose the top dog, then it would have to be Morgan Freeman by a hair. The man never puts out a bad performance, and always shines even in crappy movies (Nurse Betty, anyone). Denzel has much of the same credentials, but until I've seen him shine in something trully horrid while playing a secondary character, Morgan stays at the top of the list. Larry falls under the same conditions that Denzel also falls under, but he's still damn good.
And Will Smith is not a good actor. Passable in front of a good script, but that's as far as he will go. And Cuba should give back his Academy Award after working in such tripe as Boat Trip, Radio, and Snow Dogs.
Darth Joker
06-20-2006, 06:31 AM
I voted for Samuel L Jackson.
There's a lot of great actors here, but there's a few things that puts Jackson over the top for me...
1) He's a working actor. I like how he's constantly acting. It shows that he has a real love for his profession.
2) Of the people listed here, nobody is as good at "niche acting" as Sam is. By that, I mean that nobody has found their niche to the degree that Sam has. Jackson fits the "badass" role better than anybody on this list fits any one particular role.
3) Jackson might not have the acting range of a Denzel Washington, but he does have some range. I was pleasantly surprised by how straight he played his Star Wars role, and he deserves credit for that.
Darth Joker
06-20-2006, 06:35 AM
I really liked Will Smith in Independence Day, but he hasn't had many memorable roles since that.
He's a great actor for what I would call "popcorn movies" (i.e. nice, fluffy entertaining films that are a joy to watch, but not memorable in the least), but he hasn't had a good serious role since, well, Independence Day.
DrewTheXenocide
06-20-2006, 07:00 AM
I really liked Will Smith in Independence Day, but he hasn't had many memorable roles since that.
He's a great actor for what I would call "popcorn movies" (i.e. nice, fluffy entertaining films that are a joy to watch, but not memorable in the least), but he hasn't had a good serious role since, well, Independence Day.
I thought he was pretty good in Ali.
The Mirrorball Man
06-20-2006, 07:07 AM
I really liked Will Smith in Independence Day, but he hasn't had many memorable roles since that.
He's a great actor for what I would call "popcorn movies" (i.e. nice, fluffy entertaining films that are a joy to watch, but not memorable in the least), but he hasn't had a good serious role since, well, Independence Day.
Come on now, "Independence Day" was a serious role?
In my opinion, Will Smith has more range than people usually give him credit for, but apart from "Six Degrees of Separation" and "Ali", he never really tried hard to stretch his acting muscles. Basically, he's the new Burt Reynolds.
And there ain't nothing wrong with Burt Reynolds! (excluding, of course, his upcoming role in a Uwe Boll movie!:mad:)
Darth Joker
06-20-2006, 11:18 AM
I thought he was pretty good in Ali.
I had forgotten Ali. Good point.
Darth Joker
06-20-2006, 11:20 AM
Come on now, "Independence Day" was a serious role?
Well, the 2nd half of the film was a bit campy, but the first half of it came across as a very serious film. To use a wrestling term, I think that he "sold" his family role, his military role, and his awe at the destruction that was being caused, pretty well.
In my opinion, Will Smith has more range than people usually give him credit for, but apart from "Six Degrees of Separation" and "Ali", he never really tried hard to stretch his acting muscles. Basically, he's the new Burt Reynolds.
You could be right. Will Smith as the black Burt Reynolds sounds just about right to me.
Slade.
06-20-2006, 01:58 PM
Denzel.
Cuz he can play anything. Cheedle is dope too.
But Denzel is in a whole different category.
Slade.
06-20-2006, 01:59 PM
This is not fair:(
Freeman, Washington, and Fishburne are probably some of the strongest actors I've seen (with all due respect to Andre Braugher). They all command a presence that comes forward in a lot of their roles. But if I had to choose the top dog, then it would have to be Morgan Freeman by a hair. The man never puts out a bad performance, and always shines even in crappy movies (Nurse Betty, anyone). Denzel has much of the same credentials, but until I've seen him shine in something trully horrid while playing a secondary character, Morgan stays at the top of the list. Larry falls under the same conditions that Denzel also falls under, but he's still damn good.
And Will Smith is not a good actor. Passable in front of a good script, but that's as far as he will go. And Cuba should give back his Academy Award after working in such tripe as Boat Trip, Radio, and Snow Dogs.
Yes he is. You might not like him but yes he is.
rondre sleazde
06-20-2006, 02:02 PM
What about legend of Bagger Vance
Haunt
06-20-2006, 04:46 PM
i'm not saying that he's a great actor but i've liked Wesley Snipes in about every movie i've seen him in. he manages to shine in a lot of crappy movies.
Simon Phoenix
Blade
great characters
Black Atom
06-20-2006, 08:00 PM
Lets not forget him in Malcolm X.
I can watch that over and over again. He really is awesome.
And although he isnt really a modern day guy, Sidney Poitier did kick ass back in the day.
"They call me MISTER Tibbs!!"
Agreed on both counts. Denzel, like Poitier, almost single-handedly MAKES the movies he's in. For a real treat, check out Freeman and Washington both in Glory. Again, Denzel exhibits from pretty amazing range. He can go from morally unimpeachable, to the desperate, tortured everyman, to outright villainous.
Black Atom
06-20-2006, 08:00 PM
Lets not forget him in Malcolm X.
I can watch that over and over again. He really is awesome.
And although he isnt really a modern day guy, Sidney Poitier did kick ass back in the day.
"They call me MISTER Tibbs!!"
Agreed on both counts. Denzel, like Poitier, almost single-handedly MAKES the movies he's in. For a real treat, check out Freeman and Washington both in Glory. Again, Denzel exhibits some pretty amazing range. He can go from morally unimpeachable, to the desperate, tortured everyman, to outright villainous.
Valmore
06-20-2006, 08:59 PM
Gary Dourdan is pretty darned good.
KameTen
06-21-2006, 03:17 AM
Yes he is. You might not like him but yes he is.
Perhaps a rewording is in order.:o
Will Smith, at his best, is passable. He has never wowed me as an actor, and right now it seems to me that he is coasting on his rep rather than growing as an actor. He's dependable, but now "WOW, this guy is good" to me.
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