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GROUP TWO
6. NORMAN BATES (Anthony Perkins) in PSYCHO (Paramount, 1960)
Anthony Perkins' skillfully crafts his performance as Norman Bates, avoiding a ranting, raving, drooling, murder-happy, manic characterization; instead his performance as Norman is subtle, creepy, cool, and unsettling. He is brilliant; from his quiet conversations with Marion Crane amidst the stuffed birds, to his weasling wimpiness when confronted by Arbogast, his performance is so exact that it chills the viewer, all without the unnecessary disturbing images prevalent in more modern films.
The final few scenes still give me chills to this day. Vince Vaughn was absolutely hopeless in the "Psycho" remake. I even laughed at some parts. I never laughed at Perkins.
I hope younger viewers ignore the crappy sequels and remake and watch the original.
7. MRS. JOHN ISELIN (Angela Lansbury) in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (United Artists, 1962)
Angela Lansbury plays his mother in a tour de force role. She absolutely captivates and steals every scene she is in, playing a very complex role that needs to convince the viewer of many things without much dialogue.
8. GORDON GEKKO (Michael Douglas) in WALL STREET (20th Century Fox, 1987)
"Wall Street" is saved by a brilliant Michael Douglas. As usual, he impersonates the evil so credible, it's fun to watch him. Michael Douglas in his Academy Award winning role is cutthroat and not the bad guy per se but really makes you love him and hate him all at once.
Douglas is best when he shows off the darkest sides in humans. I don't like him in comedies because I favor his dark sense of humor.
9. REGINA GIDDENS (Bette Davis) in THE LITTLE FOXES (RKO/Goldwyn, 1941)
The performing of Bette Davis is memorable (as expected), and the way she says things such as "I don't hate you, I just feel contempt for you"... that are just like a punch in your face. There should be a picture of Mrs. Davis in the dictionaries next to that sentence that says "look that kills". Bette Davis was the look that killed.
10. HANS GRUBER (Alan Rickman) in DIE HARD (20th Century Fox, 1988)
The Machiavellian Gruber would've been an easy villain to turn into little more than a scenery-chewing Bond villain . . . fortunately, Rickman doesn't travel the easy route. Gruber, as played by Rickman, is cold and calculating, and actually acts smart, instead of merely claiming to be smart and then being thoroughly outwitted by the hero. He always appears to have an ace hidden up his sleeve, and is so convincing at giving this impression, it's hard to tell throughout the film whether he or McClane truly have the upper hand. Other actors probably could've played Gruber fairly well, but Rickman makes Gruber one of the all-time great villains.
6. NORMAN BATES (Anthony Perkins) in PSYCHO (Paramount, 1960)
Anthony Perkins' skillfully crafts his performance as Norman Bates, avoiding a ranting, raving, drooling, murder-happy, manic characterization; instead his performance as Norman is subtle, creepy, cool, and unsettling. He is brilliant; from his quiet conversations with Marion Crane amidst the stuffed birds, to his weasling wimpiness when confronted by Arbogast, his performance is so exact that it chills the viewer, all without the unnecessary disturbing images prevalent in more modern films.
The final few scenes still give me chills to this day. Vince Vaughn was absolutely hopeless in the "Psycho" remake. I even laughed at some parts. I never laughed at Perkins.
I hope younger viewers ignore the crappy sequels and remake and watch the original.
7. MRS. JOHN ISELIN (Angela Lansbury) in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (United Artists, 1962)
Angela Lansbury plays his mother in a tour de force role. She absolutely captivates and steals every scene she is in, playing a very complex role that needs to convince the viewer of many things without much dialogue.
8. GORDON GEKKO (Michael Douglas) in WALL STREET (20th Century Fox, 1987)
"Wall Street" is saved by a brilliant Michael Douglas. As usual, he impersonates the evil so credible, it's fun to watch him. Michael Douglas in his Academy Award winning role is cutthroat and not the bad guy per se but really makes you love him and hate him all at once.
Douglas is best when he shows off the darkest sides in humans. I don't like him in comedies because I favor his dark sense of humor.
9. REGINA GIDDENS (Bette Davis) in THE LITTLE FOXES (RKO/Goldwyn, 1941)
The performing of Bette Davis is memorable (as expected), and the way she says things such as "I don't hate you, I just feel contempt for you"... that are just like a punch in your face. There should be a picture of Mrs. Davis in the dictionaries next to that sentence that says "look that kills". Bette Davis was the look that killed.
10. HANS GRUBER (Alan Rickman) in DIE HARD (20th Century Fox, 1988)
The Machiavellian Gruber would've been an easy villain to turn into little more than a scenery-chewing Bond villain . . . fortunately, Rickman doesn't travel the easy route. Gruber, as played by Rickman, is cold and calculating, and actually acts smart, instead of merely claiming to be smart and then being thoroughly outwitted by the hero. He always appears to have an ace hidden up his sleeve, and is so convincing at giving this impression, it's hard to tell throughout the film whether he or McClane truly have the upper hand. Other actors probably could've played Gruber fairly well, but Rickman makes Gruber one of the all-time great villains.
