All-Time Film Actor/Actress Draft

[oykib]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Solid pick. As an aside, I thought his portrayals of The Joker in Batman and Colonel Jessup in A Few Good Men were great supporting roles.

I usually really like Nicholson and love him in some stuff. But his Joker was terrible. That was classic Hollywood Star-Personality suff-- not acting.

The whole "Batman" movie was a ball of crap if you ask me (which I realize no one did).

[3ric]

I had difficulties in placing my choice of actress in a specific category since she was so versatile - she was equally prolific in any kind of movie - comedy, drama or romance. But there's no doubt she belongs at the top of any list of the finest actresses ever.

My choice for best actress (romance) has 12 Oscar nominations, 4 wins for Best Actress, and 6 movies in the IMDB top 100. Ladies and gentlemen, the fourth pick overall in the draft is Katharine Hepburn.

[oykib]

BTW, Hurry up, 3ric. It's 3:00 in the morning here. I gotta go to bed!

[oykib]

That was quick. Did you use a time machine, man?

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by 3ric

I had difficulties in placing my choice of actress in a specific category since she was so versatile - she was equally prolific in any kind of movie - comedy, drama or romance. But there's no doubt she belongs at the top of any list of the finest actresses ever.

My choice for best actress (romance) has 12 Oscar nominations, 4 wins for Best Actress, and 6 movies in the IMDB top 100. Ladies and gentlemen, the fourth pick overall in the draft is Katharine Hepburn.

Great selection. If my pick was a bit lower she was in my sights.

Edit: Although I would have gone "Drama" over "Romance" I think.

[NoMyths]

Definitely a solid choice.

[oykib]

My first I'm going shortstop with my pick. I'm getting rid of the toughest category with the greatest performer in any of the categories.

That's right I'm choosing Best Actor (musical). This is a man whose voice was described by the great Louis Armstrong as, "Like hearing gold being poured from a cup."

One of the songs from his movie Holiday Inn is the number one selling single of all time. He has more #1 hits than Elvis or the Beatles-- at 38. Many of those hits off the tracks from even his involvement in more pedestrian vehicles. He's that smooth.

With the fifth pick I select three-time Academy Award best actor nominee, and 1945 Academy Awards Best Actor Award Winner...



...the Honus Wagner of the movie draft...





Bing Crosby




Going My Way?

[WSUCougar]

Alrighty then. That one blindsided me, but you're confidence is inspiring.

[oykib]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Alrighty then. That one blindsided me, but you're confidence is inspiring.

Now, y'all know that I'm playing for keeps...

I'm off to bed. I hope the snake gets around to my next blockbuster before I have to go to work tomorrow.

[Calis]

I must admit, I'm a bit frightened to be involved in another FOFC Draft after the debacle that was/is the previous one I'm in, but I'll take my chances because it's fun!

With the 6th pick of the draft I will select....


Stanley Kubrick
Director

Just for the added bonus of being my favorite, and I think is a very safe first round pick. We're talking Spartacus, 2001, Dr. Strangelove, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket..the list goes on and on. Outstanding direction in cinematography in all his films, and you can really tell how painstakingly each scene was crafted. Not too mention he was the writer on most of his big scripts, which just adds to the value.

I'd of taken him with the first pick if I had it.

[NoMyths]

Nice pick, Calis. He was one of my top three directors.

[WSUCougar]

Wow, I had no idea he directed Spartacus. Nice choice.

[Calis]

Oddly enough I didn't know that either..you never hear him associated with that one. I guess because he didn't write it.

EDIT: Guess I should specify I didn't know it until I checked IMDB before making my pick. I obviously knew about it when I made my pick.

[Coffee Warlord]

Draft analysis post has been updated through Calis's pick.

Tell ya what, I'm already surprised about how this is going.

[3ric]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

CW's Not As Scathing As GSG, But Still Possibly Brutal, Draft Analysis

1.1 - Alfred Hitchcock, SP
No arguments here. A truly legendary director, worthy of the #1 overall pick. A

1.2 Jimmy Stewart, WSUCougar
It's certainly not a bad pick. Not one I would have gone for, but JS is certainly a quality guy to have on your roster. Personally though, I think putting Stewart as the top actor of the draft is a smidge much. B-

1.3 - Jack Nicholson, NoMyths
My personal list of top 5 acting talent included good old Jack. He's a beast, and I have no problems with him going this early. A

1.4 - Katharine Hepburn, 3ric
Great actress, way too damn early to take her off the board. I would have bet money she'd be available to 3ric in the 2nd. On the plus side, she will likely be one of the best choices among the Actresses, but still. Way too friggen early to take her off the board. C

1.5 - Bing Crosby, oykib
Sorry man, but no. Fifth overall selection, and you went with an obscure great. Don't get me wrong, Crosby is above and beyond the top man for his category, but this is far too early to be taking him.D+

1.6 - Stanley Kubrik, Calis
50/50 on this one. Good director, probably among the top 5 I'd have listed. However, there are at least 2 directors still out there I'd choose over Kubrik.
Solid, but not excellent pick. B+

C'mon CW - no way Hepburn is a reach in the first round...

[Coffee Warlord]

REACH!

I personally figured the first round would be Actors and Directors.

[ntndeacon]

She would not have gotten to the second round that was gonna be my first pick. Definately a very solid pick there 3ric!

[korme]

This is fun!

[Sloan]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

REACH!

I personally figured the first round would be Actors and Directors.

There are lots of good actors and directors though. I think Bing Crosby was a great first round pick. Why not take people from weak categories first if you can get a good director in round 7?

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Sloan

There are lots of good actors and directors though. I think Bing Crosby was a great first round pick. Why not take people from weak categories first if you can get a good director in round 7?

So do you draft Tony Gonzalez #1 every year?

[Sloan]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

So do you draft Tony Gonzalez #1 every year?

Good point.

[GoldenScribeGuy]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

CW's Not As Scathing As GSG, But Still Possibly Brutal, Draft Analysis

Me scathing? I think I've been rather timid to this point (round 1 - pick 2).

CW - you make me out to be the Simon Cowell of the FOFC......So it might be
warranted, but I calls 'em as I sees 'em.

[HornedFrog Purple]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Wow, I had no idea he directed Spartacus. Nice choice.

He did but he considered it his worst movie because the bigwigs in charge basically butchered and constricted what he wanted to do. Spartacus was his first "big budget" movie.

After that, whenever he signed his contracts he demanded complete and utter control over his pictures with no timetable.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by GoldenScribeGuy

Me scathing? I think I've been rather timid to this point (round 1 - pick 2).

CW - you make me out to be the Simon Cowell of the FOFC......So it might be
warranted, but I calls 'em as I sees 'em.

Exactly why I said scathing. If you've been timid up to this point, then I have a feeling you'll wind up being far more brutal than I.

Although...I can't wait to read what you think about Bing Crosby and Katherine Hepburn.

[Barkeep49]

So far I like the direction this draft has taken. I haven't lost out on any of my top choices and we're half way to me. Woo Woo!

FWIW I can't fault the Bing Crosby pick.

[ntndeacon]

I still see most of mine too. (Except for Hepburn of course)
I agree The Crosby pick was not bad, though I wasn't looking there there are several in that category my eye is on.

[GoldenScribeGuy]

My expert analysis has been updated to pick #6.

Feel free to disagree with my opinion. At the end of the day, you will still be wrong.

[3ric]

Originally Posted by GoldenScribeGuy

1.4 Katherine Hepburn – Best Actress: Romance (3ric)

I absolutely love Katherine Hepburn on film. She was an amazing talent, starring in more than 50 films spanning eight decades. Although I have not seen all of her movies, I can safely say that I have never seen her do poorly in a film. (Checking IMDB, I’ve seen more than twenty of them. Good grief, I think I need to get out more.)

However.

Best Actress: Romance ???

“The African Queen” could be considered a romance, I guess; and “The Rainmaker” definitely falls into that category. But, I guess, I tend to remember her for roles like Eleanor of Aquitaine in “Lion in Winter” and other dramatic roles in movies like “On Golden Pond” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”.

I am agreeing with WSUCougar here. IMO, it’s a great pick; wrong category.

When she did "African Queen" she had hit middle age and almost exclusively did roles as the spinster kind of woman. But her roles in the 1940's, before that, are definitely in the "Romance" category. "Woman of the year", "Adam's Rib", and "Philadelphia Story" - make a choice. Great pick, regardless of category - she did them all.

[NoMyths]

Originally Posted by GoldenScribeGuy

1.3 Jack Nicholson – Best Actor: Drama (NoMyths)

Where do I start……Whenever I get into a discussion with other people regarding the talents of modern Hollywood actors and actresses, I always get into a screaming match regarding the abilities of one guy..…you guessed it. Jack Nicholson. In my opinion, he is ......

Moderately over-rated!!!! (before I get slammed too hard, notice I did not say ‘highly’ overrated.)

He is a good actor. That’s it. Just good. He has been exceptional in a handful of roles, and has just gone through the motions in many more. Examples.

Jack Nicholson in “Cuckoo’s Nest” was simply amazing.
Jack Nicholson in “Batman” was simply average.
Jack Nicholson in “The Shining” was the highlight of the film (overrated film BTW)
Jack Nicholson in “The Witches of Eastwick” was dreadful. – granted, he didn’t have much to work with.
Jack Nicholson is “As Good As it Gets” was….well, I really didn’t care for the movie, so let’s just say I was less than impressed.

Nicholson is a good comedic actor, but not on my top ten. He is a good dramatic actor, but not on my top ten. I think that he is just too darned inconsistent to deserve the #3 pick overall. In a nutshell, I think you blew it NoMyths.

We'll have to disagree, then. There isn't an actor out there who hasn't appeared in some bad films, and who hasn't phoned it in in some films. Nicholson, however, at his best has been better than 99% of anyone else at their best...and he's done roles that others wouldn't have been able to bring the same life to.

Bottom line: in Five Easy Pieces alone he cemented himself as one of the three or four most important American actors in cinematic history. Being as how I don't pick again for a long time--and knowing that Jack wouldn't be around that late--I'd take him again in a heartbeat. I could look comfortably at any project knowing I had Jack in my pocket...not so with my other top acting choices.

But your enthusiasm and commentary is appreciated.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by NoMyths

We'll have to disagree, then.

At least you didn't get a B- from Coffee...

[Calis]

I'm wounded by GSG's rating of my pick.

I'd say Kubrick is a top 3 director. I actually liked Eyes Wide Shut also, although I hadn't seen the other film mentioned. I will however agree he was a nutjob.

I actually like the picks so far. Good stuff. I will say I'm a bit baffled by the Bing Crosby pick, but then again I have a deep burning hatred of musicals, so I fear having to pick someone in that category.

[NoMyths]

hehe...Coffee knows where it's at.

Seriously...Nicholson has a lot of baggage for being "JACK!" but it causes his acting to be overlooked. He's got more great films than many folks have films. I was reluctant to take him for non-filmic reasons, but honestly, anyone who's seen his best work (including Five Easy Pieces) knows the score.

[NoMyths]

dola...

Calis: In my book, Kubrick is an A director. I'd rather have him than all but two or three other guys. Nobody did light like him.

[GoldenScribeGuy]

Originally Posted by NoMyths

We'll have to disagree, then.......But your enthusiasm and commentary is appreciated.

Oh my. Someone that can take criticism without resorting to namecalling. Is this the FOFC?

Anyway, Loved your rebuttal. I have a feeling that you and I could discuss movies/acting performances into the wee hours of the morning.

Of course, you would still be wrong.

[NoMyths]

I think we probably could too, GSG. Hopefully after a few beers (and some illustrative highlights from key films) you'd come around.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by GoldenScribeGuy

My expert analysis has been updated to pick #6.

Feel free to disagree with my opinion. At the end of the day, you will still be wrong.

Over/Under on us agreeing about at least 1 pick in the first round?

[korme]

Where oh where could Karim be.

[oykib]

I think a lot of you fellows have missed the boat on how popular musicals were in the first half of the twentieth century. That was probably the most popular genre of film until the great director revolution in the 60s.

People liked to see extravaganzas back then. How else do you account for the incredible popularity of the films of Sonja Henie and Esther Williams.

But Bing is the guy. When you think about making movies today, you can't really find a place for his skills. But he was the biggest star of his era. And we still have the impact of his songs today. Half the Bing songs you here, you probaably don't recognize as his. His songs, particularly from his films, are that much a part of Americana.

Hell, you can't get through Christmas without feeling the impact of Holiday Inn.

I think a lot of you think that I made the pick of the best guy in a maarginal category. But up until fairly recent history, theatre was music. Now, we see a new mainstream musical only every five years or so. But Bing made five movies in a year and they all made money hand over fist.

[Sun Tzu]

How long has Karim been on the clock?

[SplitPersonality1]

Originally Posted by oykib

I think a lot of you think that I made the pick of the best guy in a maarginal category. But up until fairly recent history, theatre was music. Now, we see a new mainstream musical only every five years or so. But Bing made five movies in a year and they all made money hand over fist.

I think you may have impressed GSG. He said your pick was inspired. Hell, he didn't slam you or ridicule you in any way. You should be proud.

[Craptacular]

Originally Posted by GoldenScribeGuy

What, never heard of “Killer’s Kiss”. Here is the promotional tagline from this 1955 piece of craptaculousness.

Hey now! I had nothing to do with it!

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by oykib

Defending Bing!

It's not the pick, per se. It was actually a very good pick.

I'm just of the opinion, strategically speaking, you could have picked someone else in another category and easily got him in later rounds. Raiders nonwithstanding, not many people take kickers in the first round, so ta speak.

[Sun Tzu]

"Needlenose Ned"? "Ned the Head"? C'mon, buddy! Case Western High! I did the whistling belly-button trick at the high school talent show? Got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn't graduate? I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple of times until you told me not to anymore?

[ntndeacon]

I do agree he probably could have gotten him later, but it definately is not assured. I am veiewing these picks a little different than you CW. I think that at least most of these categories cary roughly the same weight. (Only two notable exceptions the Suporting Categories by their very nature...) not that there arent good picks in that category too. But the other 8 categoriesseem like they should have similar value.

[GoldenScribeGuy]

Originally Posted by Craptacular

Hey now! I had nothing to do with it!

Did I spell "craptaculousness" correctly?

[WSUCougar]

Karim has about 4 hours before he gets bumped.

[Barkeep49]

Can I suggest that 24 hours is perhaps too long a time? It seems that our draft could get considerably bogged down by such a long wait time.

I'm obviously not suggesting bumping Karim early, but making a suggest as we move forward.

[ntndeacon]

Karim did say he could only be on late at night.
Course I am anticipating my First pick with much exuberence.

[WSUCougar]

Okay, Karim has been bumped and Sloan is on the clock.

Karim, you can make your 1st round pick at anytime, and it will be valid as long as you post ahead of whomever makes the next choice.

[GoldenScribeGuy]

Karim, Karim, Karim.

This had better be a monster pick since you kept me waitng.

Not to put any pressure on you or anything.