Today's best Movie Star

[Dookus]

It's not about looks. It's not even necessarily about talent. It's about being a star. Who will our grandchildren watch and be enamored with?

I'm voting for Nicole Kidman. I think Sean Penn is a close second, followed by Johnny Depp.

[oxymoron]

1. Susan Sarandon

[King Of Paperboys]

2. Denzel

All the way. He's the whole package... looks, talent, brains, socially concious, no bed-hopping drama. He's the goods.

[I_like_chicken]

3. The Olsen twins

They make classic movie after classic movie, how could anyone NOT admire them.

[Rowdyboy]

4. How far we've declined when we don't bother to consider "talent"

These people are little more than egos with press agents (though I was able to vote-thanks for including Jack N).

[Dookus]

7. sorry

but being a movie star has NEVER been about talent. It's about being a movie star, which is its own skill. We haven't declined at all. In fact, I'd say that today's working actors are MORE talented than their predecessors in the "golden age" of Hollywood.

The REAL lasting stars, however, combine acting talent with star quality.

[Deja Q]

11. It's rather like politics...

Except those in politics HAVE declined. Considerably.

[Rowdyboy]

20. You really think so?

Would you compare Meryl Streep to Katherine Hepburn favorably? How about Tom Hanks to Jimmy Stewart?; Nicole Kidman to Bette Davis; Harrison Ford to Jimmy Stewart; Tom Cruise to Cary Grant?

In my mind, only Glynn Close comes (sorry) "close" to the talent of that era.

I don't think those are unfair comparisons, and I think every single one of the newer actors PALES before the older.

Of course, there is much more than talent involved, but do you REALLY believe that this generation's stars have depth and range equal to the stars of Hollywood's Golden Age?

Goddammit! I'm getting more and more crotchety before my very eyes. Give me a shot of my rheumatiz medicine and cover me with my shawl...

[TrustingDog]

5. Anthony Hopkins...

Jeff Bridges (so under rated)
Michael Keaton ( a way back - hasn't been in front lately, love that guy)
Jennifer Jason Leigh (I love her unactingness about her)
John Travolta (picks Such good movies except Battlestar Earth)

[supernova]

6. Johnny Depp

is leagues in front of the others in talent and breadth of material. He's not as famous as he should be, but he's never been interested in that. He loves the challenge.

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. Johnny Depp...

the finest American actor of his generation...unrecognised, though, because he chooses to work in smaller, less commercial films, for the most part...

[jpgray]

9. Out of this list, I'd actually go with Denzel

He has the chops and the star power to last for a long time.

[Dookus]

10. No doubt...

he's great. But I'll defend my (unpopular) choice of Nicole Kidman. She's gorgeous, she really CAN act, and she has impeccable choice about what roles to play.

Denzel seems to have gone a little too "hollywood" for my tastes. I'd love to see him in a great dramatic role in a small, independent movie.

[King Of Paperboys]

12. I do love Nicole,

But I am SO SICK of the drama surrounding her personal life. That's why I went with Denzel. I don't need to keep hearing that shit.

And please don't tell me it's the press, not her. These people have publicists that control the stories. They put most of this stuff out there to keep the star's name in the papers.

[Dookus]

13. Well

she was left by the biggest celebrity of our time. As far as I can tell, she really DID handle herself admirably.

[King Of Paperboys]

14. Jude Law? Lenny Kravitz?

No thanks. Don't need daily updates.

[Dookus]

17. her ex-husband

and father of her children, tom Cruise.

yes, she leads an "interesting" social life. But shouldn't all movie stars?

[LiviaOlivia]

15. Russell Crowe

When he's not in a Ron Howard movie.

[tridim]

16. Bill Murray

[No2W2004]

18. Depp

anyone that can take on the type of rolls he has and remains halfway sane gets my vote!

[MercutioATC]

19. Morgan Freeman

I can't think of a single role he's played that I haven't liked...

...even on The Electric Company...

[jobycom]

21. Ford, then Denzel. You left off Kostner, and Willis

I think out of that list, they have the perfect combination of looks, style, personality, and talent. Depp may have more acting skill, but I think Ford and Washington have it in the right blend to be considered cool in a few decades. Both are very good actors, both are charming and understated, both are larger than life.

Bruce Willis has a broad portfolio, ranging from his action flicks to his more serious acting, and that will give him more appeal. Kostner, to me, is a classic actor, for the same reasons I said Ford and Washington were.

Halle Berry will be one of the great beauties, but unless she makes the transition to older woman, like Katherine Hepburn, I don't think she'll gain the type of respect the others in your list will. Marilyn Monroe, for instance, though quite talented, was so associated with her beauty that when the ideal of beauty moved to something else, her old films didn't connect with younger audiences. Same with Jane Russell, and most other "beauties" I hear mentioned. Except Ingrid Bergman, somehow she still appeals.

Halle has the talent, I believe, but we'll see if she gets the opportunities.

[Spider Jerusalem]

22. Except for the lamentable fact that...

Kevin Costner can't act (his best role was as the corpse in The Big Chill) and Bruce Willis is the same in EVERY film he's in...

[jobycom]

23. Only lamentable for being untrue

Both can act, and you've not seen many Willis films if that's your impression.

[Spider Jerusalem]

24. Only about a dozen.

Not terribly impressed by Willis, although I thought he was okay in Pulp Fiction and The Fifth Element.

And the only Costner film I like at all is The Untouchables, and that's mostly because of Connery and DeNiro.