It’s time for the last in my 3 part series where I list my favourite directors, actresses and actors. If you missed the first two blogs, you can check them out here (for directors) and here (for actresses).
The criteria is the same as last time – (1) the actor has a history of strong performances in great movies over the past 10 years, and (2) any new film starring this actor is likely to grab my attention.
I have a long list of honourable mentions so let me quickly name... Paul Giamatti, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper, William H. Macy, Javier Bardem, Geoffrey Rush, Johnny Depp, Jeff Bridges, Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley, Sean Penn, Jim Broadbent and Mark Whalberg.
Philip Seymour Hoffman topped the list when I last did it in October 2008 but I think George Clooney’s body of work over the past decade can’t be topped. He has earned the top ranking this time.
I admit that it’s a list that seems to change each month but as of today and based on my current mood, here are my top 10 favourite actors working today...
 | 10. Josh Hutcherson Best Recent Performance: Bridge To Terabithia (2007) Other Great Performances: The Kids Are All Right (2010), Winged Creatures (2008), Zathura (2005), Little Manhattan (2005) |
 | 9. Ryan Phillippe Best Recent Performance: Flags Of Our Fathers (2006) Other Great Performances: The Lincoln Lawyer (2011), Stop-Loss (2008), Breach (2007), Crash (2004), Igby Goes Down (2002), Gosford Park (2001), Antitrust (2001) |
 | 8. Clive Owen Best Recent Performance: Closer (2004) Other Great Performances: Duplicity (2009), The International (2009), Children Of Men (2006), Inside Man (2006), Sin City (2005), The Bourne Identity (2002), Gosford Park (2001) |
 | 7. Christian Bale Best Recent Performance: The Fighter (2010) Other Great Performances: The Dark Knight (2008), I’m Not There (2007), 3:10 To Yuma (2007), The Prestige (2006), Batman Begins (2005) |
 | 6. Matt Damon Best Recent Performance: The Bourne Supremacy (2004) Other Great Performances: Green Zone (2010), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), The Departed (2006), Syriana (2005), The Bourne Identity (2002), Ocean’s Eleven (2001) |
 | 5. Robert Downey Jr Best Recent Performance: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) Other Great Performances: Due Date (2010), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Tropic Thunder (2008), Iron Man (2008), Zodiac (2007), A Scanner Darkly (2006), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) |
 | 4. Leonardo DiCaprio Best Recent Performance: Catch Me If You Can (2002) Other Great Performances: Inception (2010), Shutter Island (2010), Revolutionary Road (2008), Body Of Lies (2008), Blood Diamond (2006), The Departed (2006), The Aviator (2004), Gangs Of New York (2002) |
 | 3. Russell Crowe Best Recent Performance: A Beautiful Mind (2001) Other Great Performances: The Next Three Days (2010), State Of Play (2009), Body Of Lies (2008), American Gangster (2007), 3:10 To Yuma (2007), Cinderella Man (2005), Master & Commander (2003) |
 | 2. Philip Seymour Hoffman Best Recent Performance: Capote (2006) Other Great Performances: Doubt (2008), Charlie Wilson’s War (2008), Before The Devil Knows Your Dead (2007), The Savages (2007), Cold Mountain (2003), Owning Mahowny (2003), 25th Hour (2002), Red Dragon (2002), Punch-Drunk Love (2002) |
 | 1. George Clooney Best Recent Performance: Michael Clayton (2007) Other Great Performances: Fantastic Mr Fox (2009), Up In The Air (2009), Burn After Reading (2008), Leatherheads (2008), Syriana (2005), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), Intolerable Cruelty (2003), Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind (2002), Ocean’s Eleven (2001) |