I have an odd world view that requires that I filter personal opinions about the worth of art through a web of numbers. I know, it makes no sense, and it's a nightmare at times to keep up with all the rules my head sets up for myself. Still, sometimes I post these lists if for no other reason than some people are either entertained by them, or at least dismayed in an entertaining way that stimulates discussion that frequently covers topics such as "Really?", and "Why don't you seek help?", and "I really feel sorry for you, but more for your loved ones."
So the deal here is that for 4 years I have been attempting to establish a listing of movie actors. For each actor, for each of their films, I assign a number that is a combination of the actor's prominence in a film, along with the quality of the film. I then cull out their best ten performances, and rank the actors according to this sum of scores for their ten best roles. I am hoping for some sort of "Accomplishment in film acting" measure. Maybe it doesn't mean anything, but I am compelled to do it, and further compelled to share it. I am working my way alphabetically, and am limiting my work currently to actors who are still pursuing the craft; that is, at the moments, actors who have appeared in at least one theatrical release in the last 3 years. So here's the top 100, although please be clear, it only covers letters A-Z. Note; this is in no way intended as a "best actors" list. I have no skills or credentials to even attempt such a thing.
100) Jacqueline Bissett 99) Alan Arkin 98) Hugh Grant 97) Kirsten Dunst 96) Woody Harrelson
95) Cameron Diaz 94) Michael Keaton 93) Ed Harris 92) Anne Bancroft 91) Colin Firth
90) Bruce Dern 89) Elliot Gould 88) Kevin Bacon 87) Lauren Bacall 86) James Garner
85) Julie Andrews 84) Val Kilmer 83) Helena Bonham-Carter 82) Keith Carradine 81) James Caan
80) Gabriel Byrne 79) Morgan Freeman 78) Catherine Keener 77) Antonio Banderas 76) Willem Dafoe
75) Jet Li 74) Sandrine Bonnaire 73) Ian Holm 72) Jennifer Jason Leigh 71) Jackie Chan
70) Jim Carrey 69) Samuel L Jackson 68) Jodie Foster 67) Peter Fonda 66) Ethan Hawke
65) Albert Brooks 64) Holly Hunter 63) Leslie Caron 62) Leonardo DiCaprio 61) John Hurt
60) Russell Crowe 59) Anjelica Huston 58) Anouk Aimee 57) Jessica Lange 56) Glenn Close
55) Isabelle Adjani 54) Matthew Broderick 53) Juliette Binoche 52) Faye Dunaway 51) Jeremy Irons
50) Richard Gere 49) Matt Dillon 48) Maggie Cheung 47) Emmanuelle Beart 46) Alan Bates
45) Kevin Kline 44) Dennis Hopper 43) Judy Davis 42) Tommy Lee Jones 41) Bob Hoskins
40) Ralph Fiennes 39) Ellen Burstyn 38) Daniel Auteuil 37) Jane Fonda 36) Mia Farrow
35) Laura Linney 34) Nicole Kidman 33) Isabelle Huppert 32) Tom Cruise 31) Ben Kingsley
30) Kevin Costner 29) Michael Douglas 28) Michael Caine 27) Bruno Ganz 26) George Clooney
25) William Hurt 24) Albert Finney 23) Gong Li 22) Diane Keaton 21) Mel Gibson
20) Anthony Hopkins 19) Tom Hanks 18) John Cusack 17) Jeff Bridges 16) Nicolas Cage
15) Richard Dreyfuss 14) Johnny Depp 13) Sean Connery 12) Julie Christie 11) Tony Leung
10) Harvey Keitel 9) Gerard Depardieu
Harrison Ford 7) Robert Duvall 6) Gene Hackman
5) Catherine Deneuve 4) Clint Eastwood 3) Dustin Hoffman 2) Woody Allen 1) Robert DeNiro
