really? This just feels kinda stupid.

Lone guy rises up to overthrow dictator is stretching believability at the best of times, but in the US? Er, they tried that and even with Trump as President, the feds tend to not be enthusiastic about that kinda thing.

Also, the reason Far Cry 3 worked so well (at least for the first half) was that Vaas was such a great character (Michael Mando is one of the best actors working today).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ai3Maj9IZQ

But hey, at least it makes a change from white dude saves the ethnics with local magic!!

You know, I read a recent interview with John Oliver where he is very emphatic that his show is "comedy" and that, despite what people want to read into it, he is not making political statements. I think if I had watched this video before reading that interview I would have scoffed (as others here already have). But it's pretty clear to me now that he and his writers know exactly what they are doing.

Basically, this video is the result of John Oliver saying, "You know, when you think about this history of racism in American cinema you can find some pretty fucked up stuff. How can we make a joke out of that?"

It's not designed to be an actual literary critique, it's meant to use the facts to play up a punch line. I'm pretty sure John and his writing crew know that "The Last Samurai" does not refer to Tom Cruise's character (i.e. just because the character is trained how to use the sword and armor does not automatically make him a samurai), but it's easy to see how they can make a joke out of the ambiguity of the title and Americans' tendency for self-centeredness (I'm sure there are people in the U.S. who think the title does indeed refer to Cruise's character).

I actually don't have a problem with actors "playing outside their ethnicity" (whatever the hell that is supposed to mean). I'm reminded of the recent controversy about the video game Uncharted 4 which has a white actress voice-acting the role of a black South African character. The Creative Director responded to the controversy by pointing out that a white character is voiced by a black actor in the same game, and that the decisions were made based on the choosing the best actor for the role--not on what the actor looked like in real life (read more about the story here).

As CG progresses and digital characters become a norm, I think this is an issue that's only going to get greater in the film industry. In our demand for political correctness will we demand that the actors physically resemble the characters they are portraying onscreen? That seems a bit absurd to me. But so too is the idea of excluding people for consideration from roles based solely on the color of their skin.

I think at least a couple parts of his premise are illogical. For example, no matter how liberal the presenters, or whatever label you want to paste on, it doesn't mean that say 'the white guy' isn't the best actor. I do like that he points out that none of us are perfect and just because we don't want to be a certain way doesn't mean that we can't be a little. I see these and most things as continuums. So you have balls out racist on one end and barely racist on the other. If you're striving to get to the far end then I think you're doing a good job as a human. Same goes for homophobia, sexism, ...

I think Sean Astin should be added to the list, if only for the LotR trilogy. O'Toole is a big one but I think Oldman is perhaps the best actor around today.

Watched it once, never to return-One of those once is enough flicks....Don't dig that 'window into slow demise' kinna flick(didn't LLV kinna put him on the map....Best Actor)?

He takes on roles as cage playing cage-I place him in the Keanu Reeves category of hactors as in, where are they now?
But you really can say that about any A-lister from the 80's-90's, Hollywoods' drying up on her corner and vine-Cage got roles and was handed prominence because of the Godfather, FFC.

Brian Cranstons' got more talent in his little finger, and he's done how many feature films???

Liked 'Next', but because of Jessica Beale and Julianne Moore, plus.....Philip K Dick story-and I'm about the PhilDick.

Can't watch Raising Arizona anymore-can't get a giggle from it-my chucklers' maybe broke....

(watching Lord of War now, revisiting it to try and prove myself wrong)

Yeah, he's had a hard on for me ever since I told him I wasn't interested in writing one of his screenplay ideas with him.

Bad reviews come with the territory and they don't bother most filmmakers, even when they're scathing. You have to have thick skin. Plus we were nominated for best feature in half the festivals we were accepted at and actually won best feature in two, best actor in another, among other awards. We're quite proud of the film.

DDD is rapidly becoming one of the best actors perhaps ever, to me at least. He utterly blows me away every single time.

Gary Oldman is the best actor.

>> ^kronosposeidon:

Tim Roth was such an excellent baddie in this film. You SO wanted Rob Roy to dice him up like Hannibal Lecter.


This might be the best sword-fight ever captured on film. Certainly is my favorite.

Interesting you bring up Hannibal Lecter. Brian Cox (who was in Rob Roy) was the original, and still the best actor to play the role in "Manhunter" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091474/. His Hannibal Lecktor was menacing and chilling- much more so than Anthony Hopkins in my opinion. Tom Noonan as the serial killer "The Tooth Fairy" was positively terrifying and utterly convincing.

Now, as for Videosift's very own crazed killer, I wonder how @choggie is doing these days?

*promote

I hate to say it, cos daniel day-lewis is possibly the best actor around right now, but robert REALLY does look/sound a lot like butcher bill. In the little scene i mean.

Now THAT is some awesome editing.

nominated Best Feature, santa fe film festival.
Winner Best Feature 1st runner up
Winner Best Actor myrtle beach international film festival
Winner Platinum Reel Award nevada film festival

all appear on screen for like .8 seconds

There's also a fifth one on the "In Theaters" screen about official selection of something.

Can someone explain to me how Avatar got a Best Picture nod over this? And what the hell did Sam Rockwell do to the Academy to not get a Best Actor nomination?

griefer_queafer,

Well, he did win best actor for his role in this movie. Also, check out his IMDB listing:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000719/

So unless you have an Oscar sitting on your mantle, and have been in as many movies as he has then I suggest you be a little more humble.

Nicolas Cage is one of the best actors of our generation, he proved that with Leaving Las Vegas, for me he doesn't need to do anything else. I think the point is, is he just doesn't give a fuck what he does, which I kinda think is cool