Favorite Actors and Actresses

Anyone out there know why Americans (or people with televisions and movie theatres in general) worship actors and actresses so much? My guess is that it is because they are people that anyone anywhere can see and have the same basis for judging. Another possible reason is that they often play roles with which we can identify. On the other hand other public figures either hide from the eye, or else are always doing something that many of us perceive as dull (eg. politicians). As a society, our heroes have moved from people like Daniel Webster to Keanu Reeves. Not too flattering, but then again I must admit that I fall prey to the same syndrome to some extent. I have a thing for old movies - I really do believe that they are better than modern movies. I think there are several reasons why. First of all is that movies weren't so much about elaborate sets and special effects, rather good dialogue and plotline was emphasized. Movie goers back then were more patient. The movies may have been shorter, yet one didn't always have to be on the edge of his or her seat, brimming over with excitement or anticipation. But enough with my monologue, here are some brief descriptions of my favorite actors and actresses. You can click on the name of the actor/actress to be taken to a web site which I think is pretty good (or the best available) for that actor/actress. You can also click on the pictures to the right to see a larger version of the pictures.

Jimmy Stewart	What can I same about Jimmy? This last summer was a sad one as Jimmy left this, yet his impact will remain for a long time to come. Jimmy is also one of the few actors/actresses who I admire quite a bit for what I know of his personality and life and not just his acting abilities and the roles he played. He was able to handle fame far better than most and with becoming modesty. As an actor, Jimmy often played the roles of the man who was flawed in some major way. Yet most of his characters had a determination that symbolized much of what made the common man/woman admirable throughout much of America's history. Jimmy has performed so many roles that is hard to make generalizations about them (over 80 films). Some of my favorite Stewart films include: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It's a Wonderful Life, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, The Glenn Miller Story, and his Hitchcock roles. And what can I say, he too played the accordion and was educated at Princeton.
Mel Gibson	Mel Gibson has a completely different style from most of the other actors/actresses that I admire. He tends to be a lot more rough around the edges. Also his characters typically lack subtleties and at one level are fairly easy to understand. But he has performed some of my favorite roles of recent times. The Mad Max trilogy was a cult classic, and I was one of its early followers. Gibson's performance in Hamlet was great, as was the rest of the acting and screenplay. His personal pet, Braveheart stands as my favorite movie over the last few years. Amazing how exciting history can be (it's true that it helps if you change some some elements of the story). I even fell for the sappy story of Forever Young. Ransom and the Lethal Weapon series were also enjoyable. Can you believe that Mel has a fourth Lethal Weapon movie coming out this winter?
Audrey Hepburn	Audrey is pretty close to the perfect actress. She also was a great woman, spending much of her life doing wonderful things for others (most notably through UNICEF). On the screen she possesses what many have tried to capture, but no one else has equaled. If I was to choose one word to summarize her acting, it would have to be "style". From the way she walked, to her clothing, to her manner of speech it all seemed effortless yet intensely magical. I suppose a lot of charm came from her European upbringing as a ballerina. She seemed to be each one of her roles. I remember my first introduction to her was with My Fair Lady years ago. I loved (and still do) Julie Andrews' voice. I had heard the sound track first for the broadway production and was disappointed to hear that Julie was not in the film version. I was a little mad at the producers for having chosen some unknown person instead of Julie, but that changed when I saw the film. Although Julie Andrews still ranks top in my book for singing, Audrey is by far and away my favorite actress. I wasn't sure at first if she was a "one movie great" since the movie isn't really much like your typical movie. I was fortunate enough to see the original Sabrina a little later (I have pity on those who saw the remake version first). Then I knew that it was Audrey and not just the Eliza Doolittle role. I've loved every movie of hers that I've seen to date: unfortunately that only includes Breakfast at Tiffany's, Love in the Afternoon, and Roman Holiday so far.
Meg Ryan	Meg represents perhaps my first screen "crush." Somehow she manages to capture me with the combined perkiness of her characters combined with a little bit of innocence. She has pretty much been typecast into romance roles, which I won't complain too much about. When Harry Met Sally is a perennial favorite for most people in my generation, including myself. She did a good job playing an unflattering role in The Doors. Sleepless in Seattle is another one of those few sentimental pictures for which I fell for (being somewhat of a sequel to An Affair to Remember helps too). I thought Restoration was her best acting role, playing a crazy woman. Two more of her romances I enjoyed were I.Q. and French Kiss. '97 was a relatively bad year for her, with the exception of playing the title voice role for Anastasia - a wonderful animated film from Fox (the original 1956 flick with Yul Brenner and Ingrid Bergman was great too). She has quite a few movies slated for '98 including a remake of a German movie with Nicolas Cage, a remake of a Jimmy Stewart romance movie, and two others.
Sandra Bullock	Well Sandra is a lot like Meg Ryan. She has more innocence (and cluelessness) and less sensuality, both of which make for a comical and believable, yet cute woman. As far as acting quality goes, I certainly wouldn't qualify her so far as one of the best, but she does appeal to me nonetheless. For my favorite movies with Sandra: While You Were Sleeping is my favorite followed by Demolition Man and Speed. She too has a few movies slated to come out soon.