So the consensus among critics seems to be that the recent portrayal of Winston Churchill by Gary Oldman is now the benchmark performance for Churchill. That's actually saying a lot when you consider how many talented actors have portrayed Churchill previously.
What are some other historical figures you've seen portrayed on film and TV that you would consider to be so brilliant that it should also be the benchmark for all actors?
Here are a few of my picks:
Julius Caesar - Ciaran Hinds (Rome)
Adolf Hitler - Bruno Ganz (Downfall)
John Adams - Paul Giamatti (John Adams miniseries)
Napoleon Bonaparte - Rod Steiger (Waterloo)
Abraham Lincoln - Daniel Day Lewis (Lincoln)
Stonewall Jackson - Stephen Lang (Gods & Generals)
Ivan the Terrible - Nikolai Cherkasov (Ivan the Terrible parts I, II)
Ludwig van Beethoven - Gary Oldman (Immortal Beloved)
Richard Wagner - Richard Burton (Wagner miniseries)
Although I watched Immortal Beloved, I don't remember it too well except that haunting scene when Beethoven puts his ear on the piano and plays Moonlight Sonata.
Good show PM I've got Abraham Lincoln on a cd with the Colt Good movie about a horse in the War also,,Gods and Generals and I would suggest Steven Lang as George Pickett in Gettysburg, ,Too damn cold to go outside and got about a foot of snow on my deck..might be a good day to watch Civil War movies and order a large pizza all the way,,Been just light snow for the last few days but it piles up..
And would like to add Jeff Daniels as Joshua L. Chamberlain in Gettysburg....Been to that spot t a lot of times over the years
I liked Sam Elliott in 2 of his roles, Gen. John Buford and CSM Basil Plumley. Anyone who’s ever dealt with a CSM will tell you he WAS a CSM in that movie!
Jesus Christ - Jim Caviezel in "The Passion of the Christ"
Apostle Paul - Anthony Hopkins in "Peter and Paul"
Apostle Peter - Robert Foxworth in "Peter and Paul"
C.S. Lewis - Anthony Hopkins in "Shadowlands"
**breaking the rules here, sorry** Judah Ben-Hur - Charlton Heston in "Ben-Hur" (Its a fiction created in a historical time, setting and characters and its just too good to not mention)
Winston Churchill - Alberty Finney in "The Gathering Storm" (I liked very much John Lithgow's version in "The Queen" and I have not yet seen Gary Oldman's version so this is more of a preference choice as I'm sure Oldman's is equally impressive as they all are. I also have not seen the Gathering Storm "sequel" "Into the Storm" with Brendan Gleeson so I'm curious how he did.)
John Newton - Albert Finney in "Amazing Grace" (I'm not sure who if anyone else has played this man but I have to mention it.)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - Elvis Presley in "Elvis" the miniseries (As an Elvis fan, there's not one actor that I can say is best over any other at playing this role. Most of them may do a few things right and miss it on others while those others get those right but then miss the rest. I think most movies made on a particular subject or person are like this. Kurt Russell obviously does a stellar job in "Pink Cadillac" and always does so well on the moves. I loved the 1990 Elvis T.V. series with Michael St. Gerard and thought he did great as a young Elvis. I wish I could find that series but I don't think anyone publishes it. The reason I picked Jonathan Rhys though is because even if it started out kind of iffy and not always quite there, his performance overall was pretty consistent and in particular, by the time you get to Elvis' Army days segment of the movie, I personally feel that Jonathan really settled into the role and was nailing not just the moves, but many of Elvis' mannerisms. That part of the movie in particular started to create that transporting effect for me so that's why I pick him.)
John F. Kennedy - Bruce Greenwood in "Thirteen Days"
I'm glad you mentioned John Goodman as Babe Ruth. Loved that one as a kid and need to see it again.
I'm on the flipside with Noter. Though I like both Kurt Russel and Val Kilmer as actors and appreciated their work in Tombstone, for me I preferred Wyatt Earp. In particular I thought Dennis Quaid's Doc Holiday was exceptional. Because I prefer the tone and vision of "Wyatt Earp" I also prefer Kevin Costner's Earp. I'd see a Costner Western any day as that's where I think he tends to excel but there's a lot he does where he's just not that great. If I could have a warp machine I'd like to see Kurt Russel as Wyatt Earp but in Costner's movie alongside the original cast.
Its been along time but I remember liking Val Kilmer as Billy the Kid in a movie and if memory serves I much preferred that portrayal over Emilio Estevez's Billy in the "Young Gun" movies. By the way, does anyone know where the heck Emilio Estevez got his name? I'm assuming its just a stage name? The thread kind of morphed into anyone who has played someone historical but I think that's okay as there are some great performances of historical figures that aren't always explored in multiple productions.
Mark Rylance - Thomas Cromwell in "Wolf Hall" Claire Foy - Anne Boleyn in "Wolf Hall"
I liked Sam Elliott in 2 of his roles, Gen. John Buford and CSM Basil Plumley. Anyone who’s ever dealt with a CSM will tell you he WAS a CSM in that movie!
