There is no other option

Every so often an actor comes along that does such an amazing job in a certain role, that it is hard to imagine anyone else playing the part. My husband and I both enjoy HBO programming. Shows like The Wire, The Sopranos, Game Of Thrones, Entourage, and Newsroom, have amazing story lines. The actors chosen to play any of the roles are usually pretty spot on. Recently while watching Entourage, it occurred to me that Jeremy Piven, was spot on perfect in the role of Ari Gold. I couldn't even think of another actor I would even replace him with. I then started thinking of other characters and actors that play them. I mean, so many times Hollywood gets it wrong. Like Halle Berry as Catwoman?? I mean, really? Only time will tell if Ben Affleck was a smart choice as Batman. So I decided to make a list, my own list, of actors/actresses who got it right. Roles that should never ever be given to anyone else, even if the movie or tv show gets remade. I will be leaving out certain roles that people suggested to me, because they have mutual actor/to perfect casting ratios. For example, I can not in good conscious say that Heath Ledger was the best joker and no one else could ever play the joker as well as he did. In fact, and I know I am in the minority here, I believe Jack Nicholson was the better Joker. So you see, there actually are two actors who were perfectly cast as The Joker. Another example, and it pains me to say, is James Bond. I personally hated everyone who played the role after Sean Connery, until Daniel Craig came along. In some scenes, I even forget that I am supposed to be trying to hate him, because I love Connery so much. I hope this long winded introduction gives you an idea of what I am looking for and why some of your suggestions are not on the list. Really, it doesn't matter, because I am a Princess, this is my blog, and I do what I want. hahaha

There is only one number one as far as I am concerned and the rest are all tied for second place. Without further ado, here is my list:

1. James Dean as Jett Rink (Rest in peace)

If you have never seen the movie Giant, I implore you to watch it ASAP. It is an older movie and it is a long movie, but the last 30 minutes of the movie will make you change the way you see movies and rate actors/actresses in the roles they play. James Dean totally nails every aspect of acting. He doesn't just play the role, he is the role. Yes he was actually drunk in the scene. Yes he was not the easiest person to get along with, and his real life story is something that is made for a movie, but damn was he ever amazing. I do not care that the drunk part wasn't an act. He was drunk as a skunk and still nailed the character. I forgot I was watching James Dean. I am sure that many people will disagree with me on this choice, but as I have said many times, this is my blog. Write your own if you disagree. If you have never seen the movie, your argument doesn't count.

2. Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold

(see opening paragraph) It is also worth stating that after Robert Downey Jr, Jeremy Piven and Jason Bateman are tied for second place in the "Men who could easily steal Niki away from Dave", list. This is my blog, I can say what I want.


2. Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth

Arrested Development is easily one of the funniest shows I have ever watched. The ridiculousness that goes on in the Bluth family, reminds me of my family. I really really love the first three seasons of this show and have watched them on repeat, many many times. Jason Bateman was so absolutely perfect in his role. I know that this may not be a role that some people see as "iconic", but to me, it was perfectly cast and I can't even think of one other actor who could have played Michael. 

2. Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa

Granted, Stallone wrote the script with himself in mind to play the lead, but I highly doubt anyone else could have brought to the role, what he did. He played the protagonist perfectly and I can not think of an Italian American actor who could have or would have been better in the role.

2. James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano (Rest in peace)

Dave makes me watch The Sopranos from start to finish at least twice a year. I must admit, it is one of the best shows I have ever watched. Most of the cast were type cast and had been in a number of mob/gangster movies. Finding an actual NJ born and bread actor, probably wasn't difficult. Finding the person who could actually become Tony Soprano, couldn't have been easy. Seeing interviews of people who talk about him since his death, I am even more convinced that he is hands down one of the best actors to ever grace the tv screen . Plus I watched a couple of inside the actor studio interviews that Gandolfini gave, and he was the complete opposite of Tony Soprano. 

2. Marlon Brando as Don Corleone (Honorable Mention as Stanley in A Street Car Named Desire) (Rest in peace)

It is hard to pick one single Brando role as his best or as the most perfect person cast in the role. He was such an amazing actor. I originally picked the role of Stanley in Street Car, but then my husband reminded me of Corleone. I doubt there is anyone who could have ever played the role as effortlessly as Brando. Brando also played Terry Malloy in On The Waterfront. That role was rather epic as well. There are very few actors that I couldn't pick just one role to use as an example. This is a testament to their acting ability. There will never be another Marlon Brando, that is for sure.  

2. Bryan Cranston as Walter White (Honorable mention: Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman)

I admit I did not watch Breaking Bad until it was over and all five seasons were on Netflix. I also started watching with the expectation that I would not like it. I felt like it was going to be another mainstream show that people freak out about, and I don't like it. It happened when I tried watching Mad Men, it happened when I tried watching Seinfeld, I was convinced it just wouldn't be for me. It wasn't. At first. After the fourth episode, I was hooked. I watched all five seasons in a week. I lost a lot of sleep, even more than normal. The first couple of seasons, I wanted Robin Williams to be Walter, and Giovanni Rabisi to be Jesse. Then something happened and I fell in love with the casting. I can not even say enough good, nay great, things about the performances in this show. I think the show as a whole was more than perfectly cast. I am even looking forward to the spin off show. I do not have high expectations, but I am willing to give it a shot.

2. Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo (Rest in Peace)

Do I really have to write a lot here? I mean if ever there were a role written for a specific person, it was clearly this role. I don't even know what to say here, other than, if you disagree with this choice, we probably shouldn't be friends.

2. Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford as Han Solo (honorable mention: Sean Connery as Henry Jones Sr. In Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.)

Yes, he gets two mentions. No, I do not believe anyone could have played either part better than Harrison. His ability to be a heart throb and a bad ass at the same time, is pretty much unmatched. I mean, he is freaking Han Solo and Indiana Jones. I am not sure anyone can claim to have been a part of two different movie franchises and have a main or at least key role in each. Especially when the franchises are as beloved as these ones, and earned as much money as they did, and still do. 

2. Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch (Rest in Peace)

I read the book To Kill A Mockingbird long after high school. I didn't appreciate classic novels like I should have when I was younger. I read the book and loved it so much, I decided to watch the movie. I wasn't disappointed. Gregory Peck was perfection and I am most certain no one has, or will, play the part as perfectly as he did. 


2. Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles

Wow, just wow. He really embodied the character and it probably helped that Jamie Foxx was a classically trained musician as well. I do not really have much to say about this performance, because it was so spot on.


2. Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper

This choice is rather obvious. Parsons was in movies and plays and such, way before The Big Bang Theory made him a household name. I really thought that he would be type cast the rest of his life and never get away from the Sheldon character. Then I saw the HBO movie "A Normal Heart". Yeah, he is way more talented than even I gave him credit for, and you people know my well documented love for Jim Parsons.


2. Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer

I love pretty much every thing Kiefer has ever done. From Young Guns to Flatliners. He is a versatile actor, if ever there was one. The Lost Boys is one of those movies that Dave refuses to watch with me. I know it by heart. Then all of a sudden Kiefer was cast as Jack Bauer on the show 24. A whole world rediscovered his talent. He plays the role to a new level of perfection. Plus he has been on other movies and shows and I do not see Jack Bauer recycled over and over again. Sometimes people just become the character and never get another profitable role, because audiences can't get over the character that made the actor famous. 


2. Kate Winslet as Ophelia 

I absolutely adore Kate Winslet in pretty much any movie that she is in. Hamlet is by far my favorite Shakespeare play. I love reading it and watching it. One of my life long dreams is to see it preformed on stage somewhere. Many many people have played Ophelia on film as well as stage. However, Kate Winslet was Ophelia in the Kenneth Branaugh film version, and she was just stunning. I can not picture any other person playing Ophelia and I do not really want to. She was perfection, as she is most of the time.


2. Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man

I love Jon Favreau for taking a chance and casting RDJ in the lead role. I am sure no one thought the Marvel movie franchise would take off the way it did after the first Iron Man movie. The special effects and story line aside, this movie and the franchise itself could have been a huge bust, if not for Downey's portrayal of Tony Stark. I am sure there are few people on earth who could name an actor that would even come close to the perfect casting decision made for this film. (yes, I am biased, no I do not care. He is perfect. I can not be friends with you if you disagree.)


2. Bette Davis as Baby Jane Hudson (Rest in Peace)

Bette Davis is up there on the list of "Thespians who will never be duplicated and it's a sad sad shame that future generations will probably never see their movies." I do not believe Bette Davis played any roles that any other actress could have played. This was my favorite, but her role in Hush Sweet Charlotte was pretty epic as well. I follow the Bette Davis page on Facebook, and am reminded daily of how awesome she was. I love love love black and white movies. I wish the younger generations appreciated them enough to stop wanting to update them by making them color movies. That is another discussion for another day.


2. Robin Williams as Adrian Cronauer (Honorable Mention, Robin Williams in every role he ever played. What? You think someone else could have voiced Genie in Aladdin, or Rs. Doubtfire, or Patch Adams?? get the hell out of here) (Rest in Peace)

I remember watching this movie over and over again when I had the VHS. It made me laugh, and cry, and then laugh again. I am actually very surprised that Robin Williams did not win more Oscars. His characters were always so well played. He truly loved entertaining people. When he committed suicide in August of this year, I actually shed tears. Who knew that he and I had so much in common? That is another blog for another day. If you have never seen Good Morning Vietnam, I hope you find time to.

2. James Cagney as George M Cohan (Rest in Peace)

George M Cohan wrote Yankee Doodle Dandy. For those of you who have never seen a James Cagney movie, which is probably most of the people who will read this blog, I recommend this movie to be your first. I may be a little biased because of what this movie is about, but it is so good. It is a musical so if you aren't normally into musicals, then I suggest White Heat to be your first Cagney movie. He is magical.

2. Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter (Honorable Mention, EVERYONE in all the Harry Potter movies. I have never seen a single movie, let alone a whole series of movies, cast actors so perfectly with each role.)

I am so glad that the main roles of the kids in these movies were played by unknown actors who had zero experience at acting. From the first movie to the last, the kids truly become the characters and were played with such vulnerability, you actually believe they WERE Hermione, Ron, and Harry. Even minor characters, like Luna Lovegood were perfectly cast.

2. Nick Offerman as Ron Swanson

Parks and Recreation is one of the shows I have been watching from the very first pilot episode. I started watching because of Amy Pohler and stayed watching because of Ron Swanson. I love all of the characters on the show, but Ron Swanson is so hilarious. His character development is one of the best I have ever seen on any show. I am sad that this will be the last season of the show. I have seen the first five seasons so many times it is ridiculous, but it makes me laugh every time.

2. Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan Jessop (Honorable Mention, Nicholson in The Shining and One Flew Over The Coo Coo's Nest.)

unfortunately I couldn't use Jack's portrayal as The Joker, since there is a valid argument that Heath Ledger was just as good, if not better, in some aspects. I am trying to stay true to my original criteria. However, as Nathan Jessop, Nicholson took it to a level not many in the acting community could ever take it to. I know so many people who know every single word to this movie. That says something. Despite the fact that Tom Cruise was the star, it was Nicholson who steals every scene he is in, and makes the movie ten times better.

2. Whoopi Goldberg as Oda Mae Brown

She won every award she was nominated for the year this movie came out. If that isn't enough of a reason to say no one else could play the role, I do not know what is.