Second RIP entry for the day

And now Raghuvaran is dead. Not that I was a big fan, but still. He was good in Shiva, Anjali and Daivathinte Vikruthikal, from the movies I've seen.

Gopi

Every great actor carries a little bit of himself into the role he plays. Al Pacino, for all his skills, can still be spotted as Pacino in most of his movies. Ditto Robert de Niro, ditto Naseeruddin Shah, Nicholson, et al. Only the greatest really become the character they play in the film. You never know what they are like in real life, for the minute they step into another role, you forget the previous one. To me, Brando is an example. Om Puri is another.

Gopi is a third. And Gopi died today.



The moron from Kodiyettam is as far removed from the moronic politician of Panchavadi Paalam as the despicable tabalist of Yavanika is from the psychopath of Sandhya Mayangum Neram. The professor from Kaathathe Kilikkoodu. The mute sculptor from Ormakkayi. The anguished writer from Rachana. The father from Ente Mamattikuttiyammakku. The wanted terrorist from Marmaram. Christ, was there a better actor in Malayalam films?

Ever?

Best and Worst Oscar Winners - Male leads

Edward Copeland is running a survey on the best and worst performances that have won Oscars for Best Actor. If interested, check out the site, read the list and mail him your votes.



Best:

1. Robert de Niro (Raging Bull)
2. Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)
3. Marlon Brando (The Godfather)
4. Marlon Brando (On the Waterfront)
5. Gregory Peck (To Kill a Mockingbird)

Worst:

1. Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful)
2. Charlton Heston (Ben-Hur)
3. Russel Crowe (Gladiator)
4. Yul Brynner (The King and I)
5. Humphrey Bogart (The African Queen)

Great Actors

Name three of the greatest actors you've seen on screen.

Let me qualify that a bit. I'm defining a great actor as one who doesn't carry forward his or her mannerisms from movie to movie. One who totally gets into the skin of a character and becomes that person right through the film. This needn't be restricted to actors who portray lead characters. Nor should it be restricted to any language. I'm really curious to know - is Mastroianni the best? How about Soumitra Chatterjee? Toshiro Mifune? I haven't seen many movies outside the languages I speak, so my view is quite restricted.

To give a few examples, Shah Rukh Khan would be out straight off, of course. So would Kamal Hassan. Jack Nicholson too, perhaps.

My list would be Marlon Brando, Mohan Lal and Om Puri, not necessarily in that order. I have a few more in the second rung, but would like to limit the list to three.

What is your list?