The Great Quarantine of 2020—or how I believe we will look back on this absolute year from hell—has provided a great many difficulties. From illness and death to constant states of worry and paranoia, it’s unprecedented times for sure. And while there is no definitive end in sight, we could all help the cause by sticking to strict social distancing guidelines, maintaining good personal hygiene through proactive hand washing, and honestly, just by staying home until we get this better under control.
Now, now…I know what you’re saying—because I’m saying the same thing. It shouldn’t take a global pandemic for one to learn the importance of washing one’s hands. Hell, I learned that back when I was cutting my teeth in the mean streets of Sunshine & Smiles Preschool. Not only did I learn the basics of water-soap-Mary Saw a Little Lamb-rinse-dry, I also learned that I absolutely hate to share. Whether The Real Ghostbusters action figures, toy trucks, Legos, or even the Turtles in a Half Shell themselves, I roamed the playland of Sunshines & Smiles like a capo collecting dees, dos & dem from whomever I wanted to. If I saw anyone hoarding the WWF figures or stockpiling G.I. Joe’s, I’d march over to where the action was hot with my thick-ass coke bottle glasses, dork-ass slicked hair, and my Ghostbusters jumpsuit or Pee Wee Herman one-piece and to a squeeze on the juice. Trust me, I was a menacing four-year-old.
And speaking of juice! When snack time came knocking, my ass would answer the call, completely content to sit and shotgun a Mott’s apple juice-box. And believe me, there were stares of awe and jealous eyes upon me but I never shared that golden deliciousness with a soul!
In the intervening thirty years, I’ve learned a thing or two. One main lesson being that sharing is a gift! Who be I to deprive anyone of anything? From toys to juice-boxes to movies. Sharing is caring, y’all. With nothing but worry and uncertainty in the air, I thought what better time than now for me to present my picks for the definitive actor of each of the last five decades. So let me share with you my selections. Hopefully this ignites a binge-watching fire under you and helps make this crazy time a little more tolerable! Stay safe everyone!
1970s—Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro in a scene from “The Godfather Part II” (Paramount Pictures, 1974).
“Are you talking to me?” Hell yes, I’m talking to you Bobby De Niro. Let me throw this at you: “The Godfather: Part II,” “Taxi Driver,” “The Deer Hunter,” and “Mean Streets.” Talk about a fearsome foursome! In the 1970s, De Niro rose to fame as not only one of the most dedicated artists of his day but as one of the most domineering, undeniable screen presences of the Twentieth Century. Winning a ‘Best Supporting Actor’ Oscar for his work in “The Godfather: Part II,” it was his work with long-time collaborator Martin Scorsese that truly let this titan rise to the top.
Along with Christopher Walken, De Niro painted the most harrowing and painfully honest picture of the realities of the Vietnam War in “The Deer Hunter.” The Russian Roulette scene in the middle of the movie has been over-discussed and its validity to the actual going-ons of the war has come into question; but I will just say, De Niro not only shows a wild range of ability but the ability to absolutely turn on a dime in that scene. It’s scary how he goes from fear, to laughter and crying to anger so quickly and seamlessly. Brilliant.
De Niro would start the ‘80s on a similar artistic high in a pair of Martin Scorsese flicks as well as the brilliant “Midnight Run” later in the decade. Post “Goodfellas” has been a mixed bag for this master craftsman but you cannot deny that when De Niro is on, the man is on fire!
1980s—Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise in a scene from “Risky Business” (The Geffen Company, 1983).
Few actors have exploded onto the acting scene with the bombastic energy that Tom Cruise arrived with in the 1980s. An argument could be made that Cruise also owned the ‘90s, but with his initial impact and rise to fame furious, you’d be mistaken if you overlooked this era. Tom Cruise—before things went a little off the tracks—was the quintessential boy next door. With charm for days, “Risky Business” launched him into America’s heart. “Top Gun,” “The Color of Money,” “Cocktail,” “Rain Man,” and “Born of the Fourth of July” all followed before the decade closed out, leaving Cruise as the biggest movie star in America.
Two movies Cruise benefitted from most: “Born of the Fourth of July” and “The Color of Money.” The former, Oliver Stone’s true story take on Vietnam Vet turned activist Ron Kovic, and the latter, a sequel to the Paul Newman classic, “The Hustler.” While “The Color of Money” put him face to face with a Hollywood living legend, “Fourth of July” took away some of Cruise’s most reliable characteristics: good looks, charm, strong personality—and forced him to rely on nothing more than his absolutely top notch acting skills. A brilliant performance!
The ‘90s kept it coming and through today, Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood’s greatest—if not most polarizing—actors. With six “Mission: Impossible” films to date, Cruise has produced a quasi-American spy companion to the 007 franchise. Hopefully once this is all over, we’ll see the seventh installment and the long awaited “Top Gun” sequel, “Maverick!”
1990s—Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks in a scene from “Forrest Gump” (Paramount Pictures, 1994).
Who is more likable than Tom Hanks? If you said, “no one,” that’s a bingo! Tom Hanks exploded in the 1990s…and almost quite literally in “Apollo 13”—make sure to tip your waitress. Think about this string of films. “Apollo 13,” “Philadelphia,” “Forrest Gump,” “Toy Story,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “That Thing You Do!,” “Toy Story 2,” and “The Green Mile.” The man is as prolific as he is charming. Slot him into any of these varied roles and “Hanx” completely owns. He’s far from one-note, yet possesses such a high level of comfort and reliability.
Let’s talk “Forrest Gump.” A lot has been written and spoken of this classic film and despite the fact it seems to be on TNT every other day, it is infinitely enjoyable. Hanks really made a name for himself in goofy ‘80s comedies; and while those performances helped to create this excellent leading man, they also help him bring a degree of humor to even overly dramatic performances. You can’t help but laugh with Forrest—not at him—and that is a huge thanks to his ability to captivate an audience and possess you with his performances. In a lesser actor’s hands, “Forrest Gump” just does not work. Simple is as simple does…wait no, simple as that. Tom Hanks is the everyman’s actor. And for that we thank him.
Not in the ‘90s, but “Cast Away” is breathtaking. His excellent roles have continued straight to present day. Even if you found those “Da Vinci Code” movies a little blah, we still forgive the greatest actor of his generation.
2000s—Christian Bale
Christian Bale in a scene from “The Dark Knight Rises” (Warner Bros., 2012).
Theatricality and deception are powerful agents to the uninitiated; but even if you are initiated, sometimes it’s damn hard to recognize this chameleon of the silver screen. Christian Bale cut his teeth—and a few other things—in his turn as psychopathic yuppie Patrick Bateman in the wildly wonderful and ridiculous “American Psycho.” Following a couple turns in smaller films, Bale really shocked audiences with the first of his many outrageous physical transformations in the 2003 film, “The Machinist.” Bale’s extreme weight loss and complete lack of regard for his health not only showed the lengths he was willing to go for a role, but also the complete dedication few others can handle.
In 2005, 2008, and 2012 Bale starred in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy (“Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight,” “The Dark Knight Rises.” With a grounded tale showing The Caped Crusader’s path to becoming the world’s greatest detective, this three-peat absolutely kicked ass. Not only did it set the bar for what superhero films could be, it reminded the world that Batman is more about than the physical attributes on the suit and a bunch of cringe-inducing puns (love you “Batman & Robin”). While Heath Ledger and Tom Hardy certainly shined in their roles as The Joker and Bane respectively, the shadow of the Bat helped to keep Bale from being overshadowed as Batman the way a few of his predecessors to the cowl were.
I can write all day about Batman—and I actually at times have, right here on this site. Bale owned the 2000s also with great turns in “Terminator Salvation” (It’s Effing Distracting!), “Public Enemies,” “The Prestige,” and “3:10 to Yuma.”
2010s—Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. in a scene from “Iron Man 3” (Marvel Studios, 2013).
Say what you will about second chances—but man, if anyone every took a few liberties with them and deserved so, it is this man. Tony Stark himself, Robert Downey Jr. long had been considered a man of great talent but with greater demons. When Marvel and Jon Faverau rolled the dice picking him to be the face of the launch of their tent pole franchise, man you’d understand if more than a few executives and fans alike went, “him?” Here in 2020, is hindsight ever 2020. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in this role and you can make the argument that other than Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, it is nearly impossible to imagine anyone else in the red and yellow suit of iron.
On top of playing Iron Man in no less than eight films throughout the decade, he also returned to the role of Sherlock Holmes alongside Jude Law in another burner of the reimagined Holmes in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” in 2011. But with everything said about his MCU domination (and for all that is not said; even more praise is deserved), the film from this decade that really hit the mark was “Due Date.” The Todd Phillips dark comedy that paired Downey Jr. with Zach Galifanakis is an onslaught of laughs. The two work in unison with a fantastic push and pull chemistry that leaves you crawling out of your skin while dying of laughter. The 2010 comedy is a must for anyone in need of a good laugh during these crazy times.
Maybe we will see Robert Downey Jr. return to the Iron Man role sometime down the road. But even if not, you can’t deny he absolutely owned the 2010s.
