I disagree, she gives the role (and the movie) a surpising amount of heart, and her chemistry with Keanu and the other actors on the bus is arguably what makes the film more than just the sum of its simple concept.  I can't think of any other actress at that time that could have pulled off the role, and for me this will always be the role that I most associate her with.

And I think that's arguably what this thread is about, the match between the actor and character being so effective that it's the first role that pops into your head whenever you think or see the actor.

I don't know, I'm getting confused on exactly what is meant by 'best match'. Is it literal, with the actor being most like the character and is therefore perfect to play it (the role thus being the most accurate representation of themselves). Is it that the actor was the absolute best possible casting for that character? Or is it that the actor's personality and the role meld in such a way that a truly great character is born?

It's often hard to judge though unless you have another example of the character to compare it to. I think that's why I almost never look at a movie and think, "that's bad acting". I always tend to assume that's the way the character is suppose to act, and that it's just a stupid character

William Fichtner as Burke in "Go" (1999)

Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)

Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice (Beetlejuice)

Bryan Cranston as Walter White (Breaking Bad)

Tom Hanks as Josh (BIG)

...to start off, at least.

Last edited by BBQ (2013-09-13 02:09:25)

(The young) John Cusack as Lloyd Dobler (Say Anything)

Zachary Quinto as Spock
Heath Ledger as the Joker

...which reminds me of Donnie Darko. Jake Gyllenhaal totally nailed the character of a disturbed teenager.

EDIT: The Superman movies are far from perfect, but Christopher Reeve is really convincing as the flying boyscout from Krypton.

Last edited by MartyJ (2013-09-13 18:46:12)

Sean Connery as Alan Quatermain (LXG)
Pierce Brosden as Thomas Crown (Thomas Crown Affair)
Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach (Watchmen)

Some good selections here: Tim Curry as FnF, Depp as Sparrow, Viggo as Aragorn. Talk about nailing it.

I'd like to nominate Anthony Hopkins for two roles which are essentially the same character i.e. the world-weary intellectual billionaire that's always thinking about something greater than what the current conversation is about, so he has a far-off look that seems like he's only giving you some of his attention. The movies are The Edge and Meet Joe Black.
Hopkins has got that character down pat - he can phone it in and still be 100X as good as anyone else. Effortless presence. Some people just have it. No need for animated histrionics.

Compare De Niro in HEAT with Pacino in HEAT. Cool, calm and intense trumps showy shouting.

Peter Stormare as Satan (Constantine)- Best version of Satan ever.