Hero or a Villain?

[Mariann]

Hi all!

I have been talking to my fellow movie lovers and friends about this a lot recently, and thought what the hell, doesn't hurt to ask from you guys as well.
My question namely is that what does everyone here think the following actors are better suited to play: A Hero or a Villain?
So here's a few:

Kevin Spacey
Brad Pitt
Robert Carlyle
Edward Norton
Robin Williams
Ben Kingsley
Johnny Depp

PS. I don't mean, that all of them have to be the same.

[Succubus]

Welcome to the board, Mariann.

Kevin Spacey- Although he's known for his villainous roles in his earlier films (a less psychotic but more bastardesque example would be Swimming With Sharks), it seems that Spacey is now more inclined to the everyman role after his reinvention in American Beauty. As much as I love his sinister nature as the villain, I always think he's a dab hand at playing the sharp-tongued good guy.

Brad Pitt- the good guy. He's a very capable actor, but I could never envisage Pitt as a truly menacing character. His character was far from virtuous in Fight Club, but he wasn't a complete bastard either.

Robert Carlyle- Equally competent as both. Whether he's the fast talking, couldn't-give-a-damn Begbie, or the anguished lover of a man of the cloth in Priest, he's utterly believable.

Edward Norton- As above. Best example would be American History X- two halves of the film, two completely different personalities. If my life depended on it though, would have to be good guy.

Robin Williams- Yet another dark horse as he emerged last year as a chilling villain in two films. I actually prefer him as a villain, but I could never imagine him being 100% evil- it seems that in both of his roles last year, he was a 'flawed' villain- this can be applied to all of the actors in this list.

Ben Kingsley- May have been the human equivalent of a yapping terrier in Sexy Beast, but I'll always know him as Isak in Schindler's List. And he could never be bad.

Johnny Depp- The good guy. However flawed. No matter how shapr tongued or flippant his character is, he will never be evil.

[El Bracamonti]

1. kevin spacey-hero
2. brad pitt-hero
3. robert carlyle-either
4. edward norton-hero
5. robin williams-villain
6. ben kingsley-hero
7. johnny depp-hero


WELCOME TO THE BOARDS!

[Mariann]

Originally posted by El Bracamonti
3. robert carlyle-either


Why?

[Rob Gordon]

Kevin Spacey - villian. He's got that every-guy look. Heros traditionally have more superior good looks.

Brad Pitt - hero. See above.

Robert Carlyle - villian. The man has an edge on him.

Edward Norton - hero. Even in the American History X black-and-white scenes, he seemed too soft, too noble to really be that guy.

Robin Williams - villian. See Kevin Spacey.

Ben Kingsley - villian. I think it's the accent, or maybe the age, but he seems like the intellectual type, too smart to be a typical good guy.

Johnny Depp - hero. See Brad Pitt.

[MickeyKnox]

Kevin Spacey-Villian( Its his persona he's got an evil look to him evil in the smart way!)

Brad Pitt-Hero&Villian(Brad can play many roles and is good at it so he can play both

Robert Carlyle-Villian(look at Ravenous, Sheer Evil!)

Edward Norton-Hero(Got the good image with an edge to him)

Robin Williams-Villain(Watch Insomnia and One Hour Photo and you'll see what i mean)

Ben Kingsley-Villian

Johnny Depp-Hero and Villian(Good actor that can play both)

[Hannibal21]

Kevin Spacey - villain
Brad Pitt - hero
Robert Carlyle - villain
Edward Norton - hero
Robin Williams - villain
Ben Kingsley - hero and villain
Johnny Depp - hero

[BadCoverVersion]

Kevin Spacey - Charm, intelligence and sex appeal...I prefer Spacey when he is playing the COMPOSED villain. His dulcet tones and striking features are trademark.

Brad Pitt - Pitt is the archetypal good bloke...deliciously handsome and enthusiastic, and willing to get his hands dirty. Of course, roles in Kalifornia, Fight Club and 12 Monkeys demonstrated Brad's diversity...but I prefer to see the rugged little tinker save the day.

Robert Carlyle - You can't TOP a cunt like Begbie!

Edward Norton - Ed is so fresh-faced and squeaky clean, I still can't fathom how he managed to get himself cast as a bad bloke in the first place...but I am obviously a foolish fuckwit...and I deserve a slap. Ed is a GREAT villain, and I'd certainly like to see him take on a few eeeeeeevil roles (norty boy ;))...

Robin Williams - VILLAIN: See Mrs Doubtfire & Patch Adams

Ben Kingsley - Awww, bless his cotton socks!!! His menacing turn is SEXY BEAST (marvelous as it was) did not convince!!! Kingsley is a goodie-two-shoes at heart, LONG may he stay that way.

Johnny Depp - Depp could never be a bastard, his pained expression a la Edward Scissorhands is forever ETCHED on my memory. Johnny should stick to tortured souls, misfits and degenerates. He IS always the good guy, but not necessarily the TYPICAL HERO.

[Annie Hall]

Kevin Spacey--Lester Burnham is one of my top 5 performances by any actor that I have ever seen. Yet, I prefer Spacey as the calm, composed, and endlessly sinister bad guy, that just can't help but enjoy how truly evil he is.

Brad Pitt--I'm gonna go with the minority here and say I like to see him as a bad guy. There are tons of pretty faces who can save the day, but he makes a truly great asshole of an actor (even if he is charming, intelligent, handsome and heroic in real life...)

Robert Carlyle--I think he is well equipped to do either.

Edward Norton--I like to see Ed as the innocent, soon-to-become-jaded hero, a la Fight Club, Death to Smoochy and Keeping the Faith. Not that he's not brilliant as a bad guy, and he is possibly more stunning when he plays one, but, I always want to root for the guy.

Robin Williams--Villan. He's equally adept at being over-the-top or frighteningly understated.

Ben Kingsley--Villan! This guy scares the hell outta me! I love him for it.

Johnny Depp--I usually enjoy him in either role, but I prefer him to be the good guy with issues (Benny and Joon, Gilbert Grape, Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands...etc.) to the bad guy. His characters usually mean well, and I find him to be a very convincing "good-hearted but fucked up" actor.

But, really, all of the listed actors are very diverse, and play nearly everything with depth and verve.

[Katre]

Kevin Spacey - Villain
Robert Carlyle - Villain
Edward Norton -
Brad Pitt - Hero
Johnny Depp - Flawed Hero
Ben Kingsley - Hero

[Nate6]

Welcome to the boards, Mariann! Kickass topic to start off with as well.

Kevin Spacey - Villain (he has this supremely quiet, creepy attitude about him)
Brad Pitt - Hero (although he's a good villain, I've always seen him more as the good guy)
Robert Carlyle - Villain (but he can play heroes well also)
Edward Norton - Hero (just his demeanor and way of looking)
Robin Williams - Villain (especially after One Hour Photo)
Ben Kingsley - Villain (after Sexy Beast, he's gotta be)
Johnny Depp - Hero (with some major flaws, though)

[BorderEevilIII]

Kevin Spacey-Kev has the capability of doing both, but I prefer him hero....

Brad Pitt- Another fine actor of doing both and again, prefer hero.

Robert Carlyle-Um hero, his character in TWINE just did not convince me him as a baddie..

Edward Norton-Ed can do both but prefer hero. It must be those eyes he has :D

Robin Williams- I like Mr. Williams as a hero but he has proven that he can play the villian too thru Insomnia & One Hour Photo

Ben Kingsley- Prefer him Hero

Johnny Depp-Hes done both right? But anyway, his cuteness I'll lean towards Hero.

[Scarface98.9]

Kevin Spacey-Subtle villain
Brad Pitt-Good guy
Robert Carlyle-Don't know, haven't seen him in many movies
Edward Norton-Flawed good guy
Robin Williams-Anyone. He's very versatile
Ben Kingsley-/\
Johnny Depp-The wildcard good guy

[bob]

I'd say villain for the bunch. Heros are usually lame.

[Mariann]

Originally posted by BorderEevilIII
Robert Carlyle-Um hero, his character in TWINE just did not convince me him as a baddie..



That's the last film you should take as the example of his abilities...

And why is it, that good actors always fail to make an impact in Bond films? Christopher Walken, Jonathan Price, Robert Carlyle.
But maybe that's just me.
Anyway check out Trainpotting and Ravenous. That should be proof enough.
But like someone said before, he's capable of doing both, and is convincing both as the hero and a villain.

[BorderEevilIII]

Originally posted by Mariann
That's the last film you should take as the example of his abilities...

And why is it, that good actors always fail to make an impact in Bond films? Christopher Walken, Jonathan Price, Robert Carlyle.
But maybe that's just me.
Anyway check out Trainpotting and Ravenous. That should be proof enough.
But like someone said before, he's capable of doing both, and is convincing both as the hero and a villain.
I never got into Ravenous

[Mariann]

Oh well, he was still great in it i thought.

Can't go wrong with Trainspotting though.:p