best film: Rebel Without a Cause. James Dean made three films and I’d accept any as his best film and any as his best performance. They’re all close. I’d give the edge to his work here not because of the red jacket or iconic status of the film—but because he’s the center of it for its entirety (which Giant is not) and it doesn’t have too many dips into melodrama (as I think a few scenes in East of Eden do). Again, they are really close together and he didn’t make a bad film. While we’re here though he also didn’t make a masterpiece and that hurts him when we’re comparing him with the al-time greats and he only has three archiveable films.
best performance: Rebel Without a Cause. I think there’s a version of Giant that puts Dean in the full lead instead of Rock Hudson (who does very good work) that may be good enough to be a masterpiece and would win this category walking away. Still, there’s a reason Rebel is emulated by actors. Dean’s rawness is a more sensitive version of Brando- more adolescent and even volatile in some ways though less physical. It’s method and it’s important.
stylistic innovations/traits: Three for three in the archives (and two for two in year’s nominated for best actor) and dead at 25. Tragic and perhaps cinema’s greatest “what could have been” from an acting standpoint. James Dean made three films, is the lead (or co-lead in Giant) in all three. He’s wonderful in all three and all three films are worthy of being in their respective years’ top 10. Dean was heavily influenced by Montgomery Clift, Marlon Brando and the method acting movement. He’s brooding, emotionally complex and real. He’s not a machine like Bogart or Wayne. His filmography is obviously lacking depth but there’s no blemishes either. Would Dean have become Paul Newman? Or faded like Alain Delon just before him on this list? Impossible to know but it’s tragic that we didn’t get to find out. He was more than just a star and icon- he was a great, and important, actor.
directors worked with: Nobody twice but once a piece with Nicholas Ray, Kazan and George Stevens.
Top 5 Performances:
- Rebel Without a Cause
- Giant
- East of Eden
Archiveable films
| 1955- East of Eden |
| 1955- Rebel Without A Cause |
| 1956- Giant |
Who would you say became the actor James Dean was destined to be? Paul Newman is the one I’ve heard mentioned most often, and there’s a very compelling argument there in my opinion, but I also feel that Ryan Gosling might just as well fit into that niche, maybe not in terms of time period but rather in style.
@Zane- I like that. I always think of River Phoenix. Obviously he died, tragically, way too young as well but especially in My Own Private Idaho you can see it. The looks are similar as well. Alain Delon can be compared to Dean. Dean was more talented. Many said Martin Sheen was the next James Dean… and yeah– certainly Newman, Brando, and Clift were part of that movement and were often compared to each other
So hilariously overrated… 61st best actor of all time and his best movie is rebel without a cause? Better than just to name a few not on your top 250: martin sheen, nicolas cage, john travolta, don cheadle, kyle maclachan, charlton heston, kurt russell, matt dillon, tim roth, chris penn, steve buscemi, guy pearce, etc…? Nonsense.
Also dennis hopper performance in blue velvet > this guy’s whole filmography
@dylan– haha. kyle maclachan? matt dillon? what is this?
He also mentioned Martin Sheen, who is on the list though he seemed to believe he wasn’t, and half of the other actors on here are absolutely laughable to claim they deserve a chance on the list. Chris Penn… Charlton Heston… Apologies for the strong language but are you f**king kidding me?
I cannot contest that Dennis Hopper deserves a place on the list however.
Yeah my bad i thought martin sheen wasnt on it. Chris Penn > Sean Penn. Heston in planet of the apes is better than any james dean performance. Also whats wrong with matt dillon and maclachan? They’re better than james dean atleast. They’re not the best actors but they’re good. Kurt russell and dennis hopper not being on the list is the biggest travesty. Guy Pearce should be on it too without a doubt for LA Confidential and Memento.
Another thing, I know you don’t do tv shows and only movies, but a list of actors that doesn’t include Bryan Cranston is ridiculous. Cranston’s walter white is probably the best acted role to date, and I know Gandolfini is also highly acclaimed and should be on the list too for Tony Soprano, I think he is really good but I’m not personally a fan of the Sopranos, regardless, should be mentioned.
@dylan- thanks- ridiculous huh? Yeah I’ve seen enough work from both to be good with leaving them off this list.
@dylan- I like the Russell and Hopper ideas– Dean worked for 2 years and Hopper for 50 and Dean’s second best performance is better than Hopper’s– similar comment on Russell. The rest of these are silly- no offense personally but Chris Penn? There just isn’t a case here to be made. Guy Pearce gives the fourth best performance in LA Confidential. It is one thing if you think Dean to move down the list — but some of these replacements make me think there’s just not a proper understanding of Dean’s talent, importance- and yes- in a short time- achievements.
I think everyone who reads this is very kind for not poking fun of the Kyle MacLachlan is better than James Dean comment. I think MacLachlan himself would have a good chuckle at that one
The thing is I don’t see james dean being a great actor after seeing east of eden and rebel, he’s ok, not bad, not certainly not the best… like I could see someone like zac efron easily giving a better performance in rebel. Maclachan is good in blue velvet and twin peaks, certainly is better than james dean IMO. I just dont agree at all that deans 2nd best performance is better than hoppers…. like after blue velvet, hes great in Speed and True Romance and he was pretty good in easy rider too
@dylan- I appreciate you sharing- but the zac efron comment isn’t helping at all… makes me more confident I’m right here in our back and forth
think u misunderstood me, im not calling efron a top tier actor, just saying james dean isnt some top tier actor like you’re making it out to be. Have you not seen Breaking Bad though? Aaron Paul from breaking bad would’ve been so much better in james dean’s roles for example. Aaron Paul is very good.
@dylan- ok- I think I can understand that an actor’s style just doesn’t speak to you– like James Dean here. However, it really doesn’t have anything to do with Dean or my list. Dean belongs in the conversation with his peers– a generation of actors that helped changed acting style forever- Brando, Clift, Newman (and he belongs behind them as he is on my list). Other than that I’ll let the page speak for itself as I wrote it for that purpose.
I watched the first season (7 hours or whatever) of breaking bad and stopped. It was solid– but on this site you won’t find like series television that isn’t really directed by someone concerned with visual style (like Cary Fukunaga, Kieslowski, Steve McQueen of course). Cranston is good- but this isn’t really a multi-season reoccurring role television list. Quite often different people will bring up their favorite show or television actor and my answer is pretty much the same- last time it was the Doctor from House.
I think Charlton Heston in a top 100 isnt a ridiculous idea.
@Drake Pearce as 4th in LA Confidential; not disagreeing, but the order would be Crowe in front, Spacey and Basinger not far behind, then Pearce in the back, yes? Because that’s my order.
@Zane- yep- that’s mine
@Drake Also, agreed with you on Zac Efron… what??? The man cannot act at all. Has he forgotten about the critically-acclaimed masterpiece Dirty Grandpa, where De Niro even in one of his worst films is still able to blow him miles off the screen?
For your information, no I have not degraded myself to the point of watching the entire film. But I have viewed parts of it just for the experience.
Had James Dean been absent it would seriously, SERIOUSLY hurt the credibility of this list -which, I mean, I still disagree with Bruce Willis at #74, but is otherwise amazing. It’s funny because Dean is one of those actors you’d think nobody would have second thoughts about their worth, talent and greatness. But here we are… Dean is honestly on this list and at around 90 or so JUST with East of Eden. But this has been a fun discourse to read.
I must admit that i also called James Dean overrated, in my defense i had not seen any of his movies. I thought he was only popular because he died.
But when i catch his movies i was blown away, in fact it is surprising that you doubt Dean’s ability to act.
It’s so natural, he was one of the most talented actors. Despite having he died 70 years ago, i feel bad because we couldn’t see more of him.
Find a list of the best actors in history and most will have Dean in it, i’ve even seen it in the top 20 and it doesn’t bother me at all.