The Best That Is Never Talked About

We are all aware of some of the great actors currently out there. Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt and the like. I could go on about the works these people have put out ad nauseum but there is no point because everyone already knows. And therein lies my problem. I believe one of, if not the best actor of our generation never gets mentioned because he chooses not to do blockbuster films that lack substance in favor of choosing parts in some lesser-known films that don't receive as much public attention. Therefore he doesn't receive the acclaim that the aforementioned actors receive. The man I am talking about is Philip Seymour Hoffman. His portrayal of Truman Capote in Capote is, along with Ledger's portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight is without a doubt the best performance of the last decade, perhaps longer. This was an Oscar-nominated movie, and when I ask people whether or not they have seen it, the general consensus is almost always "No." Thus, this has been termed "The best movie nobody has seen."

This was not Hoffman's only stellar performance. He has been in many movies, not always a leading role, but still always shines on the screen. Whether it be a small role in Almost Famous, a CIA agent in Charlie Wilson's War, or a troubled brother of Laura Linney in The Savages, Hoffman is clearly the best on screen. I urge everyone who has not seen his work to do so, you will not be disappointed.