So the Emmy noms came out yesterday, and Forest Whitaker doesn't get a shot at best supporting actor in a drama despite giving a performance this season on "The Shield" that might have been the best work I've seen by an actor.

Ever.

In anything.

That's a bold statement that reads a little stupid and hyperbolic, but I thought about it. These are the best acting performances I've seen that come to mind:

Martin Landau in "Ed Wood"

Sean Penn in "Dead Man Walking"

Daniel Day Lewis in "Gangs of New York"

Andre Braugher on "Homicide: Life on the Street"

Ian McShane on "Deadwood."

That's it. No Brando, DeNiro or anyone else. Those five, and now Forest Whitaker, whose work as raging internal affairs cop Kavanaugh this year was as intense as fictional characters get.

This may be the most ridiculous AV Blog post ever, but that's really what I think.

So what do you think? Which actors have you seen - on TV, in movies or whatever - who struck you most? Who have given the best performances of all time?

Posted by Phil Parker at 07:07 AM | Permalink