Always Fade Out in a Montage...

The pantheon of the greatest living actors is pretty short. Though it is a highly debatable topic, my pantheon of greatest living actors is broken up into 4 categories, typically based on age, genre, and nationality. In order to be considered, I have to have seen a number of films that while transcending the culture in some way were also built or made incredible by the individual performance by the actor.

The Giants
Robert De Niro-For every film he ever has been apart of, except the “Meet the ___” movies. He even kicks ass in Spanish. Team….Team….
Al Pacino-For The Godfather Parts I and II, Scarface, The Devils Advocate, Heat, and Every Given Sunday
Jack Nicholson-For Chinatown, Batman, A Few Good Men, and The Departed
Harvey Keitel-For Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction
Gene Hackman-For Hoosiers, Mississippi Burning, Crimson Tide, and The Royale Tenenbaums

In Their Prime, The Potential Future Giants
Denzel Washington-For Glory, Malcolm X, The Pelican Brief, Crimson Tide, The Hurricane, Training Day, Remember the Titans, and Inside Man.
Tom Hanks-For Big, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, and The Road to Perdition.
Ed Norton-For Primal Fear, Rounders, Fight Club, and The Score.
Brad Pitt-For A River Runs Through It, Se7en, Interview with the Vampire, Legends of the Fall, 12 Monkeys, Fight Club, and Troy.
Samuel L. Jackson-For Every film of his massive career(Even Deep Blue Sea),especially Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown and his stint as Gin Rummy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxv3TrcUPXc&mode=related&search=

Actor/Comedians-(Must in Some way be associated with Films Old School or Anchorman)
Will Ferrall-For ELF, Old School, Anchorman
Steve Carrell-For Anchorman, The 40 year old virgin, Little Miss Sunshine
Ben Stiller-For every film of his career (Especially There's Something about Mary"), except the "Meet the ____" movies.
Vince Vaughn-For Swingers, Old School, Anchorman, Dodge Ball, and Wedding Crashers
Paul Rudd-For Anchorman, 40 Year Old Virgin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twEgGabvDeI&NR

The Brits
Clive Owen-For Everything he has done, especially I'll Sleep When I'm Dead and Inside Man
Sean Connery-For Goldfinger, Highlander, and Finding Forrester

However, there is an actor that deserves his own individual place, and that actor is Alec Baldwin. The elder Baldwin has become one of the finest character actors anyone has ever seen, mostly for being able to play characters with an intense ferocity and a subtle humor. His comedic acumen is well documented, but his performances in the last five years have been incredible, highlighted by his supporting role in The Departed. This guy is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zixAjmrmn6g&mode=related&search=