One of the most iconic actors of the ’90s, Edward Norton became a household name after appearing in some of the most popular and successful films in past decades. Two of this most popular and widely acclaimed roles include “American History X”, where he plays as a neo-Nazi who goes to jail and repents for his mistakes, and “Fight Club”, a film based on Chuck Palahniuk’s best selling novel.
Some of the actor’s most impressive performances include his almost-theatrical role in “Birdman”, alongside Michael Keaton, Derek Vinyard in “American History X”, the classic “Moonrise Kingdom”, where he played alongside Bruce Willis as Scout Master Ward, and “The Grand Budapest Hotel”.
Humphrey Bogart
Humphrey Bogart is considered the single greatest male actor of all time. He first began acting in Broadway shows, but quickly made his way into films in the 1930s. The actor has appeared in numerous roles over the years, and had an acting career which lasted for over three and a half decades. Bogart has a cult following even to this day. Some of his most successful roles from the '40s include "High Sierra", "The Maltese Falcon", "The Big Sleep", and the well known classic, "Casablanca", which landed him his first nomination for an Academy Award.
Bogart's two best performances, according to many critics and fans, are 1948's neo-western film "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre", and 1950's old school crime drama, "In a Lonely Place". Unfortunately, the actor was a heavy smoker and drinker, which considerably shortened his lifespan and killed him at the relatively young age of 57. In 1997, he was named the number one movie legend of all time by Entertainment Weekly Magazine. Later in 1999, he was also chosen as the American Film Institute’s greatest male screen legend.
Robert De Niro
There’s not much to say about Robert De Niro except that he’s one of the most legendary actors of our generation. De Niro first rose to prominence when he took up some of the most difficult roles, in films such as Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver" and "Mean Streets". He somehow manages to reinvent himself in every single film, much like the iconic Marlon Brando. His impressive career currently spans over four decades, but De Niro just keeps making hit after hit.
Two of Robert De Niro’s latest films, "Joker" and "The Irishman", have been extremely successful. It seems that the actor is still very much in touch with what makes him a great actor. Although De Niro had a bit of a rough period in the 2000s, where he mostly played comedies and goofy roles, it looks like he got his mojo back.
Ryan Reynolds
This wonderful and charming actor is considered by many to be the darling of Hollywood. He is looked up to by many fans thanks to his great looks, charming personality and quirky sense of humor. Ryan Reynolds first became known when he acted in films such as "Blade: Trinity", and caught the attention of many movie fans. He has since found his path as the beloved "Deadpool", in which he appeared in two films as of yet.
If you’re looking to see Reynolds at his best, there’s really no better way than watching the first and second "Deadpool" films. These two hilarious superhero action films became the highest selling R-Rated films of all time before being dethroned by "Joker".
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling is one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, thanks to his incredible looks and stellar acting. He has appeared in various amazing action and sci-fi films such as "Drive", "The Place Beyond the Pines", and the highly awarded "Blade Runner 2049". He also appeared in a few deeply tear-jerking films such as "Blue Valentine" and the iconic "The Notebook". Gosling also starred in some interesting drama roles, such as "The Big Short", a film which follows the events of the 2008 mortgage crisis, and "The Ides of March", a political drama thriller.
If you’re looking for the absolute zenith of his acting skills, you’ll likely find it in the 2011 crime drama "Drive", where he plays a veteran criminal getaway driver who falls in love with his neighbor and her young son. It’s arguably Gosling’s most highly acclaimed film. "Drive" received four British Academy Awards and was one of the best films of 2011.