Paul Newman --- Best Movie ?

Looking at his filmography, I didn’t realize he had done so many movies. There has to be some stinkers in it.

 

Paul Newman, Best Movie? - so many very good roles - impossible to choose.

 

The Towering Inferno? He had nothing to do

 

very tough one to pick, one of the best actors of his generation for sure.

butch cassidy
color of money
the verdict

nominated for 8 oscars for best actor, won one for 'the color of money".

one nomination for supporting actor 'road to perdittion' (lost to chris cooper)

one nomination for best director 'rachel rachel' (lost to 'oliver')

 

When Time Ran Out

The Silver Chalice

WUSA

Quintet

Harry and Son

The Lady L

The Secret War of Harry Frigg -- PN was probably the biggest movie star in the world when he made this padded Hogan's Heroes episode (and I am an HH fan). Not his worst movie: the supporting cast is good, aside from the leading lady -- when she is what off screen it's kind of entertaining. Paul could add a light touch to drama, but he wasn't actually a light comedian. Frigg isn't so much a turkey as a head scratcher.

 

I watch Nobody’s Fool over and over so I’ll go with that.

 

I didn't think Perdition was among his best

 

Cool Hand Luke.
Newman is one of the few actors who in every role, even if the film itself was poor, shined. His entire filmography is worth seeing, really.

 

When someone above asked what was a bad Paul Newman movie I couldn't really think of one off the top of my head but ' The Towering Inferno ' is as good a choice as any.
Like you say " he had nothing to do " .Except be Paul Newman. Same with Steve McQueen.

 

In the McQueen doc, they briefly discuss how Steve had little tricks to ensure people looked at him instead of Newman when they had a scene together. (he was admittedly nervous about being with Newman)

 

HUD and hombre have the same photographer or visual scene maker or whatever it's called. They are both favorites.

 

Yul Bryner apparently complained about this habit of McQueen's when they made ' The Magnificent Seven ' . He said McQueen would always be doing something when they were in a scene together to ensure all eyes would be on him.

 

The Sting is one of my five favorite movies, so.

 

Nice to see lots of love for ' The Verdict ' and rightfully so. Excellent late-career movie.
Many good scenes but I particukarly like the one when he goes in a bar and orders a drink but is so hungover and shaky he can't lift the glass to his mouth but instead has to lower his head to the glass to drink it.
Also liked it when he socked Charlotte Rampling in the face. She had it coming.

 

I have not seen all of his films. But of those that I have seen, the only one I don't care for is, “Absence of Malice.” I like both Newman and Sally Field, but the movie was really boring, in every way. Even the music score by Dave Grusin was boring.

As I recall, the only good parts being the opening titles (for professional reasons), and a conclusive speech near the end of the film by Wilford Brimley's character.

 

Nobody's Fool - my favorite role and favorite movie of Newman. Underrated classic.

 

McQueen had experience in oaters from his TV show Wanted Dead Or Alive, and he understood how to use western garb to bring attention to himself. Whenever he and Brynner were in a shot together and Brynner was speaking, McQueen would tip his hat up, or grab his kerchief, or rest his hand on his gun, etc... According to legend, Brynner eventually hired a man just to watch what McQueen was doing in their scenes.

 

Hard to shine in a very dumb movie.

 

I can't say I've seen more than the most popular Paul Newman movies and probably none of his 60s output beyond Cool Hand Luke and The Hustler. Bu I will weigh in anyway.

In order:
The Sting
The Verdict
Color of Money

 

random order...

Hud
Sweet bird of youth
The hustler
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid
Cat on a hot tin roof

While I don't remember a weak Newman performance, but I believe his 50s-60s work is pure gold.

 

The Sting
The Verdict

 

Hud. Not only for Newman, but for the fantastic performance by Melvyn Douglas.
Brandon deWilde and Patricia Neal were pretty good too.

 

While I would agree with most of the choices here, I'm surprised no one has mentioned
"Somebody Up There Likes Me" from 1956. It's definitely the film that "made him a star",
and it's one of my all time favorite films and performances. You don't see it very often now,
which is criminal. Here's the trailer from 1956.....

 

Think his 2 cool films are
The Hustler & Cool Hand Luke.

 

Add another vote for "Cool Hand Luke".