He's right up there with Al Pacino from Godfather II
"I really wish Gia and Claire had became Tanner" - Honeybeefine

Yes, very good - 8.5
"She let me go."
~White Oleander

No. Billy Bob Thornton in "Sling Blade" is best of all time to me.

Also, I think Nicholson's performance in The Shining is better than this one- now that is a top contender for the greatest performance in history.
Wendy? Darling? Light, of my life!

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I think DDL in There Will Be Blood and Al Pacino as Michael Corleone completely blow away Nicholson's performance. Not saying that it wasn't good, it is one of the greatest acting performances of all time, but it doesn't hold a candle to Pacino or Day-Lewis.

He was absolutely captivating. His expressions, his delivery he nailed the character he portrayed. Every scene you focused on him, his reactions to what really was happening. Everything he did was so believable he won audiences over world wide when this movie was realesed. The sutulties of every expression and line formed the movie and drew you deeper into the plot. The role required he hold the audience, there where no gimmicks, stunts, etc. Just pure dialog and raw emotion.
Watch the movie if you so desire and maybe you see what I do. And then again you may not. Even the greatest acting characteristics can be subjective from individual to individual.

How? In what way?

Most of those you list are great performances. Nicholson as Randall Macmurphy was significantly better though.

What about
Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood? (imo the greatest performance of all time)
Al Pacino in The Godfather?
Robert De Niro in Goodfellas?
Ben Kingsley in Gandhi?
Tom Hulce in Amadeus?
Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds?
Tom Cruise in Magnolia?
Denzel Washington in Malcolm X?
Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List?
Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver?
Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs?
Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Master?
Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon?
Robert De Niro in The King of Comedy?

Definitely a great performance, but not the greatest in history. I wouldn't even consider it the greatest performance of that year, though it's a close second to Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon.

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Definitely up there with the very best, say, for example, Kim Stanley in "The Goddess."
My real name is Jeff

I just made a thread on "Actors who were born to play a specific role" and Nicholson/McMurphy was #1 on my list.

I don't think Fletcher was un-worthy of an Oscar, or nomination at the very least. It's the category fraud issue again though. 75' was a weak year for female lead contenders and she would have been a default winner due to the popularity of the film. Her character did, and also still does leave an indelible impression with many viewers.
I happen to feel that Louise Fletcher has appeared as a nice and kind lady in the interviews I have seen her in and in some of her warmer roles. She enacted a cold, devious and manipulating character that has become despised by many, and also made her Ratched Creature believable enough. I would say she did a pretty decent job. Perhaps if she had been in the support category, then it may have been seen as a more fitting award.
Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests.

Louise didn't deserve an Oscar, much less being of the greatest performances.

There's a difference between the ROLE being incredible and the acting of the role; most actresses would appear devious and evil. Ellen Burstyn, the first offer, may have done something more with it. (or write the role with more scenes)

I agree. Her performance was absolutely incredible. As was Brad Dourif's. Those 3 performances have gotta be in the top 50 of all time at least.

I would say so, but Louise is right up there too. To act so effectively as to make you totally despised by audiences (including herself) was a true masterpiece of ACTING.
Two of the greatest performances in one of the greatest extraordinary films = best picture ever in my mind.

Certainly one of the very best!

Yes, the best I've ever seen.

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