Top 10 Male Performances of All Time

Did either of these Oscar vets make my list?

Here's my other list. I would like to mention beforehand that one of these performances is driven mostly by effective voiceover work, but it never ceases to amaze me. Hope you like my list!

10. Russell Crowe, L.A. Confidential

Role: Wendell "Bud" White

Quote: "When I was twelve, my old man went after my mother with a bottle. I got in the way."

Recognition: Chlotrudis Award win and Satellite Award nom

9. Jack Lemmon, The Apartment

Role: C.C. Baxter

Quote: "That's the way it crumbles... cookie-wise."

Recognition: Oscar nom, BAFTA and Golden Globe wins
  

8. Robert De Niro, The Deer Hunter

Role: Michael

Quote: "This is this. From now on, you're on your own."

Recognition: Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe noms

7. Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon

Role: Sonny Wortzik

Quote: "Tell them to put their guns down!"

Recognition: BAFTA win, Oscar and Golden Globe noms

6. Marlon Brando, On the Waterfront

Role: Terry Malloy

Quote: "Hey, you wanna hear my philosophy of life? Do it to him before he does it to you."

Recognition: Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe wins

5. Mathieu Amalric, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Role: Jean-Dominique Bauby

Quote: "Other than my eye, two things aren't paralyzed, my imagination and my memory."

Recognition: Cesar and Lumiere Award wins

4. Denis Lavant, Holy Motors

Role: Mr. Oscar and ten others

Quote: "I'm ready."

Recognition: Chicago International Film Festival win (so far)

3. Gunnar Björnstrand, Winter Light

Role: Tomas Ericsson

Quote: "Grant us peace."

Recognition: None

2. David Thewlis, Naked

Role: Johnny

Quote: "I've got an infinite number of places to go, the problem is where to stay."

Recognition: Cannes Film Festival and NYFCC wins

1. Richard Burton, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Role: George

Quote: "Did you really think I was going to kill you, Martha?"

Recognition: BAFTA win, Oscar and Golden Globe noms