Each person has their own opinion on great actors and great movies. Nobody is more right or more wrong since it is just an opinion however it is fun to have favorites and enjoy. Some actors have enormous talent, and some actors are easy on the eyes and then there are the actors that are both. We like some actors more for what they do off the screen than onscreen, as some of them are great individuals who use their fame and fortune to help others and the world.
Tom Hanks is a exceptional talent. It’s is rather surprising to think that he got his start on a small and kooky TV show called “Bosom Buddies. Later he pulled off such great roles as Andrew Beckett, a gay lawyer who is infected with the AIDS virus and is fired from his conservative law firm because of the fear that they might also contract the disease. His first Academy Award was from that role back in 1993.
Tom Hanks is only the second actor ever to win back-to-back Academy Awards as he once more took home the Oscar the next year 1994 for his moving portrayal of Forrest Gump. The only other actor to do that was Spencer Tracy in 1937 and 1938. Tom has also entertained us with other great movies but the list is too extensive to cover.
Brad Pitt has been adored for his good looks ever since he charmed us in the 1991 film “Thelma and Louise”. But he hasn’t always played the pretty boy roles. Recall “Seven” and “Twelve Monkeys” both from 1995? Sometimes his personal life seems to outshine his acting roles but the most inspiring thing about Brad Pitt is that he has been exceptionally active in humanitarian causes throughout the world and he has donated huge sums of his cash to these causes.
Brad Pitt founded the “Make It Right Foundation” to help the citizens of New Orleans following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. The idea was to be a catalyst for the redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans by building homes that were affordable, sustainable and true to the culture of New Orleans. The goal was to finish it quickly so that the residents could return as soon as possible. Here is where he has had true success.
And that brings us to one more great actor who is also known for his philanthropy. Paul Newman left us as he passed away this past year on September 26, 2008. During his life he entertained us with many great movies such as “Road to Perdition” in 2002, “The Color Of Money” in 1986, “Absence Of Malice” in 1981. He also played the leading role in the well known and much loved favorite “Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid” from clear back in 1969. Of course he played in a lengthy number of other notable movies too.
But we also remember him for his charity. In 1982 he created a line of food products called “Newman’s Own”. It began with a salad dressing and then expanded to include pasta sauce, lemonade, popcorn, cookies, salsa and more. He established a policy that all of the proceeds generated from Newman’s Own, after taxes of course, would be donated to charity. As of 2006, the company had donated in excess of $250 million.
We will always have our favorite movies and our favorite actors and actresses. We may love them because of their talent or for other reasons but now that we can download full-length, high quality movies instantly on the Internet at least we won’t have to miss any of their movies.
