Bravura acting performances

[Big Swifty]

There are some film performances where the main actor veers dangerously close to caricature, but he/she dominates the film with a swaggering interpretation that fills the screen.
The first was arguably the pre-war version of Henry VIII's life portrayed by Charles Laughton, as a fat, lecherous, gluttonous pig. The ultimate might be Robert Newton's much-parodied Long John Silver in "Treasure Island" (Aaaarrrr Jim lad)".
Another swaggerer was George C Scott - brilliant and outrageous as Gen Patten (1970). Plus Robert de Niro in "Taxi Driver".
Perhaps the hammiest of all was Jack Nicholson's demented caretaker in "The Shining", complete with wolfish grin and near-gurning.
Any more? I don't mean good acting, but over-the-top stuff.

 

[manctheknife]

I think they call it 'chewing the scenery'...
Here's a couple....Al Pacino in The Devils advocate...Brian Blessed in 'absolutely everything he's ever been in'

 

[denislawsbackheel]

Richard Griffiths in The History Boys
Alan Cumming throughout The Good Wife
All Dr. Whos
Robert Hardy, Peter Cushing, Roger Moore in everything they ever did.

 

[Always Ali]

Alan Rickman in Robin Hood & Die Hard...almost to the point of camp, brilliant.

 

[Gelsons Dad]

Alec Baldwin - Glengarry Glen Ross.

 

[Elbow beards]

Johnny Depp, pirates of the Caribbean

 

[TonyM]

The Wire's Clay Davis. Ridiculous but utterly awesome.

 

[talkativesprout]

Anything with Gary Oldman in i have seen is mostly hammed up to the nines and i lurrrrrve it

 

[MellowJoe]

Nic Cage in many of his films, but especially Face/Off
Al Pacino in Heat.

 

[urban genie]

Christooher Walken in everything