Comments on: Michael Caine: The 10 Best Performances

By: Edward Copeland

Edward Copeland — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

It's perfectly justifiable to omit his Oscar-winning work in The Cider House Rules. I love Caine, but his in-and-out, wandering New England accent certainly didn't help the hatchet job that John Irving did on his own great novel. While he's very good in The Dark Knight Rises, there are many better choices for his 10 best performances. I'd swap Sleuth out for something else as well. Two lead possibilities: his work in 1982's Deathrap or 1990's A Shock to the System. Two great supporting turns (and kudos for bringing up Children of Men because I would have if you didn't) as possible substutitions: His hysterical turn in 1998's Little Voice (which actually nabbed him a Golden Globe for which, as always, he gave a great speech while accepting) and 1996's Blood and Wine, a mixed bag of a movie but which Caine, Nicholson and Judy Davis were all great in.

By: James

James — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Michael Caine did not meet his wife Shakira while making "The Man Who Would Me King" with her, he met her earlier. The story is quite famous. He saw her in a coffee commercial directed by Ridley Scott and thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He contacted the people who did the commercial, got her info, and wooed her and they fell in love and remain married to this day. 🙂 Sweet story.

By: Joaq

Joaq — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Great post. I'd say the biggest omission here would be his underrated/under-seen performance in the black comedy A Shock to the System from 1990. Always loved that one. Cheers!

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Let's not forget:

An interesting role in "Blood and Wine" (1996)

The father in a strangely very believable father-son couple in "The Weather Man"

and almost better father-son couple in "Austin Powers in Goldmember" (the real winner from 2002, let's be honest)…..not but really the two other roles I listed should be appreciated.

By: Patrick Walters

Patrick Walters — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Little Voice, 1998
A Shock to the System, 1990
Mona Lisa, 1986

By: Will

Will — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

I think his performance in The Prestige is the best one he gave for Nolan (and probably Nolan's best too) and one of his finest performances in general. It nicely plays on his personas from previous films and his performance is nicely nuanced so that you never know too much in terms of his true motivation. That comes mostly from his performance rather than the writing I think.

By: ColonHell

ColonHell — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

WHAT ABOUT "THE HAND"???

By: MAL

MAL — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

When I saw the headline, the first role that came to mind was the heavy in Mona Lisa. He lost all of his charm and pulled out a lizard of a man in his most frightening performance. There is a scene in which he is furiously berating Bob Hoskins' character and yet he lets you know he is restraining an even more explosive nature boiling under the surface. It is an electrifying performance in which he has never been more shamelessly vile.

By: brace

brace — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Little Voice is cute little neglected movie. Caine was great in it.

By: TrvthHvrtz

TrvthHvrtz — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

I am wondering why "Children Of Men" is on that list, because Caine has just a minor role in that zynical film.
Instead of "Children Of Men" I would put "Jack The Ripper" on that list. Well, just a miniseries made for TV where Caine plays Chief Inspector Fred Abberline, but in my opinion one of the most impressive performance in TV-history!

By: Davey

Davey — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Definitely one of the greatest actors alive. I think "Muppet Christmas Carol" deserves at least an honorable mention–he's such a good Scrooge, and gives a completely human, believable, honest, committed performances against a supporting cast of puppets. It's incredible to watch.

By: Gloria

Gloria — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Nobody remembers "Noises off". I think the movie is amazing, and he was super funny.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

I loved Michael Caine in The Trip

By: Warren

Warren — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

I'd put "Gambit" and "the Italian Job" on the main list here. Two great movies and Caine performances.

By: mark

mark — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

One of my favorites is Second Hand Lions.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

A good call re Blood and Wine but i must stick up for the often overlooked Honorary Consul,,not the Film but caine'e perfromance. Faultless. A case could be made that it's his best perfromance in a Graham Greene adaption above the excellant Quiet American which was a far better movie. The less said about Richard Gere's English Doctor the better!! But Caine ( Bafta nominated for it remember) is sublime..

By: Larry

Larry — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Zulu and Second Hand Lions are both great examples of his talent!

By: Billy

Billy — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

I enjoyed him with Elizabeth Taylor in X, Y and Z… certainly not a very good movie, but they were good.

By: GERARD KENNELLY

GERARD KENNELLY — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

MONA LISA
EDUCATING RITA
SLEUTH remake
A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM
DEATHTRAP

By: Charles G

Charles G — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Great choices. And I concur with those who mention Little Voice, Educating Rita and A Shock to the System. Those are both in my Top 10…Honorable mentions to Dressed to Kill and The Hand. That's right, I said it. It's a guilty pleasure but Caine gives a gripping and intense performance in that early Oliver Stone movie.

By: Freddie

Freddie — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Secondhand Lions is an underrated performance that deserves mention but Little Voice should probably be in the Top Ten.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:27:17 +0000

Sorry but his best role has been completely missed. When I say his best he even said it was in his autobiography. It\’s playing the Kaptain in James Clavells The Last Valley (1971). His performance is terrific