I am not really a fan of Val Kilmer. But I have always considered his portrayal of Doc Holliday one of the top 5 movie performances of all time. There have been many other Doc Hollidays in other movies, some better than others.

But this particular one is written so well and his dialog so entertaining that it really jumps out at you. Easily one of my most memorable movie characters.

Many on this forum aren’t old enough to remember this era, and many may not be old enough to believe it once existed, but there once was a time when, if you could talk the talk, but couldn’t walk the walk -- you got slapped down like a little bitch.

We have since evolved to a Golden Age where such men can now aspire to greatness. But alas, it wasn’t always so. And especially it wasn’t so if you ran into Sam Spade.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Great American Punk…

Wilmer played by the immortal Elisha Cook, Jr.





1. Hit Man's Booking Agent
2. Will Kane
3. Wilmer

R*R pm'ed

It seems risky to have waited until the third round for the Dude given how much you love him.

Skip me.

Hannibal Lecter



If this image doesn't convince you that this is the greatest villain of all time, I don't know what to tell you. Darth Vader wore a mask the whole time except to reveal that he was just some crusty old white dude. When Hannibal wears a mask, it looks like this.



For the sake of this thread, I'm going to introduce his character the way it was introduced to the majority of us. From the movie Silence of the Lambs. Yes there are books, prequels, and another movie (Manhunter), but for me, Lambs was how I came to know Hannibal the Cannibal

We are told stories, fables, rumors, heresay, and details prior to meeting our villain. He is described as a sociopath, but only because they don't really have a word for how evil he truly is.

When Clarice takes that long walk down the hall towards Hannibal's cell for the first time, the camerawork is nothing short of brilliant, as Hannibal eventually comes into view, perfectly still, standing erect, looking polite, but never for a moment do we think he is anything less than the most menacing killer we've ever laid eyes on.



His speeches are haunting. Even though it's been parodied to death, when he tells of how he ate the census taker with some fava beans and a nice chianti, I remember the chills that ran down my spine.

The character works because we don't see him in action until way late in the film. It is all in the buildup. He talks a good game, and those around him talk a good game, and when he finally gets sprung into action, he doesn't disappoint. There are actually only a couple moments of violence that come from Hannibal, but those moments are pretty spectacular.



His interaction with Clarice is wonderful, arcing from cordial, to friendly, to maybe even romantic throughout the course of the movie (who can forget him caressing her hand with his finger)

He is true evil. He is everything that we fear, and yet somehow, we like him anyway, and weren't the least bit upset that Dr. Chilton was gonna have an unexpected dinner guest that evening. He is the greatest villain, and I'm proud to have him on my team.

John McClane



This is the greatest action hero of modern times. Why? Because he's just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but is the right man for the job. Indiana Jones may think he's hot ****, but the reality of the situation is, the entire movie Raiders of the Lost Arc would've ended the same exact way regardless of whether Indy got involved (Nazis look at the arc, faces get melted, world is saved). The only difference is there would be one less dead monkey.

John McClane is no saint. He has issues. He drinks, he's a bad husband, a deadbeat dad, he's got an attitude problem and a problem with authority, but he is going to save the day, with some dry wit and a bored expression on his face that is so much fun to look at.

He flies in to Cali to see his wife for some boring Christmas party. He's late to the party, and by the time he gets there, the terorists have already taken all of the party hostage (including his wife), and he's the only one who can stop them.

What he ends up being, is as he puts it, "Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. The monkey in the wrench. The pain in the ass." It is precisely him being a pain in the ass, not only to the terrorists, but to his fellow law enforcement members, that makes us love him that much more. When he drops a dead body onto the cop car and says "Welcome to the party, pal," I always smile on the inside. Welcome to the party indeed.

While other action heroes seem invincible, such as all the superheroes, the terminator, etc..., it is McClane's seemingly vulnerability that makes us feel for him. I felt every shard of glass in his bare feet, every ache in his body.



His two showdowns with Hans Gruber are a barrel of monkeys. The unloaded gun scene is a riot, and the final showdown with the unclasping of the watch is a great moment in cinema.



Yippee Ki Yay mother****ers, I have the best action hero on my team.

Vader's mask is cooler than Lecter's.

R*R requested a skip

herbdizzle still owes pick for last round so he can pick 2 at his convenience

John Cole is on the clock

I don't recall how far the drop was onto the air cushion below him, but I read that Rickman was told they were going to release him on the count of 3, but actually released him on 1, so his expression of shock/fear is genuine.

ya him n indy were my top 2 but honestly I felt like I could've waited alot longer to take the dude as I don't feel he gets the proper love n respect around these parts.
in fact I was expecting to be mocked by some for the pick.

lol excellent write up.
I literally LOL'd at the one less dead monkey line.

I am a weirdo and actually love die hard 3 the most, I think because I enjoy solving riddles so much.

but obv all 3 of the original trilogy are awesome.

I am thinking this draft is now due for a tough no-nonsense bad-ass heroine and I am sure by now you have guessed who it is. My next pick:








Let's have Sigourney tell you about her:




Round 1: James Bond
Round 2: R.P. McMurphy
Round 3: Ellen Ripley

Sniped! I'm surprised she made it this far.

not to quibble but we already had a tough no nonsense badass heroine drafted.
the more the merrier obv just don't be sleeping on marge.

Marge. Alright. Tru dat.

I don't think more badass women will necessarily make things merrier.

Yeah I was actually debating between Mcclane and Ripley. It was close.

So, I'm in a hotel room in Phoenix at a conference, and this draft gives me a chance to unwind. Since I've already chosen two great characters in two great romantic films, this time I get to pick two characters in one film, and not by going the Clovis route and cheating. For my third pick, I will select Michael Dorsey/Dorothy.

I know that most of you know the story, so no synopsis is really necessary. Tootsie is both a great comedy and a great love story. Michael Dorsey is a pain in the ass who can't get hired until he becomes Dorothy and lands a role in a soap opera. He becomes a star, but, of course, far too many complications ensue, so it's time to end the charade. Dorothy/Dorsey does so in this exquisite scene:



I've always loved the ending. Michael says, "I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man."



The hard part is already over. They are friends. And, who knows, he might even trust her with that yellow Halston one day.

I think we are back on track except for herbdizzle.

kudzudemon is up.

Yoda. Just....F***in' Yoda, man.

kudzu,

No writeup necessary, I got ya:

Zeno has been on the clock for a while, but he pretty much picks on his own schedule.

TheCroShow is on the clock

I love Wilmer as a pick. Elisha Cook is one of the great character actors, and while some picks are easy, it's nice to see characters who are memorable in smaller roles.

Go ahead and skip me. I'll pick later tonight.

My third character pick - Luke Jackson as: Cool..........Cool.........Cool Hand Luke. Write up to follow very soon. Want to keep this going. I send a PM to Clovis8.

Damn, luke was my next pick. Sawing parking meters is just about the greatest reason to have to join a chain gang.

If Luke woulda gone 1st pick 1st round I woulda said that sounds about right. He was most certainly very high on my list. Really surprised he lasted this long.