The Greatest Ensemble Of All Time

[Y 2 Jake]

A Bridge Too Far

True story, I hate this film. Bored me to tears. It's one of those films thats good, but really dull. Like Anthony Minghella films. But it must have the greatest cast list of all time. People might say Pulp Fiction. But I don't think so. Travolta's career was dead, Jackson was a nobody. Roth, Rhames & Thurman were popular more than supertars at the time. Only Bruce Willis had any real star power, and that wasn't what it was in the late 80's early 90's.

But A Bridge Too Fars cast is amazing. Obviously I wasn't around in 1997 so some of the people inviolved might have had careers on the slide. But it's still an impressive cast.

Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Edward Fox, Elliott Gould, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, Ryan O'Neal, Laurence Olivier & Robert Redford

Imagine how much a cast like that would cost you today.

Anybody got a better ensemble?

 

[Matt Phoenix]

I suppose in terms of star power, then the Ocean's cast should be mentioned, I mean pretty much everyone in that film is major star.

My pick, which just happens to be my favouritest film is, Million Dollar Baby.
Ok its only 3 so I dont really know if it counts as an ensemble but you have Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Hilary Swank and the movie is pretty much just them. I know that there are the other cast members and a couple of side stories but for the majority it is just them and they compelled me for the whole movie. Also Freeman and Swank picked up the Oscar and Eastwood was nominated for Acting but walked away with the directors. I was entralled by them and the movie is top notch too.

Another pick for me is the cast of Crash, (maybe I would pick this for big ensemble)all had relatively minor roles but when put together form a great cast.

BTW Is this a movie only thread or can we branch it out into TV?

 

[Frank the Frowner]

The Departed HAS to be up there, if not number one. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Anthony Anderson, and Ray Winstone. All are great actors in their own right, and includes 5 men who have been nominated for Oscars, and Sheen and Baldwin have also been nominated for Emmys. All of them were exceptional in this movie as well.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

The Departed HAS to be up there, if not number one. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Anthony Anderson, and Ray Winstone. All are great actors in their own right, and includes 5 men who have been nominated for Oscars, and Sheen and Baldwin have also been nominated for Emmys. All of them were exceptional in this movie as well.

For name value it's up there. It makes a good poster. But in practice I don't think it's up there. You've got Ray Winstone doing a terrible American accent, doing a similar role to what he normally does. DiCaprio being just as bland as normal, solid if unspectacular. Mar Whalberg is only good in roles like this where he's swearing a lot. Nicholson is impressive in everything he does, but he's also doing the same think in everything he does. Matt Damon is impressive in everything, I can't complain there. Anthony Anderson is ok I guess. Baldwin & Sheen are great, but they've been bit part players for a while now.

Great cast, I just think it works better on paper. But I guess that can be said about most ensembles.

 

[Papa Shango]

Best ensemble cast... hmm... there have been a lot of great ensembles. I may have to rattle off a few.

The Departed- Probably the contemporary standard of ensemble casts. You've got two of todays biggest stars in Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio, a supporting cast that includes film legends Jack Nicholson and Martin Sheen (and if anybody wants to argue Martin Sheen's place in film history, Apocalypse Now alone is enough to solidify his standing). And solid performances by popular actors Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin. PLUS other lesser-known actors Ray Winstone, Anthony Anderson, and Vera Farmiga all give career-making, defining performances. The Departed is the type of movie that could have gone either way, but became a classic thanks to it's cast and director. The fact that of all of them, only Mark Wahlberg got an Academy Award nomination, is a crime.

Crash- Personally, I thought the script was a little empty. But the performances given by its cast is phenomenal. Don Cheadle once agains shines in his rare opportunities to be a leading man. It's the only time I've ever seen Brendan Fraser actually ACTING. Any other actress besides Sandra Bullock probably wouldn't have been able to anything with the obnoxious, shallow character she had to play. Terrence Howard, Michael Pena, Matt Dillon, and Ryan Phillipe all give great performances. AND we learn that Ludacris ia a very capable actor. He follows this movie with one of my favorite guest starring roles ever on Law and Order: SVU.

Pulp Fiction- It resurrected the careers of John Travolta and Harvey Keitel. It made stars out of Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, and Ving Rhames. It gave Bruce Willis a chance to do something outside his usual schtick. It further solidified Tim Roth as the prince of Indie films. And then it got it's ass handed to it by Forrest Gump at the Oscars. Travesty.

The Godfather- Re-launched Marlon Brando's career, while starting the careers of Al Pacino, James Caan, Diane Keaton, and Talia Shire. Meanwhile, it helped Robert Duvall continue on his path to becoming a film legend.

At this point, I feel the need to point out that pretty much any ensemble cast featuring Don Cheadle and/or John C. Reilly deserve consideration. The Ocean's movies, Magnolia, Crash, Chicago, Boogie Nights, Traffic, The Aviator, Gangs of New York, need I continue?

It really is too difficult to pinpoint the best ensemble cast. It's like trying to say which is the best movie of all time (*cough*Die Hard*cough*). There are too many options, too many opinions.

 

[AnthonyMango/NoFate007]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the HORRIBLE, yet completely stacked, Mars Attacks

Absolutely hated the film, but look at the cast involved:

Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Tom Jones, Natalie Portman, Pam Grier, Lisa Marie, Jack Black, Christina Applegate, etc

Plus, it was directed by Tim Burton, with music by Danny Elfman

As I said, I absolutely hated this movie, but that's quite an impressive grouping of actors/actresses to throw in such a shitty film lol.

 

[jmt225]

I agree with The Departed. My only complaint with the casting in the film is the chick, and I think they should've casted someone like Casey Affleck as the other rat who ends up killing Leo towards the end. Also, De Niro as Sheen's role like Scorsese originally wanted would've been nice too. But nevertheless, an awesome cast overall.

But how about Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back? Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Matt Damon, Carrie Fisher, Wes Craven, Joey Lauren Adams, Jeff Anderson, Judd Nelson, Scott Mosier, Brian O'Halloran, Will Ferrell, Jon Stewart, Shannon Elizabeth, Ali Larter, Mark Hamill, Chris Rock, Eliza Dushku, Seann William Scott, Marc Blucas, Alanis Morissette, Gus Van Sant, Jason Biggs, Diedrich Bader, Tracy Morgan, Shannen Doherty and George Carlin. Lol. Just a very fun film with a fun cast.

However, my personal favorite cast of all time has to go to The Rules of Attraction. The actors in this film include James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Ian Somerhalder, Jessica Biel, Kip Pardue, Clifton Collins Jr., Thomas Ian Nicholas, Kate Bosworth, Eric Stoltz, and Fred Savage. Now, I'm not saying that all these actors are some of the best alive or even close to being my favorites, but I've never seen a movie where EVERYONE played their parts to such perfection as the actors did in this movie. When I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE. To James Van Der Beek playing Sean Bateman (brother of American Psycho's Patrick Bateman, played wonderfully by Christian Bale of coarse) to some actor I've never heard of playing 'Dick'. Every role in this movie, even the smallest one's, end up being memorable because of the acting.

 

[NJS]

I agree with you all about the departed but I think the LORD OF THE RING is definately mentionable. Not a lot of HUGE names but it is one of the biggests movies of all time. Every one contributed to the overal impact of the story and I can think of anyone who did a bad job. Ian Mccllean, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, the guy playing Golen, Elijah Wood, all the guys playing the hobbits, I just think it was a great cast...Many who didnt work with each other but without the other wouldnt have been as great

 

[Afro-Ameri-Spawn]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the HORRIBLE, yet completely stacked, Mars Attacks

Absolutely hated the film, but look at the cast involved:

Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Tom Jones, Natalie Portman, Pam Grier, Lisa Marie, Jack Black, Christina Applegate, etc

Plus, it was directed by Tim Burton, with music by Danny Elfman

As I said, I absolutely hated this movie, but that's quite an impressive grouping of actors/actresses to throw in such a shitty film lol.

Dude, that was the point OF Mars Attacks. It was supposed to have a big named cast. It was rushed and put together as a spoof. But I will have to name the movie that it spoofed as a major ensemble cast movie.

Independence Day- Came out the right day and made stars of many of it's characters. Will Smith made his career on this movie. Vivica Fox first showed that she had sex appeal. Robert Loggia was great. Jeff Goldblum resurrected his career before squandering it away later. Brent Spinner(Star Trek), Bill Pullman(so many other movie after), Harry Connick Jr.(tv, stage, screen), Judd Hirsh(Taxi), Randy Quaid(a shitload of both funny and vicious movies), and even a Baldwin brother. Tell me this movie didn't have or make stars.

But the one movie that noone can deny made stars is...

Silence of the Lambs!- I mean just four of the main characters alone were launched by this.
Sir Anthony Hopkins- Can you even imagine the man as ANYBODY else except Hannibal Lectur? Shit, he did it two more times.
Jody Foster- After flopping her career around, this helped reinvent her from being a teenaged **** to being a credible actress.
Ted Levine- Can you even imagine that the same guy who tucked his junk as Buffalo Bill is now the Captain on Monk? Can't picture it can you?
Scott Glenn- The man still gets major roles to this day because of this movie. Shit, the played a big time drug dealer, Roger, in Training Day.

Hell, this damned movie took home over 13 awards in 1992 alone! You can't deny the power this movie had.

 

[WinstonDeckard]

The Royal Tenanbaums should be up there with Bill Murray, Danny Glover, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Gwenyth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Gene Hackman, and Angelica Houston. Pretty big cast on paper. I mean when it was made most of these actors and actresses were big names and most still are today. Plus it's directed by Wes Anderson and written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson and once again show that they are probably one of the best writing teams in modern hollywood and are maybe trailing only the Coen brothers in that department.