View Full Version : Best under 16 performances


ThirteenInchEscape
08-07-2004, 01:04 PM
hopefully I can get an intelligent thread out of you people...


Anyhow, I think far too many children actors are "child actors" who will never be succesful as adults, as opposed to actors who start in real movies at a young age, that you know will grow up to be succesful. I think that there have been a few movies over time, that have had absolutely brilliant part for young girls.

The best performances I can think of, are:

Natalie Portman in The Professional
Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver
and
Sarah Bolger in In America, she was only 11 at the time, but easily the best supporting actress of the year, that movie got overlooked by the academy (actually, Sarah's little sister Emma, 9 at the time, won an award for the best performance by an actor under 10)


Basically though, all 3 of those had performances that deserved Oscars, and I imagine they got overlooked becuase of their age.






As long as we are here, some good male child performances

Spencer Treat Clark in Gladiator and Mystic River
Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense, other than that his movies have been a bit hit and miss.

Overall, I think the girls were given much better roles to fill, alot more emotionally charged, and all 3 of those are girls that are incredibly smart/mature for their age based on generally uncontrollable circumstances, forcing them to grow up.


All of these people have been succesful thus far except for Sarah Bolger, I think if she wants to she will have a chance to be a very succesful actress at some point

also, please keep this movies generally PG13 or above, as I am talking about childrens roles in real movies

webuster
08-07-2004, 04:32 PM
I thought Jack Rovello was pretty good in 'The Hours'- though I'll admit at one point he went a little bit like Richie from The Dick Van Dyke Show. I'll also agree with Haley Joel Osment for The Sixth Sense- he was very good in that film, as well as in A.I. imo.

I've never seen these films, but Keisha Castle Hughes got an Oscar nomination for Whale Rider, and Brooke Shields is meant to be really good in Pretty Baby.

Rhiannon
08-07-2004, 10:10 PM
Originally posted by webuster


I've never seen these films, but Keisha Castle Hughes got an Oscar nomination for Whale Rider, and Brooke Shields is meant to be really good in Pretty Baby.

I agree about Keisha. She did really well.

BowWowsBaby
08-08-2004, 12:18 AM
Bow Wow in Like Mike....okay sorry I'm obsessed

Khleo Thomas did well in Baadasssss too and Keisha Castle Hughes had an amazing performance in Whale Rider

SBTB Geek
08-08-2004, 02:24 AM
Originally posted by BowWowsBaby
Bow Wow in Like Mike....okay sorry I'm obsessed

Khleo Thomas did well in Baadasssss too and Keisha Castle Hughes had an amazing performance in Whale Rider

Are just finding an excuse to compliment Khelo, or did you actually see "Baadasssss"?... Honestly.

TJL
08-08-2004, 08:50 AM
Before he went on to battle badguys in Middle Earth, Elijah Wood racked up some pretty impressive credits as a child actor, most notably Barry Levinson's "Avalon." A great family drama.

BowWowsBaby
08-08-2004, 04:55 PM
Originally posted by SBTB Geek
Are just finding an excuse to compliment Khelo, or did you actually see "Baadasssss"?... Honestly.


no i actually did see it...why?


ps....it's spelled Khleo :cool:

SBTB Geek
08-09-2004, 01:48 AM
Originally posted by BowWowsBaby
no i actually did see it...why?


ps....it's spelled Khleo :cool:

It's kind of shocking. It wasn't a popular film, I went to go see it during it's opening weekend, and there was like only 6 other people there!

I didn't notice Khleo was in it until now.

LucyCompanyPhan
08-09-2004, 02:28 AM
Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense

*MIBabe03*
08-09-2004, 09:39 AM
Erika Christenson in the movie Traffic.

BowWowsBaby
08-09-2004, 11:24 AM
Originally posted by SBTB Geek
It's kind of shocking. It wasn't a popular film, I went to go see it during it's opening weekend, and there was like only 6 other people there!

I didn't notice Khleo was in it until now.


same here, theres was only 3 other people there but the movie was great...and khleo looked funny with the big afro

ThirteenInchEscape
08-09-2004, 04:53 PM
Lil Bowwow fans are exactly the type of people I was hoping to exclude from this thread

dlemond
08-09-2004, 04:56 PM
Tatum O'Neal in Paper Moon

BowWowsBaby
08-14-2004, 07:53 PM
Originally posted by ThirteenInchEscape
Lil Bowwow fans are exactly the type of people I was hoping to exclude from this thread


sucks 4 you then!

Penny Lane
08-14-2004, 08:08 PM
MacKenzie Phillips- American Graffiti

Natalie Wood- Miracle On 34th Street

Peter Billingsly- A Christmas Story

barwars
08-14-2004, 08:38 PM
Macaulay Culkin in "Home Alone"

Not exactly Oscar-worthy. But its a very enjoyable film, with an outstanding performance by its star.

phoebe7165
08-14-2004, 08:49 PM
Dakota Fanning in I Am Sam comes to mind immediately.

Chambers
08-14-2004, 11:32 PM
Hayley Mills for Pollyanna

Anna Paquin for The Piano

ThirteenInchEscape
08-15-2004, 03:13 AM
That girl from American Grafitti was great, I watched that just recently and didnt even think of it.

I love it when she says "Is this what you call copping a feel?"

Mijada
08-15-2004, 12:16 PM
I think Justin Henry gave a great performance in Kramer vs. Kramer. He really knew how to cry convincingly. A lot of child actors you can tell they are faking.

Kitt
08-20-2004, 12:39 AM
Originally posted by Chambers
Anna Paquin for The Piano
Anna Paquin for Fly Away Home also

Dean Winchester
08-20-2004, 06:00 AM
Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver

I am shocked nobody has mentioned Heather Matarazzo's performance in Welcome To The Dollhouse

Chambers
08-20-2004, 11:44 AM
Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver

I am shocked nobody has mentioned Heather Matarazzo's performance in Welcome To The Dollhouse


:thumbsup: to both of those.

ThirteenInchEscape
08-20-2004, 12:52 PM
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Thirteen (or they have, i jsut dont remember and dont feel like going back)


has anyone here besides me seen In America? Roper said it was the best movie of 03

Superstar
08-20-2004, 12:55 PM
I haven't seen it but I know what its about


I think Alex D. Linz in Home Alone 3 was pretty good

BowWowsBaby
08-20-2004, 01:21 PM
Originally posted by Superstar
I haven't seen it but I know what its about


I think Alex D. Linz in Home Alone 3 was pretty good

i didnt like it...