Who do you think is the best movie director, and the best actor, currently alive today?

My current favorite director is Park Chan-Wook. Don’t really have a single favorite actor. Tom Hardy has had a good year.

Tarantino, no question.
Don’t have the same belief in an actor, a few are very good.

I don’t know about best, but I will pay money to see any Ridley Scott film regardless of reviews.

There is no best in either of these categories—far too many fine actors and directors working today in a wide range of film genres.

I do differ with @ucme about Tarantino. He’s far, far down on my list—spends too much time demonstrating on-screen how clever he thinks he is. I love Scorcese’s work, but in my opinion as a lifelong movie goer and commentator, the best directors are the ones whose work is invisible. I want to lose myself in what’s going on in front of the camera and not distracted by behind-the-camera directorial machinations.

As for actors, I love the work of so, so many actors and actresses including Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ethan Hawke, Cate Blanchett, Emma Stone, Eva Green, oh, the list is endless.

What the Elephant said.

GQ

Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Why? To me, a great actor is one who can mold himself easily and lose himself in a role. Look at George Clooney or Matt Damon—good actors, but they’re always Clooney or Damon. Ejiofor loses himself in roles completely. Take The Operative in Serenity and Simon/Lola in Kinky Boots.

Actress: Judi Dench for no particular reason except that I love everything she touches.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki because he’s so fucking brilliant.

y’all still need to put down the choices of the others.

Daniel Day Lewis & Tom Hardy are definitely right up there.

@ragingloli – did you just say “y’all”?

@Seek We’ll make an American out of him yet!

Please dear Kahless, no.

@Pachy He’s no different in that respect to Hitchcock or Kubrick, what you view as showing off could equally be argued as experimenting in filming techniques & storytelling.

I love Spielberg, but he is better when he struggles with a film. When he is comfortable, his films can end up a bit bland. My favorite is Tarantino, who has the advantage of having a great writer for his movies (also Tarantino).
My favorite working actor would be either Brad Pitt or Henry Caville. Good looking, yes, but also able to disappear into a role.

@ragingloli I’m not going to criticize anybody else’s choice.

After seeing the Reverant, Leonardo DiCaprio comes to mind. He has never been afraid of being “ugly” or doing self depreciating roles. Also, as a true method actor, Christian Bale consistently produces great work. Except for his Batman voice. It was just odd.
Johnny Depp never fails to entertain, either.

As far as actresses, well, no strong standouts come to mind. I had to look at a list. Julianne Moore stood out on the list, and I’ve always liked Emma Stone. Maybe it’s because women aren’t getting as meaty of roles consistently. I mean, Jennifer Lawrence is great, but I’d love to see her in something meaty.

@ucme, you can see Hitchcock’s hand in every shot. I hate that.

@Rarebear Yeah, I thought that was a pretty weird request.