General Greatest child actor of all time - Tatum O’Neal

[MMAPlaywright]

We watched PAPER MOON the other day. She’s the greatest child actor ever. Throw in her role in the Bad News Bears and this shouldn’t even be a discussion.

Who you got that’s better? Macaulay Culkin? Jodie Foster? Corey Haim? Stymie?

In my efforts to transition back to a new normal way of life here, coming out the other side of this pandemic, I am creating great threads such as this one. The problem in this thread, however, is that I’ve won and there’s little room for discussion.

I win.

 

[member 603]

Dakota Fanning

 

[Judobill]

Shirley Temple, and it’s not even close.

 

[MMAPlaywright]

Let me think.... if only there were an OBJECTIVE measure, like.... I don’t know, perhaps an ACADEMY AWARD. That might settle it.

Thoughts?

 

[MMAPlaywright]

 

[Judobill]

Let’s see Tatum sing and dance.

 

[Judobill]

 

[MMAPlaywright]

Let’s see Tatum sing and dance.

You’re my friend, but I ain’t talking about singing and dancing. I’m talking about acting.

You know that, though. Why must you troll me so?

 

[MMAPlaywright]

Outstanding JUVENILE performance.

O’Neal beat all comers, adult bracket.

 

[sparkuri]

All good answers.
Shirley was the first, younger, and a dynamo. Being the first you cannot argue with her GOAT status.
Dakota Fanning was awesome in Man on Fire, no doubt.
Hallie Steinfeld completed her duties at 12-years old in True Grit, and was fantastic.

That said, imo, what Tatum did in Paper Moon has never been equaled.
Unfortunately, what Ryan did to her has been, all over Hollywood.

 

[MMAHAWK]

It’s Chunk or go fuck your mother

 

[MMAPlaywright]

All good answers.
Shirley was the first, younger, and a dynamo. Being the first you cannot argue with her GOAT status.
Dakota Fanning was awesome in Man on Fire, no doubt.
Hallie Steinfeld completed her duties at 12-years old in True Grit, and was fantastic.

That said, imo, what Tatum did in Paper Moon has never been equaled.
Unfortunately, what Ryan did to her has been, all over Hollywood.

Post of the week.

 

[Onetrickpony]

Natalie Portman

Christian Bale

 

[MountainMedic]

You guys are sleeping on Uncle Fester!

 

[Onetrickpony]

Ryan Gosling

 

[Robbie Hart]

Sean penn blows all of them away

 

[Onetrickpony]

Lionardio DiCaprio

 

[Onetrickpony]

Joseph Gordon Levitt

 

[Judobill]

I’m sure we can all agree that Jake Lloyd is not near the top of the list.

 

[Onetrickpony]

Sean Astin

 

[otaku1]

Natalie Portman

Christian Bale

Bale was excellent in that movie.
He was well coached by Spielberg but still, Bale had the talent way back. It showed in the movie.
Great movie.

 

[otaku1]

Natalie Portman

Christian Bale

And oh, that story was based on the memories of JG Ballard the scifi author behind the movie Crash (Cronenberg the director). Ballard spent a part of his childhood in a japanese pow camp.
You can make links between the Empire of the Sun and the fascination with death, becoming one with a machine, of the main protagonists in Crash. I really wonder if Spielberg (or Stoppard) knew about that but regardless, the scene with the Bale kid spying and being fascinated by the kamikaze pilot was quite revealing.

 

[otaku1]

And oh, that story was based on the memories of JG Ballard the scifi author behind the movie Crash (Cronenberg the director). Ballard spent a part of his youth in a japanese pow camp.
You can make links between the Empire of the Sun and the fascination with death, becoming one with a machine, of the main protagonists in Crash. I really wonder if Spielberg (or Stoppard) knew about that but regardless, the scene with the Bale kid spying and being fascinated by the kamikaze pilot was quite revealing.

 

[SongExotic2]

 

[Hauler]

It's definitely not the asian daughter adopted by the gay couple in American Family. She was so bad it was painful to watch.