Christian Bale or Edward Norton - Who's the better actor?

[Takes_Two_To_Tango]

 

[Drain Bamage]

Bale

This isn't that close imo Norton is bland

 

[Peteyandjia]

Too close to call, imho.

That's like trying to figure out who is better between prime Big Nog, & prime Crocop.

Which I guess means, if Norton cheats & grabs the ropes, maybe he can get an armbar on Bale.

 

[moreorless87]

I would say Norton when he gets a good role, probem is that doesn't happen often enough and in average roles he can end up being bland.

 

[Chest Rockwell]

Tough choice but Norton's performance in Birdman was nothing short of masterful and is imo one of the greatest acting jobs in the history of cinema .

 

[quantiqus]

Fight Club
American History X
25th hour

vs

The Machinist
Equilibrium
American psycho
The fighter

I believe Bale is slightly better as an actor, and he sacrificed more for his role.
He has more good quality movies, although Norton has 3 of the best...

 

[Medical Marijuana Man]

When Norton weighs less than 100 lbs for a role and then bulks up a few months later to play Batman, let me know.

Bale >

 

[HunterSdVa29]

considering Norton has been mailing it in since Italian Job, it's clearly Bale

Primal Fear was a tremendous performance tho

 

[Halge]

I'd go with Ed Norton.
I liked Bale in American Psycho, but that movie had brilliant script to fall back on. Liked him in The Fighter, too, but I wouldn't consider either role seminal.

Ed Norton impacted the entire industry with his acting style in American History X and 25th Hour, and he was awesome in Fight Club. And he's been taking roles all across the spectrum.

That being said, I haven't seen either guy do much out of the ordinary the last decade or so. Guess Bale might be fresher in that respect- at least his claim to fame isn't based on a span of three years around the Y2K mark.

 

[HARRISON_3]

Both are neat.

 

[GODZILLA213]

Have to go with Norton.

 

[minute bull]

Bale, because somehow someway he manages to get ahead of his lisp and Norton just can't. Plus Norton just threw his 30s into the garbage while Bale gained steam in a big way.

 

[Peteyandjia]

When Norton weighs less than 100 lbs for a role and then bulks up a few months later to play Batman, let me know.

Bale >

Lol, no offense, but this is such an MMA forum response. Acting isn’t a strongman competition, or a weight loss challenge. If it is, then Anthony Rumble Johnson >>>>> Daniel Day-Lewis.

 

[Medical Marijuana Man]

Lol, no offense, but this is such an MMA forum response. Acting isn’t a strongman competition, or a weight loss challenge. If it is, then Anthony Rumble Johnson >>>>> Daniel Day-Lewis.

Then I'm at the right place. So comparing an MMA fighter to an actor is the logical response?
Bale is a methodical actor and a notch better than Norton. That was the purpose of the example I provided with the Machinst and Batman.

 

[The Clinch]

Bale easily.

 

[SammyPops]

Did you even see The Hulk?

 

[Takes_Two_To_Tango]

Lol, no offense, but this is such an MMA forum response. Acting isn’t a strongman competition, or a weight loss challenge. If it is, then Anthony Rumble Johnson >>>>> Daniel Day-Lewis.

But you got to say what Bale achieved physically in The Machinist is nothing short of extraordinary. And than bulking up in matter of months to play Batman is quite a method acting achievement imo.

 

[ThinkGreen]

Bale has a much better resume imo

 

[Brother Numsi]

When they were both younger, Ed Norton. Primal Fear, American History X, and Fight Club were iconic roles

I believe Bale has been the more consistent of the two these last 15 years or so.

 

[Cole train]

Ill give this to norton simply because of fight club