I can't decide between Brad Pitt, Robert DeNiro, or Johnny Depp
Tom Hanks is no tough guy; that was my only knock on Road to Perdition. No matter what the scene was that required him to lay down the law, I just didn't buy it, not from him.
I can't see Leo pulling off comedy.
Damon? I hate to say this because I was once a big fan of his, but I think he's the most limited of everyone mentioned so far.
No way I'm buying Cruise in a lead comedic role, and I don't buy Will Smith as a lead comedy actor like Fresh Prince anymore, but more of a lead role who can be funny while everything blows up (like Bad Boys & Independence Day). "What about the MIBs?" Even though that was more of a comedy, it was still 'role who can be funny while everything blows up'.
But Brad Pitt, Robert DeNiro, or Johnny Depp? If I were handed 4 sealed envelopes that had different types of movie scripts in them, and I was told I had to pick one actor to play all 4 lead male roles, I'd have a hard time choosing between those 3 dudes.
PITT:
Inglourious Basterds (
), Moneyball, Oceans 11/12/13, Seven, The Mexican, Fight Club, Babel
DEPP:
Secret Window, Blow, Scissorhands, Alice in Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean, Public Enemies, Chocolate Factory
DeNIRO:
Goodfellas, Analyze This/That, Meet the Parents/Fockers, Casino, Wag the Dog (effing LOOOVE this movie), Raging Bull, Bronx Tale
The range
And I know with guys like Tom Cruise and Will Smith and Matt Damon, you can throw a list out there of movies that range from comedy to serious to superhero… but they don't pull those roles off as well as DeNiro, Pitt, and Depp. Like I said, I just wasn't buying tough guy Tom Hanks in Road to Perdition, or even Saving Private Ryan for that matter. Matt Damon in Stuck On You? C'mon. Will Smith as a superhero? Wasn't terrible, but definitely didn't feel right.
In the end, I'd probably go with Johnny Depp, and then shoot myself when I open the 4 envelopes and find out that 2 of the movie scripts are mob movies, and DeNiro's already left the studio.