Masina seemed to be channelling Chaplin in that film.
Are you sure you're not confusing it with
La Strada? One of the reasons I'm not very fond of LS is Masina's Chaplinesque performance.
I think Nicholson gave a Witches of Eastwick era performance in The Shining, which to me indicates Kubrick didn't mind much what his actors were doing.
A famous Kubrick quote in regards to acting (and I believe it was in reference to The Shining): "Real is good...
interesting is better." I know it's an over-the-top portrayal, but that's what I love about it. Duvall's is even more contentious, and that one almost made my list (Nicholson was a last-minute replacement as I was reviewing clips).
Mitchum's Max Cady would be on my list if I had posted it later, I might add it to my pM'ed list and quite high.
I considered it, along with
Night of the Hunter. I'm second-guessing my choice now, actually. I can't say I've ever disliked Mitchum in anything, even
His Kind of Woman, a movie that in general rubs me the wrong way.
Overall, I think we agree on what good acting is.
