I'd say Gene Hackman's best two roles were as Lex Luthor in the SUPERMAN franchise and this role.
No question about his role in The French Connection.
While he did a really good job as Lex Luthor, I don't know that I would say that it was one of two of his BEST roles. I can list many other roles before his Lex Luthor character:
The Conversation. Defintiely One of his best.
Prime Cut.
The Poseidon Adventure.
Scarecrow. One of my favorite roles for him.
Bonnie and Clyde.
The guy was even wonderful in Get Shorty!
And how about Hoosiers?
In my opinion the man is one of the most brilliant actors out there. Definitely underated. I don't know that I can say that I've ever disliked him in any role that I've seen him play, even if the movie itself sucked.
Perhaps you feel that way because you haven't seen him in any of the movies that I mentioned above?
Don Cardi
Five - ten years from now, they're gonna wish there was American Cosa Nostra. Five - ten years from now, they're gonna miss John Gotti.
