As
Chinatown is my all-time favorite film, obviously I think it is the best movie Nicholson has ever been associated with.
But, if I were to rank his work based on his performances as an actor, it'd go something like this....
1.
The Passenger (1975)
2.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
3.
Five Easy Pieces (1970)
4.
About Schmidt (2002)
5.
The Pledge (2001)
6.
The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)
7.
The Last Detail (1973)
8.
Chinatown (1974)
9.
The Crossing Guard (1995)
10.
Reds (1981)
Jack's work in Antonioni's existential
The Passenger is his best in my eyes, and also one of his least-seen performances.
The Pledge and
The King of Marvin Gardens are also underseen great works. I think his turn as Eugene O'Neill in Beatty's
Reds is the best of his supporting roles, though admittedly less campy fun than
Easy Rider, A Few Good Men, Batman or
Terms of Endearment. Personally, I prefer the more subduded, interior performances from Nicholson.
The Shining is great over-the-top Kabuki stuff, but give me
The Passenger or
Chinatown any day.
Jack has been nominated for twelve Oscars (eight lead, four supporting), with three wins (
Cuckoo's Nest, Terms of Endearment, As Good As It Gets). And yes, he is the male actor with the most nominations in the history of the awards, and surely not done yet.