AceShowbiz - In the 21st century, the cinematic world has witnessed the rise of some of the most remarkable actors to date. The Independent recently shared its contentious "60 Best Actors of 21-Century Cinema" list, igniting a fiery discussion among film enthusiasts. The late Philip Seymour Hoffman, known for his depth and empathy in roles such as in "Capote" and "The Master," was rightfully given the top spot. However, it was Emma Stone's surprising second place that stirred the most controversy.

Stone's ranking above veterans like Christian Bale (No. 14), Viola Davis (No. 39), and Denzel Washington (No. 4) led to a barrage of social media reactions.

While some applauded the "La La Land" star, many felt other actors were more deserving. User @LucaGuadagnegro succinctly captured this sentiment, tweeting, "I'm a big fan of Emma Stone but there's no way in hell she is the second best actor of the century by any metric… sorry girl." Other users like @sewelankoana went further, bluntly stating, "The minute I saw Emma Stone as no 2, I knew the list is trash."

The Independent's culture team admitted the challenges of ranking actors, acknowledging the subjective nature of such an endeavor. They outlined their criteria: only considering films post-2000 and excluding TV or stage performances. Actors were evaluated on range, consistency, and choice of roles. Despite this, the list's thought-provoking inclusions and omissions have not been universally accepted.

Fans particularly questioned Stone's placement over other esteemed actors. @Lyta232323 pointed out, "Love me some Emma Stone and Florence Pugh, but I think even they agreed that to put them top 10 above Viola Davis, Amy Adams or Kate Winslet is a bit too much recent bias."

The controversial list also sees actors like Joaquin Phoenix (No. 26) and Frances McDormand (No. 32) being placed lower than expected.

Ultimately, the list highlights the diverse talent in modern cinema but emphasizes personal taste and perspective in evaluating art. Whether you agree with the rankings or not, it has fostered engaging discussions about today's film industry and its brilliant actors.