“Speak a little truth and people lose their minds.” ~O’Shea Jackson, Jr in Straight Outta Compton
Thought one: Last year when I created the list of top acting performances of 2014, I wrote the following statement: “I think it is fair to say that 2014 was the year of the actor, but unfortunately not the year of the actress.” I thought that I would once again repeat this sentiment, because, I noticed, as I finished my list there were many more men than women on it. However, after a closer examination I came to the conclusion that every year is the year of the actress, you just need to know where to look. For instance, in the realm of television, there are plenty of strong female centric roles being filled by the likes of Kerry Washington, Tea Leoni, Viola Davis, and Taraj P Henson. These are brilliant actresses filling brilliantly constructed roles, but even in a show like Scandal, too much of Washington’s character is dependent on male power. For the truly great gems you have to look deeper, search into show’s like UnReal on Lifetime, yes that Lifetime, with actors like Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer. In the world of film, the same can be said. Don’t just catch onto names like Jennifer Lawrence who, in Joy, gives one of the most joyless performances that I’ve ever seen. Instead look at Elizabeth Banks in Love & Mercy.
Thought two: Stop awarding talented actors and start awarding talented actors in talented roles. For instance, Matt Damon won a golden globe this year for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical (The Martian has a few good lines, but a comedy it is not) for playing an astronaut stranded on Mars. The Martian was certainly an entertaining film, shot well, and acted well, particularly by Matt Damon, but Damon isn’t playing a character. He’s just playing Matt Damon stuck on Mars. It’s a rescue movie to save Matt Damon, now where have a heard that before. Oh, perhaps it was in Saving Private Ryan or in Courage Under Fire or in Interstellar or in Syriana or in Green Zone or in Titan A.E. Seem a little redundant? Please Academy, start watching the films that you award nominations to, instead of seeing a flashing name and putting it in an envelope.
With those thoughts in mind, I present my list of Top Performances of 2015.
25. Rachel McAdams in Spotlight - Good, solid performance from an actress who rarely makes it out of a romantic film. McAdams proves that there’s more than meets the eye with her career.
24. Mark Rylance in Bridge of Spies - Last year I described Bill Nighy in Pride as “taciturn shyness,” which could be an apt description for Rylance in the role of Soviet Spy, Rudolf Abel. Also, it is difficult to star in a movie with Tom Hanks and to out act him in two person scenes. Rylance succeeds in accomplishing this feat. If you like his performance check him out in Wolf Hall as Thomas Crownwell.
23. Abraham Atta in Beasts of No Nation - A difficult role in a very difficult film. The majority of No Nation is shot from Atta’s perspective and the fifteen year old Ghanaian actor shines in telling a much needed story.
22. Alicia Vikander in Ex Machina - Although nominated for The Danish Girl, this was Vikander’s standout performance of the year. In just a few lines, it was Vikander’s job not just to seduce Domhnall Gleeson, but the audience into yearning for her own humanity. I look forward to her 2016 performances in Tom Stoppard’s Tulip Fever and potential Oscar nominee The Light Between Oceans.
21. Elizabeth Banks in Love & Mercy - A great performance in a very underrated film. Love & Mercy looks at Brian Wilson (Lead singer of the Beach Boys) in two separate time periods, one with Paul Dano and the other with the diseased version played by John Cusack. Cusack is ultimately saved by the cunning, intellectual performance of Banks. Quite the resurgence from Banks, who last year won a Razzie award.
20. Tom Hardy in The Revenant - Hardy had quite the year with his double-shot performances in Legend, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Child 44. For the man who would be James Bond, Hardy continues to dazzle audiences with characters that never fit the same mold twice. In The Revenant, Hardy shines, although he arguably should be subtitled whenever he speaks.
19. Michael B Jordan in Creed - A great rebound after the disaster of Fantastic Four. Jordan brings justice and honor, both as an actor and as a character, to the name of Creed.
18. Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road - A more apt name for the movie would’ve been Mad Max: Furiousa’s Road, for Theron steals this movie away from Hardy. She proves that it is possible to have a strong female lead in an action movie that kicks ass.
17. Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs - Fassbender excellently executes the flawed brilliance of the character of Steve Jobs. Many have criticized the film for not doing Jobs justice, but anyone familiar with Apple and with Fassbender’s work know that he most certainly played the best representation of Jobs available on film today.
16. Lily Tomlin in Grandma - Flawed, funny, and fierce, Lily Tomlin soars in this quick jaunt of a movie. Playing a serious, but equally witty version of her character from Grace and Frankie, Tomlin continues to prove that talent only gets better with age.
15. Kate Winslet in Steve Jobs - I wish I could accurately describe how and why I liked Winslet in this role. Perhaps it was the quiet confidence that only an actress the caliber of Winslet could pull off, but I’m really not sure. It could be as simple as I like people who can pull off Aaron Sorkin’s writing.
14. Benecio Del Toro in Sicario - I hated Sicario, because I thought it’s screenplay was poorly written. However the movie did leave two very real impacts on me. The first is that I will watch whatever movie the director, Denis Villeneuve, directs (looking forward to Story of Your Life). The second is that Benecio Del Toro has still got it; so much so that they are looking into a sequel to the film entirely about Del Toro’s character. Every second he is on screen you cannot take your eyes off of him. This performance goes into the pantheon of must see performances alongside Traffic and Che.
13. Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation - At first, Elba plays the rebel leader of children off like he always does. Stern confidence with a little glimmer of kindness, but it isn’t until Elba begins to lose his power that we witness what this actor can really accomplish. When a director allows Elba to act, the man can turn in a performance unlike the majority of his fellow actors. Don’t believe me, watch the TV series Luther and talk to me afterwards.
12. Sylvester Stallone in Creed - Stallone turns in the performance of his career, save only the first Rocky. Thank goodness, Ryan Coogler managed to persuade him to do the role.
11. Bryan Cranston in Trumbo - As I said in the review for the film, a Capra-esque performance of Dalton Trumbo. Cranston never wavers, playing honesty over cheese, humility over ego. For such a slow-burn of a movie, Cranston manages to capture the light in every scene he touches. I liked him on Breaking Bad. I loved him in Trumbo.
10. Cate Blanchett in Carol - It is officially time to call up Meryl Streep and ask for the crown. The woman that was Elizabeth I has finally taken it from her. Blanchett can play just about any part, in any time period. The only way a movie like Carol can exist is if two actors of equal caliber create enough tension to last the length of the film. She is absolutely mesmerizing and once the movie reaches its turn, she takes her character in a direction that few actors could achieve, subtle fury with despair and still hopefulness. I think I misjudged her in Blue Jasmine.
9. Brie Larson in Room - My favorite young actress who I lauded over two years ago with her performance in Short Term 12 is about to get her due. It would be an absolute shock if someone beat her out for Best Actress. Although she would not be my choice for Best Actress, it is easy to see why she will win. In order to play the character “Ma” in Room, an actress must create a mindset that for the audience is next to impossible to imagine. Much like a victim of torture, “Ma” is repeatedly violated physically, morally, and emotionally. My hats off to Larson who certainly has come a long way from her days of being Jonah Hill’s love interest in 21 Jump Street.
8. Jacob Tremblay in Room - For those who have yet to see Room, while Larson shines, it is Tremblay, the nine year old boy wonder, who is the true star of the film. Horrifying and inspiring, Tremblay narrates the harrowing tale of a boy confined to a world of make-believe, that turns out to be much more real than he imagined.
7. Mark Ruffalo in Spotlight - Although even too far left wing for me in real life (believes in the 9/11 conspiracy theory), Ruffalo continues to prove that he might be the best supporting actor in Hollywood. Whether as the sperm donor dad in The Kids are All Right or the brother to a wrestling star in Foxcatcher or Beat detective in Zodiac, Ruffalo continues to put his 13 Going on 30 days far in the past. In Spotlight, he plays a reporter a bit too enthusiastic and unhinged for the rest of the team, he doesn’t quite fit, which is the exact reason why they need him. Although Stallone will most likely take home the reward, it is only a matter of time before Ruffalo finally is honored the way he should be.
6. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant - I am unsure, but I believe that DiCaprio has even less lines of dialogue in The Revenant than the number Tom Hardy has in Mad Max: Fury Road. DiCaprio’s role can be summed up in one line repeated multiple times throughout the film, “As long as you can still grab a breath, you fight. You breathe... keep breathing.” The film could’ve been renamed either “So You Think You’ve Had a Bad Day,” or “Leonardo DiCaprio will literally do anything to win an Oscar.” Whether it is the best acting performance of the year or not, it certainly was the hardest to do. DiCaprio plays a more depressing version of Tom Hanks in Cast Away. We want him to find revenge, if only because it will end his suffering, or our own. Even though he may never escape his own baby face, DiCaprio will continue to prove that he’s one of the best film actors to ever live and one of the most generous celebrities currently on the planet.
24. Mark Rylance in Bridge of Spies - Last year I described Bill Nighy in Pride as “taciturn shyness,” which could be an apt description for Rylance in the role of Soviet Spy, Rudolf Abel. Also, it is difficult to star in a movie with Tom Hanks and to out act him in two person scenes. Rylance succeeds in accomplishing this feat. If you like his performance check him out in Wolf Hall as Thomas Crownwell.
23. Abraham Atta in Beasts of No Nation - A difficult role in a very difficult film. The majority of No Nation is shot from Atta’s perspective and the fifteen year old Ghanaian actor shines in telling a much needed story.
22. Alicia Vikander in Ex Machina - Although nominated for The Danish Girl, this was Vikander’s standout performance of the year. In just a few lines, it was Vikander’s job not just to seduce Domhnall Gleeson, but the audience into yearning for her own humanity. I look forward to her 2016 performances in Tom Stoppard’s Tulip Fever and potential Oscar nominee The Light Between Oceans.
21. Elizabeth Banks in Love & Mercy - A great performance in a very underrated film. Love & Mercy looks at Brian Wilson (Lead singer of the Beach Boys) in two separate time periods, one with Paul Dano and the other with the diseased version played by John Cusack. Cusack is ultimately saved by the cunning, intellectual performance of Banks. Quite the resurgence from Banks, who last year won a Razzie award.20. Tom Hardy in The Revenant - Hardy had quite the year with his double-shot performances in Legend, Mad Max: Fury Road, and Child 44. For the man who would be James Bond, Hardy continues to dazzle audiences with characters that never fit the same mold twice. In The Revenant, Hardy shines, although he arguably should be subtitled whenever he speaks.
19. Michael B Jordan in Creed - A great rebound after the disaster of Fantastic Four. Jordan brings justice and honor, both as an actor and as a character, to the name of Creed.
18. Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road - A more apt name for the movie would’ve been Mad Max: Furiousa’s Road, for Theron steals this movie away from Hardy. She proves that it is possible to have a strong female lead in an action movie that kicks ass.
17. Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs - Fassbender excellently executes the flawed brilliance of the character of Steve Jobs. Many have criticized the film for not doing Jobs justice, but anyone familiar with Apple and with Fassbender’s work know that he most certainly played the best representation of Jobs available on film today.
16. Lily Tomlin in Grandma - Flawed, funny, and fierce, Lily Tomlin soars in this quick jaunt of a movie. Playing a serious, but equally witty version of her character from Grace and Frankie, Tomlin continues to prove that talent only gets better with age.
15. Kate Winslet in Steve Jobs - I wish I could accurately describe how and why I liked Winslet in this role. Perhaps it was the quiet confidence that only an actress the caliber of Winslet could pull off, but I’m really not sure. It could be as simple as I like people who can pull off Aaron Sorkin’s writing.
13. Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation - At first, Elba plays the rebel leader of children off like he always does. Stern confidence with a little glimmer of kindness, but it isn’t until Elba begins to lose his power that we witness what this actor can really accomplish. When a director allows Elba to act, the man can turn in a performance unlike the majority of his fellow actors. Don’t believe me, watch the TV series Luther and talk to me afterwards.
12. Sylvester Stallone in Creed - Stallone turns in the performance of his career, save only the first Rocky. Thank goodness, Ryan Coogler managed to persuade him to do the role.
11. Bryan Cranston in Trumbo - As I said in the review for the film, a Capra-esque performance of Dalton Trumbo. Cranston never wavers, playing honesty over cheese, humility over ego. For such a slow-burn of a movie, Cranston manages to capture the light in every scene he touches. I liked him on Breaking Bad. I loved him in Trumbo.
10. Cate Blanchett in Carol - It is officially time to call up Meryl Streep and ask for the crown. The woman that was Elizabeth I has finally taken it from her. Blanchett can play just about any part, in any time period. The only way a movie like Carol can exist is if two actors of equal caliber create enough tension to last the length of the film. She is absolutely mesmerizing and once the movie reaches its turn, she takes her character in a direction that few actors could achieve, subtle fury with despair and still hopefulness. I think I misjudged her in Blue Jasmine.
8. Jacob Tremblay in Room - For those who have yet to see Room, while Larson shines, it is Tremblay, the nine year old boy wonder, who is the true star of the film. Horrifying and inspiring, Tremblay narrates the harrowing tale of a boy confined to a world of make-believe, that turns out to be much more real than he imagined.
7. Mark Ruffalo in Spotlight - Although even too far left wing for me in real life (believes in the 9/11 conspiracy theory), Ruffalo continues to prove that he might be the best supporting actor in Hollywood. Whether as the sperm donor dad in The Kids are All Right or the brother to a wrestling star in Foxcatcher or Beat detective in Zodiac, Ruffalo continues to put his 13 Going on 30 days far in the past. In Spotlight, he plays a reporter a bit too enthusiastic and unhinged for the rest of the team, he doesn’t quite fit, which is the exact reason why they need him. Although Stallone will most likely take home the reward, it is only a matter of time before Ruffalo finally is honored the way he should be.
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| Will someone get this man some Chapstick? |
5. Johnny Depp in Black Mass - Don’t care much for the critics, Depp proves that he’s not just a one trick pony. I waited over ten years, since Finding Neverland, through multiple interpretations of Jack Sparrow, for a role like this to come along. Depp is absolutely terrifying and yet, somehow charismatic as Whitey Bulger. Please, Johnny, please do more roles like this one and leave the Sparrow costume for kid’s birthday parties.
4. Michael Keaton in Spotlight - The third and final member of the Spotlight ensemble to make the list. For those of you who were saddened that the journeyman Keaton lost last year’s Academy Award, this year’s snubbing should be equally depressing. In Spotlight, Keaton is just acting. Not a character, but a real person. Every source I have read said the same thing that Walter Robinson is exactly how Michael Keaton portrayed him. It’s a very subtle performance, but that shouldn’t take away from it’s brilliance. Especially when Keaton begins to face facts that perhaps his own hands have blood on them. Spotlight is a masterpiece and a movie can only be as good as its lead actor.
3. Corey Hawkins/Jason Mitchell/O’Shea Jackson, Jr. in Straight Outta Compton - As in the case of Spotlight, I divided the actors up individually, but even though each character goes off on their own in Compton, it would do the film a disservice to list them separately. The trinity of all three actors in Straight Outta Compton create a breathing tapestry of a time and place that most people cannot even begin to dream about. Lead, in my opinion, by Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, each actor lights up the screen by being as honest as possible with the very real life moments of the movie.
2. Rooney Mara in Carol - Cate Blanchett may be up for Best Actress and as I said, she may be the best leading lady on the planet, but this movie is about Rooney Mara. To describe her performance as anything less than absolute perfection would be a crime. Mara’s naivety transforms into power into strength and finally into understanding. It is hard to describe the emotional power of this film. A love story so convincingly acting, so desperately needed, so tender, and yet so agonizing.
1. Sarah Snook in Predestination - Normally reaching the top name on my list I would go on a long diatribe about her performance, but unfortunately I can’t. Predestination is just one of those films that by describing any of it, might ruin it for the potential viewer. Here’s what I can say: Sarah Snook is a name to be remembered. She had a small part in Steve Jobs as well, but it is her work in this film that would make average actresses blush. Snook is a star in the making and if she can replicate what she accomplishes in Predestination then we are looking at a long line of Oscar trophies to come. Go see Predestination.
4. Michael Keaton in Spotlight - The third and final member of the Spotlight ensemble to make the list. For those of you who were saddened that the journeyman Keaton lost last year’s Academy Award, this year’s snubbing should be equally depressing. In Spotlight, Keaton is just acting. Not a character, but a real person. Every source I have read said the same thing that Walter Robinson is exactly how Michael Keaton portrayed him. It’s a very subtle performance, but that shouldn’t take away from it’s brilliance. Especially when Keaton begins to face facts that perhaps his own hands have blood on them. Spotlight is a masterpiece and a movie can only be as good as its lead actor.
3. Corey Hawkins/Jason Mitchell/O’Shea Jackson, Jr. in Straight Outta Compton - As in the case of Spotlight, I divided the actors up individually, but even though each character goes off on their own in Compton, it would do the film a disservice to list them separately. The trinity of all three actors in Straight Outta Compton create a breathing tapestry of a time and place that most people cannot even begin to dream about. Lead, in my opinion, by Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, each actor lights up the screen by being as honest as possible with the very real life moments of the movie.
2. Rooney Mara in Carol - Cate Blanchett may be up for Best Actress and as I said, she may be the best leading lady on the planet, but this movie is about Rooney Mara. To describe her performance as anything less than absolute perfection would be a crime. Mara’s naivety transforms into power into strength and finally into understanding. It is hard to describe the emotional power of this film. A love story so convincingly acting, so desperately needed, so tender, and yet so agonizing.
1. Sarah Snook in Predestination - Normally reaching the top name on my list I would go on a long diatribe about her performance, but unfortunately I can’t. Predestination is just one of those films that by describing any of it, might ruin it for the potential viewer. Here’s what I can say: Sarah Snook is a name to be remembered. She had a small part in Steve Jobs as well, but it is her work in this film that would make average actresses blush. Snook is a star in the making and if she can replicate what she accomplishes in Predestination then we are looking at a long line of Oscar trophies to come. Go see Predestination.
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