I think it's pointless to decide which performances are better, it's really all just a subjective thing, like all art is. Of course there are performances that are almost unanimously praised or ones that are almost unanimously criticized, but when it comes to ordering them into lists like me and my fellow film-obsessed fanatics love to do, it really just comes down to the performances that mean the most to the person who is making the list. I might not have loved any of the performances in the film from Cabin Fever: Patient Zero from this past year, but someone else might connect with a character on a level that I would never even be able to comprehend. And I might think that person doesn't know what they are talking about, but neither do I. So with that I will tell you which actors this past year did the best at their job.
In All Seriousness:
15. Lisa Loven Kongsli - Force Majeure
Emotion and subtlety are two things that LLK (what I will be calling her to save time) brings to the table in this wonderful Swedish film about a marriage that gets tested during a skiing vacation in the French Alps. LLK plays a mother and a wife that takes charge. If there is something bothering her, she's not afraid to stand up and do something as is evident in a scene towards the end of the film. Her ability to slowly change emotions during a monologue or a long take in which she has to react to something off screen is spectacular. She is a foreign actress that I'll be sure to look out for in the future.
14. Reese Witherspoon - Wild
Ever since seeing Reese Witherspoon wonderfully play June Carter in Walk the Line, I have been waiting for another big performance from her. This is that performance. At times heartbreaking and other times very uplifting, Wild is a film that is heavily reliant on the main performance for it's success. Reese drives this film from the start, and forces the audience to feel what her character is feeling.
13. Essie Davis - The Babadook
The Babadook is an excellent Australian horror film that genuinely scared me, which is rare for any horror film. Essie Davis plays a single mother, who has to deal with an unbearably destructive son, as well as a presence in her house after reading the book The Babadook to her son. The struggles of motherhood (I'm guessing, I've never been a mother) are portrayed brilliantly. It's almost exhausting watching Davis trudge through all of the troubles she faces throughout the film, but it is definitely worth the watch.
12. Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher
The movie Foxcatcher was a bit of a disappointment to me. I liked it, but it just didn't really connect with me like I wish it would have. Especially considering how fond I am of director Bennett Miller's previous two films, Capote and Moneyball. Additionally, Steve Carell's performance is getting a lot of praise, and while I did like it, like the film it didn't connect with me enough. Mark Ruffalo on the other hand, was the bright star in this dim sky. He worked great as a family man and as a macho wrestler. All of his scenes with Channing Tatum (who is also very good in this film) were the highlights of the movie as a whole.
11. Jenny Slate - Obvious Child
This was probably the biggest surprise of the year for me. Jenny Slate, who many people probably know from her one season on SNL or her role as Jean-Ralphio's sister in Parks and Recreation, really kills it in this film. She's hilarious when she needs to be, but also proves that she brings dramatic chops to her acting arsenal. If you haven't seen her in Obvious Child yet, and you're a fan of her other work, make this a priority.
10. Patricia Arquette - Boyhood
The magic of the film Boyhood is the fact that it tells a 12-year story, that was shot over the span of 12 years in such a fluid way. The directing and editing are definitely a huge part of that. But the fact that Patricia Arquette (like the other actors in the film), plays the same character for more than a decade and makes it flow so nicely throughout the years is amazing. I've admired her work for a while now, so I'm happy to see her getting some great recognition for a role that she performed very well in.
9. Miles Teller - Whiplash
Miles Teller is a rising star. He's being cast in successful franchises like the Divergent series, and the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot. So if he's not a big name now, he will be very soon. If you want to hop on the bandwagon now before he becomes too famous, watch him in the incredible debut film from Damien Chazelle, Whiplash. He does his own drumming in the film, and delivers a performance filled with emotion and motivation that builds at a steady pace throughout the film.
8. Julianne Moore - Still Alice
Julianne Moore has been giving great performances since before I was even a thought in anyone's mind. She's still giving great performances, and this one is among the best of her career. Although the film itself didn't resonate with me too strongly, her performance is very effective. She gives a near-perfect portrayal of a woman with early signs of Alzheimer's disease, and I'm hoping for Moore to potentially get some Oscar love this year.
7a and 7b. Michael Keaton and Edward Norton
Birdman had one of the best ensemble casts of the year. The two top performers however were Keaton and Norton (who I grouped together because I couldn't decide which I liked more, and to be able to fit my girl LLK on the list). Keaton and Norton bring an animosity to their characters, both playing actors who bare striking resemblances to aspects of their real life personas. So maybe it wasn't that hard to play these kinds of characters, but I do imagine getting through the mountains of dialogue during the endless takes was a real challenge. And for that alone they both deserve a lot of recognition.
6. Jake Gyllenhaal - Nightcrawler
Gyllenhaal is extremely creepy as Lou Bloom in the wonderful Nightcrawler. Bloom is a wide-eyed, never-blinking, obsessed guy who will do anything to make sure he is successful in what he does. He does some very immoral things in this movie, but allows us to still be interested in him as a protagonist. The comparison I thought of while watching the film was Norman Bates from the film Psycho.
5. Ralph Fiennes - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Ralph Fiennes is a wonderful actor and a perfect fit for a Wes Anderson film. His quick way with words and mannerisms match perfectly with Anderson's dialogue and direction. This is one of the funnier performances of the year. Hopefully this movie doesn't get overlooked in the end of the year awards due to it's very early in the year release date.
4. Josh Brolin - Inherent Vice
From one Anderson to another. Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice is a film with a huge cast and a huge story. Some people might get confused during it (especially if they haven't read the book), but one thing that is easy to understand is Josh Brolin is hilarious in this movie. He delivers his lines perfectly, but his physical comedy is also incredible. Keep an eye out for any of the scenes in which he is eating anything (not always food), those are all gold.
3. J.K. Simmons - Whiplash
J.K. Simmons is an actor who you've absolutely seen before. He's one of the best character actors, and has been for a while. His supporting role in Whiplash as the conductor/music teacher who can go from calm to explosive in seconds is the best thing I've seen him done. His character is terrifying, to the point where I get nervous when things seem to be going fine, because I know there are obscenities and insults right around the corner, waiting to be shouted into the face of a hopeful musician. He's my pick to win best supporting actor.
2. Rosamund Pike - Gone Girl
Having read the book Gone Girl, I knew that Amy was a complicated character. I was a little worried when David Fincher cast someone who I've never seen in anything before. Well, my worries vanished after seeing the film, and Rosamund Pike is now on my radar. It's hard to say anything about this film, or even the performances in it without giving away even tiny spoilers, so just trust me when I say that she's very good.
1. Joaquin Phoenix - Inherent Vice
We meet again Mr. Phoenix. For the 3rd year in a row, Joaquin Phoenix has topped my list of favorite performances (The Master in 2012, Her in 2013). It looks like he doesn't have much coming out in 2015, so it's really anyone's spot to take this year. Joaquin Phoenix gives the funniest performance of the year, in a film filled with hilarious performances. His facial expressions and mumble lines made me laugh throughout the entire film. This character is a nice middle ground between the macho Freddie Quell from PTA's The Master, and the sensitive and nerdy Theodore from Spike Jonze's Her. Phoenix has incredible range and it shows with another masterful performance.
Honorable Mentions: Katherine Waterston - Inherent Vice, Martin Short - Inherent Vice, Eddie Redmayne - The Theory of Everything, Emma Stone - Birdman, Ethan Hawke - Boyhood, Agata Kulesza - Ida, David Oyelowo - Selma, Steve Carell - Foxcatcher, Marion Cotillard - Two Days, One Night, Anne Hathaway - Interstellar
Let me know what your thoughts are on my list, and if you have any rankings of your own put them in the comments below.
-Ryan Moncrief
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