While I can be quoted as saying that 2006 brought me some of my favourite films of the past decade, the collective performances left me less than impressed. However, there were still quite a few performances that left me stunned, silenced, laughing, crying, afraid or just flat-out entertained. To the chase I cut, here are the 10 that wooed me most this past year.
The Acting Class of '06
10. Sergi López as Capitán Vidal in Pan’s Labyrinth
In a film that relied heavily on it's fantasy elements and the performance of it's lead actress, Sergi outdid himself. A master of brutality, Sergi's Vidal was a beast as he employed severe, pitiless methods to sustain order in the midst of war. It is this fierceness that helps us to understand the severity of Ofelia's situation. Vidal not only battled a physical war, but a personal one as well, and López convinced me thoroughly by playing it perfectly. Vidal's battle for survival, victory and honour brought out the animal within, and Sergi López brought it to the screen.
09. Will Smith as Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness
Many would say that Smith's task was relatively easy because he was playing the part with his son, which may or may not be true. What is true however, is that Smith's performance is one of only two to elicit a tear from me in '06. Smith's portrayal of Chris Gardner is one of the most human and moving performances of the year. There isn't a hint of artifice in what he does, and this is crucial to the way we perceive, identify with and care about Chris. Smith takes the film on his shoulders, brings us with him on his journey, and stays in our minds long after the credits have rolled.
08. Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello in The Departed
Simply put, Jack's best performance since '97, and one that so wonderfully mixed equal parts charm and menace, that I couldn't imagine anyone else doing it. In recent years, where Jack smiles for the camera and picks up a paycheck, it was a joy to see my all-time favourite actor earn his pay this time around. One of 3 performances in this film that really impressed me, which brings me to...
07. Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan in The Departed
This seems to be the forgotten performance in the film, but definitely one of my favourites. This is Damon in his element: a bit of a hard-edged loverboy, whose main concern is pleasing himself. There's just something about this performance that I can't quite put my finger on, that absolutely grabs me. Not the most technically impressive performance, but certainly a pleasure to watch. My list wouldn't have been complete without him.
06. Abigail Breslin as Olive in Little Miss Sunshine
In the midst of such a great ensemble, this starlet outshines them all. Breslin won her way into my heart in this role, and without her performance I probably wouldn't have even remembered this movie. The relationship she shares with Arkin, as her grandfather, is pure chemistry. The two feed off each other in such an endearing way, that it's sure to touch even the coldest of hearts. The best of the film, and one of the best of the year. Pretty good for a 10-year old kid.
05. Eddie Murphy as James "Thunder" Early in Dreamgirls
I had been skeptical upon hearing all the buzz for Murphy's performance in this movie. I thought it may have just been an overblown James Brown impersonation. Was I ever wrong. Murphy's Jimmy is portrayed with so much depth and personality, that it is a travesty that he didn't win the Oscar for this role. The charisma, depth, appeal, and gradual degradation of Jimmy is perfectly showcased by Murphy, who gives one of the most memorable performances of the year. And as if this wasn't all enough, Murphy surprises with some of the best vocals this side of Jennifer Hudson. A thorough, complete and perfect performance. One of the biggest snubs of the decade.
04. Rinko Kikuchi as Chieko in Babel
The top half of this list is really something, because I'm sitting here wondering how in the world is Rinko #4? She could have just as easily been 1 or 2. That alone is testament to the strength of the performances in the upper half. Enough of that. Kikuchi's performance here is mesmerizing. The emotional depth of her performance is amazing for a few reasons, one being the fact that the only mode of communication she has in the entire film is sign language. The other is the fact that before this she lived in relative obscurity, so this is technically her first major exposure as an actress. Rinko brings all the right elements to the table and delivers a performance that is in one word, heartbreaking. Once you see it, you will not soon forget it.
03. Helen Mirren as HM Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen
Mirren carries this film in a performance that is so technically sound, it blows me away every time I see a clip or scene from it. The strength and confidence in which she portrays the queen is outstanding. From the emotionless stare into the camera to the hints of restrained emotion that helps us to remember that this legendary figure is actually human, Mirren captures the queen's very essence and breathes life into it on screen. This is the pitch-perfect performance of the year, and one of the most deserving wins of the decade.
02. Leonardo DiCaprio as Billy Costigan in The Departed
I don't remember the "good guy" in a movie being this unpredictably violent. This is the best performance in a film that featured 3 of my favourite performances of the year. Billy is committed to justice, capriciously brutal, in need of a female's touch, and ultimately unsure of what he really wants out of life. One of the most entertaining performances of the past few years. I had battled for a while before settling on who would take the no.1 spot on this list, and believe me, this one gave the other a good run.
But no other performance in '06 impressed me more than...
01. Hugh Jackman as Dr. Tom Creo in The Fountain
The range of emotion that Jackman is able to show is remarkable. This performance is so impressive that from the moment I saw it, I knew it would be my favourite of the year. A man battling with his own mortality after the death of a loved one, a man living in mournful regret, a man determined in his quest to find the tree of life, a man in love... these are just some of the many faces Jackman carries throughout the film, and he brings them altogether seamlessly. One scene in particular, that shows a closeup of Tom's face as he is crying is so devastatingly beautiful, that I joined in with him. The brevity of life, and the importance of showing love has never hit home this hard. Jackman breathes life into this man, and sits atop the heap of the 2006 acting class.
The Acting Class of '06
10. Sergi López as Capitán Vidal in Pan’s Labyrinth
In a film that relied heavily on it's fantasy elements and the performance of it's lead actress, Sergi outdid himself. A master of brutality, Sergi's Vidal was a beast as he employed severe, pitiless methods to sustain order in the midst of war. It is this fierceness that helps us to understand the severity of Ofelia's situation. Vidal not only battled a physical war, but a personal one as well, and López convinced me thoroughly by playing it perfectly. Vidal's battle for survival, victory and honour brought out the animal within, and Sergi López brought it to the screen.
09. Will Smith as Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness
Many would say that Smith's task was relatively easy because he was playing the part with his son, which may or may not be true. What is true however, is that Smith's performance is one of only two to elicit a tear from me in '06. Smith's portrayal of Chris Gardner is one of the most human and moving performances of the year. There isn't a hint of artifice in what he does, and this is crucial to the way we perceive, identify with and care about Chris. Smith takes the film on his shoulders, brings us with him on his journey, and stays in our minds long after the credits have rolled.
08. Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello in The Departed
Simply put, Jack's best performance since '97, and one that so wonderfully mixed equal parts charm and menace, that I couldn't imagine anyone else doing it. In recent years, where Jack smiles for the camera and picks up a paycheck, it was a joy to see my all-time favourite actor earn his pay this time around. One of 3 performances in this film that really impressed me, which brings me to...
07. Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan in The Departed
This seems to be the forgotten performance in the film, but definitely one of my favourites. This is Damon in his element: a bit of a hard-edged loverboy, whose main concern is pleasing himself. There's just something about this performance that I can't quite put my finger on, that absolutely grabs me. Not the most technically impressive performance, but certainly a pleasure to watch. My list wouldn't have been complete without him.
06. Abigail Breslin as Olive in Little Miss Sunshine
In the midst of such a great ensemble, this starlet outshines them all. Breslin won her way into my heart in this role, and without her performance I probably wouldn't have even remembered this movie. The relationship she shares with Arkin, as her grandfather, is pure chemistry. The two feed off each other in such an endearing way, that it's sure to touch even the coldest of hearts. The best of the film, and one of the best of the year. Pretty good for a 10-year old kid.
05. Eddie Murphy as James "Thunder" Early in Dreamgirls
I had been skeptical upon hearing all the buzz for Murphy's performance in this movie. I thought it may have just been an overblown James Brown impersonation. Was I ever wrong. Murphy's Jimmy is portrayed with so much depth and personality, that it is a travesty that he didn't win the Oscar for this role. The charisma, depth, appeal, and gradual degradation of Jimmy is perfectly showcased by Murphy, who gives one of the most memorable performances of the year. And as if this wasn't all enough, Murphy surprises with some of the best vocals this side of Jennifer Hudson. A thorough, complete and perfect performance. One of the biggest snubs of the decade.
04. Rinko Kikuchi as Chieko in Babel
The top half of this list is really something, because I'm sitting here wondering how in the world is Rinko #4? She could have just as easily been 1 or 2. That alone is testament to the strength of the performances in the upper half. Enough of that. Kikuchi's performance here is mesmerizing. The emotional depth of her performance is amazing for a few reasons, one being the fact that the only mode of communication she has in the entire film is sign language. The other is the fact that before this she lived in relative obscurity, so this is technically her first major exposure as an actress. Rinko brings all the right elements to the table and delivers a performance that is in one word, heartbreaking. Once you see it, you will not soon forget it.
03. Helen Mirren as HM Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen
Mirren carries this film in a performance that is so technically sound, it blows me away every time I see a clip or scene from it. The strength and confidence in which she portrays the queen is outstanding. From the emotionless stare into the camera to the hints of restrained emotion that helps us to remember that this legendary figure is actually human, Mirren captures the queen's very essence and breathes life into it on screen. This is the pitch-perfect performance of the year, and one of the most deserving wins of the decade.
02. Leonardo DiCaprio as Billy Costigan in The Departed
I don't remember the "good guy" in a movie being this unpredictably violent. This is the best performance in a film that featured 3 of my favourite performances of the year. Billy is committed to justice, capriciously brutal, in need of a female's touch, and ultimately unsure of what he really wants out of life. One of the most entertaining performances of the past few years. I had battled for a while before settling on who would take the no.1 spot on this list, and believe me, this one gave the other a good run.
But no other performance in '06 impressed me more than...
01. Hugh Jackman as Dr. Tom Creo in The Fountain
The range of emotion that Jackman is able to show is remarkable. This performance is so impressive that from the moment I saw it, I knew it would be my favourite of the year. A man battling with his own mortality after the death of a loved one, a man living in mournful regret, a man determined in his quest to find the tree of life, a man in love... these are just some of the many faces Jackman carries throughout the film, and he brings them altogether seamlessly. One scene in particular, that shows a closeup of Tom's face as he is crying is so devastatingly beautiful, that I joined in with him. The brevity of life, and the importance of showing love has never hit home this hard. Jackman breathes life into this man, and sits atop the heap of the 2006 acting class.
No comments:
Post a Comment