In my 5 or so years of reviewing films, I have seen some of the most diverse and original characters brought to life on screen by some of the most talented actors. In light of this, I have decided to excavate from my handful of favourites, the 10 most affecting, striking, profound, convincing, substantial and inspiring performances I have ever witnessed. Take these to the bank:
My Inspiration
10. Emily Watson as Bess McNeill in Breaking the Waves
This is without a doubt, the most powerful debut performance in the history of cinema; and what makes Emily legendary, and my favourite actress of all-time, is that this isn't even her best. With every bit of understanding of her character, Emily Watson owns this movie from start to finish. Her performance is captivating and heartbreaking. The fact that I really don't like this movie does not affect Watson's inclusion in this list. She more than makes it worth watching.
09. Mary Badham as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird
This is probably the most natural performance I have ever seen. Combine that with her being a 10 year old with no previous acting experience, and I'd say that's some feat to accomplish. I'll admit that this isn't the most technically impressive performance I could come up with, nevertheless it impressed me just as much as most that are included on this list. The single most impressive child performance I've seen, and I've seen all the acclaimed. I don't know if that's testament to the director or to the actress, but I do know that this performance deserves all the praise it has received over the years. It's a shame she hasn't starred in more movies.
08. Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront
This is one of the most beautiful performances I've ever seen. Just thinking about the "glove scene" gives me chills down my spine. The way Brando captures simple nuances in his character, that he doesn't draw attention to, but leaves for the audience to perceive is blissful. I challenge you to watch this performance 5 times, and not find something you hadn't noticed before each time. This is effortless multi-layering. Brando redefined acting, and his take on Malloy is the greatest example of how he did it.
07. Emily Watson as Jacqueline du Pré in Hilary and Jackie
I know you're thinking: "How does Emily Watson get two spots in your top 10?" Well, it is mostly due to the fact that I feel these two performances by one actor are unmatched. Give me two performances by any actor that are collectively greater than these two. I doubt you will persuade me otherwise. Watson does so much here, that her loss to Gwyneth Paltrow in '99 is the single biggest disgrace in Oscar history. This is a complete, authentically-portrayed performance, and what I consider to be the greatest female performance of the 90s. Her work in Breaking the Waves may be more recognised, but it's what she does here that I feel is her crowning achievement.
06. Robert De Niro as Jake La Motta in Raging Bull
De Niro does everything right here. But what impresses me most is how realistically La Motta's jealousy and insecurity is portrayed. I am also equally impressed with the way De Niro balances La Motta's different personality changes throughout the film. The combination of boxing, Scorsese and De Niro makes this film a favourite of mine, and De Niro's forceful portrayal of a confused and unstable La Motta is awe-inspiring. Easily a top 10 favourite.
05. Tom Hulce as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Amadeus
Hulce IS Mozart. Regardless of the claims of the historical inaccuracies of the film, everything one would expect Mozart to be, Hulce IS - in his own original way. The character that Hulce has created is so memorable that in any other year he should have been a shoo-in for every best actor award receivable (of course, another entry in this list will explain why I wouldn't have given it to him). From his playful demeanor, to his high-pitched cackle, this is one of the most memorable characters in film history, and Hulce nails it admirably. A showcase of creativity.
04. Sean Penn as Matthew Poncelet in Dead Man Walking
I remember getting in trouble in school, and waiting for my punishment as worry ate my insides out. Penn's Poncelet awaiting his punishment for murder captures the core of that feeling, and magnifies it. I can not imagine what it would feel like to be awaiting my fate, knowing that it will be death, as the hours and days and weeks drag on. The scenes that feature Poncelet pouring out his heart to Sister Helen, and the ones that are between him and his family are devastating. Penn's ability to portray so much emotion, while never going over the top, is one of the finest accomplishments in the history of motion pictures. Penn is one of the most talented actors to grace the screen, and the best at crying. I don't know how anyone could see this performance and not be affected.
03. Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in Casablanca
As the lead character in my favourite film of all-time, Bogart's performance still has me in awe. In a decade where screen acting was not much different than stage acting - with very little subtlety, Bogart delivers one of the most subtle and nuanced performances ever filmed. The cynicism in his speech, the hidden hurt beneath layers of pessimism are just two example of what Bogie offers here. Featured in one of the most powerful love stories ever filmed, adding it to my list was a no-brainer. Exquisite.
02. F. Murray Abraham as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus
So, not only do I have 2 performances by one actor, but 2 performances in the same film! This is without a doubt the greatest work by a male actor I have ever seen (and the reason I wouldn't have awarded Hulce). Abraham manages to out-act Hulce in arguably the greatest showcase of lead acting in history. He is flawless. Salieri's desperation, admiration, jealousy, hatred, confusion, regret and ultimately his madness, are all impeccably portrayed by Abraham. He is every bit deserving of the best actor statue he took home in '85.
But no other screen performance has impressed me more than...
01. Meryl Streep as Sophie Zawistowski in Sophie's Choice
I don't think any performance ever committed to celluloid, whether past or future, will be able to match what Streep does here. This is THE performance that defines all the clichés usually attached to great performances: multi-layered, pitch-perfect, complete, flawless, and anything else of the sort that I haven't thought of. I still don't know how she did it; how she managed to create a character on-screen with such depth and reality. Streep gives her all into this role. Words can never describe all that she does here, it's a phenomenon that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Every essence of Sophie's character is so fully developed that when watching this performance, you become lost in Sophie. This performance is in a league of it's own, even separated from the other favourites on this list. I dare you to find Meryl Streep anywhere in this film, she is nowhere to be found.
The Near List-worthies
Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream), Henry Ian Cusick (The Visual Bible: Gospel of John), Vivien Leigh (A Streetcar Named Desire), James Stewart (It's a Wonderful Life), and Orson Welles (Citizen Kane).
My Inspiration
10. Emily Watson as Bess McNeill in Breaking the Waves
This is without a doubt, the most powerful debut performance in the history of cinema; and what makes Emily legendary, and my favourite actress of all-time, is that this isn't even her best. With every bit of understanding of her character, Emily Watson owns this movie from start to finish. Her performance is captivating and heartbreaking. The fact that I really don't like this movie does not affect Watson's inclusion in this list. She more than makes it worth watching.
09. Mary Badham as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird
This is probably the most natural performance I have ever seen. Combine that with her being a 10 year old with no previous acting experience, and I'd say that's some feat to accomplish. I'll admit that this isn't the most technically impressive performance I could come up with, nevertheless it impressed me just as much as most that are included on this list. The single most impressive child performance I've seen, and I've seen all the acclaimed. I don't know if that's testament to the director or to the actress, but I do know that this performance deserves all the praise it has received over the years. It's a shame she hasn't starred in more movies.
08. Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront
This is one of the most beautiful performances I've ever seen. Just thinking about the "glove scene" gives me chills down my spine. The way Brando captures simple nuances in his character, that he doesn't draw attention to, but leaves for the audience to perceive is blissful. I challenge you to watch this performance 5 times, and not find something you hadn't noticed before each time. This is effortless multi-layering. Brando redefined acting, and his take on Malloy is the greatest example of how he did it.
07. Emily Watson as Jacqueline du Pré in Hilary and Jackie
I know you're thinking: "How does Emily Watson get two spots in your top 10?" Well, it is mostly due to the fact that I feel these two performances by one actor are unmatched. Give me two performances by any actor that are collectively greater than these two. I doubt you will persuade me otherwise. Watson does so much here, that her loss to Gwyneth Paltrow in '99 is the single biggest disgrace in Oscar history. This is a complete, authentically-portrayed performance, and what I consider to be the greatest female performance of the 90s. Her work in Breaking the Waves may be more recognised, but it's what she does here that I feel is her crowning achievement.
06. Robert De Niro as Jake La Motta in Raging Bull
De Niro does everything right here. But what impresses me most is how realistically La Motta's jealousy and insecurity is portrayed. I am also equally impressed with the way De Niro balances La Motta's different personality changes throughout the film. The combination of boxing, Scorsese and De Niro makes this film a favourite of mine, and De Niro's forceful portrayal of a confused and unstable La Motta is awe-inspiring. Easily a top 10 favourite.
05. Tom Hulce as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Amadeus
Hulce IS Mozart. Regardless of the claims of the historical inaccuracies of the film, everything one would expect Mozart to be, Hulce IS - in his own original way. The character that Hulce has created is so memorable that in any other year he should have been a shoo-in for every best actor award receivable (of course, another entry in this list will explain why I wouldn't have given it to him). From his playful demeanor, to his high-pitched cackle, this is one of the most memorable characters in film history, and Hulce nails it admirably. A showcase of creativity.
04. Sean Penn as Matthew Poncelet in Dead Man Walking
I remember getting in trouble in school, and waiting for my punishment as worry ate my insides out. Penn's Poncelet awaiting his punishment for murder captures the core of that feeling, and magnifies it. I can not imagine what it would feel like to be awaiting my fate, knowing that it will be death, as the hours and days and weeks drag on. The scenes that feature Poncelet pouring out his heart to Sister Helen, and the ones that are between him and his family are devastating. Penn's ability to portray so much emotion, while never going over the top, is one of the finest accomplishments in the history of motion pictures. Penn is one of the most talented actors to grace the screen, and the best at crying. I don't know how anyone could see this performance and not be affected.
03. Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in Casablanca
As the lead character in my favourite film of all-time, Bogart's performance still has me in awe. In a decade where screen acting was not much different than stage acting - with very little subtlety, Bogart delivers one of the most subtle and nuanced performances ever filmed. The cynicism in his speech, the hidden hurt beneath layers of pessimism are just two example of what Bogie offers here. Featured in one of the most powerful love stories ever filmed, adding it to my list was a no-brainer. Exquisite.
02. F. Murray Abraham as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus
So, not only do I have 2 performances by one actor, but 2 performances in the same film! This is without a doubt the greatest work by a male actor I have ever seen (and the reason I wouldn't have awarded Hulce). Abraham manages to out-act Hulce in arguably the greatest showcase of lead acting in history. He is flawless. Salieri's desperation, admiration, jealousy, hatred, confusion, regret and ultimately his madness, are all impeccably portrayed by Abraham. He is every bit deserving of the best actor statue he took home in '85.
But no other screen performance has impressed me more than...
01. Meryl Streep as Sophie Zawistowski in Sophie's Choice
I don't think any performance ever committed to celluloid, whether past or future, will be able to match what Streep does here. This is THE performance that defines all the clichés usually attached to great performances: multi-layered, pitch-perfect, complete, flawless, and anything else of the sort that I haven't thought of. I still don't know how she did it; how she managed to create a character on-screen with such depth and reality. Streep gives her all into this role. Words can never describe all that she does here, it's a phenomenon that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Every essence of Sophie's character is so fully developed that when watching this performance, you become lost in Sophie. This performance is in a league of it's own, even separated from the other favourites on this list. I dare you to find Meryl Streep anywhere in this film, she is nowhere to be found.
The Near List-worthies
Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream), Henry Ian Cusick (The Visual Bible: Gospel of John), Vivien Leigh (A Streetcar Named Desire), James Stewart (It's a Wonderful Life), and Orson Welles (Citizen Kane).
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