Best Supporting Actor - 2016

Honorable Mention - Hugh Grant in Florence Foster Jenkins

05. Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water - Bridges could probably play a grumpy Texas ranger in his sleep, but that doesn't actually make his performance of a grumpy Texas ranger any less impressive. He is the witty heart of the first half of the movie and the emotional backbone of the second half.

04. Michael Shannon in Nocturnal Animals - There is something about great performances as Texas rangers going around this year, because Shannon knocks it out of the park as the morally questionable detective investigating a kidnapping in this bizarre, wonderful film.

03. Ben Foster in Hell or High Water - I have loved Foster's scene stealing work for as long as I can remember. I still vividly remember his eerie work as a Renfield-esque character in 30 Days of Night. But Hell or High Water, as an ex-con bank robbing troublemaker, might be his best work yet.

02. Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nocturnal Animals - While everyone on the internet couldn't stop buzzing about Shannon, I couldn't stop buzzing about Taylor-Johnson, whose performance as a kidnapping, murdering mad man is like a live wire, so tense and so explosive, it elevates every moment he is on film.

01. Ralph Fiennes in A Bigger Splash - I didn't LOVE this movie (I did like it though), but I still think Fiennes work as the ex lover of a rock star is the best performance I saw in all of 2016. From his subtle manipulations to his bravura lip syncing performance, he steals every scene and elevates this movie from MEH to MUST WATCH.

Man of Steel

Over the weekend, Man of Steel pretty much made all the money. It seems sort of pointless to even waste my time writing about it, especially since I am going to be quite negative, but here goes.

I don't think I need to give any plot, really. Everyone knows the story of Superman: he is essentially an alien from another planet who crash lands in a Kansas corn field where he is raised by humans (Kevin Costner and Diane Lane) despite being pretty much indestructible. Essentially, he is perfect: he can fly, he can't be hurt, he has super human strength, he is good looking and clean cut; the All-American boy type. And yet we are supposed to feel sorry for him because he doesn't fit in. Sorry, but no. Anyway, eventually, he grows up to be super hot (Henry Cavill) and finds out about his past from the ghost of his dead father (Russell Crowe) and becomes a superhero and has to fight off General Zod (Michael Shannon!!), a military leader who escaped from his planet before it was destroyed. He also falls in love with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Lois Lane (Amy Adams).

So, this movie has so many problems, I don't even know where to begin. First things first: this movie has absolutely no sense of humor about itself. There is no joy to be found anywhere in this script. It takes two hours and twenty minutes for anyone to crack a smile (and the movie is only two hours and twenty five minutes long). The thing that made Christopher Nolan's Batman series work so well is that, eventhough it's dark and gritty, it at least has a sense of humor about it. Man of Steel is missing that completely. In fact, there is only one scene where there is any sort of emotion at all. Since I don't want to give away any of the spoilers, I will only say that it is the tornado scene. Without that scene, there is a complete lack of any emotion. This movie just takes itself so damn seriously.

Then there is the problem of Henry Cavill. Or maybe it's just Superman's character in general. Maybe since he is an alien, he doesn't need to be exciting. Maybe aliens speak in monotone. Whatever the case, Cavill has absolutely no personality whatsoever in this role. And it's a shame because this is his first big movie role, his chance to be famous (and he will be famous) but because of this, some people who never watched The Tudors may think he can't act. And that's not the case. It's just that this role maybe demands its actor to be boring and bland. This cast is full of great actors but even the great Michael Shannon can't do much with this script. It's like he is above this, really. The only way for him to perform his role effectively is to be over the top and hammy and I think that is a comment on the material because everyone knows Shannon is spectacular and explosive, even in crappy movies. The only actor who really escapes this mess alive is Amy Adams who manages to turn Lois Lane into a fierce, independent woman. So, kudos to her for rising above the limitations of this script.

Another big problem is director Zack Snyder. Sure, he has a few really great moments in this movie, which actually surprised me. More or less, when he stops to breathe, he can really capture beauty, such as a shot near the end with a young Clark playing in high weeds with his dog while wearing a red sheet as a cape. That imagery is gorgeous, and there are a few other moments like that as well. But mostly his hyper shaky, jerky camera technique is distracting and annoying.

I could probably complain about this movie a lot more, but I will end with a note about the over the top action scenes. I guess this is the new norm. The Avengers final fighting scene was crazy. The Iron Man 3 final fight scene was ridiculous. The final fighting scenes (there are about 3 of them) in Man of Steel are just bonkers. I can really only watch two or three or four guys flying through buildings and throwing each other around like footballs for so long before I feel like screaming ENOUGH. If this is the new norm, then I'm bound to hate every new action movie that comes out in theaters.

So, it seems like all of America loved Man of Steel. The audience I saw it with even clapped for it after it finished. I'm glad the movie is successful since I've always been a DC girl anyway, but Man of Steel just wasn't for me. I was actually excited for this movie and it just disappointed me time and time again. It's too long, too serious, and too messy. But, I guess 125 million + in ticket sales can't be wrong, right??

Grade: D

Summer Movie Survey

One of my favorite blogs to read about films on line is The Film Experience. Recently, he featured a few different people answering a series of questions about their summer movie going experiences. I thought I'd steal borrow the survey and fill it out myself. Here goes...

Best Movie I Saw This Summer:
The Dark Knight Rises. I'm realizing not everyone loved it as much as I did, but I thought it was a perfect wrap up to the best superhero trilogy of all time. It was a thrilling, intense, dark, but ultimately uplifting film and I couldn't have loved it anymore.

Thing I Actually Learned (at summer movie camp!):
That maybe I was too quick to jump on that whole Blake Lively can really act bandwagon after her turn in The Town because she was certainly the weakest link in Savages.

Major Summer Crush:
Oh, where to start?? Michael Shannon in Premium Rush. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone in The Amazing Spider-man. Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman. The entire cast of Magic Mike.

Moment I <3 So Much I Thought My Heart Would Burst:
Beasts of the Southern Wild - Hushpuppy running through that infectious party scene with sparklers. So much beauty, innocence, hope, freedom.

Princess Merida, Katniss, or Hawkeye?
I'm a sucker for Jennifer Lawrence and The Hunger Games so Katniss all the way. We need more strong female characters being represented in young adult films. Women who have to fight for survival and not just lament having to pick over a boring vampire or an even more boring werewolf.

If Only "Hulk" Had Smashed...
Whoever thought that terrible ending for Premium Rush was a good idea. Way to (almost) ruin a perfectly fun late summer movie.

Mash-Up ~ Summer Movie Characters I'd Like to Introduce (and why):
Giovanni Ribisi from Ted and the cast of Magic Mike, because, even though I hated Ted, I loved Giovanni and his super sweet dance moves deserved a much better show case. Girls like skinny semi-creepy dudes, too, you know!

Rank the Magic Mike Strippers:
1. Magic Mike (Channing Tatum)
2. Dallas (Matthew McConaughey)
3. Ken (Matt Bomer)
4. The Kid (Alex Pettyfer)
5. Big Dick Richie (Joe Manganiello)
6. Tito (Alex Rodriguez)
7. Tarzan (Kevin Nash)

At Least the Theater Was Air Conditioned:
Ted. I think I laughed once, although I can't for the life of me remember why.

Best Old Movie I Saw For The First Time This Summer:
Oldboy. What the hell took me so long?? It was FANTASTIC!

Line Reading That Stuck in My Head:
It's a movie that isn't released yet, but I've seen the trailer so many times and I think it might be the best line of the year... "Why don't you do what old men do - and die." -Joseph Gordon-Levitt from the upcoming Looper.

Premium Rush -OR- An Open Love Letter to Michael Shannon

I apologize in advance if I get slightly off topic but I'd like to take a moment to talk about my favorite actor - Michael Shannon, a man who steals the hell out of every scene he's in, who comes onto the screen like a feral animal, a force of nature and manages to rachet up the intensity level; and he does all of this while appearing to do nothing at all. That's called skills.

I often wonder how other actors feel about working with Michael Shannon. I'm sure they are clamoring to work with him because he's so good and because they always say working with great actors makes you a better actor yourself. But there also must be some part of them that is hesitant. Even if you are at your absolute best, Michael Shannon is going to be better than you.

A few days ago, I watched a movie called Machine Gun Preacher (review in a nutshell: solid movie but way, way, way too long). It's a true story and stars Gerard Butler as an ex-con who completely turns his life around and focuses his attentions on helping orphaned children in the Sudan. I'm not Gerard Butler's biggest fan but this was a career best performance for him. However, the movie also featured Michael Shannon in the supporting role of Butler's childhood friend turned junkie biker turned saved Christian. In just a few key scenes, Shannon manages to steal the entire movie. He's done this before, and from much bigger named and more talented co-stars (see also: Revolutionary Road which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, but it was Shannon who you were thinking and talking about for months). I don't know what it is about him because I never studied film and I don't know all the technical aspects of acting. I'm just a girl who loves movies more than anything else in the world and who likes to write about them here even if no one reads it. So, I can't really say what it is about Michael Shannon. All I know is that he's my absolute favorite actor and there is just something about his performances, intensity, passion that jumps off the screen and grabs a hold of me and doesn't let me go for the duration.

That being said, he's the absolute best thing about Premium Rush, obviously. Premium Rush is a decent movie, but with the addition of Shannon (and star Joseph Gordon-Levitt), it becomes a better movie, almost a good movie. Shannon co-stars as a dirty cop with a bad gambling habit who spends the entire movie chasing after Gordon-Levitt's Wile character who is transporting an envelope with a ticket worth a lot of money from the Upper East Side to Chinatown. While this movie could primarily be seen as style over substance, the performances are what bring it to a whole other level. Shannon is incindiary as the dirty, lying cop. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is also solid too. He's gone from child TV star to indie movie darling and now you can tell he is having the time of his life as a fledgling movie star. His enthusiasm and charisma just jumps off the screen. Premium Rush can be seen as just a bike chase movie but it's also a pretty good thriller and has a solid story as well. But it's Gordon-Levitt, and, especially, Shannon who make it a better movie.

Grade: B-

Best of 2011 - MVP's, Directors, Scenes

MVP's of 2011
10. Cosmo! - Okay, I just needed to include him somewhere because this Jack Russell from Beginners is just about the cutest dog of all time. He even talks via subtitles!
9. Judi Dench - Her performance in J. Edgar almost made everyone forget how awful the movie was. She also stole scenes as a sweet aging actress in My Week with Marilyn and a helpful maid in Jane Eyre.
8. Bryce Dallas Howard as a villain - Okay, villain is a strong word, but Bryce brought the super bitch as a super polite racist in The Help and a cheating girlfriend in 50/50.
7. The Dark Knight Rises trailer - If you haven't watched it yet, then stop reading this and go watch it now. No, seriously.
6. The Cast of Bridesmaids - Not only did these ladies make the most hilarious movie of the year, they also kept us laughing everywhere. Melissa McCarthy not only stole the movie, but also stole the Emmy's when she won Best Actress in a Comedy. She was part of the best moment of the Emmy's, when all the nominated actresses lined the stage as if they were competing in a beauty contest. Kristen Wiig kept us laughing all year on SNL. Rose Byrne turned up everywhere - including the excellent X-Men: First Class and the awful Insidious.
5. Child Actors - This year was a fantastic year for kid actors. Hunter McCracken held his own opposite Chastain and Brad Pitt in The Tree of Life. Chloe Grace Moretz and Asa Butterfield were phenomenal in Hugo. Then there was the entire, great, amazing cast of Super 8: Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee and Zach Mills. Not to mention scene stealer Amara Miller from The Descendants.
4. Emma Stone - I love my Emma! She was adorable opposite Gosling in Crazy, Stupid, Love. She almost stole the show in Friends with Benefits. And she proved she was a bonafide box office sensation with The Help.
3. Ryan Gosling - He had the most ridiculously great second half of a year. First he showed off his crazy, stupid, sexy abs in Crazy, Stupid, Love. Then he broke up a street brawl in NYC. Then he turned violent and sexy in Drive before charming the pants off everyone in The Ides of March.
2. Jessica Chastain - Last year, I had no idea who the hell she was. This year alone she starred in The Debt, Take Shelter, Coriolanus, The Tree of Life, The Help, and Texas Killing Fields. Plus, she's all over my Top Ten Lists (coming next week!).
1. Michael Fassbender - Entertainment Weekly described him best: "Smoldering in Jane Eyre, X-Men: First Class, Shame, A Dangerous Method and our very elaborate fantasies." Really couldn't say it any better myself!


Best Scenes of 2011
10. Scream 4 - The Opening Sequence - I'm not trying to say Scream 4 is one of the best movies of the year or anything but the opening sequence (featuring Anna Paquin, Kristen Bell, Lucy Hale and more) is the most creative opening sequence in a series that does a hell of a good opener!
9. My Week With Marilyn - The Bedroom Scene - In which Michelle Williams manages to be sexy, vulnerable, insecure, seductive, funny, charming, and paranoid all at the exact same time. This scene alone should win her an Oscar.
8. Take Shelter - Michael Shannon Flips Out - Shannon's character is either going crazy or predicting the end of the world. All of the people in his small town think it's the former. So, when they stare at him accusingly and try to ostracize him at a fire hall dinner, he flips the hell out... and flips a table!
7. Bellflower - The Opening Sequence - Sure, you won't understand it at the time. It's a lot of very powerful images in reverse set to some haunting music. Eventually, you'll come back to all of those scenes and everything will make sense. But, the beginning of this super low budget, fantastic film sets an immediate tone that will stay with you for the entire film.
6. Drive - Elevator Scene - Ryan Gosling's strong and silent type finally kisses Carey Mulligan's sweet intentioned young mom in an elevator. However, there's a creepy gentleman in there with them and immediately after the sweet kiss, the movie turns suddenly and very seriously violent.
5. The Tree of Life - The Beginning of Time / Creation of Earth - Yes, there are dinosaurs. Yes, this minutes long segment may not seem like it fits in, except it totally does. Leave it to Terrence Malick to tie in the creation of the Earth with the very real small town life of a Texas family in the 50's. That's why he doesn't just make movies, he makes art.
4. Hugo - The Films of Georges Melies - Three quarters of the way through this great movie, we finally get to see those fantastical early movies that the toy maker made with his wife at this glass studio. And they are a love letter to old school cinema, creative and beautiful and awe-inspiring.
3. Bridesmaids - The Airplane Scene - I have seriously never laughed so hard during a movie in my ENTIRE life. Not just the funniest scene of the year, but probably of all time.
2. Take Shelter - Discussion About Opening the Storm Door - Or - Why Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain Should Win Oscars.
1. The Descendants - Alexandra Underwater - Shailene Woodley plays Alexandra King with such an ease that you almost forget she's acting. Her best moment is when she finds out her mom's coma is permanent. She's in the swimming pool and slowly sinks under the water. The camera follows her and catches her crying meltdown underwater. It's heart aching and unforgettable.


Best Directors of 2011
10. George Clooney for The Ides of March - Seriously, what can't this man do?
9. J.J. Abrams for Super 8 - He crafted the best coming of age movie of the year.
8. Alexander Payne for The Descendants - A great, funny, family tragedy.
7. Bennett Miller for Moneyball - A baseball movie with heart.
6. Mike Mills for Beginners - Could have been another cliche, but not in his hands.
5. Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris - His most creative and inspired movies in years.
4. David Fincher for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Proving, again, he's the most bad ass director in Hollywood.
3. Nicolas Winding Refn for Drive - For creating a future cult classic with style and substance.
2. Martin Scorsese for Hugo - For proving that he can make a kids movie and for making me think 3D isn't so terrible after all.
1. Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life - The movie may not be every one's cup of tea, but Malick is more than a director. He's an artist and he makes art we can watch at a movie theater.

Take Shelter, J. Edgar, Hugo

Take Shelter - Michael Shannon stars as a man who may be psychic or may be a little bit crazy. Either way, it's Michael Shannon, probably the best actor under 50 working today, so you know the acting is going to be damn good. Shannon's character has a family history of schizophrenia so when he starts having very realistic nightmares that a storm is coming, he turns all of his attention on fixing up and expanding the storm shelter in his back yard. His wife (Jessica Chastain) has a lot on her plate also - dealing with a potentially mentally ill husband and a newly deaf child. Slowly, the nightmares become more and more realistic and everyone in the small town starts to think he is losing his mind. The movie is a little bit slow burning but it's also intense. The dream sequences are all a big tease. However, Shannon's amazing performance more than makes up for any small problems I had with the plot. He is Oscar worthy, for sure. In fact, at this point I think he should win Best Actor for his intense, slow burning, dramatic performance. Chastain, who has been in about forty movies this year is also quite good and goes toe-to-toe with Shannon very well. Take Shelter is not for everyone, but it's a damn good film.
Grade: B+

J. Edgar - While we are talking about Oscar caliber performances, it's important to discuss Leonardo DiCaprio and his completely engrossing performance as the one time most powerful man in the world - J. Edgar Hoover, the founder of the FBI. Clint Eastwood's film follows Hoover from a young man with mommy issues to an overzealous nerdy agent and eventually to a deeply confident and powerful head of the bureau. The film encapsulates his career - showing him catching the kidnapper of the Lindbergh baby and discussing how the FBI brought down Dillinger. It also speculates on the never married man's personal life. Was he really a cross dresser? Was he really gay and in love with his closest confidante (Armie Hammer)? Or was he just too busy to find a wife? J. Edgar itself disappoints as a movie. It's slow and it's boring, and it's not good for a movie about such an interesting man to be boring. However, the performances are the saving grace. Hammer may be a better actor with old man make up. Naomi Watts is great in a small role. Judi Dench dazzles, OF COURSE. But it's DiCaprio's transformation that is truly remarkable. Perhaps he will finally win that Oscar he's been due for so long.
Grade: C+

Hugo - It should be no surprise that the greatest living director should be able to switch so easily from gritty, dirty, violent films to charmingly beautiful children's tales with no effort. And it's true. Martin Scorsese, so well known as the director of some of the greatest adult movies of all time, has turned his limitless talents to children's films with Hugo, a beautiful, charming, sweet tale of young friendship and a celebration of film making. Based on a kids book, Hugo tells the story of a young boy who lives in a train station and knows the inside of the walls like the back of his hand. After his father's (Jude Law) death, he goes to live with his clock winder uncle and becomes responsible for the winding of the clocks at a Paris train station. Asa Butterfield is a revelation as the young Hugo, intent on fixing up the last remaining piece of his father's life. This takes him on a wild adventure that includes Isabelle (Chloe Mortez) and a shocking good Ben Kingsley as a mean, mean toy shop owner. This is a love song to film making, a beautiful, sweeping, charmer of a movie that will remind you why you love movies so damn much. As far as I'm concerned, we've found our Best Picture Oscar winner already.
Grade: A

The Greatest (DVD)

What a hidden gem of a movie! Totally unexpected and with so much heart and emotion, The Greatest (which had a limited theatrical run back in April) is most definitely one of the best movies of the year! Right out of the gate, the cast is fantastic for such a small movie. Susan Sarandon, Pierce Brosnan, Aaron Johnson, Carey Mulligan, Johnny Simmons (!!), Michael Shannon (!!!), and Zoe Kravitz appear in the indie film.
Sarandon and Brosnan star as a couple dealing with the death of their eldest son, Bennett, (Johnson) in a car crash. They had marital problems before the death and their grief, and the different ways they choose to deal with it, is only pushing them further and further apart. In fact, Sarandon becomes closer to the man responsible for the crash (Shannon) who just so happens to be in a comma. Meanwhile, Brosnan becomes close to Rose (Mulligan), who shows up at their door one day, pregnant with their dead sons baby after only one night together. Then there is their youngest son Ryan (Simmons) who is dealing with the grief his own way, doing drugs and falling for a girl in his grief meetings (Kravitz).
It sounds like a typical melodramatic film but it isn't at all. The script by Shana Feste, who also directed, is so clever and interesting, jumping around to different moments, that the movie never fails to be interesting. In fact, most of the relationship between Rose and Bennett plays out entirely in flashbacks. (The title comes from a particularly intimate well-done moment in the film when Bennett says his one night with Rose was the greatest).
The performances are all top-notch and, really, what else would you expect from such an amazing cast? Sarandon is phenomenal as the mother in mourning, unable to let her son go and unable to accept Rose into their lives. Brosnan, whose character chooses to deal with the loss in entirely different way, is impressive as well. Mulligan continutes to show promise. She's not just a once and done actress who made a great movie (An Education) and will wither away and disappear. She's hear to stay and she's formidable, with her porcelain looks and mixture of vulnerability and toughness (she might have made a better Lisbeth Salander than Rooney Mara but I'll save that rant for another time). Then there's Johnny Simmons, who I adore beyond words. Mostly, my love for him has to do with the fact that he is super adorable. But he is truly impressive in this film. He's one part comic relief, one part ticking time bomb. There is a scene in one of his grief counseling meetings where he is devastating to watch.
It's a depressing movie to watch, for sure, but it is most definitely worth it.
Grade: A-

Mini Reviews

Inception - By far, the best movie of the year so far. I haven't seen anything this radically original since probably Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. There aren't many fresh ideas out there these days so thank goodness Christopher Nolan has a few. The cast, the story, the effects - everything is just plain incredible. Leonardo DiCaprio gives his second amazing performance of the year (working out some crazy dead wife drama - AGAIN). Also, that epic hallway scene with Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a blissfully long way from 3rd Rock From the Sun.
Grade - A

The Other Guys - At times, laugh out loud funny. However, there are times when it's also extremely plodding. It's too long, for sure and the plot could be a lot tighter. However, it's still quite funny and Will Ferrell isn't nearly as annoying as he usually is. Michael Keaton is nothing short of a scene stealer. Worth a watch but not the funniest movie of the year.
Grade - C+

The Runaways - Parts of this movie are far better than they need to be. But then it becomes a typical cliche movie. The movie drags along forever at some points but then seemingly skips a lot of very important parts. In the end, it's kind of a wash out. Kristen Stewart, who looks a hell of a lot like Joan Jett, can't seem to shake that awkwardness that she's so famous for. Dakota Fanning is pretty impressive as Cherie Curry. However, the movie belongs to Michael Shannon as The Runaways diabolical and hilarious manager Kim Fowley. He steals the entire movie and is, at times, the only reason worth watching. I want a spin off about his character!
Grade - C-

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Sweden) - I can see why they are having such a difficult time casting the role of Lisbeth Salander, the tough as nails, tattooed, bad ass computer hacker, for the U.S. remake. The part is not going to be a walk in the park but Noomi Rapace rocks the role so hard. She's a revelation in this complicated story about a disgraced journalist trying to solve a 40 year old murder. Beautiful filmmaking, a great script and solid performances make this a damn good movie.
Grade - B+

Step Up 3D - All my life, I've always wanted to know what it would be like to have someone break dance on my face. Thanks to Step Up 3D, now I know! Sure, it's not going to win any awards and it's not the most amazing film of all time or anything. But it is a hell of a lot of fun. As you are probably aware, urban dance movies are my guilty pleasure and some of the dance sequences are so enjoyable. It's such a fun movie!
Grade - C+

The Kids Are All Right - The indie sensation of the year is definitely worth the buzz. It's got a solid script and some very good filmmaking but it's the performances that make the movie worth it. Mark Ruffalo and Mia Wasikowska give amazing supporting roles as a man in his late 30s struggling to grow up and an 18 year old struggling to become an adult, respectively. But it's the all out war for acting supremacy between leads Julianne Moore and Annette Bening that is most engaging. It's a tough call as to who out acts whom. My vote goes for Moore and her delightfully hilarious ex-stoner who is actively making a mess out of her lovely life.
Grade - B+


Coming soon - reviews of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Eat Pray Love.

Top Ten List: Best Actors of the Decade

10. Michael Shannon in Bug (2007) - Shannon's work as a possibly mentally ill ex-soldier is so intense that it just sticks so firmly in my mind. This performance could be outlandish but he makes it real. His performance is fearless and his chemistry with Ashley Judd is out of this world.

09. Emile Hirsch in Into the Wild (2007) - Hirsch is funny, charming and a little cocky in this film as he builds his supertramp character who doesn't think he needs human contact for happiness. Still, it's his moments with other characters that are truly divine. Plus, his final few moments on screen are guaranteed to break your heart.

08. Bill Murray in Lost in Translation (2003) - This is Murray at his best. This is a completely different side to him which is impressive in itself. He captures this role with such precision that you believe it was tailer made just for him. His chemistry with Scarlett Johansson is surprisingly realistic and complex. And he has a good singing voice!

07. Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler (2008) - Everyone says he made a hell of a comeback, but for people who are real Rourke fans, they know he never really went anywhere (see also: Spun). The film is about a wrestler struggling with the fact that his career is just about done. He has burned every bridge in his personal life, his looks are fading, he's damaged himself pysically and emotionally for years and years. Rourke probably didn't have to look far for inspiration and it shows with this knock-out performance.

06. Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain (2005) - The Dark Knight was a showier role, sure, but at the end of the day, I truly believe Ledger will be remembered for his role as a cowboy in love in Brokeback Mountain. His performance was so simple and so understated that it just seemed so much more realistic. His Joker may be a hell of a lot more fun but it's so much harder to do a quiet, understated performance like he did in Brokeback Mountain.

05. Tom Wilkinson in In the Bedroom (2001) - The movie excellent but mostly it just reminds me of the astounding talents of Tom Wilkinson. He is so perfect as a grieving father and when he sets out to exact his revenge, he acts with intelligence and compassion.

04. Sean Penn in Mystic River (2003) - Penn never misses a beat as a man dealing with the worst possible thing a parent can face - the death of a child. Penn is left playing a complicated character - a grieving father but also a cold-blooded ex-con. He manages to make his performance so intense, so passionate, so realistic and so damn good.

03. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed (2006) - DiCaprio is an actor who keeps getting better. In The Departed, he manages to wear his emotions on his sleeve, playing such a vulnerable, terrified, yet tough character. The crazy paradoxes to his character are impressive and DiCaprio simply nails it. He embodies this modern day tragic hero with such grace and ease.

02. Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood (2007) - Make no mistake, There Will Be Blood is a movie made for Day-Lewis to do whatever the hell he wants. This is HIS show. His performance is such a powerhouse that it puts most other actors to shame. Then there's that final scene when director Paul Thomas Anderson really lets Day-Lewis off his leash, so to speak. Because, let's face it, he was a sweet little kitten up until that point.

01. Sean Penn in Milk (2008) - Sean Penn is known for his moody, intense work (see number 4) so it's refreshing to see him play someone like Harvey Milk, so carefree and emotionally open. He embodies Harvey Milk and literally becomes him. Penn even inhabits and exudes a sweetness (yes, sweetness... yes, Sean Penn). He plays Harvey to perfection and definitely deserved that second Oscar.

Top Ten List - Best Supporting Actor 2008

10. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Stop Loss - The first good performance of the year, Gordon-Levitt plays the role of a man dealing with being back from war the way he plays every role - with unbridled passion and talent. To say he's one of the best actors under thirty is an understatement.

09. Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Knight - Eckhart may not give the best performance in the film (more on that later) but he does play the only character with any sort of arc and he plays it extremely well. He starts off as a stand up man full of principle and morality and ends up as a hateful villain.

08. John Malkovich in Burn After Reading - One image from 2008 that I will never forget? John Malkovich coming off a boat dressed in a bath robe holding an axe. His disgraced CIA agent is hilariously on edge. One of the many reasons I celebrate Malkovichmas.

07. Josh Brolin in Milk - Slowly unraveling. He's a coiled ball of nerves. He may not be my favorite of the supporting men of Milk but he is responsible for the single best scene of the movie - a drunken encounter with Harvey at a party. Brolin just keeps getting better.

06. James Franco in Milk - Is anyone sweeter than Franco in Milk? I don't think so. He stands by his man through much of the film and even after they break up, he's still there in spirit. Kudos for saying the line "if I hear about politics one more time tonight I'm going to stab you with a fork" and still managing to sound adorable.

05. Emile Hirsch in Milk - At the beginning, he's a tough talking kid. A queen if there ever was one who just wants to party. Near the middle, he's responsible for one of the most moving scenes as his Cleve Jones describes the unspeakable hatred he saw in Europe. Hirsch is moving and powerful.

04. Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder - What could have easily become an offensive off-putting performance was elevated to something that everyone could laugh at thanks to great writing... and Downey's fantastic performance. He manages to be hysterically funny while still raising poignant thoughts about racism and even method acting.

03. Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road - I have been a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio's for my entire life / his entire career. There's never been a time when I thought he was out done by any other actor - even when going head to head with Jack Nicholson in The Departed. Still, there is a particular scene in Revolutionary Road where DiCaprio and Shannon get in a rather heated argument. During this scene, I thought to myself, "Man, Shannon is acting circles around Leo!" Shannon is out of control in this movie - a continuous explosion that just shakes everything to its core.

02. Michael Pitt in Funny Games - Imagine a killer being the most polite, kind, cutest boy you ever saw? It's terrifying, right? Pitt plays the young killer of Funny Games so straight and sweet that it makes it the most terrifying thing you've ever seen. All at once, he's frightening, hilarious, kind, chilling and fiercly intelligent.

01. Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight - Is there anything left to say about Ledger's outrageously perfect performance? I don't think there is. He really, really, really is as good as everyone says. Actually, he's probably better. With every viewing, his performance becomes more effective and more entrancing. The most perfect performance of the year. Hands down.

Tomorrow - Best Actress!

Best of 2007 - Top 10 Best Performances

Javier Bardem in No Country For Old Men
I'm doing this list in alphabetical order to be fair. However, if I was going to start with the best performance of the year, Bardem would still be first. [Granted I haven't had the chance to see Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood.] Bardem gives a truly deliciously evil performance. He is a pleasure to watch. Every time he enters the scene, you are excited and sort of terrified to see what he'll do next. From the opening scene right up until his last, he's just simply perfect.

Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There
Again, I'm doing this alphabetically. Still, Cate would be second. She disappears into the character of Jude Quinn (Bob Dylan) and all the ticks and stutters. It's actually almost a little creepy to see this gorgeous Australian woman become a man and make it look so effortless. I'm not one of those people who are in love with everything Blanchett does. But I am in love with this performance.

Josh Brolin in No Country For Old Men
If Javier Bardem didn't steal this movie in every single way imaginable, you would definitely leave the theater talking about how great Brolin is. Brolin is essentially carrying the bulk of the film on his shoulders and he's more than up for the challenge. This year he's finally been given roles that let his talent shine through.

Julie Christie in Away From Her
Is it wrong to say that Christie's performance is just unforgettable? It's been months and months and everything about her performance is still burned firmly into my mind. Christie gives a performance even better than her Oscar winning role in Afterglow. She has the vibrancy of a young woman and is sexier than most women half her age. Her performance is perfect and I, for one, will be very disappointed if she loses the Oscar.

Emile Hirsch in Into the Wild
Hirsch's career is one I've been following for a while now. Watch films like Imaginary Heroes and The Mudge Boy and you'll see what a great actor he really is. Still, Into the Wild is the sort of movie that lets his real talent come out in full force. Hirsch has charm to spare and uses tha to help build this supertramp character who doesn't think he needs human contact for happiness. Plus, his final moments on screen are guaranteed to break your heart.

Tommy Lee Jones in No Country For Old Men and In the Valley of Elah
Jones is doing better work this year, at the age of 50-something, than ever before. His performances this year were both spot-on. His performance in In the Valley of Elah would fall to number three on this list if it was from very best to still great. What kills me most? He's not even getting a lot of attention for these great roles! Sure, he's not used a lot in No Country For Old Men and he's showed up a bit by Bardem who has the flashier role. But there's something to be said about restraint and reserve. There's something to say about being the strong, silent type. Jones is just doing better work now than ever before.

James McAvoy in Atonement
There's a lot of great women in this film but McAvoy steals the show. His performance is really a masterclass in the act of subtlety. He makes sure Robbie keeps his basic goodness and never resorts to histronics. There is a particular scene between Robbie and Briony as a teenager, that is just perfection.

Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises
I just have to respect and admire anyone who has the guts to film a scene that includes a naked knife fight. I mean, come on. He manages to make Nikolai both enigmatic and mesmerizing. He is seemingly rough and tough and yet we are somehow drawn to the goodness in him even as we are not quite sure we should be. It's a skillful and understated performance that quietly but effectively blows you away.

Ellen Page in Juno
I think it's safe to say this: Ellen Page is the best actress under 25 working today. First there was her acting masterclass of a performance in Hard Candy. Now with Juno she even bests that. She does something I think Diablo Cody should be grateful for: makes her highly / overly WRITTEN dialogue just flow and come off the page beautifully (which must have been a DIFFICULT challenge). Thanks to Page's perfection of a performance, it becomes almost impossible to not love this movie and especially the main character.

Michael Shannon in Bug
This movie is definitely not for everyone. Still, months and months later, it's Shannon's intense work that sticks so firmly in my mind. He takes this outlandish performance and is really just fearless. His chemistry with Ashley Judd (who slipped to number 11 on this list) is so intense that these two actors carry this film. Shannon, especially, is perfect and draws you in to this strange, psychological little story.

Bug and Bobby (DVD)

Bug - Bug is the kind of movie that you are either going to love or hate. Personally, I absolutely loved it. It's not exactly what I was expecting going into it but in many ways that made it better than I was hoping for. It's a slow-burning, calculating, deliberate movie that sets a steady pace and includes wonderful dialogue for the lead actors. The story follows Agnes (Ashley Judd), a divorcee with a drinking and drug problem who lives by herself in a dingy, deserted hotel and who moonlights as a waitress at a lesbian bar. One night, her friend/part-time lesbian lover introduces her to the quiet and mysterious Peter (Michael Shannon), an ex-Army soldier who may or may not be a paranoid delusional. They form an unlikey and reluctant relationship built around a friendship that forms quickly because they like to talk to each other. Then there is Agnes' ex-husband Jerry (Harry Connick Jr.) who is abusive and abrasive and who storms in and out of their lives over a few day period. At first, the story is very slow moving but you really learn about the characters which is so important for what's to come in the end. The final act is weird and creepy and really makes you think. I don't want to give anything away so go see it for yourself and then we can talk about what you made of the ending. Ashley Judd gives a fine performance but Michael Shannon is amazing. His performance is absolutely fearless. I don't know that Bug is exactly going to be the kind of movie that the Oscars will love but Shannon deserves an Oscar for his performance in this movie. No contest. He's absolutely amazing to watch. He's been so underused and underappreciated for many years and hopefully this movie will help him get some well-deserved recognition. Overall, if you are willing to give the weirdness of Bug a try, then it just may become your favorite movie of 2007 so far (because it's definitely mine).
Grade: A

Bobby - While I quite like the ever popular movie trend of intertwining stories of strangers whose lives cross at critical moments, there is a major problem with it. If it's not done perfectly, it can seem messy. That's the problem with Bobby. There is way too much going on in this story and it's not done perfectly. It's one huge mess. There are way too many characters whose lives all intersect at Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel on the night presidential hopeful Bobby Kennedy was shot. There is an adulterous manager played by William H. Macy, his hair stylist wife played by Sharon Stone and his switchboard operator girlfriend played by Heather Graham. There's an alcoholic lounge singer played by Demi Moore and her silently suffering manager husband played by Emilio Estevez (who also wrote and directed). There's the head of the kitchen played by Christian Slater who oversees workers played by Freddy Rodriguez and Laurence Fishburn. Lindsey Lohan plays a girl trying to save a former classmate (Elijah Wood) from going to Vietnam by marrying him. There are various workers and supporters of Bobby's compaign (Shia LaBeouf, Joshua Jackson, Nick Cannon - who is a terrible actor). Anthony Hopkins is the former doorman at the hotel. Ashton Kutcher turns up as a drug dealer and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (who I adore) is in a few scenes as a waitress/struggling actress. Martin Sheen and Helen Hunt are... some people who are there? I'm sure I've missed half the cast but that's just my point - way, way too much going on here. The script is not strong enough and it just becomes a huge mess of a movie. I'll admit that the last fifteen minutes or so are very well done and emotional but that doesn't make up for the rest of the movie. Sharon Stone, Demi Moore and Freddy Rodriguez do their best to save the fumbling mess and Shia LaBeouf in all of his bare assed, LSD tripping glory is easily the best thing about the movie. I was so looking forward to seeing this movie and it was such a huge disappointment.

Grade: D+