Best of 2017 | Films | Performances

As my colleagues on the Moviewallas podcast have mentioned on more than one occasion, 2017 was a year of incredible performances from films that were not themselves always incredible. I cannot argue with that. Yes we had our share of exceptional films this year, but the actors shone in so many other less than exceptional films too. And as in past years, I have not restricted my picks of the top performances to just five in each category. When there is an opportunity to recognize great acting turns, why limit yourself to just a few. In fact I may have gone a bit overboard with more than 20 picks for Best Supporting Actor, Male! In each category, I have bolded my absolute favorites.



Jake Gyllenhaal in STRONGER

Best Actor, Male
Adam Sandler, MYEROWITZ STORIES, NEW AND SELECTED

Charlie Hunnam, THE LOST CITY OF Z

Colin Farrell, THE BEGUILED

Garrett Hedlund. MUDBOUND

Jake Gyllenhaal, STRONGER

Jeremy Renner, WIND RIVER

Timothee Chalamet, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Tom Hanks, THE POST



Timothee Chalamet in CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Best Actor, Female
Bria Vinaite, THE FLORIDA PROJECT

Charlize Theron, ATOMIC BLONDE

Emma Stone, THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES

Meryl Streep, THE POST

Salma Hayek, BEATRIZ AT DINNER 

Sally Hawkins, THE SHAPE OF WATER

Saoirse Ronan, LADY BIRD



Salma Hayek in BEATRIZ AT DINNER



Saoirse Ronan in LADY BIRD



Best Supporting Actor, Male

Adam Driver, LOGAN LUCKY

Adam Driver, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

Armie Hammer, FREE FIRE
Barry Keoghan, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER 

Chris Pine, WONDER WOMAN

Daniel Craig, LOGAN LUCKY

Harrison Ford, BLADE RUNNER 2049

Jason Clarke, MUDBOUND

Jason Isaacs, A CURE FOR WELLNESS

John Lithgow, BEATRIZ AT DINNER

Lilrel Howery, GET OUT 

Lucas Hedges, LADYBIRD

Michael Fassbender, ALIEN: COVENANT

Michael Stuhlbarg, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME 

Michael Shannon, THE SHAPE OF WATER
Noah June, SUBURBICON

Oscar Isaac, SUBURBICON

Ray Romano, THE BIG SICK 

Richard Jenkins, THE SHAPE OF WATER

Sharlto Copley, FREE FIRE

Stan Sebastian, I, TONYA

Tracy Letts, LADYBIRD

Willem Dafoe, THE FLORIDA PROJECT

Woody Harrelson, THE GLASS CASTLE



Barry Keoghan in THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER

Oscar Isaac in SUBURBICON

Best Supporting Actor, Female
Andrea Riseborough, THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES

Alison Williams, GET OUT

Beanie Feldstein, LADYBIRD

Carey Mulligan, MUDBOUND

Catherine Keener, GET OUT

Daisy Ridley, STAR WARS, THE LAST JEDI

Holly Hunter, THE BIG SICK

Julianne Moore, SUBURBICON

Kirsten Dunst, BEGUILED 

Laura Dern, STAR WARS; THE LAST JEDI

Laurie Metcalf, LADYBIRD
Lois Smith, LADYBIRD

Michelle Pfeiffer, MOTHER!

Michelle Pfeiffer, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

Miranda Richardson, STRONGER

Nicole Kidman, THE BEGUILED

Nicole Kidman, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER

Sarah Silverman, THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES

Sienna Miller, THE LOST CITY OF Z

Tatiana Maslany, STRONGER
Tiffany Haddish, GIRLS TRIP



Holly Hunter in THE BIG SICK

Tatiana Maslany in STRONGER