Best of 2013: Performances

When it came to performances in 2013, it was the best of times.

In fact I am so sated with the quality of acting this year, from stellar films as well as films not so stellar, that 2013 feels like an aberration. An unearned treat, that will likely not present to us again in future years. Just look at the embarrassment of riches amongst female actors; I have fourteen (!) names in this category and not the heart to strike a single one off because each is so fully realized. 

As in past years, I refuse to shorten my list of best actors in each category. If the purpose of such lists (as silly as they may be) is to grant recognition to those who were able to find that inscrutable ether where actor becomes character, then why not spread the wealth. 

So here are my picks for the top performances, more or less in the order of their effect on me. 

Brie Larson in Short Term 12

Best Actor, Female

Brie Larson, Short Term 12

Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Adele Exarchopoulos, Blue is the Warmest Color

Julie Louis-Dreyfus, Enough Said

Julie Delpy, Before Midnight

Olivia Wilde, Drinking Buddies

Paulina Garcia, Gloria

Shailene Woodley, The Spectacular Now

Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha

Veerle Baatens, The Broken Circle Breakdown

Sandra Bullock, Gravity

Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
Judy Dench, Philomena

Suzanne Clement, Laurence Anyways

Best Actor, Male

Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years A Slave

Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years A Slave

Jake Gyllenhaal, Prisoners
Christian Bale, Into The Furnace

Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips

John Gallagher Jr, Short Term 12

Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight
Robert Redford, All Is Lost

Miles Teller, The Spectacular Now

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Great Gatsby

Oscar Isaac, Inside Lleywn Davis

Mads Mikkelsen, The Hunt

Best Supporting Actor, Female

Kate Hudson in The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Kate Hudson, The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years A Slave

Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine

Melonie Diaz, Fruitvale Station

Lea Seydoux, Blue is the Warmest Color

Scarlett Johannson, Her and Don Jon

Onata Aprile, What Maisie Knew

Juliette Nicholson, August: Osage County

Reese Witherspoon, Mud

Paula Patton, Disconnect

Best Supporting Actor, Male

Michael Fassbender, 12 Years A Slave

Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips

Tye Sheridan, Mud

Michael Fassbender in 12 Years A Slave

Kyle Chandler, The Spectacular Now

James Gandolfini, Enough Said

Jason Bateman, Disconnect

Daniel Bruhl, Rush

Matthew McConaughey, Mud

Sam Rockwell, The Way Way Back

Jonah Bobo, Disconnect

Paul Giamatti, Saving Mr Banks

Alexander Skarsgard, What Maisie Knew
Woody Harrelson, Into The Furnace

Bradley Cooper, The Place Beyond The Pines

And even with so many names I cannot shake off the feeling that I have overlooked a few others. I honestly fail to understand those who have been complaining that it hasn't been a good year for films.