Monday, February 5, 2018

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