The Best Performances of 2010
There was a definite urge when making this list to stray from some of the more populist choices. When I say populist, I am referring to the critics. I commend some of my peers for choosing outside the box, (which I have done with a couple of choices) but had I done that with most of my list, I would've been going against my honest feelings. Although “Black Swan” and “127 Hours” aren't exactly blockbusters, they have been deemed “safe” choices by many who are bored with the same names over and over. The way I see it, the best performances are the best. Period. So, here is the list. In some cases, I have chosen to quote or link to past reviews.
The heart and soul of the film seems to be the underlying theme of these performances. Enjoy.
1. Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”
“It's my turn,” says Nina, near the end of the film as she is preparing to take on the 2nd act of “Swan Lake,” where she is supposed to seduce the prince as the Black Swan, the evil twin to the White Swan, the role to which she most easily relates. And it is her turn indeed. Sorry Annette Bening. Natalie deserves every award she gets. Some have said that women don't respond to the role. Or that Nina is cold. I say, bull. This film deals with the issue of what it takes to overcome the obstacles of being the subservient woman. Nina will not simply be the new “little princess.” It also shows the extent some performers will go to be perfect. To feel. It's not as easy as it looks, and although we (artists) don't go, quite, to the extreme Nina does, sometimes we come close. Method, indeed.
2. James Franco, “127 Hours”
In my initial piece about the Hamptons International Film Festival I said this about “127 Hours.”
Before the film started Franco warned us that if we needed to cover our eyes not to be ashamed. And we would have plenty of warning. I really hate spoiling what happens, even though most of the AD readers probably know the outcome of “127 Hours,” but I will say this…by the time the big moment happens, at least at the screening I attended, there is a moment of euphoria on the character’s part and the audience. He breathes through it. We breathed through (almost collectively!). I found myself almost cheering him on with eyes surprisingly wide open. I rushed out of the screening right away because I needed to get to work, not allowing the film to really settle. After about a minute in the box office, I had a mini breakdown after what I saw. An incredible journey. And no one fainted.
That reaction is all thanks to James Franco. I am not ready to write him off yet for the Best Actor prize. As great as both Bridges and Firth are, I believe Franco gives the most daring, honest and complex performance of the year.
3. Sibel Kekilli, “When We Leave”
When I saw this film at the Tribeca Film Festival I was floored by Kekilli's performance. As a winner for Best Actress at Tribeca as well as the European and German Film Awards, I had honestly hoped she would be part of the Best Actress conversation. But if I have learned one thing this year, it is: without a PR company/studio seriously pushing the film, especially a foreign film, it won't be seen. I'm hoping the movie will still make the Foreign Film top 5, although I feel like I am one of its only champions. It isn't going to make my top 10, but will be a runner up, for sure. But I can honor the heart and soul of the picture. Here is my original review.
4. Michael Fassbender, “Fish Tank”
It's been a long time since I saw “Fish Tank.” It was one of the first films I saw in 2010, and like “A Prophet,” I assumed it would be near the top of my 2010 Top 10. Who knew the year would turn out the way it did? Unless I have a major rethink before tomorrow it's simply an honorable mention. That being said, I can't deny Michael Fassbender in my list of the greatest performances of the year. The character could have come off like a dirty old man, but he doesn't. Yes, he was in the wrong for being with Mia, but you almost understand where he is coming from.
5. Lesley Manville, “Another Year”
After my second viewing of “Another Year” I changed my thoughts a bit. Initially I felt as if all of the acting was equal. Ruth Sheen, Jim Broadbent and Manville. Lesley Manville really does steal the show. She is so good it felt as if I had never seen her in anything before, but looking at her credits I have seen many of her movies. This is a real transformation, not achieved with prosthetics, but with heart, mind and soul. Here is what I said back in September about Manville and Oscar.
But one thing seems certain in my book. In a category that seems full of incredible possibilities, the Academy would have to be insane to leave Lesley Manville out of the Best Actress race. In the late 90′s it seemed that one actress from a British film always seemed to make the cut, losing to the fresh young Hollywood It-Girl (who also, generally gave a worthy performance). Then it turned to the actress who “dared” to “ugly” herself up (again, deserving…especially with Theron!) Finally, Helen Mirren broke that trend, and for 3 years we had non-American born winners. Then there was last year. And we returned to America’s sweetheart. Who knows what will happen in 2011? Here’s hoping Manville has a team behind her to promote this amazing performance. But I hope they really go for it. I would like to see a slew of acting nominations and a BP nomination as well.
6. Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling, “Blue Valentine”
For me, the heart and soul of “Blue Valentine” belongs to Michelle Williams . I LOVE Ryan Gosling, but I found myself gravitating more to her. I can't leave Gosling out of the equation, however, because I know he pushed her to greater depths. It is a true collaboration and should also include Cianfrance's direction as well. Here were my initial thoughts on the film.
After “Blue Valentine” screened at both Sundance and Cannes, I remember reading that most people couldn’t relate to Michelle Williams’s character. Why would she marry someone she wasn’t absolutely sure about? Why would she stay with him so long? It’s not like he was hiding who he was, and he is such a good father. Well, I hate to say it, but I have done exactly what she did…and without a child in the mix. And I STILL had a hard time getting out of the relationship. I have never felt there was a problem I couldn’t solve, and it took years to understand that people shouldn’t and probably couldn’t be “problem solved.”
7. Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, “Rabbit Hole”
Nicole Kidman has become known as the actress who shows no expression for most of her films, occasionally lays off the botox and gets nominated for (and once, win) an Oscar. Aaron Eckhart is the actor who gives award worthy performances but gets ignored because the film (“The Dark Knight”) or another actor (“The Dark Knight”) overshadows. Well, both of these statements might ring true again when the awards season ends come Oscar. But it doesn't give these two performances justice. Watching the two deal with their own personal grief is stunning to watch, but when they get together, trying to figure out how to continue as husband and wife after an incredible loss, it is a heartbreaking site. They feed off each other's fierce commitment as actors, neither afraid to go to very dark places. Eckhart may not win awards, and Kidman may never shrug off her reputation of immobility, but this year, they have shown that they deserve more.
8. The cast of “The Kids Are All Right”
Although I think Natalie Portman gives the best performance of the year, Annette Bening gives the best performance of her career in “The Kids Are All Right.” I don't think she does it alone, though. She (arguably) has her strongest acting partner to date in Julianne Moore. These two women are so real, at times you feel as if you are intruding on a private moment (one of the best compliments I could possibly give). The emotional heart of the film belongs to the kids played by Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson. We are so invested in them as they try to figure out whether or not they should incorporate their donor Dad (Mark Ruffalo, playing quite the free spirit) into their lives. The depth of the cast continues through the minor characters as well. Yaya DaCosta (as Tanya) is a beautiful screen presence and Eddie Hassell, (as Laser's jerk of a best friend) is just the perfect amount of annoying.
9. Jesse Eisenberg, “The Social Network"
How could I leave of the male Anna Wintour of social media? I can't get enough of “The Social Network.” I have seen it 4 times now, and it gets better and better. Even though without almost every piece (Fincher, Sorkin, Hammer!) the film wouldn't work, I believe Eisenberg is the glue. Here is my original piece on the film.
Awards Daily: The Social Network
10. Joaqin Phoenix, “I'm Still Here”
OK, we know it was all an “act.” And what an act it was. If you saw this film before finding out it was an art project/hoax, you definitely need to revisit it. Had the filmmakers told everyone the film was an experiment while promoting the film instead of smugly announcing to the world it was a true story, I believe it would have made more money, and Joaqin Phoenix would be in the conversation for Best Actor. He is so utterly committed throughout the film, (friends of mine still think the drug/prostitute scene is less staged than I do) but the scene (which made my top 10 scenes of the year) after he is interviewed by Letterman is heartbreaking. You see him (JP) questioning what he has done and why no one understands. It is quite a moment, impeccably acted. It (for lack of a better term) seems real.
Runners Up:
Jackie Weaver, “Animal Kingdom”
Noomi Rapace, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
Barbara Hershey, “Black Swan”
Tahar Rahim “A Prophet”
Olivia Williams “The Ghost Writer”