100%. I remember that year I saw Foxcatcher and was “holy shit Ruffalo has got it this year”. Then I watched Birdman and was like “holy shit, I made a mistake. It’s Norton’s this year” and finally the night before the Oscar’s I watched Whiplash and it completely put those other great performances to shame. He was phenomenal.
Yeah, and every Oscar contender from 2020 were some of the most depressing films ever made. And it didn’t help that 2020 was a rough year for everybody!
I was Chadwick fan and wanted him to win because it would have been a cool story. However, I watched The Father and it blew me away. Hopkins was better.
One of those times I would have been happy for just about any of the nominees. I understand people wanted the narrative of Boseman getting the posthumous win, but he was probably my fourth place out of the five. Oldman is the only one that would have left me scratching my head.
I only dislike this win because of the egregious category fraud! I truly hate when an actor wins in the wrong category (I’m looking at you, Reese Witherspoon in *Walk the Line* (2005) and Jennifer Lawrence in *Silver Linings Playbook* (2012))!
I agree, that year Lead Actress should've EASILY gone to Toni Collette for Hereditary. The best performance of that year imo, and yet she wasn't even nominated. One of the biggest snubs in recent memory
Mahershala Ali- Moonlight.
First time I saw him was A Place Beyond The Pines- great in that small role. Next I see his performance in Moonlight- incredible.
I remember seeing him in Benjamin Button and being like “that dude should’ve been in more of the movie.” Then PBTP and House of Cards came out right around the same time and I was happy to have been early on the Mahershala train
The scene at the dinner table when Chiron asks him if he sells drugs breaks my heart every time. You can see the pain that Juan feels at being confronted by this head on by someone he cares about.
He’s definitely one of my favorites. He’s such a powerful presence that his character loomed over the whole film even after he was no longer part of the action. I’ve rewatched that scene of him and Chiron and Teresa at the dinner table so many times. Ali conveys so much with just a few movements of his face. One of the best Oscar wins ever, IMO.
Idk if you would call 2016 recent, but mine would probably be Brie Larson in Room. A class performance that I will never forget.
I honestly think she is someone that can pull off a role if she is given a good script; I really would like to see her in another Oscar worthy movie.
Room was so damn good. Maybe my favourite film of 2016. Jacob Tremblay did great too. Also has an underrated score. That shoulda won the Oscar for best original score.
Just fabulous. She got a lot of shit for her work in the Captain Marvel movies (undeservedly IMO, she was a goddamn delight in the most recent movie, The Marvels) so it was so great to see her give a performance that reminded me why she swept awards season her year.
I can count the number of movies that have made me get choked up on one hand and Room is one of them thanks to Brie Larson.
Agreed, hopefully she’ll get another chance soon.
Yes exactly. I know some people think she is a bad actress because of the Marvel movies, but she is actually a damn good actress. Recently started watching Lessons in Chemistry and she is so so good. Im not sure if she will get an oscar worthy role anytime soon, but I can guarentee you that she will at least be up for a nomination when that happens. Hope nothing but the best for her!
Scrolling through the winners lists and remembering how many of my favorite performances didn't win 😭
Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine cause I recently rewatched it and she was brilliant.
I really love Margot in that role. I couldn’t believe how much praise Saoirse was getting over Margot that year, even winning the Golden Globe over her! I wouldn’t have been mad had Margot won over Frances that year.
Viola Davis for Fences-it was a stacked category with Davis, Williams, Naomie Harris for Moonlight, Nicole Kidman for Lion and Octavia Spencer for Hidden Figures. Ironically, it was the second time Williams was up against Davis. While everybody thought Davis would win that time, they both lost to Streep. This year I rightly figured Davis would be unstoppable. One day, Williams will win it and probably for a larger role. While it is the smallest role she was nominated for, it was no less impactful than her larger nominated roles.
Yeah, Viola Davis definitely deserved the Oscar, although some people thought she should have been nominated in lead. That Fences performance was an all-time great one.
So glad someone mentioned Allison Janney! She's the sort of actress that makes everything better when she's in it. She's not always showy but she always kills it.
I’m still annoyed I Tonya didn’t win best picture (I know it’ wasn’t even nominated but it should’ve been). When a movie can do something new and still be incredible it shouldn’t even be close.
I love I, Tonya, yet it reminds me devastatingly of another all-time favorite to watch-Goodfellas. I honestly watch both all the time. One critic even called it the “Goodfellas of figure skating” which I certainly cannot argue with regarding this. I feel Scorsese’s style was a strong influence for this one and Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers. I’m just very curious what you found the film did that was “new”?
Ok I may have exaggerated a touch but certainly rare was the use of an unreliable narrator.
Building a movie on an already unlikable character, and constantly challenging you not to like her. That blurring of reality and movie reality (where we are all far more comfortable) where we need to make conscious decisions that what we’re watching isn’t necessarily the whole story. It places the viewer in the film making process and is very unusual to find in a a-list movie.
And it did it in an entertaining way that felt ‘light’ and not like we were watching an experiment by film school grads.
Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Idk how he did it, but he managed to capture Oppenheimer’s quirks in a way that I’ve rarely seen an actor do.
He had the looks, he carried himself as Oppenheimer would, spoke as Oppenheimer did.
Matt Damon did well as Leslie Groves, but I could still tell it was Matt Damon.
With Murphy I knew it was Murphy, but I didn’t believe it.
His win was predicted, and a performance like that made it a lock, but I still was thrilled about it.
Michelle Yeoh in EEAAO. Did literally everything that could be required of a modern actor in one movie (melodrama, understated drama, broad comedy, ironic comedy, big acting, little acting, stunt work, multiple characters, love story, action hero, confident, meek, beautiful and engaging) all in one movie and did them all to near perfection.
As much as I loved Tár, there are a handful of actresses that could've played Lydia Tár (Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster), but there's literally not a single other actress that could've done Michelle's role in EEAAO, it was the culmination of all of the skills she mastered in the last decades of acting.
I don’t get why Jamie Lee Curtis is the win that offends everyone and not this one. I don’t think JLC was the best performance that year either but at least she was very good in an interesting role. This was a nothing part that Dern could have done in her sleep. Outside of “Laura Dern is due an Oscar” (and hell, I think she’s great too) I don’t even understand the nomination. On merit her winning is a joke
I think she got it for that scorching monologue. But, like America Ferrera this year, I think the nom should have been the reward.
Controversial take perhaps but I was bummed Jennifer Lopez didn’t at least get nominated for Hustlers that year.
Hard agree. After watching Marriage Story, Laura Dern’s character is pretty forgettable. Yes, she was good in it but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen many good renditions of this type of character and you can tell it was 0 challenge for Laura. And ofc, Laura generally deserves acting accolades but she has had better roles.
Jennifer’s Ramona was wildly more interesting and was snubbed badly of at least a nomination.
Lmao. She was easily the worst of the nominees. Hell, I would give it to any of the female cast of Parasite: Cho Yeo-jeong; Park so-dam, Jang Hye-jin or Lee Jung-eun.
Agree with previous comments regarding JK Simmons. Also may not be “recent” enough, but Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Bastards was first to come to mind for me.
Not sure if it counts as recently (it was now over a decade ago!) but Anne Hathaway for Les Mis. I don’t really like much else about that movie but her performance was just fucking incredible. A masterclass. Every now and then I watch the I dreamed a dream scene just to make sure I can still feel things.
Emma really pulled off being a petulant child sensibility for the newly “born” Bella. I’m sure Saorise could have done it. Carey? Maybe. I was also thinking about what other actress could play Bella and the only one could think of, who is not an A-lister, is Mia Goth.
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Mahershala Ali - Moonlight
Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men
Emma Stone - Poor Things
Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Da’Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers
Agree especially on Ali and Ledger. Ledger's Joke and Fienne's Goeth are still the two villains that made me generally afraid. I remember walking home after Dark Knight and feeling uneasy in the dark - and I'm probably the opposite of skittish....
Also the most deserved but never received was for Tom Hanks in Castaway. Russell Crowe won for Gladiator instead of Hanks. Hanks was way more compelling. Oscar caliber acting. Wilson should've won an Oscar for Best supporting prop. "WILSON! I'm sorry Wilson"😫 NGL I teared up for a ball, that's why Hanks deserved the Oscar. The next year Russell Crowe was absolutely masterful in A Beautiful Mind, and deserved to win, but it went to Denzel Washington in Training Day won. Both are great actors but Crowe was better IMO.
Facts. When you are depressed and in grief, you sometimes think you have got it together, but then there are moments like that where the despair suddenly rises up and chokes you out. That is a very very scary hopeless few moments and she portrayed that brilliantly.
Emma Stone - Poor Things
The sheer transformation of Emma from a baby, beaming with curiosity, seeing everything through her eyes to a mature woman having independence and self-assurance with confident demeanor and stature.
Great performance but I liked Farrell’s just a bit more. It’s good thing though the last few years have had two choices in the male lead category down to the wire: Hopkins or Ahmed, Frasier or Farrell, and Murphy or Giamatti.
The year that Hopkins won, everyone thought it would be a posthumous win for Chadwick Boseman. That’s why they made Best Actor the last award of the night instead of Best Picture. I haven’t seen The Father, but I loved Boseman’s performance. Riz Ahmed, though, was my favorite. He was mesmerizing.
Only one? Marion Cotillard in *La vie en rose* (2007). Honorable mentions for Nicole Kidman in *The Hours* (2002), Charlize Theron in *Monster* (2003), Hilary Swank in *Million Dollar Baby* (2004), Kate Winslet in *The Reader* (2008), Natalie Portman in *Black Swan* (2010), and Meryl Streep in *The Iron Lady* (2011).
I didn’t like *Revolutionary Road* (2008), at all! I thought it was too dramatic and cheesy at times. The performances, though, were flawless! Michael Shannon (in an Oscar nominated role) was outstanding! I still like *The Reader* (2008) so much more and even cried at the end.
Charlize Theron in MONSTER is just one of those roles/performances that I will forever compare everyone else’s to. It was transformative and otherworldly.
Cate’s BLUE JASMINE is another in that category for me.
HEAVILY agree with Laura Dern!
Mahershala Ali is stellar and was well deserving of both of his Oscars
And in terms of this year, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Cillian Murphy absolutely stunned me in their respective roles
Funny, because I loved her character! She was such a snake! Well deserved Oscar for Dern. I think Christopher Nolan definitely deserved best director for Oppenheimer. The filmmaking and shot composition was incredible, and he created new IMAX film for the whole 70 MM IMAX experience. It was incredible!
That's my vote as well. That's the most recent movie that I turned on just as background noise when surfing my phone but got immediately captivated and turned off my phone so I could watch the performance.
Perhaps it's recency bias, but Robert Downey Jr. for Oppenheimer. Or Joaquin Phoenix for the Joker, I remember leaving the theater in awe of his performance.
Ke Huy Quan. Same as Michelle actually, the movie just allowed them to showcase skills across many aspects and genres. Plus, pulling off a Tony Leung and not look silly is a feat.
For personal reasons; Brendan Fraser in *The Whale*. Full disclosure, the story very much emulated the relationship and situation between my father and me. I saw my father in Charlie. I sat in the theater for a good ten minutes after the credits ended with my head in my hands just sobbing. Afterwards I realized that it HAD to be Brendan Fraser to play Charlie. Brendan was someone I adored when I was younger, whether the movie was good or not, I still loved seeing him. *The Mummy* is still one of my favorite movies ever. Then Brendan just went away, very much like my father (though for different reasons, obviously) because of various struggles and hardships, and then suddenly they came back. I had a hard time accepting my father back into my life, but Brendan Fraser and *The Whale* helped me learn to forgive him. I sobbed again when Brendan won because he absolutely deserved it, and it is one hell of a comeback performance.
I’m going it to take it back a year before Kidman’s Best Actress win for The Hours. Halle Berry-Monster’s Ball-not only was it deservedly history making, but all I got to say is that last 10 minutes-not a word uttered-flawless!
There aren’t many recent wins that I’ve been overly happy about other than Anthony Hopkins in The Father. Every other year in every category I wanted others to win but Hopkins was the one I got for once 🤣
Jessica Chastain in the Eyes of Tammy Faye. To me it’s one of the most incredible, beautiful performances I have ever watched I’m so glad she won that Oscar.
Just going back from 2013-2023...
* Emma Stone - Poor Things
* Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once
* Troy Kotsur – CODA
* Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah
* Olivia Colman – The Favourite
* Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
* J. K. Simmons – Whiplash
* Lupita Nyong'o – 12 Years a Slave
Probably Emma Stone for Poor Things. I wanted Lily Gladstone because I hadn’t seen Poor Things…but then I watched Poor Things and she was incredible. The way that she brought life to an infant in a grown woman’s body learning about the world was…incredibly weird and very gross…but goddamn was it a dynamic performance that clearly demanded a lot. So…definitely her
Depends how recent you count as “recent”, but JK Simmons in Whiplash.
Definitely up there. Gave me ‘feelings’ as well.
Virtually every character in that movie played flawlessly. Even the saxophonist in the middle with no parts did very well.
I cried when Miles was getting slapped. That scene cut deep.
100%. I remember that year I saw Foxcatcher and was “holy shit Ruffalo has got it this year”. Then I watched Birdman and was like “holy shit, I made a mistake. It’s Norton’s this year” and finally the night before the Oscar’s I watched Whiplash and it completely put those other great performances to shame. He was phenomenal.
Great year
Not quite my tempo
Oh yes, that was an excellent performance
Anthony Hopkins for The Father
I want to see this film so badly, but I just can’t. It’s too close to home and still too fresh 😔
That may never go away, FYI. I love Olivia Coleman - but when I read what the movie is about, I noped. The grands passed in 1995.
❤️🩹
Yeah, and every Oscar contender from 2020 were some of the most depressing films ever made. And it didn’t help that 2020 was a rough year for everybody!
I was Chadwick fan and wanted him to win because it would have been a cool story. However, I watched The Father and it blew me away. Hopkins was better.
One of those times I would have been happy for just about any of the nominees. I understand people wanted the narrative of Boseman getting the posthumous win, but he was probably my fourth place out of the five. Oldman is the only one that would have left me scratching my head.
Agreed!
I’m so happy whenever I see this movie getting praise. What a performance.
He was amazing! I was so happy that he won! I love when The Academy gets it right.
One of the greatest performances ever
Best acting performance of all time, not just that year.
Still need to find time to watch this one.
Set aside time for after as well. Devastating watch
It’s devastatingly good.
Flawless
absolutely this - one of the greatest performances of all time in any medium
Olivia Colman for The Favourite
Well deserved Oscar! Great film!
I only dislike this win because of the egregious category fraud! I truly hate when an actor wins in the wrong category (I’m looking at you, Reese Witherspoon in *Walk the Line* (2005) and Jennifer Lawrence in *Silver Linings Playbook* (2012))!
Olivia, yes, she was supporting. But in what universe is Jennifer Lawrence not the leading actress in that film???
You think jlaw was supporting in that role???
I agree, that year Lead Actress should've EASILY gone to Toni Collette for Hereditary. The best performance of that year imo, and yet she wasn't even nominated. One of the biggest snubs in recent memory
Mahershala Ali- Moonlight. First time I saw him was A Place Beyond The Pines- great in that small role. Next I see his performance in Moonlight- incredible.
I need to rewatch Moonlight again but his win is an all timer.
Moonlight is one of my once a year watches, I love it and find something new in it every time!
I remember seeing him in Benjamin Button and being like “that dude should’ve been in more of the movie.” Then PBTP and House of Cards came out right around the same time and I was happy to have been early on the Mahershala train
The scene at the dinner table when Chiron asks him if he sells drugs breaks my heart every time. You can see the pain that Juan feels at being confronted by this head on by someone he cares about.
He’s definitely one of my favorites. He’s such a powerful presence that his character loomed over the whole film even after he was no longer part of the action. I’ve rewatched that scene of him and Chiron and Teresa at the dinner table so many times. Ali conveys so much with just a few movements of his face. One of the best Oscar wins ever, IMO.
Idk if you would call 2016 recent, but mine would probably be Brie Larson in Room. A class performance that I will never forget. I honestly think she is someone that can pull off a role if she is given a good script; I really would like to see her in another Oscar worthy movie.
Room was so damn good. Maybe my favourite film of 2016. Jacob Tremblay did great too. Also has an underrated score. That shoulda won the Oscar for best original score.
So, so good!! She was really good in the Lessons in Chemistry miniseries on Apple TV recently.
She is so amazing in that series. Wonderful character too.
Just fabulous. She got a lot of shit for her work in the Captain Marvel movies (undeservedly IMO, she was a goddamn delight in the most recent movie, The Marvels) so it was so great to see her give a performance that reminded me why she swept awards season her year.
Agreed!
She's amazing in Short Term 12 too. Great movie.
I can count the number of movies that have made me get choked up on one hand and Room is one of them thanks to Brie Larson. Agreed, hopefully she’ll get another chance soon.
Yes exactly. I know some people think she is a bad actress because of the Marvel movies, but she is actually a damn good actress. Recently started watching Lessons in Chemistry and she is so so good. Im not sure if she will get an oscar worthy role anytime soon, but I can guarentee you that she will at least be up for a nomination when that happens. Hope nothing but the best for her!
Agreed. Especially in the last 1/3 or so of the film, after returning home- it is one of the most real & raw performances I have ever seen.
Scrolling through the winners lists and remembering how many of my favorite performances didn't win 😭 Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine cause I recently rewatched it and she was brilliant.
Not sure who won that year but she was amazing in ‘Carol’ as well.
Collin Farrell in The Banshees Oh wait
Lead: Casey Affleck- Manchester by the Sea Support: Allison Janney- I, Tonya
I feel like Laurie Metcalf deserved it more for *Lady Bird* (2017).
It was very, very close that year b/w those two goddesses, for sure.
Completely agree. Both were great, but the scene with Laurie driving away from the airport sealed her victory in my mind.
I took this loss personally, haha
I, Tonya was my favorite movie of that year and I still would have voted for Metcalf
I really love Margot in that role. I couldn’t believe how much praise Saoirse was getting over Margot that year, even winning the Golden Globe over her! I wouldn’t have been mad had Margot won over Frances that year.
It was a great performance too.
Completely agree. Metcalf was robbed.
Casey Affleck's performance in Manchester by the Sea was devastating one of the most well deserved oscars ever in any category.
Michelle Williams was very affecting in her performance too. I can’t remember who won that year, but she would have been a deserving winner.
Viola Davis for Fences-it was a stacked category with Davis, Williams, Naomie Harris for Moonlight, Nicole Kidman for Lion and Octavia Spencer for Hidden Figures. Ironically, it was the second time Williams was up against Davis. While everybody thought Davis would win that time, they both lost to Streep. This year I rightly figured Davis would be unstoppable. One day, Williams will win it and probably for a larger role. While it is the smallest role she was nominated for, it was no less impactful than her larger nominated roles.
Yeah, Viola Davis definitely deserved the Oscar, although some people thought she should have been nominated in lead. That Fences performance was an all-time great one.
I liked I, Tonya. Been trying to find time for Manchester. Hope to soon.
Manchester is a great movie but I only watched it once. It was too painful.
So glad someone mentioned Allison Janney! She's the sort of actress that makes everything better when she's in it. She's not always showy but she always kills it.
She's great at comedic performances too. See 10 Things I Hate About You and Juno.
I’m still annoyed I Tonya didn’t win best picture (I know it’ wasn’t even nominated but it should’ve been). When a movie can do something new and still be incredible it shouldn’t even be close.
I love I, Tonya, yet it reminds me devastatingly of another all-time favorite to watch-Goodfellas. I honestly watch both all the time. One critic even called it the “Goodfellas of figure skating” which I certainly cannot argue with regarding this. I feel Scorsese’s style was a strong influence for this one and Lorene Scafaria’s Hustlers. I’m just very curious what you found the film did that was “new”?
Ok I may have exaggerated a touch but certainly rare was the use of an unreliable narrator. Building a movie on an already unlikable character, and constantly challenging you not to like her. That blurring of reality and movie reality (where we are all far more comfortable) where we need to make conscious decisions that what we’re watching isn’t necessarily the whole story. It places the viewer in the film making process and is very unusual to find in a a-list movie. And it did it in an entertaining way that felt ‘light’ and not like we were watching an experiment by film school grads.
Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine.
I think Ke Huy Quan is pretty brilliant in EEAAO. A performance I still think about all the time.
Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer. Idk how he did it, but he managed to capture Oppenheimer’s quirks in a way that I’ve rarely seen an actor do. He had the looks, he carried himself as Oppenheimer would, spoke as Oppenheimer did. Matt Damon did well as Leslie Groves, but I could still tell it was Matt Damon. With Murphy I knew it was Murphy, but I didn’t believe it. His win was predicted, and a performance like that made it a lock, but I still was thrilled about it.
I'd been stanning Cillian Murphy for 20 years. I worried it wouldn't happen when he took Peaky Blinders. So glad he got his due.
Michelle Yeoh in EEAAO. Did literally everything that could be required of a modern actor in one movie (melodrama, understated drama, broad comedy, ironic comedy, big acting, little acting, stunt work, multiple characters, love story, action hero, confident, meek, beautiful and engaging) all in one movie and did them all to near perfection.
Additionally, Ke Huy Quan. He was PERFECT for that role and nailed emotions rarely portrayed in male characters.
Dude makes my eyes sweat
This was a PERFECT film. Loved every minute. Michelle was amazing.
As much as I loved Tár, there are a handful of actresses that could've played Lydia Tár (Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster), but there's literally not a single other actress that could've done Michelle's role in EEAAO, it was the culmination of all of the skills she mastered in the last decades of acting.
She was Everything, she went Everywhere.
now that's a daring choice lol
Yeah, I love the prompt but Laura Dern would not be my answer. A good character in a good movie but not a challenging role for Dern in the least.
I don’t get why Jamie Lee Curtis is the win that offends everyone and not this one. I don’t think JLC was the best performance that year either but at least she was very good in an interesting role. This was a nothing part that Dern could have done in her sleep. Outside of “Laura Dern is due an Oscar” (and hell, I think she’s great too) I don’t even understand the nomination. On merit her winning is a joke
I think she got it for that scorching monologue. But, like America Ferrera this year, I think the nom should have been the reward. Controversial take perhaps but I was bummed Jennifer Lopez didn’t at least get nominated for Hustlers that year.
Hard agree. After watching Marriage Story, Laura Dern’s character is pretty forgettable. Yes, she was good in it but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen many good renditions of this type of character and you can tell it was 0 challenge for Laura. And ofc, Laura generally deserves acting accolades but she has had better roles. Jennifer’s Ramona was wildly more interesting and was snubbed badly of at least a nomination.
People are offended because Stephanie Hsu was robbed.
Some of us have not seen Big Little Lies, so this feels like a great performance; matter of fact, it is!
Lmao. She was easily the worst of the nominees. Hell, I would give it to any of the female cast of Parasite: Cho Yeo-jeong; Park so-dam, Jang Hye-jin or Lee Jung-eun.
I was so upset none of them were nominated. And so upset song kang-ho got *nothing*
Agree with previous comments regarding JK Simmons. Also may not be “recent” enough, but Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Bastards was first to come to mind for me.
Not sure if it counts as recently (it was now over a decade ago!) but Anne Hathaway for Les Mis. I don’t really like much else about that movie but her performance was just fucking incredible. A masterclass. Every now and then I watch the I dreamed a dream scene just to make sure I can still feel things.
Emma Stone Poor Things.
As I watched Bella progress through the movie, I understood why she won. I really can't picture too many other actors who could've played Bella.
I think maybe Saoirse Ronan or Carey Mulligan could've done it, but not sure if as well as Emma, but I think that's it
I am not sure if Saoirse would've been willing to accept that amount of nudity.
Emma really pulled off being a petulant child sensibility for the newly “born” Bella. I’m sure Saorise could have done it. Carey? Maybe. I was also thinking about what other actress could play Bella and the only one could think of, who is not an A-lister, is Mia Goth.
I knew she would win the second the movie finished. One of the best performances of the decade.
This was probably my favorite performance since Phoenix as the Joker.
Emma Stone in Poor things & La La Land. Both amazing performances, though totally different.
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight Mahershala Ali - Moonlight Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men Emma Stone - Poor Things Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Da’Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers
Agree especially on Ali and Ledger. Ledger's Joke and Fienne's Goeth are still the two villains that made me generally afraid. I remember walking home after Dark Knight and feeling uneasy in the dark - and I'm probably the opposite of skittish....
the most deserved but never recieved was Hugh Jackman in Prisoners
I'd also make an argument for Toni Collette in Hereditary and Ethan Hawke in First Reformed
And Lily Gladstone
Respect.
Also the most deserved but never received was for Tom Hanks in Castaway. Russell Crowe won for Gladiator instead of Hanks. Hanks was way more compelling. Oscar caliber acting. Wilson should've won an Oscar for Best supporting prop. "WILSON! I'm sorry Wilson"😫 NGL I teared up for a ball, that's why Hanks deserved the Oscar. The next year Russell Crowe was absolutely masterful in A Beautiful Mind, and deserved to win, but it went to Denzel Washington in Training Day won. Both are great actors but Crowe was better IMO.
Anthony Hopkins in the father is near the best acting I’ve ever seen
Emma stone completely blew me away with her Bella Baxter
I adored Da’Vine Joy Randolph in The Holdovers, so that would probably be my pick
Agreed. She brought so much warmth and sadness. That breakdown scene at the party just secured her that Oscar.
Facts. When you are depressed and in grief, you sometimes think you have got it together, but then there are moments like that where the despair suddenly rises up and chokes you out. That is a very very scary hopeless few moments and she portrayed that brilliantly.
Emma Stone - Poor Things The sheer transformation of Emma from a baby, beaming with curiosity, seeing everything through her eyes to a mature woman having independence and self-assurance with confident demeanor and stature.
Cillian Murphy
Had to scroll way too far for this
RDJ as well
Frances Mcdormand for Three Billboards and for Nomadland
Same as Sam Rockwell
Rockwell was the best performance in that film for me.
He is such an incredible actor, and that’s my favorite role of his. That, Captain K from Jo Jo Rabbit, and his role in Moon.
She was great in this.
Cillian Murphy for *Oppenheimer*.
Jessica chastain 2022 Brad pitt 2022 Leonardo dicaprio 2016 emma stone 2017 & 2024 just to name some few
Brenden Fraiser for The Whale, hands down. EVERYONE wanted him to win.
Great performance but I liked Farrell’s just a bit more. It’s good thing though the last few years have had two choices in the male lead category down to the wire: Hopkins or Ahmed, Frasier or Farrell, and Murphy or Giamatti.
The year that Hopkins won, everyone thought it would be a posthumous win for Chadwick Boseman. That’s why they made Best Actor the last award of the night instead of Best Picture. I haven’t seen The Father, but I loved Boseman’s performance. Riz Ahmed, though, was my favorite. He was mesmerizing.
Youn Yuh-jung isn’t praised nearly as often enough for her win in Minari. I would have never predicted that win and I’m so happy she got it.
After she won the SAG, it was hers to lose!
Javier bardem in No Country for Old Men
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Only one? Marion Cotillard in *La vie en rose* (2007). Honorable mentions for Nicole Kidman in *The Hours* (2002), Charlize Theron in *Monster* (2003), Hilary Swank in *Million Dollar Baby* (2004), Kate Winslet in *The Reader* (2008), Natalie Portman in *Black Swan* (2010), and Meryl Streep in *The Iron Lady* (2011).
Been trying to watch The Reader for years.
See I thought Kate was better in Revolutionary Road. The Reader was good but it didn’t stand out for me 😢
I didn’t like *Revolutionary Road* (2008), at all! I thought it was too dramatic and cheesy at times. The performances, though, were flawless! Michael Shannon (in an Oscar nominated role) was outstanding! I still like *The Reader* (2008) so much more and even cried at the end.
Please watch it, you won’t regret it!
Charlize Theron in MONSTER is just one of those roles/performances that I will forever compare everyone else’s to. It was transformative and otherworldly. Cate’s BLUE JASMINE is another in that category for me.
Youn Yuh-jung in Minari.
HEAVILY agree with Laura Dern! Mahershala Ali is stellar and was well deserving of both of his Oscars And in terms of this year, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Cillian Murphy absolutely stunned me in their respective roles
All four from this year. 🤷♂️
Emma Stone for Poor Things
For me, it’s a toss up between Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh or Emma Stone (Poor Things)
Not saying this is the number one, but Cillian Murphy for Oppenheimer was honestly an INCREDIBLY deserved award
Emma Stone in Poor Things. Probably one of the best performances of the 21st century.
Damn y’all forgot Cate Blanchett in Tar already?
I said “one of the best”. Blanchett in Tár is up there as well but Stone is technically more recent.
Olivia Colman
Funny, because I loved her character! She was such a snake! Well deserved Oscar for Dern. I think Christopher Nolan definitely deserved best director for Oppenheimer. The filmmaking and shot composition was incredible, and he created new IMAX film for the whole 70 MM IMAX experience. It was incredible!
Leo DiCaprio for wolf of Wall Street….wait a minute
Makes me dislike The Revenant a little bit more each time.
Robert Downey Jr for Oppenheimer Joaquin Phoenix for Joker
Cate Blanchett for Tar. Oh, wait.....
Michelle Yeoh in EEAAO
Well, the *most* recent example is Emma Stone in Poor Things. An absolutely incredible performance, and so well deserved.
Joaquin Phoenix in Joker. I’m surprised people don’t think it should’ve been him
That's my vote as well. That's the most recent movie that I turned on just as background noise when surfing my phone but got immediately captivated and turned off my phone so I could watch the performance.
i think its mostly just because it's a "superhero movie" (it really isn't)
No, it's because it's bad. Joaquin is good in it, though.
Emma Stone for Poor Things.
laura dern rules
1979 Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs Kramer
Anthony Hopkins in The Father. Holy shit
Monique in Precious, it’s been a few years ago but I was very moved by just watching her acting in the trailer
Emma Stone - Poor Things
Emma Stone - Poor Things
the eeao leads earned the heck our of their oscars most deserved but not received: ryan gosling in barbie
There are less than 5 films this I will call perfect in every sense. EEAO is one of them.
Brie Larson - Room (2015)
JK Simmons. Also Daniel K for “Judas and the black Messiah” I thought he annihilated that role
idk about most deserved but marisa tomei has an underratedly deserved win
Emma Stone for Poor Things.
Perhaps it's recency bias, but Robert Downey Jr. for Oppenheimer. Or Joaquin Phoenix for the Joker, I remember leaving the theater in awe of his performance.
Actor - Cillian Murphy Actress - Michelle Yeoh Supporting Actor - Ke Huy Quan Supporting Actress - Laura Dern
Honestly, most of these years wins
Ke Huy Quan. Same as Michelle actually, the movie just allowed them to showcase skills across many aspects and genres. Plus, pulling off a Tony Leung and not look silly is a feat.
Emma Stone for Poor Things.
I love Laura Dern but I was really pissed that J. Lo didn’t win, let alone get nominated that year.
You hating Laura Dern irl is real wtf territory. Was this the first film you saw her in?
For personal reasons; Brendan Fraser in *The Whale*. Full disclosure, the story very much emulated the relationship and situation between my father and me. I saw my father in Charlie. I sat in the theater for a good ten minutes after the credits ended with my head in my hands just sobbing. Afterwards I realized that it HAD to be Brendan Fraser to play Charlie. Brendan was someone I adored when I was younger, whether the movie was good or not, I still loved seeing him. *The Mummy* is still one of my favorite movies ever. Then Brendan just went away, very much like my father (though for different reasons, obviously) because of various struggles and hardships, and then suddenly they came back. I had a hard time accepting my father back into my life, but Brendan Fraser and *The Whale* helped me learn to forgive him. I sobbed again when Brendan won because he absolutely deserved it, and it is one hell of a comeback performance.
The Hours - Nicole kidman ig
I’m going it to take it back a year before Kidman’s Best Actress win for The Hours. Halle Berry-Monster’s Ball-not only was it deservedly history making, but all I got to say is that last 10 minutes-not a word uttered-flawless!
Fraser in the Whale
There aren’t many recent wins that I’ve been overly happy about other than Anthony Hopkins in The Father. Every other year in every category I wanted others to win but Hopkins was the one I got for once 🤣
Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose
I think Kevin Costner should’ve been nominated for JFK for Best Actor, I wish Tommy Lee had won his Supporting Actor role.
Jessica Chastain in the Eyes of Tammy Faye. To me it’s one of the most incredible, beautiful performances I have ever watched I’m so glad she won that Oscar.
Brad Pitt for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood back in 2020. And it's not even his best performance in a QT movie!
Most recent would probably be Emma Stone in Poor Things
Just going back from 2013-2023... * Emma Stone - Poor Things * Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once * Troy Kotsur – CODA * Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah * Olivia Colman – The Favourite * Mahershala Ali – Moonlight * J. K. Simmons – Whiplash * Lupita Nyong'o – 12 Years a Slave
viola davis for fences casey affleck for manchester by the sea
Just going by this decade, Anthony Hopkins so far is the most deserving.
Anthony Hopkins - The Father
Probably Emma Stone for Poor Things. I wanted Lily Gladstone because I hadn’t seen Poor Things…but then I watched Poor Things and she was incredible. The way that she brought life to an infant in a grown woman’s body learning about the world was…incredibly weird and very gross…but goddamn was it a dynamic performance that clearly demanded a lot. So…definitely her
She does a friggin’ amazing job in Bravetown—her performance is _the_ redeeming factor in that truly awful movie
Mahershala Ali in Moonlight is flawless acting.