Top 3 Acting Performances Since 2005

[Stevesie60]

1. Natalie Portman - Black Swan

This may be a little higher than it deserves due to, what I believe is, the best directing we've seen in our lifetime. But it definitely belongs in the top 5 hands down. What a transition that girl made, and being able to show good and evil through the same character is absolutely incredible.

2. Daniel Day Lewis - There Will Be Blood

You could tell at some point P.T. Anderson just told DDL to take over the entire thing. Got rid of an actor in lieu of Paul Dano because he wanted to be able to literally slap him around in the church scene, and the first actor wouldn't let him. Lots of nonverbal acting, which makes it hard to show personality/emotion, but he got the job done (duh, he's DDL).

3. Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Admittedly this is a guilty pleasure. Any decent actor can make a character using lots of ticks and weird habits (see Brad Pitt in Inglorious Basterds), but he made the whole damn movie. People saw it multiple times in theaters because they wanted more Joker. And it was a good job by Christopher Nolan to not make the entire movie about him, thus leaving viewers wanting more.

[michigancat]

John Hamm as Don Draper

[scottwildcat]

1. Natalie Portman - Black Swan

This may be a little higher than it deserves due to, what I believe is, the best directing we've seen in our lifetime. But it definitely belongs in the top 5 hands down. What a transition that girl made, and being able to show good and evil through the same character is absolutely incredible.

2. Daniel Day Lewis - There Will Be Blood

You could tell at some point P.T. Anderson just told DDL to take over the entire thing. Got rid of an actor in lieu of Paul Dano because he wanted to be able to literally slap him around in the church scene, and the first actor wouldn't let him. Lots of nonverbal acting, which makes it hard to show personality/emotion, but he got the job done (duh, he's DDL).

3. Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Admittedly this is a guilty pleasure. Any decent actor can make a character using lots of ticks and weird habits (see Brad Pitt in Inglorious Basterds), but he made the whole damn movie. People saw it multiple times in theaters because they wanted more Joker. And it was a good job by Christopher Nolan to not make the entire movie about him, thus leaving viewers wanting more.

Agree so hard on number 1 and 3 it is not even funny. Number two...meh...I would put Heath at two.

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

1. Will Smith in "Hitch"
2. Kevin James in "Hitch"
3. Eva Mendes in "Hitch"

[puniraptor]

can you list all movies since 2005 to make this easier?

also does this include 2005?

[scottwildcat]

1. Will Smith in "Hitch"
2. Kevin James in "Hitch"
3. Eva Mendes in "Hitch"

I can honestly say I hated the movie Hitch and would rather stab my eye balls out with a needle than watch that movie again.

[Stevesie60]

can you list all movies since 2005 to make this easier?

also does this include 2005?

It does. And it only includes movies coughcoughmichigancatcoughcough.

[kim carnes]

why 2005?  what the hell?

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

Yeah, Hitch came out in 2005 so it should totally count

[Stevesie60]

why 2005?  what the hell?

'cause it's my thread. And also because that's when I became a movie critic.

[michigancat]

can you list all movies since 2005 to make this easier?

also does this include 2005?

It does. And it only includes movies coughcoughmichigancatcoughcough.

what a dumb freaking rule

[Stevesie60]

can you list all movies since 2005 to make this easier?

also does this include 2005?

It does. And it only includes movies coughcoughmichigancatcoughcough.

what a dumb freaking rule

They call for totally different things. Having to get a character across in 2 hours or so is way different than having to get a character across in 50+ hours.

[Cartierfor3]

Joaquin Phoenix in the master would make my list, not sure about the other 2.

[The Big Train]

1. DDL - Lincoln
2. DDL - Lincoln
3. DDL - Lincoln

I would put that old MS chick in here but she wins to much.

[bubbles4ksu]

i could watch christoph waltz in his two big roles err single day, but i don't think i would rank them above heath ledger as joker.

[yoga-like_abana]

off topic but movie most heavily influenced by the soundtrack, drive.

[Mr Bread]

ddl-there will be blood
christoph waltz-inglorious bastards
heath ledger-the dark knight

This was very easy for me.  Could watch each of those performances indefinitely. 

[EllRobersonisInnocent]

Michael Shannon in "Take Shelter" is great

[michigancat]

can you list all movies since 2005 to make this easier?

also does this include 2005?

It does. And it only includes movies coughcoughmichigancatcoughcough.

what a dumb freaking rule

They call for totally different things. Having to get a character across in 2 hours or so is way different than having to get a character across in 50+ hours.

and a lead actor in a comedy is totally different from a supporting actor in a drama. So maybe just rename the thread "best lead actor in a dramatic motion picture since 2005". Just a thought.

[SabiNation]

Agree with Bread's list.  Two honorable mentions:

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was awesome in Capote
Leo in Departed

[Prince McJunkins]

ddl-there will be blood
christoph waltz-inglorious bastards
heath ledger-the dark knight

This was very easy for me.  Could watch each of those performances indefinitely.

Good call. Mind blowing performance.

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

and a lead actor in a comedy is totally different from a supporting actor in a drama. So maybe just rename the thread "best lead actor in a dramatic motion picture since 2005". Just a thought.

There's a reason that no one ever wins best actor for a comedy. The Academy isn't a perfect institution, michcat, and neither is Jake. Thread title is fine.

[420seriouscat69]

Brad Pitt- Inglorious Bastards
R gos- Crazy, Stupid, love
Jessie Spano- Re-run epi about being addicted to caffeine pills.

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

1. Christoph Waltz- Inglorious Basterds
2. Heath Ledger- The Dark Knight
3. *Daniel Day-Lewis- Gangs of New York

*Think Gangs is DDL's best movie, but I haven't seen Lincoln yet.

[michigancat]

and a lead actor in a comedy is totally different from a supporting actor in a drama. So maybe just rename the thread "best lead actor in a dramatic motion picture since 2005". Just a thought.

There's a reason that no one ever wins best actor for a comedy. The Academy isn't a perfect institution, michcat, and neither is Jake. Thread title is fine.

I like the golden globes for separating comedy and drama.