10. Charlotte Gainsbourg (Nymphomaniac)
You can always trust Charlotte Gainsbourg to get down to it. Get down and go down. A tough role and an intellectually-stimulating film rather than an emotionally-stimulating one, she is nevertheless as compelling here as in any of her flashier performances.
You can always trust Charlotte Gainsbourg to get down to it. Get down and go down. A tough role and an intellectually-stimulating film rather than an emotionally-stimulating one, she is nevertheless as compelling here as in any of her flashier performances.
9. Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
Few major English-language actors understand the nature of how human beings behave as comprehensively as Sally Hawkins. She approaches each role with an emphasis on naturalism and believability rather than establishing vivid character traits, and her Ginger is among her most impressive performances to date.
Few major English-language actors understand the nature of how human beings behave as comprehensively as Sally Hawkins. She approaches each role with an emphasis on naturalism and believability rather than establishing vivid character traits, and her Ginger is among her most impressive performances to date.
8. Adele Exarchopoulos (Blue Is the Warmest Colour)
Did any actor last year give as much as Adele Exarchopoulos? It had to be the French, didn't it? Bold and brilliant, Exarchopoulos surrenders wholly to the role and to Abdellatif Kechiche's penetrative filmmaking, and produces one of the most fully-rounded performances of the year.
Did any actor last year give as much as Adele Exarchopoulos? It had to be the French, didn't it? Bold and brilliant, Exarchopoulos surrenders wholly to the role and to Abdellatif Kechiche's penetrative filmmaking, and produces one of the most fully-rounded performances of the year.
7. Isidora Simijonovic (Clip)
This is the third post, bar my review of Maja Milos' Clip, that I've made, raving about the young Isidora Simijonovic's performance. It's a vivid portrayal of a teenager whose behaviour has been unhinged by a restrictive society, and it's one of the most startling debuts on screen that I can remember.
This is the third post, bar my review of Maja Milos' Clip, that I've made, raving about the young Isidora Simijonovic's performance. It's a vivid portrayal of a teenager whose behaviour has been unhinged by a restrictive society, and it's one of the most startling debuts on screen that I can remember.
6. Judi Dench (Philomena)
That marvellous icon of acting, Judi Dench, has never been subtler and never stronger than she is in Philomena. She is every bit the old catholic Irish lady, clad in cosy knits and unashamedly thrilled by so much as a trip abroad, that I know ever so well. A performance of great depth and insight.
That marvellous icon of acting, Judi Dench, has never been subtler and never stronger than she is in Philomena. She is every bit the old catholic Irish lady, clad in cosy knits and unashamedly thrilled by so much as a trip abroad, that I know ever so well. A performance of great depth and insight.
5. Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
It's in Bob Nelson's pitch-perfect screenplay, and in Alexander Payne's sensitive direction. But Bruce Dern's wonderful performance as Woody Grant elevates the character into iconic territory. He barely seems to be acting, yet the impact is immeasurable. One for the years, I expect.
It's in Bob Nelson's pitch-perfect screenplay, and in Alexander Payne's sensitive direction. But Bruce Dern's wonderful performance as Woody Grant elevates the character into iconic territory. He barely seems to be acting, yet the impact is immeasurable. One for the years, I expect.
4. Miles Canapi (Norte, the End of History)
As Fabian's stifling sister, and the eventual victim of his increasingly-warped social politics, Miles Canapi has rather less to do than many of the stars of Lav Diaz's latest Filipino epic. But she makes an indelible imapct with this vibrant and ultimately harrowing performance.
As Fabian's stifling sister, and the eventual victim of his increasingly-warped social politics, Miles Canapi has rather less to do than many of the stars of Lav Diaz's latest Filipino epic. But she makes an indelible imapct with this vibrant and ultimately harrowing performance.
3. Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
So much has been written about Cate Blanchett, and about her work in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine as the titular character, destroyed by her dead husband's philandering and by her own willful ignorance. But so much more could be written about this outstanding performance, and it would still be not nearly enough.
So much has been written about Cate Blanchett, and about her work in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine as the titular character, destroyed by her dead husband's philandering and by her own willful ignorance. But so much more could be written about this outstanding performance, and it would still be not nearly enough.
2. Luminita Gheorghiu (Child's Pose)
A performance so deeply-felt and so hard-hitting that it turns Calin Peter Netzer's otherwise excellent familial drama into one of the year's most unforgettable films. It's not just incredible fictional characterisation Gheorghiu pulls off here. It feels so real that the film has the air of documentary when she is on screen. Quite amazing.
A performance so deeply-felt and so hard-hitting that it turns Calin Peter Netzer's otherwise excellent familial drama into one of the year's most unforgettable films. It's not just incredible fictional characterisation Gheorghiu pulls off here. It feels so real that the film has the air of documentary when she is on screen. Quite amazing.
1. Isabelle Huppert (Abuse of Weakness)
The Isabelle Huppert, in the most challenging performance of her career to date, certainly physically, and quite possibly even emotionally. I was left astounded by what she achieved in the role of a film director ruined first by a stroke and then by her baffling devotion to a con artist to whom she signs away unthinkable sums of money. It's the year's most riveting performance, and despite an extremely strong slate of contenders, there was surely no real competition.
The Isabelle Huppert, in the most challenging performance of her career to date, certainly physically, and quite possibly even emotionally. I was left astounded by what she achieved in the role of a film director ruined first by a stroke and then by her baffling devotion to a con artist to whom she signs away unthinkable sums of money. It's the year's most riveting performance, and despite an extremely strong slate of contenders, there was surely no real competition.
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