Mahershala Ali in Moonlight's performance really is warmth embodied. He's caring to young Chiron in a way that doesn't feel contradictory to who the character is or forced. And that scene when Chiron confronts him about being a dealer? The pain and anguish and shame flickering through his face and body has never left me since I first saw that film. On the flip side, Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network is just an incredible feat of an actor perfectly understanding who their character is and executing meticulously. The exactness of his portrayal of insecurity, arrogance, ignorance, and inferiority/superiority complex blows me away every time.
I grew up without a dad and my mom made me watch moonlight with her, it came out when I was 17. Those scenes hit me so hard and stuck with me and when I grew up and started selling drugs and doing bad stuff I always felt bad and I rewatched the movie and felt the same shame and it made me stop doing that shit. It’s crazy looking back how that character in a movie changed my real life view.
All of the acting in Moonlight was incredible, especially the main character where we yad three different actors and all of them were able to feel like the same person.
I agree. One of the great modern movies. And each time you see it, it just keeps getting better. And as great as “the underground railroad” is, and it’s an amazing movie… It still isn’t as good as moonlight. Moonlight is Barry Jenkins, taxi driver. And now he’s doing the prequel to the lion King… What a waste of talent. But I guess his movies are so intense… He wanted a break from it. @@mmmissmiss3356
which is wild because they intentionally kept them apart on set so they wouldn't emulate each other. i have so much moonlight lore, it was literally my life for like a year when it came out lmaoo.
Viola Davis in Fences when she tells her husband she sacrificed her life for him & when a mother received news of her dead soldier son in The Messenger are some of the moments I can remember crying.
The ensemble cast of Little Miss Sunshine is my favorite acting performance to rewatch. Every character was played brilliantly by each actor and they all fit together as if they really were a dysfunctional family but you felt the love that was there and they had each other’s back.
@@Pixiemaniac Yes! A friend of mine went to see it in the theater after I recommended it (this was YEARS AGO lol) and he enjoyed it so much he went again and brought some friends to see it too. It’s such a wonderful film.
That scene in Manchester by the Sea is the most heartbreaking of all. And yes, it can also move me to tears watching it out of context. I think that was Michele Williams' best performance because she's such a real person.
In a show where acting isn't the strong suit, Antony starr as Homelander has some incredible acting with his eyes. He portrays so many emotions in just his eyes alone.
*YES.* Definitely. You'd think a scene where the villain has his "self-love" moment by killing his doppelganger in lingerie after kissing him would be hilarious, but the moment he says "You're pathetic." with pure disgust & tears swelling, your heart breaks with him. He's just great. 💯💯💯
@@KoltenTVC Yea, notice how everything you said doesn't contradict what sethskull said. You can have good story, world building and character interaction, but have bad acting. Those things are great despite the general "ok" acting, with Anthony Starr being one of the few exceptions.
Tilda Swinton is the most versatile actor I've ever watched, she makes acting look effortless and fun even in the smallest roles. I just rewatched Snowpiercer for the first time in years and her character just would not work with anyone even slightly less capable. It should be ridiculous, but she can effortlessly smooth the transition between depressing gore and comedy. I can't think of another actor with more varied roles and the direction she takes them in is truly inspired. Even in comparison to Daniel Day Lewis, who I think is right next to her.
It's also funny it's in there with so much talk of "subtlety" lol. That performance was absolutely batshit but amazing. But also why she's one of the best cause she does both effortlessly.
Mahershala Ali in Moonlight. Especially those two scenes, at the beach and at the table. Just like you, when I realized he wasn't going to be in the movie anymore, I was like wait what oh no, no.... That scene at the table, though. I felt his deep shame, his humanity. It made me want to cry. Best acting I've ever seen.
In Swan Song he plays a dying man who takes.part in a cloning program. He was terrific playing the 2 versions of the character who became men with separate identities.
Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes in In Bruges. It’s largely comedic acting, but with plenty of pathos mixed in, and it’s just beautifully done. They both have a way of making other actors look lazy when they share a scene with them.
They are both real talents. Look at Farrell's performance in The Banshees of Innisherrin - he brings such a subtlety to the character. You can see why Colm (Gleeson's character) is fed up with Padraig, and wants more from a friendship, and why his sister leaves him behind, but at the same time there is a kindness and an empathy in him that is endearing, and then at the end, a real steel to his character.
Amy Adams in Arrival. One of my favorite performances of all time. She conveys despair, resilience, euphoria, and grief with incredible subtlety. Makes me emotional every time.
arrival & nocturnal animals are movies that cuts deep and stayed in ma head for days. her choice of script is brilliant and both were released same year
i am such a lover of subtle acting. Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada is a perfect example of not doing too much but yet delivering an excellent acting performance. how she was able to play a villain everyone was scared of but yet was so calm is amazing
Simon Pegg does not get the praise he deserves from his performance in Shaun of the Dead, he brings such joy in the funny scenes and such weight to the more dramatic scenes, it's absolutely fantastic work
A performance that always comes to mind is Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler". I'm not sure why but watching someone claw for their former glory and destroy the possibility of a future is incredibly depressing. The heart condition is another aspect of this idea that was really well done. Something so integral and important to our function but something we don't think about until it fails. The specific scene that really stuck with me was when Mickey Rourke's character was walking through the innards the grocery store and he began to hear the crowd. The sound of the crowd escalating and becoming raucous until he opens the curtains to the deli counter.
Matt Damon's and Robin Williams chemistry during their discussion about his wifes passing was something I found so sincere. Genuinely such a deep, immersive moment which is intensified by the crew's engagement with the scene is one of my favorite scenes of all time.
Tony Leung in In The Mood For Love and Happy Together. I'm not able to articulate just what it is about those roles but there's a way he just carries the doubts, fear, pain and longing simply in existing as his characters that is mesmerizing to me. I like to describe In The Mood For Love as " a guy stares longingly for two hours and its the greatest, most beautiful thing you'll ever watch" to anyone who would listen.
@@sullengrll Totally, both of their performances are amazing. Maybe we collectively single out Tony Leung out more because he gets the scene at the end. Maybe I'm biased too because I've just seen more Tony Leung movies and because I'm a guy so I don't understand or appreciate Maggie's performance as much?
Most recently is Paul Mescal in Aftersun. I lack the words to describe how it resonates with me, but it was like seeing both myself and my father at the same time in different moments.
Was going to mention Aftersun too, it's one of those movies in which it just doesn't feel like acting, but actual people being themselves. Even the role of the daughter is incredibly natural. Not only Mescal's acting is seamless, but the interaction between the two is too.
Was about to say this His performance in normal people is also incredibly relatable to me to the point where it just hurts because of how close to home it hits.
I genuinely think he is one of the best new young actors working today. Between seeing him on stage twice in Lieutenant of Inishmore and Streetcar, watching Normal People, Aftersun and God's Creatures...I'm just blown away by his nuance, naturalism and presence. Incredible actor
Philip Seymour Hoffman really was the kind of actor who made even the smallest role lively and memorable. A moment that always stuck with me was in Punch-Drunk Love where he's having this screaming match with Adam Sandler and the way he acts momentarily stunned and confused before anger takes over again felt so genuine. He could have had another 30 years of performances and still would have been too short.
I have never mourned a famous actor in my life, except Hoffman. I still remember the moment I realized "oh. I'll never see another performance from him again."
Absolutely. One of those smaller roles of his was in Moneyball, and I'll always remember the scene in which his character has a disagreement with Brad Pitt's character, and as he walks away disappointedly he does this mini hand gesture of shaking the hand off as a way to shrug off the conversation oor to readjust his watch (???) and at that exact moment I stopped seeing Philip and saw a disappointed, at-the-end-of-his-nerves coach trying to stay afloat. It's an understatement saying that that moment blew me away.
Bro, the final scene in Schindler's List where Neeson is frantically thinking of ways he could have saved more people, while everyone he's saved is just watching in utter gratefulness and admiration is possibly the greatest scene in Spielberg's filmography.
Absolutely agree.. it snatches tears out of me every time of been willing to experience that movie.. he’s so crippled by regret and humility and ultimately love. He finally knows love. Love just because they are human beings.
Definitely an unpopular opinion but Daniel Kaluuya's acting in "Nope" has been my favorite of his. I kept forgetting he was the same man from Get Out, Black Mirror and Widows even though he didn't alter his appearance in any way. By playing such a reserved and shut off character I had to remind myself I had in fact seen him act before. It angers me that Nope is seen by many as Peele's "worst", ever performance in it was so stellar but Daniel's takes the cake.
The man's acting range is absolutely insane. It blows my mind how can act both with, as you accurately pointed out, a somewhat shut off and reserved character in one film, and have this insanely tense aura about him without conveying much, like we've seen in Steve McQueen's "Widows".
Thiss!! I absolutely LOVED nope and could not get over Daniel Kaluuya's acting in it. He portrayed this quiet strength that was just so natural and wonderful., and so so compelling. I absolutely loved it.
Mads Mikkelsen in The Hunt (2012) and later in Another Round (2020), both from phenomenal director Thomas Vinterberg, made him at my eyes one of the finest male actors working today.
THE HUNT you just reminded me of a movie I haven’t seen in years. Definitely one of my favorites I have ever seen. It made me become a Mads Mikkelsen fanboy. (Another Round was also amazing but I liked and was affected by the Hunt more)
I rewatched it recently and actually found myself appreciating Thomas Bo Larsen way more in The Hunt. He is not at all an internationally established actor, and he mostly plays what is essentially the same role in every movie, with slight variations. But in The Hunt he really delivers an incredible performance. I was talking with my wife about the performances in it because she shares your opinion that Mads is absolutely incredible in it. And while I agree, I still feel like it's a bit muted? I struggle to see what is going on inside Mads' character in the entire movie. But I feel very differently about Thomas Bo Larsen's character. I can tell exactly what is going on in his head in every single scene, whilst still being a subtle performance. It's probably a hot take, but I honestly feel like Thomas outshines the whole cast in that movie. Now this doesn't mean that I don't appreciate all the other performances! 😅 everyone crushed it! But Thomas is just a cut above in that film imo
I think jake Gyllenhaal‘a performance in Prisoners is amazing and overall Jake Gyllenhaal and his more subtle performance are generally under appreciated
Toni Collette in Hereditary. She's always amazing but how she shows the trauma of her character in every scene plus the agonizing pain in a couple of key ones really stood out to me
I totally agree. There was this popular post going around on social media that included that clip that said something like "women in cinema are always shown as hysterical when in distress" (as a point of sexism in cinema) and it absolutely infuriated me, because that scene specifically was absolutely paramount in explaining the dynamic of the family purely by that outburst. The whole movie they're quiet, uncommunicative, they avoid talking about difficult subjects. But Toni Collettes outburst releases everything in one single moment in a mass of extreme pain, fury, sorrow, grief and regret - all in one. All the while, as she simmers down and sits down, it's like an admission of everyone going back to their place again. Or at least, that's how I read it. @@georgewhite1972
She is so talented as an actress. One of my favorite movies she's in is Muriel's Wedding. It's not a serious movie and Muriel is an eccentric character but Toni is terrific.
I believe Laura Linney’s performance in Ozark is severely underrated. She’s excellent as a cold-hearted women trying to hide her emotions in a grim setting, but her breakdown scenes after losses or serious tension are absolutely stunning.
Of all the ways that show jumped the shark, it was the loss of seeing his performances that sent a lot of fans packing. Also, maybe an underrated skill, he nailed the American accent so flawlessly that I was flabbergasted to hear his real accent in interviews.
paul mescal in aftersun is just something that i will never get over. i had previously seen him in normal people and was well aware of how talented he was and what he could do as a performer but him in that movie was just an entirely different thing. he brings such a tenderness and authenticity as well as an underlying layer of melancholy and despair that was just magnetic to watch. he deserved that oscar nomination fair and square.
The impending doom you feel for his character, almost from the first moments, and the emotional response you get from that is unique. I think most people who are affected deeply by his performance have a specific person that Callum reminds us of, someone who is now gone. It felt like an opportunity to understand, if not the depth of my specific person’s despair, then at least the similar ways in which they also must’ve hidden the majority of their suffering in order to make my childhood bearable. The best art causes deep introspection, imho.
McConaughey's performance in True Detective made me do a 180 about him and his acting. Having previously just seen him as "the cheesy rom-rom guy with the put on accent" and " the dazed and confused guy." I love that first season so much
Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice is arguably the greatest performance ever captured on screen. Haunting, luminous, immersive, quiet, loud, transcendance. The "choice" scene is the most haunting thing I have ever watched and the "scream" without any sound is a touch of genius. A true maserclass.
Mathew McConaughey in Interstellar. The scene in the Tessaract, watching helplessly as he watches his past unfold in real time. The emotion in that scene gets me every time. "Where are you going, you Idiot?! No! Don't let him leave Murph!" The most transformative performance, for me, would have to be Gary Oldman in True Romance. Drexyl is an unforgettable character. "Grab yaself an eggroll or su'm, we got everything here from a diddle-eyed joe to damned if I know!" I love that you compared Tilda Swinton with Gary Oldman, I had an emotional reaction to hearing my own thoughts come out of someone else's mouth.
Denzel Washington's performance in Training Day is captivating and unforgettable, showcasing his ability to play a twisted, morally ambiguous character.
Denzel's performances are always top-notch, he's just been that guy. I just rewatched Unstoppable with my dad and his acting in that movie and the chemistry he has with Chris Pine feels so real. He reminds me a lot of my father's friends who were conductors the realness in his performance in that movie is so much fun to watch even though it's not talked about because to most people it's just another "2010s" thriller action movie. (Just a thought I wanted to get that out somewhere also, Training Day is a top 30 movie at least imo)
@@noahconstantine8409yeah thats true I think he’s started to take a back set on acting and let the next generation have their shot, I’ll always appreciate what he does for new actors and especially black actors he always wants those less fortunate to have the same chances. Also “The Little Things” (2021) was pretty decent I know some didn’t like it but I thought it was a good watch.
Man, that Oscar Isaac scene has just ingrained itself in my head forever since I watched the movie. It feels so powerful and real. One of my favorite Coen brothers films.
To me, one of the greatest actors working right now is Song Kang-ho, his performance in Memories of Murder is one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen.
I personally love Han Suk Kyu. Probably my best Korean actor though he's deviated to the smaller screen now. Also love Shin Ha Kyun, he was in one of the Vengeance series (Mr. Vengeance) I think, with Song Kang-Ho. With that said, Korean acting can often feel like too much for those who don't know. Especially if you go from movies to shows. There's just such a different approach.
Carmy’s seven minute monologue from the bear , also Rue and Ali’s conversation at the diner are two of the most natural but heart breaking tv scenes I’ve watched .
@@castor5810 oh for sure. For me it’s already there alongside with breaking bad (for me at least. I’m a just a lil too young for the sopranos and the wire never hit me like I think it should)
Daniel Day Lewis in Phantom Thread speaks to me in a very Asperger’s way - his reflexive rudeness and blinkered focus are traits I’ve spent a lifetime trying to rid myself of. I understand implicitly when and why he stabs at everyone around him and it’s always pained me the weakness this reflects in myself. To witness it played out so coldly and accurately on the screen is simultaneously a relief and a punishment
As someone on the spectrum, maybe this is why it's my favorite PTA movie. I always assumed it was because I enjoyed the themes of codependence at the power struggle at the heart of a relationship. But you make a very good observation.
Sean Harris, in the horror movie "Possum," gives about the greatest performance I've ever seen, and he hardy speaks in the film. The way he's able to portray a psychologically broken man fighting himself is unmatched, and the subtle details of his expressions are top-notch.
Obvious choice is obvious but Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman / Jimmy McGill in Better Call Saul is one of the most memorable and varied performances I've ever seen on TV. It's incredible how the funny lawyer guy became one of the most tragic characters in fiction and it simply wouldn't have worked if Odenkirk hadn't sold every aspect of that fantastic character.
James Gandolfini in The Sopranos is far and away the most impressive, consistent, versatile performances I've ever seen. You can feel every thought and emotion Tony has just from the subtleties in Gandolfini's performance. And he keeps up the incredible acting over 6 entire seasons.
You might not know of this one, But Olivia Colman in Broadchurch is some of the best acting I've ever seen. She makes you feel the emotion your supposed to, If she cries you cry, If she's happy you are. Honestly, Worth watching.
Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility has a moment has stuck with me for decades. Her sister has just recovered from a potentially fatal and intense illness and you can just see that wave of tiredness and releaf pass through her. Her head shakes just a tiny amount and it’s simply stunning.
I recently rewatched Fleabag and am still blown away by Phoebe Waller-Bridge seamlessly flowing between being in the show’s world and breaking the fourth wall to interact with the camera.
I watched Mahershala Ali's acting for the first time in his latest movie Leave The World Behind. The movie is...debatable but his acting man? Such gravitas, subtlety and warmth! Gonna go through his entire filmography soon
one of my favourite performances is david tennant in doctor who, especially episodes like midnight where he really conveys the fact he's playing an alien whos lived for nearly 1000 years by that point. also peter capaldis monologues in his run are always so engaging and captivating
For me it has to be F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus. Watching his transformation as he becomes more and more consumed by jealousy but is simultaneously trying to mask this emotion. You sort of hate him but empathize with him which is so difficult to achieve
Cate Blanchett in TÁR is in my opinion the best acting i have seen of the 2020’s yet. even though she didn’t win the Oscar, she gave a once in a lifetime performance
It always makes me sad that Viola Davis is left off of lists like this. I think she is one of our best actors today and brings so much to her roles from Doubt to How to Get Away with Murder to Disturbia to Fences to The Woman King, it’s crazy to see her move from role to role. I mostly agree with this list tho and love ur videos! Your editing is so impressive and I love the in-depth analyses. And as a BFA in Theater, I am so happy with your insight in acting without going too technical.
Shia Lebouf - American Honey Adam Sandler - Uncut Gems Jeffrey Wright - Cadillac Records Dustin Hoffman - The Meyerowitz Stories Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club Martin Lawrence - Death at a Funeral Viola Davis - Antwon Fisher
I actually think Paul Raci in "Sound of Metal" was the best performance I've seen in a very long time. There's a deep resonance in everything he says that you hear in his voice, you see in his face and his signing, that tells you whether or not this is scripted, it's entirely true for him. Of course knowing his personal life and relation to his deaf parents and the deaf community (I found out afterwards), you realize that indeed, he is not acting. He's preaching the truth of a particular community to a naive, hearing world. It was a beautiful role given to an actor whose life and identity was already formed in the shape of the role. It was a match made in movie heaven.
Best acting I have ever seen is Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a dream. Her screen presence is not alot within the film, but she portrays so much character development within those minutes and the moment of her on public transport is so perfect that no actor has ever come close to what I would call the best acting beyond this performance
@@yamuthahoYes! Yesterday I've finally watched "The Exorcist" for the first time, and while I didn't particularly liked it, I was absolutely amazed by Ellen Burstyn's and Jason Miller's acting, it was incredible!
Thanks for highlighting Pacino’s performance in DDA, it’s amazing what he was doing at such a young age. The whole script allows for so much complex emotion really, like Chris Sarandon is almost just as memorable.
To me he was the best actor ever at that time. The performances he'd throughout the 70s are untouchable. I love him post Scarface too, but the combination of the perfect roles for him and directors that really understood his strong points make that decade special
David Dawson as King Alfred in “The Last Kingdom” was one performance that I immediately thought of. When he was sick and led his men into battle, had me ready to suit up and grab a sword. The emotion and strength his character portrayed was inspiring.
I don't know that I would say I have a FAVOURITE actor, but if I had to pick, Tilda Swinton is definitely a top contender. Her ability to transform her voice, physicality, and sometimes her entire appearance, is magnificent. She never drops the ball, the characters she creates are always singular and memorable, and her range is unlike anything I've seen from other "bigger" actors.
I think Jim Carrey in The Truman Show is easily one of the best performances I can think of. Because the movie can be so lighthearted, people seem to forget how good he was in it. He nailed every single scene, perfectly balancing comedy with drama and the mundane. Despite being played by Jim Carrey, one of the most recognizable actors in the world, Truman does not feel like a Jim Carrey character, but a real person. It might not be the most complex performance, but it really is perfect.
He was equally magnificent in the Majestic. JC’s noncomedic roles are breathtaking. He’s a damn fine actor and I wish they sent him more drama scripts. Eternal Sunshine was also another phenomenal showing from him.
Interesting choices. Mahershala Ali's performance in Moonlight is of course wonderful but in terms of impact for minimal screen time I think that award must go to Naomie Harris in the same film. In sharp contrast to Ali, there's not much warmth to her character, but when she breaks the fourth wall by glaring directly into the camera that is the most powerful moment in the film for me. I still remember thinking 'whoah!' when I first saw that in the cinema.
Holy crap, the mention of Ben Mendelson's character and his mannerisms really hits home because it was the first movie I saw of his. I had no idea who he was and his performance as sort of a loner, redneck, drinking and smoking really hit the mark. He even walks around perfectly just like a middle aged guy who has physical pain/limited mobility. The way he smokes and talks to people is so subtle but it's amazing how he transforms. When I saw an interview with him and realized this doesn't sound anything like him at all I was even more amazed at Ben's acting
My role as a background old woman in a school play, aged around 13. While cleaning floors to the track of "I want to break free" the emotional turmoil emitted from my soul, whilst repressing the fact I was wearing my aunties tights, shows how I didn't just portray a background dancer, I FELT like a background dancer who feels under appreciated and is trying to find my way in the world. It was literally cheered for minutes after the performance and to this day, I am the only one who remembers it.
I remember one of the first movies to bring me to tears was Schindlers List, by the end when Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler breaks down over how many more he could have saved if he had only sacrificed some more like the ring he's wearing is worth so many lives. It's been over 20 years since I saw the movie, so I don't know how well it holds up today, but it's one of the first performances that I can recall well that had a big impact to me.
One of my favorites is one you also mentioned, Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal. The one scene that brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it is when he talks to the head of the center about his past. The guy asks him how long he's been with his girlfriend and how long he's been sober, and it that little moment you see all the hardship they went through and what they mean to each other, just in the way he looks away when answering the question.
For me, Jared Harris is one of the best living actors. I feel like he's amazing in everything he's in whether it's small, understated stuff like in Chernobyl or more bombastic characters like in The Expanse. He usually gives one of the best performances in whatever he's in.
It's probably basic to say so, but my favorite performance of all time is Toni Collette in The Sixth Sense. Just never doubted even for a second who she was, where she was, what she'd been through. You could just see it all instantly.
Paul Newman in The Verdict is truly phenomenal. That monologue he gives in the courtroom might be my all-time favorite monologue in film history, and he has so much nuance and idiosyncrasies in his performance.
I love your Orson Welles example. The first time I personally noticed this shift of acting styles you describe, was when watching "A Streetcar Named Desire", old theatre acting and it was like Marlon Brando deciding "but that's not how real people sound." And completely floored me with the earliest natural style I've seen in a movie. I immediately understood why he was considered a legend when I'd never seen a movie of his before.
I loved Lakeith Stanfield in Atlanta. He brought a lot of depth to a character who I thoght was just the stoner comedic relief, but boy was I wrong! Especially "Teddy perkins" was incredible.
Lekeith Stanfield in Judas & The Black Messiah!! I love EVERYTHING that man does, but that still stands as my favorite performance. I HIGHLY suggest it if you haven't seen it yet!
Thomas, first of all I just want you to know how much I appreciate your channel. You are a master of film discussion without sounding pretentious (which is extremely hard to do). Keep up the good work. Best acting I've ever seen (off the top of my head): Both Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons in Whiplash. They played it perfectly. Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin. So amazingly understated. Paul Giamatti in Sideways. It almost seemed like he wasn't acting. That he was just being himself, that's how good he was (and you go into detail about how being natural like that is hard to pull off). Lastly but not leastly, Frances McDormand in Nomadland. Talk about understated. She says so much in so many scenes, without saying much. An absolutely amazing performance.
Ever watch Ozark on Netflix? Are you familiar with Tom Pelphrey? His performance as Ben Davis starting in season 3 was just amazing. Also, I freaked out a little watching you run your finger across that razor blade. Gave me the heebie-jeebies. Also, Ben Mendelssohn in "Bloodline" - also very well done.
I really enjoyed your commentary on your favorite acting moments on film. One of my favs or should I say most emotional yet nuanced moments is from Shirley McClain, in Terms of Endearment. When her daughter is really sick in the hospital. Her emotional breakdown is amazing in that scene. It's perfect just how'd I'd imagine a mother of a sick child would act when her daughter was in pain. When she is trying to get a nurse to help her daughter. It's beautifully done. Also, and this is probably not a shock to you, but the scene in The Banshees of Inisherin when Barry Keoghan wants to date the sister of the Colin Ferrell character. And she's says no. He played that scene so well he stole the whole movie to me. It was amazing as well and gut wrenching.
Ben Mendelsohn has been one of the best character actors living today. I will see any movie or tv show he is in. He even made the flawed Ready Player One really fun for the scenes he was in. His performance in Animal Kingdom is also legendary.
Everyone should check out his work in Australia before he became successful in Hollywood. He was so good in Mullet, and a terrifying force of nature in Animal Kingdom.
Only watched it recently but Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient is one of the best performances I’ve seen. He portrays such a complex character, leaving you not knowing his characters true intentions until the very end. A brilliant film, Fiennes is truly one of the most under appreciated actors of his generation.
I'm a theatre student (acting) in Mexico and I've been so immerse in "finding a character" as a drama subject, having tons of different questions about it, of course as I solve some of them (not alone), some others create by that time. This video has helped me so much getting so many details to put attention to in acting and character constant formation.
Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black will always be a standout to me. She manages to make Sarah, Helena, Alison, Cosima, Rachel, etc all feel like totally distinct and separate characters; to the point where you can tell when she's playing one character just posing as another. She also does so well acting opposite herself and bringing all the emotion required from both viewpoints. The shower scene when Helena saves Sarah in particular is amazing. Sarah's raw shock and terror versus Helena's quiet menace and desperation are both so clear and strong; and Tatiana plays them masterfully.
Pacino in Dog Day is probably what i think to be the best performance ive ever seen. It is the perfect blend of explosiveness and subtlety and remains gripping the entire time with the whole movie hinging on his performance.
You're right about Tilda Swinton. As with some of her peers like Lesley Manville or Mark Rylance, I always get the impression she isn't channeling anything, nor summoning forth from some other place or being crafty about her craft. She just is precisely that person for the length of time she needs to be and then she's off being someone else with equal precision. It's uncanny.
Charles Melton in May December managed to outact 2 of the best actresses we have working right now. I’ve never seen him in anything but just one look in this dudes eyes you can see the manipulation, confusion, sadness, and loss of innocence. It’s like he’s 35 and 12 at the same time. It amazed me. Paul Mescal in Aftersun too. The amount of subtlety he brings to that character is just devastating.
You’re one of my favorite creators, thanks for putting yourself out there. You make me feel validated for being sensitive and invested in this art form, and art and life in general. Thank you Thomas
As soon as that Manchester by the Sea clip started rolling, I immediately started getting emotional just like the first time I watched it. One of the most heart-wrenching scenes I've ever witnessed in cinema.
Daniel Day-Lewis' performance in the Phantom Thread has stuck with me the most. He is just so natural in it. If somebody asked me what he was like in real life, I'd first think of what he was like in Phantom Thread before realising that he was acting in it.
Moonlight is one of my favorite movies of all time - all of the actors are extraordinary and Barry Jenkins did such a beautiful job of highlighting their strengths. For recent movies, I LOVE the acting in 'Past Lives' - they all convey so much longing, heartbreak and connection with so little.
John Hurt has always been one of my personal favorites, despite rarely given the most iconic leading roles. Just like Tilda Swinton, he throws himself into everything he’s in, from a solid supporting role to a terrific voice performance. My personal favorite Hurt role is as Giles De’Ath in Love And Death On Long Island. In it, he’s a middle aged author living in the 1990s who refuses to conform with modernity but discovers a fascination for a new male actor which makes him question the life he’s been living. It’s a rare time where he leads in a “normal” role but I think it was the perfect vehicle for him to display his brilliance in the simple but profound emotions of his character, especially the subtle ones. It’s a deeply under-appreciated film.
Amazing list! This may be recency bias but Justin Theroux from the series The Leftovers is incredible. He already starts out as a severely broken man and crumbles deeper and deeper without ever having a big emotional scene or turning point, you just feel him losing his mind and it's soul destroying.
Love Justin Theroux's performance in the leftovers! That show has so many great ones. The one that most stood out the most for me personally was Carrie Coon
Paul Giamatti as Miles in Sideways is one of my favorite performances. When his ex-wife tells him that she's pregnant... Heartbreaking and a perfect portrayal of Miles' realization that it truly is over with her.
My favorite scene in Sideways is when Miles listens to Maya's voicemail at the end of the film. She gives him such validation and true praise for his book, especially needed because he did not get it published and he feels so low because of that, as a rejected writer does...And the way the film ends with hope---Miles knocking at her door...beautiful film.
the most recent performance to really stick with me has been lily gladstone in killers of the flower moon. she gives such a contained performance and when she lets it rip it Hurts. the way she’s able to embody a woman who is surrounded by an unimaginable amount of grief just blew me away. AND to be able to standout with heavyweights like de niro and dicaprio is such a feat!
I find Thomas' performance in the Razor extremely compelling. But seriously, you got me to re-watch some of these films with new eyes and levels of appreciation. Thank you!
My mom and I still talk about Mahershala Ali’s performance and she hasn’t rewatched the movie since we saw it in theaters before the oscars with no idea what it was about. We still bring it up as one of our favorite characters because it was like knew him, that’s a real person that almost everyone has met. And that’s all thanks to Ali’s performance
one of the most articulate youtube videos on the craft of acting i have seen in a long time. It's not bias as much as it is an opinion from a deep and personal place. While I have seen 7 of those films on his list, and can now take 4 gems backs with me to study an enhance the craft in my own learning. I also love how Thomas speaks of the subtleties in acting, which i think is not recognized enough throughout many performances, this can be the focus we catch from how much an actor blinks to the slightest way they turn their head. SO much of a performance is camera awareness and knowing how to move with it in a natural way. In conclusion I wanted to recommend 5 films that have been dear to my heart, not just because I have learned from the characters I am about to mention, but because the way these performances were portrayed have given me my own intuition towards mastering something so simple yet so complex. 1. Mississippi Grind- 2015- Ben Mendelsohn as Gerry - I know Thomas already has Ben on his list. but this is one of those slept on performances that show you the realism of an addicted gambler. 2. Brads status 2017 - Ben stiller as Brad sloan- follow a father who arrives at the mid life crisis of love. From his son leaving for college to his own insecurities as a man. masterfully done where comedy meets drama. 3. Guess who's coming to dinner- 1967- in this 60s classic there are 2 performances to watch here. SIdney poitier as John Prentice and Spencer Tracy as Matt Drayton. In a time where interracial marriages were not as common both actors bring a social issue to life that makes us all feel that ultimately love is love. 4. field of dreams 1989- who doesn't love a good fantasy drama- in a story that really involved building a baseball field in the middle of a corn field in IOWA actor James Earl Jones as Terrance Mann shows exactly why he will be one of the all time great talents to ever grace the screen. His body of work ranges from the voices of Mufasa in Lion King & dath vader in star wars too his iconic role in the series ROOTS. 5. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind-2004 Kate Winslet as Clementine Kruczynski. LIke thomas mentioned in his video- Kate Winslett is one of those actors whose body of work is hard to choose from, from revolutionary road to titanic she never seems to fail us. However co staring with JIm carey in this one, I find her every move to be interestingly truthful as she tries to forget her boyfriend after a painful breakkup .In fact i have watched this one over and over just to see ways that she may have conformed to an idea of acting. However all i see is a human being listening and being fully present as if a camera is not even turned on. while these aren't my top 5 of all time- They definitley were 5 that I thought would be less known by a wide array of people.Hopefully you ENJOY :) and get from them just as much as I did. PS> Thomas keep dropping gem videos like this- I am here for them......
One performance that leapt out to me recently is Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All At Once. He had to play so many different faces of Waymond - cool, anxious, emotional, caring, badass - and you could sense the same joy, the same warmth undergirding all of his characters. Truly a special performance.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of my absolute favorite performers to watch. He's always so nuanced and often has this dark, mysterious edge. Funnily enough, by most accounts he seems to be a very kind, quiet human being...shame about his addiction. Rest in Peace to one of the greatest actors ever!
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Mahershala Ali in Moonlight's performance really is warmth embodied. He's caring to young Chiron in a way that doesn't feel contradictory to who the character is or forced. And that scene when Chiron confronts him about being a dealer? The pain and anguish and shame flickering through his face and body has never left me since I first saw that film. On the flip side, Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network is just an incredible feat of an actor perfectly understanding who their character is and executing meticulously. The exactness of his portrayal of insecurity, arrogance, ignorance, and inferiority/superiority complex blows me away every time.
I grew up without a dad and my mom made me watch moonlight with her, it came out when I was 17. Those scenes hit me so hard and stuck with me and when I grew up and started selling drugs and doing bad stuff I always felt bad and I rewatched the movie and felt the same shame and it made me stop doing that shit. It’s crazy looking back how that character in a movie changed my real life view.
I could not agree more.
Laurence Fishburn in King of New York is another great example of an actor who is embodying their role to a wild degree.
Well said. He is superb in that role
mashershalalhashbaz gilbertson gilbert
All of the acting in Moonlight was incredible, especially the main character where we yad three different actors and all of them were able to feel like the same person.
All around phenomenal film
YES, one of the best movies I've ever seen...
I agree. One of the great modern movies. And each time you see it, it just keeps getting better. And as great as “the underground railroad” is, and it’s an amazing movie… It still isn’t as good as moonlight. Moonlight is Barry Jenkins, taxi driver. And now he’s doing the prequel to the lion King… What a waste of talent. But I guess his movies are so intense… He wanted a break from it.
@@mmmissmiss3356
which is wild because they intentionally kept them apart on set so they wouldn't emulate each other. i have so much moonlight lore, it was literally my life for like a year when it came out lmaoo.
Even more fantastic that none of the actors saw each other performance .
Viola Davis in Fences when she tells her husband she sacrificed her life for him & when a mother received news of her dead soldier son in The Messenger are some of the moments I can remember crying.
The ensemble cast of Little Miss Sunshine is my favorite acting performance to rewatch. Every character was played brilliantly by each actor and they all fit together as if they really were a dysfunctional family but you felt the love that was there and they had each other’s back.
I watched it with the least expectations and was pleasantly surprised. It left a huge impression on me.
@@Pixiemaniac Yes! A friend of mine went to see it in the theater after I recommended it (this was YEARS AGO lol) and he enjoyed it so much he went again and brought some friends to see it too. It’s such a wonderful film.
ik this is old but that may be my favorite cast ever. everyone was so perfect for their character it’s actually insane
I've watched it at least 5 times and always find something new to enjoy. Sublime!
Omg yes. Idk another movie that makes me laugh and cry and feel depressed and joyful like that one
That scene in Manchester by the Sea is the most heartbreaking of all. And yes, it can also move me to tears watching it out of context. I think that was Michele Williams' best performance because she's such a real person.
In a show where acting isn't the strong suit, Antony starr as Homelander has some incredible acting with his eyes. He portrays so many emotions in just his eyes alone.
*YES.* Definitely. You'd think a scene where the villain has his "self-love" moment by killing his doppelganger in lingerie after kissing him would be hilarious, but the moment he says "You're pathetic." with pure disgust & tears swelling, your heart breaks with him. He's just great. 💯💯💯
hello? the biggest thing in the boys is the story and how the characters interact with each other and the world
That, and also the upper lip disappearing whenever he's feeling contempt for someone
@@KoltenTVC Yea, notice how everything you said doesn't contradict what sethskull said. You can have good story, world building and character interaction, but have bad acting. Those things are great despite the general "ok" acting, with Anthony Starr being one of the few exceptions.
Yes his eyes and body language sells it. You can't teach that
Tilda Swinton is the most versatile actor I've ever watched, she makes acting look effortless and fun even in the smallest roles. I just rewatched Snowpiercer for the first time in years and her character just would not work with anyone even slightly less capable. It should be ridiculous, but she can effortlessly smooth the transition between depressing gore and comedy. I can't think of another actor with more varied roles and the direction she takes them in is truly inspired. Even in comparison to Daniel Day Lewis, who I think is right next to her.
Agree!
Tilda Swinton also supports Palestine
It's also funny it's in there with so much talk of "subtlety" lol. That performance was absolutely batshit but amazing. But also why she's one of the best cause she does both effortlessly.
She even a nice small supporting role in "Burn After Reading"
@@antoinepetrovqueenie
Mahershala Ali in Moonlight. Especially those two scenes, at the beach and at the table. Just like you, when I realized he wasn't going to be in the movie anymore, I was like wait what oh no, no.... That scene at the table, though. I felt his deep shame, his humanity. It made me want to cry. Best acting I've ever seen.
In Swan Song he plays a dying man who takes.part in a cloning program. He was terrific playing the 2 versions of the character who became men with separate identities.
JK Simmons in Whiplash was a virtuosic performance from an actor who’s often great, but this was stellar.
Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes in In Bruges. It’s largely comedic acting, but with plenty of pathos mixed in, and it’s just beautifully done. They both have a way of making other actors look lazy when they share a scene with them.
They are both real talents. Look at Farrell's performance in The Banshees of Innisherrin - he brings such a subtlety to the character. You can see why Colm (Gleeson's character) is fed up with Padraig, and wants more from a friendship, and why his sister leaves him behind, but at the same time there is a kindness and an empathy in him that is endearing, and then at the end, a real steel to his character.
Amy Adams in Arrival. One of my favorite performances of all time. She conveys despair, resilience, euphoria, and grief with incredible subtlety. Makes me emotional every time.
I hate this movie (not for the acting), but I'm a fan of Amy's. How do you feel about Nocturnal Animals?
I love arrival so much, and her acting in it was great
@@JebeckyGranjola great movie and so was all of the lead's acting.
One of my favorite movies of all time...great acting to what an amazing story
arrival & nocturnal animals are movies that cuts deep and stayed in ma head for days. her choice of script is brilliant and both were released same year
i am such a lover of subtle acting. Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada is a perfect example of not doing too much but yet delivering an excellent acting performance. how she was able to play a villain everyone was scared of but yet was so calm is amazing
When we getting that new fka twigs album am I right
@@Dante_SethWhat does that have to do with anything?
"That's all." Amazing how terrifying that line is every time she delivers it.
@@debrachambers1304 it's their profile picture if u don't get it shut up
Debra, your name is misspelt
Simon Pegg does not get the praise he deserves from his performance in Shaun of the Dead, he brings such joy in the funny scenes and such weight to the more dramatic scenes, it's absolutely fantastic work
I wish Hollywood would give him actual characters to play, instead of just making him the comic relief.
A performance that always comes to mind is Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler". I'm not sure why but watching someone claw for their former glory and destroy the possibility of a future is incredibly depressing. The heart condition is another aspect of this idea that was really well done. Something so integral and important to our function but something we don't think about until it fails. The specific scene that really stuck with me was when Mickey Rourke's character was walking through the innards the grocery store and he began to hear the crowd. The sound of the crowd escalating and becoming raucous until he opens the curtains to the deli counter.
Matt Damon's and Robin Williams chemistry during their discussion about his wifes passing was something I found so sincere. Genuinely such a deep, immersive moment which is intensified by the crew's engagement with the scene is one of my favorite scenes of all time.
what was the crew's engagement with the scene? (forgive my ignorance?)
@@user50 I guess it's about camera shaking because of cameraman laughing.
aha thanks@@BeezOne84
Tony Leung in In The Mood For Love and Happy Together. I'm not able to articulate just what it is about those roles but there's a way he just carries the doubts, fear, pain and longing simply in existing as his characters that is mesmerizing to me. I like to describe In The Mood For Love as " a guy stares longingly for two hours and its the greatest, most beautiful thing you'll ever watch" to anyone who would listen.
I scrolled through the comments to see if anyone would mention Tony Leung. 1990s Tony Leung was just *chef's kiss*
maggie cheung as well!
@@sullengrll Totally, both of their performances are amazing. Maybe we collectively single out Tony Leung out more because he gets the scene at the end. Maybe I'm biased too because I've just seen more Tony Leung movies and because I'm a guy so I don't understand or appreciate Maggie's performance as much?
His eyes! His eyes say sooo much! Jude Law in My Blueberry Nights as well. They express so much with their eyes 🤭
i just rewatched chungking express last night and he's absolutely amazing in that movie too
Most recently is Paul Mescal in Aftersun. I lack the words to describe how it resonates with me, but it was like seeing both myself and my father at the same time in different moments.
Was going to mention Aftersun too, it's one of those movies in which it just doesn't feel like acting, but actual people being themselves. Even the role of the daughter is incredibly natural. Not only Mescal's acting is seamless, but the interaction between the two is too.
he was so good in this. Bore the weight of mental health challenges so beautifully.
Was about to say this
His performance in normal people is also incredibly relatable to me to the point where it just hurts because of how close to home it hits.
I genuinely think he is one of the best new young actors working today. Between seeing him on stage twice in Lieutenant of Inishmore and Streetcar, watching Normal People, Aftersun and God's Creatures...I'm just blown away by his nuance, naturalism and presence. Incredible actor
I wondered if Aftersun was gonna make the list
Philip Seymour Hoffman really was the kind of actor who made even the smallest role lively and memorable. A moment that always stuck with me was in Punch-Drunk Love where he's having this screaming match with Adam Sandler and the way he acts momentarily stunned and confused before anger takes over again felt so genuine. He could have had another 30 years of performances and still would have been too short.
When people bring up great scenes or performances- whether or not i say it- i think of that scene.
"Shut up, shut up, shut,
Shut..... shut up!!!"
I have never mourned a famous actor in my life, except Hoffman. I still remember the moment I realized "oh. I'll never see another performance from him again."
Absolutely. One of those smaller roles of his was in Moneyball, and I'll always remember the scene in which his character has a disagreement with Brad Pitt's character, and as he walks away disappointedly he does this mini hand gesture of shaking the hand off as a way to shrug off the conversation oor to readjust his watch (???) and at that exact moment I stopped seeing Philip and saw a disappointed, at-the-end-of-his-nerves coach trying to stay afloat. It's an understatement saying that that moment blew me away.
"Flawless" was amazing
I mean, I even loved him in The Big Lebowski. On lesser hands, it would be a bit part.
Bro, the final scene in Schindler's List where Neeson is frantically thinking of ways he could have saved more people, while everyone he's saved is just watching in utter gratefulness and admiration is possibly the greatest scene in Spielberg's filmography.
real
@@jackturnbull8423 Have to agree with this take.
Absolutely agree.. it snatches tears out of me every time of been willing to experience that movie.. he’s so crippled by regret and humility and ultimately love. He finally knows love. Love just because they are human beings.
If that scene doesn't rip your heart out do you even have one
Definitely an unpopular opinion but Daniel Kaluuya's acting in "Nope" has been my favorite of his. I kept forgetting he was the same man from Get Out, Black Mirror and Widows even though he didn't alter his appearance in any way. By playing such a reserved and shut off character I had to remind myself I had in fact seen him act before. It angers me that Nope is seen by many as Peele's "worst", ever performance in it was so stellar but Daniel's takes the cake.
The man's acting range is absolutely insane. It blows my mind how can act both with, as you accurately pointed out, a somewhat shut off and reserved character in one film, and have this insanely tense aura about him without conveying much, like we've seen in Steve McQueen's "Widows".
Thiss!! I absolutely LOVED nope and could not get over Daniel Kaluuya's acting in it. He portrayed this quiet strength that was just so natural and wonderful., and so so compelling. I absolutely loved it.
YES! I thought he and Keke Palmer were utterly amazing in that film.
Daniel's great, I just think his American accents are abysmal. NOPE not being nominated for anything is a gigantic tragedy
A 100%!
Mads Mikkelsen in The Hunt (2012) and later in Another Round (2020), both from phenomenal director Thomas Vinterberg, made him at my eyes one of the finest male actors working today.
THE HUNT you just reminded me of a movie I haven’t seen in years. Definitely one of my favorites I have ever seen. It made me become a Mads Mikkelsen fanboy. (Another Round was also amazing but I liked and was affected by the Hunt more)
I rewatched it recently and actually found myself appreciating Thomas Bo Larsen way more in The Hunt. He is not at all an internationally established actor, and he mostly plays what is essentially the same role in every movie, with slight variations. But in The Hunt he really delivers an incredible performance. I was talking with my wife about the performances in it because she shares your opinion that Mads is absolutely incredible in it. And while I agree, I still feel like it's a bit muted? I struggle to see what is going on inside Mads' character in the entire movie. But I feel very differently about Thomas Bo Larsen's character. I can tell exactly what is going on in his head in every single scene, whilst still being a subtle performance. It's probably a hot take, but I honestly feel like Thomas outshines the whole cast in that movie. Now this doesn't mean that I don't appreciate all the other performances! 😅 everyone crushed it! But Thomas is just a cut above in that film imo
Another Round was so gooooood! A film I always wanna watch with people who haven't seen it. Right next to Toni Colette in Hereditary.
One eye
Adam´s Apple
I think jake Gyllenhaal‘a performance in Prisoners is amazing and overall Jake Gyllenhaal and his more subtle performance are generally under appreciated
His best was still Nightcrawler tho.. Which is far from subtle.
Jake was great but i think Jackman stole the show in prisoners
I recently rewatched the movie, and while it wasn't as good as I remember the acting was impeccable.
Jake Gyllenhaal was good as usual but Hugh Jackman gave his finest performance there to this date and was shamelessly robbed of an Oscar for it.
My opinion is that Jake Gyllenhaal gets the exact credit he deserves. His sister gets slightly less.
Toni Collette in Hereditary. She's always amazing but how she shows the trauma of her character in every scene plus the agonizing pain in a couple of key ones really stood out to me
That scene where she is howling and wailing and saying she just wants to die is devastating. I felt that pain and sorrow in my stomach 😭
THISSS
I totally agree. There was this popular post going around on social media that included that clip that said something like "women in cinema are always shown as hysterical when in distress" (as a point of sexism in cinema) and it absolutely infuriated me, because that scene specifically was absolutely paramount in explaining the dynamic of the family purely by that outburst.
The whole movie they're quiet, uncommunicative, they avoid talking about difficult subjects. But Toni Collettes outburst releases everything in one single moment in a mass of extreme pain, fury, sorrow, grief and regret - all in one. All the while, as she simmers down and sits down, it's like an admission of everyone going back to their place again. Or at least, that's how I read it.
@@georgewhite1972
she was amazing. I think she's why it's my fave horror movie ever.
She is so talented as an actress. One of my favorite movies she's in is Muriel's Wedding. It's not a serious movie and Muriel is an eccentric character but Toni is terrific.
I believe Laura Linney’s performance in Ozark is severely underrated. She’s excellent as a cold-hearted women trying to hide her emotions in a grim setting, but her breakdown scenes after losses or serious tension are absolutely stunning.
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, honestly a travesty the man wasn't AT LEAST nominated for an emmy. One of the few actors that can bring me to tears
Of all the ways that show jumped the shark, it was the loss of seeing his performances that sent a lot of fans packing. Also, maybe an underrated skill, he nailed the American accent so flawlessly that I was flabbergasted to hear his real accent in interviews.
paul mescal in aftersun is just something that i will never get over. i had previously seen him in normal people and was well aware of how talented he was and what he could do as a performer but him in that movie was just an entirely different thing. he brings such a tenderness and authenticity as well as an underlying layer of melancholy and despair that was just magnetic to watch. he deserved that oscar nomination fair and square.
I just finished Normal People this weekend, and now I really want to watch Aftersun bc Paul Mescal is incredible.
He does it again in All of us Strangers ...
The impending doom you feel for his character, almost from the first moments, and the emotional response you get from that is unique.
I think most people who are affected deeply by his performance have a specific person that Callum reminds us of, someone who is now gone. It felt like an opportunity to understand, if not the depth of my specific person’s despair, then at least the similar ways in which they also must’ve hidden the majority of their suffering in order to make my childhood bearable.
The best art causes deep introspection, imho.
I know it's not a movie, but I think Matthew McConaughey's performance in True Detective is incredible. Also, Mads Mikkelsen's Hannibal. Enough said.
McConaughey's performance in True Detective made me do a 180 about him and his acting. Having previously just seen him as "the cheesy rom-rom guy with the put on accent" and " the dazed and confused guy." I love that first season so much
@@littleladylovely Me too! I never liked him before seeing him in TD, but I loved his performance so much that it changed my mind.
@@FinnTheGarbageBin Highly recommend Dallas Buyers Club and Mud if you haven't seen them!
indeed
Mad's Hannibal doesn't get much attention.
Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice is arguably the greatest performance ever captured on screen. Haunting, luminous, immersive, quiet, loud, transcendance. The "choice" scene is the most haunting thing I have ever watched and the "scream" without any sound is a touch of genius. A true maserclass.
Mathew McConaughey in Interstellar. The scene in the Tessaract, watching helplessly as he watches his past unfold in real time. The emotion in that scene gets me every time. "Where are you going, you Idiot?! No! Don't let him leave Murph!"
The most transformative performance, for me, would have to be Gary Oldman in True Romance. Drexyl is an unforgettable character. "Grab yaself an eggroll or su'm, we got everything here from a diddle-eyed joe to damned if I know!"
I love that you compared Tilda Swinton with Gary Oldman, I had an emotional reaction to hearing my own thoughts come out of someone else's mouth.
Denzel Washington's performance in Training Day is captivating and unforgettable, showcasing his ability to play a twisted, morally ambiguous character.
Denzel's performances are always top-notch, he's just been that guy. I just rewatched Unstoppable with my dad and his acting in that movie and the chemistry he has with Chris Pine feels so real. He reminds me a lot of my father's friends who were conductors the realness in his performance in that movie is so much fun to watch even though it's not talked about because to most people it's just another "2010s" thriller action movie. (Just a thought I wanted to get that out somewhere also, Training Day is a top 30 movie at least imo)
Denzel in everything ... but Training Day and Malcom X are incredible performances..
Glory remains one of the most nuance performances of Denzel's career.
These are great points. Thank you guys for bringing up Denzel again. He hasn't done many crazy performances in a while but he is one of the greatest.
@@noahconstantine8409yeah thats true I think he’s started to take a back set on acting and let the next generation have their shot, I’ll always appreciate what he does for new actors and especially black actors he always wants those less fortunate to have the same chances. Also “The Little Things” (2021) was pretty decent I know some didn’t like it but I thought it was a good watch.
Man, that Oscar Isaac scene has just ingrained itself in my head forever since I watched the movie. It feels so powerful and real. One of my favorite Coen brothers films.
and he nailed the songs. what a beautiful voice
To me, one of the greatest actors working right now is Song Kang-ho, his performance in Memories of Murder is one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen.
100% Agree
He's the best and so versatile!
yes! korean cinema holds a lot of gems really, or should I just say asian cinema
He is in so many of the best Korean movies I have watched, and this is after years of watching them!
I personally love Han Suk Kyu. Probably my best Korean actor though he's deviated to the smaller screen now. Also love Shin Ha Kyun, he was in one of the Vengeance series (Mr. Vengeance) I think, with Song Kang-Ho. With that said, Korean acting can often feel like too much for those who don't know. Especially if you go from movies to shows. There's just such a different approach.
Carmy’s seven minute monologue from the bear , also Rue and Ali’s conversation at the diner are two of the most natural but heart breaking tv scenes I’ve watched .
Jeremy allen white as carmy is probably on my top 10
The bear will become known as the best acted show of all time. It's just too soon but mark my words.
@@joaofezasvital i have a good feeling its gonna be like that too, aswell as one of the best shows in general of all time
@@castor5810 oh for sure. For me it’s already there alongside with breaking bad (for me at least. I’m a just a lil too young for the sopranos and the wire never hit me like I think it should)
@@joaofezasvital same for me honestly. The wire is amazing though you could maybe try rewatching
Daniel Day Lewis in Phantom Thread speaks to me in a very Asperger’s way - his reflexive rudeness and blinkered focus are traits I’ve spent a lifetime trying to rid myself of. I understand implicitly when and why he stabs at everyone around him and it’s always pained me the weakness this reflects in myself. To witness it played out so coldly and accurately on the screen is simultaneously a relief and a punishment
As someone on the spectrum, maybe this is why it's my favorite PTA movie. I always assumed it was because I enjoyed the themes of codependence at the power struggle at the heart of a relationship. But you make a very good observation.
Sean Harris, in the horror movie "Possum," gives about the greatest performance I've ever seen, and he hardy speaks in the film. The way he's able to portray a psychologically broken man fighting himself is unmatched, and the subtle details of his expressions are top-notch.
Obvious choice is obvious but Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman / Jimmy McGill in Better Call Saul is one of the most memorable and varied performances I've ever seen on TV. It's incredible how the funny lawyer guy became one of the most tragic characters in fiction and it simply wouldn't have worked if Odenkirk hadn't sold every aspect of that fantastic character.
Oh hey, I recognize you. 👀 I agree. Bob's work as Saul is really good.
💯
Brian Tyree Henry in Atlanta was phenomenal, season 3 & 4 is where he really got to shine
Absolutely agree. He'd be on the list if I was including TV.
Brian Tyree Henry is the most effervescent in ATLANTA. But also Everyone in ATLANTA is just beyond exquisite.
AGREED. I am so happy I decided to watch that show. From what I got from the people I listen to the most was that was a good show at most
@@ThomasFlightyou should make another one of these but for tv
@@ThomasFlight please make a list of performances on tv
James Gandolfini in The Sopranos is far and away the most impressive, consistent, versatile performances I've ever seen. You can feel every thought and emotion Tony has just from the subtleties in Gandolfini's performance. And he keeps up the incredible acting over 6 entire seasons.
The greatest performance to ever grace the screen, I was ready to make the same comment if I hadn't found yours
James Gandolfini made Tony the greatest TV character of all time
You might not know of this one, But Olivia Colman in Broadchurch is some of the best acting I've ever seen.
She makes you feel the emotion your supposed to, If she cries you cry, If she's happy you are.
Honestly, Worth watching.
Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility has a moment has stuck with me for decades. Her sister has just recovered from a potentially fatal and intense illness and you can just see that wave of tiredness and releaf pass through her. Her head shakes just a tiny amount and it’s simply stunning.
Discovering that Ben from Canada edits two of my favorite channels. Feels good man.
real shit
Yep, that was a surprise
The sudden "Tilda Swinton" shirt gag actually made me chuckle
I recently rewatched Fleabag and am still blown away by Phoebe Waller-Bridge seamlessly flowing between being in the show’s world and breaking the fourth wall to interact with the camera.
if you're interested, before the show came to be it was a one woman play by Phoebe Waller-Bridge herself.
@@twastea yes I know of it! I should find a way to check it out eventually 😄
Right like without total disconnect in between cuts
I watched Mahershala Ali's acting for the first time in his latest movie Leave The World Behind. The movie is...debatable but his acting man? Such gravitas, subtlety and warmth! Gonna go through his entire filmography soon
one of my favourite performances is david tennant in doctor who, especially episodes like midnight where he really conveys the fact he's playing an alien whos lived for nearly 1000 years by that point. also peter capaldis monologues in his run are always so engaging and captivating
For me it has to be F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus. Watching his transformation as he becomes more and more consumed by jealousy but is simultaneously trying to mask this emotion. You sort of hate him but empathize with him which is so difficult to achieve
Cate Blanchett in TÁR is in my opinion the best acting i have seen of the 2020’s yet. even though she didn’t win the Oscar, she gave a once in a lifetime performance
Agreed, she was great best role of her career ,truly another level
Agreed actually. Blanchett was phenomenal in that role. No one else could’ve done it better.
it was the second time she played a simliar character with similar story after blue jasmine which was much better
Nah, her once in a lifetime performance was in Blue Jasmine which got her the much deserved Oscar too.
Ariana what are you doing here?!
It always makes me sad that Viola Davis is left off of lists like this. I think she is one of our best actors today and brings so much to her roles from Doubt to How to Get Away with Murder to Disturbia to Fences to The Woman King, it’s crazy to see her move from role to role.
I mostly agree with this list tho and love ur videos! Your editing is so impressive and I love the in-depth analyses. And as a BFA in Theater, I am so happy with your insight in acting without going too technical.
The Doubt one is so good. She got an Oscar nom off one scene. Impeccable acting
Very true.
facts
Yeah, she's truly amazing. She gives 100% to everything! You know you're getting a top tier performance when snot rolls down her nose
She's an EGOT for a reason
Shia Lebouf - American Honey
Adam Sandler - Uncut Gems
Jeffrey Wright - Cadillac Records
Dustin Hoffman - The Meyerowitz Stories
Matthew McConaughey - Dallas Buyers Club
Martin Lawrence - Death at a Funeral
Viola Davis - Antwon Fisher
If they had an Oscar for Outracing your typecasting, Sandler might get it
Harry Dean Stanton is Paris, Texas is one of my favorite performances I’ve ever seen. Really something special.
I actually think Paul Raci in "Sound of Metal" was the best performance I've seen in a very long time. There's a deep resonance in everything he says that you hear in his voice, you see in his face and his signing, that tells you whether or not this is scripted, it's entirely true for him. Of course knowing his personal life and relation to his deaf parents and the deaf community (I found out afterwards), you realize that indeed, he is not acting. He's preaching the truth of a particular community to a naive, hearing world. It was a beautiful role given to an actor whose life and identity was already formed in the shape of the role. It was a match made in movie heaven.
Totally agree. I was blown away by it and really all the performances in it. Felt so real
yes!! love that movie
Best acting I have ever seen is Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a dream. Her screen presence is not alot within the film, but she portrays so much character development within those minutes and the moment of her on public transport is so perfect that no actor has ever come close to what I would call the best acting beyond this performance
best acting i have ever seen is Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist
@@yamuthahoYes! Yesterday I've finally watched "The Exorcist" for the first time, and while I didn't particularly liked it, I was absolutely amazed by Ellen Burstyn's and Jason Miller's acting, it was incredible!
She should have won an Oscar for Requiem
Thanks for highlighting Pacino’s performance in DDA, it’s amazing what he was doing at such a young age. The whole script allows for so much complex emotion really, like Chris Sarandon is almost just as memorable.
It cemented him as one of my favourite actors of all time
To me he was the best actor ever at that time. The performances he'd throughout the 70s are untouchable.
I love him post Scarface too, but the combination of the perfect roles for him and directors that really understood his strong points make that decade special
check out a movie he made in the 70's with gene hackman scarecrow
Pacino in the 70s was untouchable, and I think that either DDA or Serpico were his best
agreed
David Dawson as King Alfred in “The Last Kingdom” was one performance that I immediately thought of. When he was sick and led his men into battle, had me ready to suit up and grab a sword. The emotion and strength his character portrayed was inspiring.
I don't know that I would say I have a FAVOURITE actor, but if I had to pick, Tilda Swinton is definitely a top contender. Her ability to transform her voice, physicality, and sometimes her entire appearance, is magnificent. She never drops the ball, the characters she creates are always singular and memorable, and her range is unlike anything I've seen from other "bigger" actors.
I think Jim Carrey in The Truman Show is easily one of the best performances I can think of. Because the movie can be so lighthearted, people seem to forget how good he was in it. He nailed every single scene, perfectly balancing comedy with drama and the mundane. Despite being played by Jim Carrey, one of the most recognizable actors in the world, Truman does not feel like a Jim Carrey character, but a real person. It might not be the most complex performance, but it really is perfect.
He was equally magnificent in the Majestic. JC’s noncomedic roles are breathtaking. He’s a damn fine actor and I wish they sent him more drama scripts. Eternal Sunshine was also another phenomenal showing from him.
Am I the only one that does not find The Truman Show lighthearted at all?
What about Jim Carey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?
@@alyx4436I agree, it’s actually extremely dark, the lightheartedness is fake, there is an uneasy feeling underneath
@@famelito007He was amazing. And he is so handsome in that movie.
Interesting choices. Mahershala Ali's performance in Moonlight is of course wonderful but in terms of impact for minimal screen time I think that award must go to Naomie Harris in the same film. In sharp contrast to Ali, there's not much warmth to her character, but when she breaks the fourth wall by glaring directly into the camera that is the most powerful moment in the film for me. I still remember thinking 'whoah!' when I first saw that in the cinema.
Good call out. I remember being really impressed too because up until then I think I'd only seen her the new Bond movies.
she’s slept on!! she even killed in the new venom movie I think she’s a top notch sleeper to watch .. also killed in black and blue
Holy crap, the mention of Ben Mendelson's character and his mannerisms really hits home because it was the first movie I saw of his. I had no idea who he was and his performance as sort of a loner, redneck, drinking and smoking really hit the mark. He even walks around perfectly just like a middle aged guy who has physical pain/limited mobility. The way he smokes and talks to people is so subtle but it's amazing how he transforms. When I saw an interview with him and realized this doesn't sound anything like him at all I was even more amazed at Ben's acting
That was my 2nd Mendelsohn viewing. I first saw him in "Starred Up" - a British prison movie from 2013 and he blew me away.
First time I saw him was in Killing them Softly and I fell in love with him immediately, dude is too good
@@StonedCabbage He really is. He is on another level everytime.
See animal kingdom the movie, not the TV series,.and revel in his acting even more
Animal Kingdom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My role as a background old woman in a school play, aged around 13. While cleaning floors to the track of "I want to break free" the emotional turmoil emitted from my soul, whilst repressing the fact I was wearing my aunties tights, shows how I didn't just portray a background dancer, I FELT like a background dancer who feels under appreciated and is trying to find my way in the world. It was literally cheered for minutes after the performance and to this day, I am the only one who remembers it.
I remember one of the first movies to bring me to tears was Schindlers List, by the end when Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler breaks down over how many more he could have saved if he had only sacrificed some more like the ring he's wearing is worth so many lives. It's been over 20 years since I saw the movie, so I don't know how well it holds up today, but it's one of the first performances that I can recall well that had a big impact to me.
Watched that movie twice, cried both times with that scene, Neeson is purely devastating. Robbed of an Oscar imo
Olivia Colman in The Favourite is just incredible, it felt like a documentary or a hidden cam at times on the life of a real person.
That performance almost made it into this video! She’s incredible.
that one is brilliant
Olivia Colman always feel like a documentary to me, but every character is different!
One of my favorites is one you also mentioned, Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal. The one scene that brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it is when he talks to the head of the center about his past. The guy asks him how long he's been with his girlfriend and how long he's been sober, and it that little moment you see all the hardship they went through and what they mean to each other, just in the way he looks away when answering the question.
My personal favourite performance that I've seen on screen is Javier Bardem's portrayal of Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men
He is a completely emotionless psycho in that movie. Truly a perfect performance to me
at the gas station
For me, Jared Harris is one of the best living actors. I feel like he's amazing in everything he's in whether it's small, understated stuff like in Chernobyl or more bombastic characters like in The Expanse. He usually gives one of the best performances in whatever he's in.
Yes. He was phenomenal in Chernobyl.
It's probably basic to say so, but my favorite performance of all time is Toni Collette in The Sixth Sense. Just never doubted even for a second who she was, where she was, what she'd been through. You could just see it all instantly.
Paul Newman in The Verdict is truly phenomenal. That monologue he gives in the courtroom might be my all-time favorite monologue in film history, and he has so much nuance and idiosyncrasies in his performance.
Excellent choice, I agree. I personally think it was Newman's best performance of all his films, which is saying a lot.
Only saw this recently for the first time. Wow. Great film
Newman. In Cool Hand Luke is amazing in an amazing film.
We need a version of this list for TV - there have been so many great performances over the last 20-ish years.
I love your Orson Welles example. The first time I personally noticed this shift of acting styles you describe, was when watching "A Streetcar Named Desire", old theatre acting and it was like Marlon Brando deciding "but that's not how real people sound." And completely floored me with the earliest natural style I've seen in a movie. I immediately understood why he was considered a legend when I'd never seen a movie of his before.
Mahershala Ali is the most underrated actor in hollywood.
I mean, he’s won two Oscar’s. I wouldn’t exactly call that "underrated."
Jim Cavaziel performance in the red thin line is my favourite perfomance, never seen so much confidence in an eyes actor and behaviour before
Man - he was born for that film.
I loved Lakeith Stanfield in Atlanta. He brought a lot of depth to a character who I thoght was just the stoner comedic relief, but boy was I wrong! Especially "Teddy perkins" was incredible.
Lekeith Stanfield in Judas & The Black Messiah!! I love EVERYTHING that man does, but that still stands as my favorite performance. I HIGHLY suggest it if you haven't seen it yet!
Choi Min-sik from Oldboy was what got me into movies. Any character he plays is just crazy good.
He's absolutely mind blowing in the entire film
Thomas, first of all I just want you to know how much I appreciate your channel. You are a master of film discussion without sounding pretentious (which is extremely hard to do). Keep up the good work.
Best acting I've ever seen (off the top of my head):
Both Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons in Whiplash. They played it perfectly.
Scarlett Johansson in Under the Skin. So amazingly understated.
Paul Giamatti in Sideways. It almost seemed like he wasn't acting. That he was just being himself, that's how good he was (and you go into detail about how being natural like that is hard to pull off).
Lastly but not leastly, Frances McDormand in Nomadland. Talk about understated. She says so much in so many scenes, without saying much. An absolutely amazing performance.
Yea his voice man lol silky smooth great content for sure
Ever watch Ozark on Netflix? Are you familiar with Tom Pelphrey? His performance as Ben Davis starting in season 3 was just amazing. Also, I freaked out a little watching you run your finger across that razor blade. Gave me the heebie-jeebies. Also, Ben Mendelssohn in "Bloodline" - also very well done.
I really enjoyed your commentary on your favorite acting moments on film. One of my favs or should I say most emotional yet nuanced moments is from Shirley McClain, in Terms of Endearment. When her daughter is really sick in the hospital. Her emotional breakdown is amazing in that scene. It's perfect just how'd I'd imagine a mother of a sick child would act when her daughter was in pain. When she is trying to get a nurse to help her daughter. It's beautifully done. Also, and this is probably not a shock to you, but the scene in The Banshees of Inisherin when Barry Keoghan wants to date the sister of the Colin Ferrell character. And she's says no. He played that scene so well he stole the whole movie to me. It was amazing as well and gut wrenching.
One of the best performances I've ever seen is Monique in Precious. She's unbelievably good in that.
Ben Mendelsohn has been one of the best character actors living today. I will see any movie or tv show he is in. He even made the flawed Ready Player One really fun for the scenes he was in. His performance in Animal Kingdom is also legendary.
Everyone should check out his work in Australia before he became successful in Hollywood. He was so good in Mullet, and a terrifying force of nature in Animal Kingdom.
Ready Player One is fantastic. Ben is one of many great things about it.
Don't forget "get a dog up ya"
Only watched it recently but Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient is one of the best performances I’ve seen. He portrays such a complex character, leaving you not knowing his characters true intentions until the very end. A brilliant film, Fiennes is truly one of the most under appreciated actors of his generation.
Just watched The Great Budapest Hotel. He is great in that movie too.
Was gonna mention Fiennes in The Menu. His ability to express subtle emotions through slight facial expressions was really impressive to me.
I'm a theatre student (acting) in Mexico and I've been so immerse in "finding a character" as a drama subject, having tons of different questions about it, of course as I solve some of them (not alone), some others create by that time. This video has helped me so much getting so many details to put attention to in acting and character constant formation.
Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black will always be a standout to me. She manages to make Sarah, Helena, Alison, Cosima, Rachel, etc all feel like totally distinct and separate characters; to the point where you can tell when she's playing one character just posing as another. She also does so well acting opposite herself and bringing all the emotion required from both viewpoints. The shower scene when Helena saves Sarah in particular is amazing. Sarah's raw shock and terror versus Helena's quiet menace and desperation are both so clear and strong; and Tatiana plays them masterfully.
Ben Mendelsohn in Bloodline is one of my favorites of all time. He really steals the show. His performance is so raw and compelling.
Have you seen Animal Kingdom? Just typing that and remembering Ben’s performance in it is giving me goosebumps …
@@cslawomirski I have not seen it. Just added it to my watchlist. Thanks!
Yeah, love that Mendo made the list. He always does damn fine work. Definitely one of my favourite actors.
Thanks for highlighting Michelle William's performance, I think it's so underrated, and for me she should have won the Oscar that year.
Pacino in Dog Day is probably what i think to be the best performance ive ever seen. It is the perfect blend of explosiveness and subtlety and remains gripping the entire time with the whole movie hinging on his performance.
You're right about Tilda Swinton. As with some of her peers like Lesley Manville or Mark Rylance, I always get the impression she isn't channeling anything, nor summoning forth from some other place or being crafty about her craft. She just is precisely that person for the length of time she needs to be and then she's off being someone else with equal precision. It's uncanny.
Charles Melton in May December managed to outact 2 of the best actresses we have working right now. I’ve never seen him in anything but just one look in this dudes eyes you can see the manipulation, confusion, sadness, and loss of innocence. It’s like he’s 35 and 12 at the same time. It amazed me.
Paul Mescal in Aftersun too. The amount of subtlety he brings to that character is just devastating.
You’re one of my favorite creators, thanks for putting yourself out there. You make me feel validated for being sensitive and invested in this art form, and art and life in general. Thank you Thomas
As soon as that Manchester by the Sea clip started rolling, I immediately started getting emotional just like the first time I watched it. One of the most heart-wrenching scenes I've ever witnessed in cinema.
The life that should have been...
Daniel Day-Lewis' performance in the Phantom Thread has stuck with me the most. He is just so natural in it. If somebody asked me what he was like in real life, I'd first think of what he was like in Phantom Thread before realising that he was acting in it.
Exactly 💯. My go to movie. He is phenomenal. Loved him in The Age of Innocence along side Winona Ryder and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Daniel Day-Lewis is one of the greatest actors in my book. I can't remember a bad performance from him.
I think he just legitimately tried to be Ira Glass for the better part of 3 hours.
And his results acquit themselves!
Araloyin Oshunremi’s performance and arc in Top Boy was done so beautifully. It really made me feel for his character and what he was going through.
Moonlight is one of my favorite movies of all time - all of the actors are extraordinary and Barry Jenkins did such a beautiful job of highlighting their strengths. For recent movies, I LOVE the acting in 'Past Lives' - they all convey so much longing, heartbreak and connection with so little.
John Hurt has always been one of my personal favorites, despite rarely given the most iconic leading roles. Just like Tilda Swinton, he throws himself into everything he’s in, from a solid supporting role to a terrific voice performance. My personal favorite Hurt role is as Giles De’Ath in Love And Death On Long Island. In it, he’s a middle aged author living in the 1990s who refuses to conform with modernity but discovers a fascination for a new male actor which makes him question the life he’s been living. It’s a rare time where he leads in a “normal” role but I think it was the perfect vehicle for him to display his brilliance in the simple but profound emotions of his character, especially the subtle ones. It’s a deeply under-appreciated film.
Amazing list! This may be recency bias but Justin Theroux from the series The Leftovers is incredible. He already starts out as a severely broken man and crumbles deeper and deeper without ever having a big emotional scene or turning point, you just feel him losing his mind and it's soul destroying.
Awesome pull!
Yes! I'm so glad someone mentioned that unbelievably ethereal performance of his else I would've had to write that comment.
thank you for reminding me about one of the best shows I’ve ever watched!
Love Justin Theroux's performance in the leftovers! That show has so many great ones. The one that most stood out the most for me personally was Carrie Coon
The score to that show was also perfect.
My favourite performance has gotta be Jack Lemmon from Glengarry Glen Ross. Absolutely captivating from every minute he was on screen.
Paul Giamatti as Miles in Sideways is one of my favorite performances. When his ex-wife tells him that she's pregnant... Heartbreaking and a perfect portrayal of Miles' realization that it truly is over with her.
thanks for the recommendation!
My favorite scene in Sideways is when Miles listens to Maya's voicemail at the end of the film. She gives him such validation and true praise for his book, especially needed because he did not get it published and he feels so low because of that, as a rejected writer does...And the way the film ends with hope---Miles knocking at her door...beautiful film.
the most recent performance to really stick with me has been lily gladstone in killers of the flower moon. she gives such a contained performance and when she lets it rip it Hurts. the way she’s able to embody a woman who is surrounded by an unimaginable amount of grief just blew me away. AND to be able to standout with heavyweights like de niro and dicaprio is such a feat!
she was incredible, i really wished the movie was told from her perspective instead of focusing so much on leo
I find Thomas' performance in the Razor extremely compelling. But seriously, you got me to re-watch some of these films with new eyes and levels of appreciation. Thank you!
My mom and I still talk about Mahershala Ali’s performance and she hasn’t rewatched the movie since we saw it in theaters before the oscars with no idea what it was about. We still bring it up as one of our favorite characters because it was like knew him, that’s a real person that almost everyone has met. And that’s all thanks to Ali’s performance
one of the most articulate youtube videos on the craft of acting i have seen in a long time. It's not bias as much as it is an opinion from a deep and personal place. While I have seen 7 of those films on his list, and can now take 4 gems backs with me to study an enhance the craft in my own learning. I also love how Thomas speaks of the subtleties in acting, which i think is not recognized enough throughout many performances, this can be the focus we catch from how much an actor blinks to the slightest way they turn their head. SO much of a performance is camera awareness and knowing how to move with it in a natural way. In conclusion I wanted to recommend 5 films that have been dear to my heart, not just because I have learned from the characters I am about to mention, but because the way these performances were portrayed have given me my own intuition towards mastering something so simple yet so complex.
1. Mississippi Grind- 2015- Ben Mendelsohn as Gerry - I know Thomas already has Ben on his list. but this is one of those slept on performances that show you the realism of an addicted gambler.
2. Brads status 2017 - Ben stiller as Brad sloan- follow a father who arrives at the mid life crisis of love. From his son leaving for college to his own insecurities as a man. masterfully done where comedy meets drama.
3. Guess who's coming to dinner- 1967- in this 60s classic there are 2 performances to watch here. SIdney poitier as John Prentice and Spencer Tracy as Matt Drayton. In a time where interracial marriages were not as common both actors bring a social issue to life that makes us all feel that ultimately love is love.
4. field of dreams 1989- who doesn't love a good fantasy drama- in a story that really involved building a baseball field in the middle of a corn field in IOWA actor James Earl Jones as Terrance Mann shows exactly why he will be one of the all time great talents to ever grace the screen. His body of work ranges from the voices of Mufasa in Lion King & dath vader in star wars too his iconic role in the series ROOTS.
5. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind-2004 Kate Winslet as Clementine Kruczynski. LIke thomas mentioned in his video- Kate Winslett is one of those actors whose body of work is hard to choose from, from revolutionary road to titanic she never seems to fail us. However co staring with JIm carey in this one, I find her every move to be interestingly truthful as she tries to forget her boyfriend after a painful breakkup .In fact i have watched this one over and over just to see ways that she may have conformed to an idea of acting. However all i see is a human being listening and being fully present as if a camera is not even turned on.
while these aren't my top 5 of all time- They definitley were 5 that I thought would be less known by a wide array of people.Hopefully you ENJOY :) and get from them just as much as I did.
PS> Thomas keep dropping gem videos like this- I am here for them......
One performance that leapt out to me recently is Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All At Once. He had to play so many different faces of Waymond - cool, anxious, emotional, caring, badass - and you could sense the same joy, the same warmth undergirding all of his characters. Truly a special performance.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is one of my absolute favorite performers to watch. He's always so nuanced and often has this dark, mysterious edge. Funnily enough, by most accounts he seems to be a very kind, quiet human being...shame about his addiction. Rest in Peace to one of the greatest actors ever!