Best film performances of the decade

[gk]

We're currently being inindated with "Best of ..." lists right now, so I thought it'd be fun to get some discussion on some of them.

I thought this was an interesting take on the "Best of ..." meme: The best film performances of the 00's.

www.avclub.com/articles/the-best-film-performances-of-the-00s,35851/

Obviously it's hard to pick out just 20 performances. There's going to be tons of performances left off. I would have included Sean Penn's Harvey Milk, Gene Hackman's Royal Tenenbaum (of course I would), Bill Murray's Bill Murray (in Lost in Translation), and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in Love Liza.

But I was encouraged to see Jeff Daniel in Squid and the Whale, Paul Giamati's Harvey Pekar, and both leads in You Can Count on Me, which I loved.

Anyway, interesting list and I'd love to get your thoughts on those who were left out. Although, it's really hard to boot any of these performances out of the top 20 - at least none that I've seen.

[fatmenace]

As soon as I read your post the first thing that came to mind was Daniel Day Lewis. No surprise then when I read the article and saw him listed number one.

Heath as the Joker should be mentioned as well.

The second person that came to mind was Denzel in Man on Fire, but I immediately dismissed it figuring it wasn't artsy enough, but lo and behold he makes it for Training Day. So I'll still nominate his work in Fire.

Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind is one of my favorites as well.

I haven't seen a lot of the films listed, I'm more of an action guy. The Harvey Pekar one does look good though, I'm a huge Giamatti fan.

[gk]

Giamatti's Harvey Pekar might just rank #1 on my list, were I to create one.

Ledger definitely is in the discussion. Like I said, lots of actors naturally left out, but I can't argue with any of the ones I've seen that are in this top 20. Although if I actually saw Bjork in that Lars von Trier film, I assume I'd give that the boot. Not a fan of Lars van Trier in the least. Bjork too.

[mayor]

I'm surprised Phillip Seymour Hoffman isn't on the list. You could list him for a number of films - everything he does is great ("Capote" of course). Same with Giamatti.

I've only seen eight of the performances listed in that article, but would agree with those eight.

As GK mentioned, Sean Penn is great in "Milk" (though I didn't find it to be as good of a movie as most people did).

I thought Leonardo Dicaprio was amazing in "The Departed" (though I didn't really like the movie).

Benicio del Toro was great in "Che" (a movie worth watching).

Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson."

Amy Adams in "Junebug."

Ian McKellen in "Fellowship of the Ring"

I think Chad's call of Russell Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind" is a good one.

I think Viggo Mortensen is amazing - maybe for "Eastern Promises."

Daniel Day Lewis in "Gangs of NY" - I'd say it's as good as his role in "There Will Be Blood."

Kate Winslett in "Eternal Sunshine" - or just about any film she's in.

[mayor]

Out of those I listed, Dicaprio and Gosling may have been my favorites.

[gk]

Daniel Day Lewis in "Gangs of NY" - I'd say it's as good as his role in "There Will Be Blood."

This is also an excellent point. In fact even now I'm having a hard time deciding which character will still resonate 5 years from now. I think Daniel Plainview will, but I'm not 100% certain.

Are there any comedic performances that deserve to be in the discussion? Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy might outlast all of these characters. Or Christopher Guest's Corky in Waiting for Guffman (is that in the 00's? maybe not).

[mayor]

I don't see enough comedies - are there good comedies out there? I love Stiller and De Niro in "Meet the Parents." Gotta love Ron Burgundy. Love Will Ferrell in "Elf" too.