The Top 5: Performance #3

Almost there!!

3. JULIANNE MOORE (The Hours)


A fine, fine, performance delivered by Moore. In the same year when she was nominated in Far From Heaven she easily should've won for one or the other.



In The Hours Laura Brown is the center of the second story in the middle of stereotypical 50's suburbia. However, pregnant and loving Laura is really having an emotional breakdown that no one seems to be noticing - except possibly her 5-year-old son.

Brushing my teeth. (3:28 - 5:07. Spoilers before that; aren't apart of the scene, so beware)



A brilliant spotlight of this is when we see Laura crying in the bathroom. Her feeble attempts to hide her feelings really bring out the emotion in such a sad character. (Probably one of my favorite facial expressions in all of cinema at 5:07. Such pain, anguish...beauty? I don't know. It's haunting.)

Mind what?



From the beginning, we can tell of Laura's troubles. When her friend Kitty (Toni Collette) comes over to visit, things run awry and trouble starts to brew.

"Mommy!" (6:58 - end.)




After this, Laura's depression only sinks furthur. She finally concludes that the only way to end this - her life, her feeling of sorrow - is to kill herself.
The scene in which she drops her son off at the babysitter's is heartwrenching. Her attempt to control herself is awkward and moving. Although her son only thinks she's leaving to get her haircut, she's really planning to end it all... her goodbyes are real. So sad.

Moore got an Oscar nomination for this, and rightfully so. It is an accurate performance that captures the struggle of someone trying to do what's right for themselves and their family.

The Top 5: Performance #4

Happy Fourth, Americans! To celebrate, here's performance #4.

4. NICOLE KIDMAN (The Hours)



Nicole Kidman's fine turn as Virginia Woolf is my highest Oscar-winning performance on the list. Kidman sheds her past roles off of her like a skin and becomes a new person with stringy dirty brown hair, a gravelly accent - - and who could forget the nose?

I can't even properly write this.


When we first see Virginia, is is actually the end of her life. Woolf truly thought she was weighing others down in the world so she weighs herself down- literally, with stones- and ends it all. It's a perfect way to set the tone of the film.



Kidman's consistant narration between her story and the remaining two also bring her role to more justice. As she writes the book that binds the three women together, we hear her thoughts, and possibly the other's thoughts as well.

You cannot find peace by avoiding life.


Kidman's most memorable scene is, of course, her blow-up at the train station. Her confrontation with her husband about her sanity is astonishing to say the least.

Dead Bird.



But my personal favorite scene is a quieter one. After her nieces and nephews visit, a dead bird is found laying in the garden and a "funeral" is put in order. It's the small conversation between Virginia and her 5-year-old niece that truly jumps out at me, and the resulting descention she makes to keep eye contact with the dead bird. Haunting.

The Top 5: Performance #5

5. STEVE CARELL (Little Miss Sunshine)




"Holy crap! He's this far up on the list? Seriously?!" Yes, seriously.

Carell sticks with comedy in this gem, but it is unlike any role he's done before. Previously known as Evan ("I like-a-do-the-cha-cha") Baxter from Bruce Almighty and the title character of The 40-Year-Old Virgin ("Kelly Clarkson!"), Carell is actually somewhat serious as Uncle Frank.



The first time we see Carell in the film, he's staring out the window of a hospital after trying to kill himself. The title of the film appears on his shot, the word "Sunshine" ironically placed on his sorrowful face. It's this moment you're in for a ride.

Sarcasm is the refuge of losers.


Carell's dry cyncism and depression echo throughout the film. As the audience we identify with Uncle Frank who feels like a stranger into the bizzare family of the Hoovers. His new discoveries are ours, and so forth.

F&&& beauty pageants.


It isn't until Carell meets the kids of the family when he starts to take a position of role model. He talks with little Olive and gawky Dwayne about their problems and gives them comfort- however, his own problems are hardly comforted.

Gas station.


Carell's shining moment is at an awkward encounter at a gas station with his gay former lover. The mannerisms Carell gives Frank- the rushed tendency to hide his bandaged wrists behind his back and the urge to duck behind a shelf when the boy looks back while walking away- are deep. Carell's utterly heartwrenching in this scene.

It's pretty much a crime he wasn't given an Oscar win let alone a nomination in anything this year. A very, very, overlooked performance.

Performances: #13 - 6.

13. PAUL GIAMATTI (Sideways)

I'd like to go home now.


12. JOHNNY DEPP (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl)

Why's the rum gone?




11. ANTHONY PERKINS (Psycho)

He wouldn't even harm a fly.... *SPOILLEERSSS*



10. NICOLE KIDMAN (Moulin Rouge!)

Come What May, Reprise



9. DJIMON HOUNSOU (In America)

Trailer for the film. Couldn't find any clips.



8. JIM CARREY (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)

This is sort of warped.



7. KEVIN SPACEY (American Beauty)

Remember those posters?



6. ALBERT FINNEY (Big Fish)

The river. *SPOILEEEEEEEERS*

Performances: The Top 25.

25. HALEY JOEL OSMENT (The Sixth Sense)

Holy shit.



24. MADELINE KAHN (Clue)

Flames.... Spoilers.



23. RUSSELL CROWE (A Beautiful Mind)

Awwww.



22. JULIANNE MOORE (Far From Heaven)


Craze-a-ly good. Very emotional and very raw. A fine performance.

21. DON CHEADLE (Hotel Rwanda)

Haunting, powerful, commanding. Should've won out of the nominees.


20. CLARK GABLE (Gone With the Wind)

You need kissing, badly.



19. KATE WINSLET (Sense and Sensibility)

Weep You No More Fountains.



18. PATRICIA CLARKSON (Pieces of April)

Photos. *Spoilers*



17. Q'ORIANKA KILCHER (The New World)

Running around the garden. *Spoilers*


16. AUDREY HEPBURN (Breakfast at Tiffany's)

Moon River.



15. PETER O'TOOLE (Lawrence of Arabia)

They'll be coming for Damascus.



14. CLIVE OWEN (Closer)

Gentler. Umm...spoilers? If you haven't seen the movie, wait because it has so much more of an impact.

Performances: #31 - 26.

31. GREG KINNEAR (Little Miss Sunshine)

There are two kinds of people in this world.



30. MARGARET HAMILTON (The Wizard of Oz)


Deliciously evil. Hamilton makes the Wicked Witch of the West one of the baddest of the bad in excruciating detail. A prize-winning supporting performance.


29. TONI COLLETTE (Little Miss Sunshine)


She could just as easily be YOUR mom. Collette makes Sheryl a dedicated and loving mother exactly on pitch. Earned her BAFTA nom!

28. JUDE LAW (A.I. Artificial Intelligence)

You held my hand.



27. TONI COLLETTE (The Sixth Sense)

Someone died. Spoilers.




26. SARAH BOLGER (In America)

My third wish. Spoilers.

Performances: #43- 32.

43. JIM CARREY (The Truman Show)

"I predict..."



42. JOHNNY DEPP (Edward Scissorhands)

Ice Dance.



41. HELEN HUNT (As Good as it Gets)

A normal boyfriend. Spoilers.



40. DUSTIN HOFFMAN (Tootsie)

You were a tomato.



39. ORSON WELLES (Citizen Kane)

Campaign Speech.



38. SAMANTHA MORTON (Sweet and Lowdown)


Without a word of dialogue, Morton gives an illuminating and heartbreaking performance.

37. MERYL STREEP (The Devil Wears Prada)

A Pile of Stuff.



36. HELEN MIRREN (The Queen)

The Queen's Tribute.



35. RACHEL WEISZ (The Fountain)

Together We Will Live Forever- Spoilers.



34. JENNIFER CONNELLY (A Beautiful Mind)

Meeting Nash.



33. JUDY GARLAND (The Wizard of Oz)

There's no place like.....



32. GEORGE CLOONEY (O Brother Where Art Thou)

Beginning: Escape!

Performances: #49- 44.

Uhoh. I overlooked the fact that I'd be gone ANOTHER week soon, so I'm booking as fast as I can on theese.

49. ROBERT DE NIRO (Awakenings)

Awesome. As Leonard Lowe, De Niro is heartbreaking as he awakens from his comatose state and starts to live life.

48. VIRGINIA MADSEN (Sideways)

In such a short amount of time, Maya is vibrantly portrayed and electrifying by Madsen. Worthy of an Oscar.

47. ZIYI ZHANG (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)

Zhang holds her own as an amazingly athletic and tough Jen Yu, a confused criminal.

46. BILL MURRAY (Groundhog Day)

Murray's a gas in his immortal performance of Phil Connors. Truly, one of the finest comedic performances ever.

45. SHIRLEY MacLAINE (The Apartment)

Funny, but heartbreaking-- seems odd right? MacLaine makes Fran both, somehow in a seemless performance.

44. NATALIE PORTMAN (Closer)

Freaking amazing. Alice is a true gem of a character with great wit and a very inner sadness. Should've won over Cate.

Clip from 'CLOSER': "I don't need things."

Performances: #52 - 50.

52. ABIGAIL BRESLIN (Little Miss Sunshine)

Awwww. Breslin is absolutely adorable as little Olive Hoover with big dreams of winning the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. Breslin is surprisingly good, with warm emotions and an extremely likeable feel to her. Was definitely better than J.Hud at the Oscars.

Clip from 'LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE': Am I pretty?


51. JACK LEMMON (The Apartment)

Lemmon is C.C. Baxter, an average citizen like you or me, stuck in a dillema. Lemmon does just enough where he is believable as the "everyman" but doesn't let things get out of hand. Not to mention he has perfect comedic pace and timing.


50. SERGI LÓPEZ (Pan's Labyrinth)

The exact opposite of Abby and Jack, Lopez is malicious and crude as the evil Captain Vidal. He is extremely merciless and extremely evil- definitely the villian of the year. (And robbed of the coveted Oscar nom.)





Just want anyone to know, (if anyone's out there....) that I won't post for the next 7 days, because I'll be in Indianapolis on a trip. I'll be back on Sunday the 17th, and my Top 100 performances list will continue!

-Movie Geek.

Performances: #55 - 53.

55. CATHERINE ZETA-JONES (Chicago)

Wow! Zeta-Jones is brilliant as Velma Kelly, the sedusive and deceitful murderess/jazz singer. She is captivating every moment, and the strongest singer/dancer of the trio of central characters. Well-developed and great, but not worthy of her Oscar in such a strong year.

Clip from 'CHICAGO': All That Jazz




54. MARIBEL VERDÚ (Pan's Labyrinth)
Verdu is entrancing as Mercedes, a woman caught between sides in the fierce battle in Fascist Spain. Verdu slowly turns from prim and drawn in to wild and loose in order to save the ones she loves. A fine, fine performance.

53. JACK NICHOLSON (As Good as it Gets)



Nicholson is delightful (as always) as the spastic Melvin Udall, an uncaring and paranoid author. He is heartless, crude, and somehow lovable to the very core. An engulfing performance with a lot of development inside. Worthy of the Oscar it won.

Clip from 'AS GOOD AS IT GETS': Don't come knocking.

Performances: #58- 56.

58. SHARON WARREN (Ray)
What a powerful performance. Warren is Aretha, Ray Charles's mother. Seen only in flashbacks, Warren is strong and the camera nearly demands her presence. She steals all of her, albeit few, scenes and was bluntly robbed of an Oscar nomination-- for her first performance.

I'm really bummed out, because YouTube has no clips of this fine performance. :(

57. BARBRA STREISAND (Funny Girl)
Another very headstrong performance from (at the time) film-noob Streisand. She commands as Fanny Brice, transforming vividly from a shy girl to a famous starlet, to a snooty heiress, and ultimately a confident woman. Worthy of the Oscar she won (shared? It was a tie.)

Clip from 'FUNNY GIRL': Don't Rain on My Parade!




56. TOM HANKS (Forrest Gump)

What can I say? Classic performance from a classic actor. Hanks made Forrest a delight to watch and he instantly lept into the heart of many Americans. Fantastic.

Clip from 'FORREST GUMP': People call me Forrest Gump.

Something off performances.

I really, really, really want to see Paris, je t'aime. It looks amazing.



18 sketches in one film? Um, yes.

I'm most eager to see:

-"Tour Eiffel"- a piece by Sylvain Chomet (The Triplets of Belleville) about two mimes in love.

-"14th arrondissement"- directed by Alexander Payne, starring Margo Martindale (Million Dollar Baby and The Hours.)

-"Tuileries" - 1. Ethan & Joel Cohen. 2. Steve Buscemi. 3. Bruno Delbonnel. Enough said.

and I'm most excited for

-"Faubourg Saint-Denis"- From Tom Tykwer (Perfume) and starring Natalie Portman.


This movie basically looks like a giant orgasm. I can't wait until it comes to my city - if it ever does, that is.

Performances: #61 - 59.

61. JOAQUIN PHOENIX (Walk the Line)
Phoenix is great as the immortal Johnny Cash. He brings frustration, drug addiction, alcoholism, and unrequited love to the screen fantastically and justly earned the Oscar nomination he recieved.

Clip from 'WALK THE LINE': Folsom Prison Blues recording



60. JACK NICHOLSON (Batman)


Nicholson is absolutely the core of the film as the Joker in Burton's comicbook adaptation. I honestly think without his nutty-ness and the utter chaos he made, the film would be a complete snoozefest.

59. LIZA MINNELLI (Cabaret)

Minnelli shines as Sally Bowles, the iconic star of the Kit Kat Club in Germany. Minnelli is bubbly and fun but also harrowing and soul-filled. A fine, memorable performance.

Clip from 'CABARET': Maybe This Time

Performances: #64- 62.

64. SAMANTHA MORTON (In America)


















Heartbreaking. As mother Sarah, Morton makes running a family genuine and sad. A brilliant performance.



63. TOM HANKS (Cast Away)
























Without using barely any/no words for a good 2/3 of the film, Hanks as Chuck Noland is never misunderstood, due to his brilliant body language and facial expressions. It's harrowing as he converses with a volleyball, and even sadder when he confronts his love back on main land.



62. JULIE ANDREWS (Mary Poppins)



A classic! Andrews is Mary Poppins, making funtime and discipline go hand in hand as the carefree magical nanny. One to be remembered for the ages - especially due to her Oscar win.