Stewart is such a talent and was amazing in this and deserves some love during awards season. Loved Madison in Anora too, but if I compare the two, Stewart is clear winner. Honorable mention to Katy O’Brian too!
Mark in Evanston - yesterday
Another raised hand for Kieran Culkin. Masterful work, so many layers.
There are many good options on this list, from Ralph Fiennes' dependably great performance in CONCLAVE that makes you think the movie is more profound than it is, to star-making turns by Mikey Madison, Aaron Pierre, and especially Josh O'Connor, but I went with "Other."
Now, which "Other" did I go with? Perhaps it was Chris Hemsworth in FURIOSA, who inhabits a deranged, post-apocalyptic Fagin who never lets us forget he's a human, or Glen Powell in HIT MAN, who shows that you can be a handsome, charismatic leading man and a scene-stealing character actor in the very same performance so long as you perform the right script. I'm very tempted to go with Nicholas Hoult in JUROR #2, who gestures at the everyman voice of reason character that once belonged to Henry Fonda, but who personifies the subjectivity of moral closure and justice in ways that are tremendously effecting while being never overplayed.
But I have to go with Timothee Chalamet in DUNE: PART TWO, who truly manages the complicated character arc that the entire DUNE saga hinges on. I knew that Chalamet's sensitivity, wiry frame, and ability to inhabit contradiction with a princely whininess would do well in PART ONE, when Paul is a beleagoured dukeling, but I was skeptical he could pull off the transformation into Muad'Dib required of him in PART TWO. But he aced it. There are two hinge moments that showcase just what makes Chalamet's performance so wonderful and nuanced. One is a quiet moment where Chalamet internalizes all the pain and anguish that fuels this character. After realizing that the Harkonnens will never stop hunting him if he stays in the North, he tells Zendaya's Chani that he'll head south and do what he must. The dejection and surrender of the line shows that he knows such a decision will kill the real Paul, but he has to do it to defeat his enemies. He can't even bring himself to look her in the eye. Later, when Paul crashes the Fremen conclave in the south after drinking the Water of Life, he transforms into the charismatic, religious zealot, telling prophecies, seemingly reading minds, commanding a massive room of armed soldiers with the sheer force of his conviction. Chalamet is not a physically imposing actor by any means, but in this scene, he commands our attention. It's no small feat to manage such a transformation. By the film's end, when Paul, Chani, and Irulan are left standing in the throne room, and Paul looks over his shoulder to give a dejected look to Chani, as if acknowledging his betrayal, I knew that the movie was nailing the tragic climax of Herbert's novel. And I knew that none of this would be possible if Chalamet didn't nail the assignment.
Bruce from Portland - 3 days ago
It's Mikey Madison in Anora. Why? I haven't seen any of these movies yet. I will see Anora eventually. I'd hate to miss the best performance of the year. Does that make sense? I hope not.
Patrick T - 3 days ago
I’ll use an Other vote to add a second comedy performance to the list, Maisy Stella from My Old Ass. I admit recency bias here, but she absolutely nails it in this role, bringing energy and layers to what could be a stereotypical character. A great performance in a great movie.
Ofer Liebergall - 3 days ago
sorry for the Adrien Brody, The Brutalist vote, in time you will see way I couldn't go with any of the fine options suggested, sometime something is just to powerful and gentle, an art performance that I feel some of it was made specially for me, but somehow other people understand. he shows the horror and the light of being a human, living in pain and surviving.
otherwise, Kirsten Dunst was great.
Jake Skubish - 3 days ago
My vote goes to Kiernan Culkin in A Real Pain. You don't often see a character so deeply felt and so fully realized on screen. He may be conning the Oscars into running as a Supporting Actor, but he's the lead -- the movie starts and ends with him, and that ending shot is magnificent.
Jonathan Anderson, Denver CO - 3 days ago
A lot of these still left to see, but I'm still confident in putting my vote in for Aaron Pierre.
Geremy Webne-Behrman - 4 days ago
If we're going strangely sexiest performance then Josh O'Connor takes this one no questions asked, but the more conventional award, it's Ralph Fiennes in a performance that balances comedy and drama more deftly than anyone since... Well, The Menu.
Harry Schiller - 5 days ago
Madison has such a tough exterior and a shrewd, street smart mind, but almost believes she can use her body to swing up into the upper class. Madison is so agreeable and self-assured and then so angry and then so vulnerable, she wins this year by a mile for me. I found Faist better in Challengers. O'Connor was believably disheveled, but he didn't seem athletic enough to be good at tennis, or charming enough to be anyones friend or unforgettable lover.
Stewart is such a talent and was amazing in this and deserves some love during awards season. Loved Madison in Anora too, but if I compare the two, Stewart is clear winner. Honorable mention to Katy O’Brian too!
Another raised hand for Kieran Culkin. Masterful work, so many layers.
There are many good options on this list, from Ralph Fiennes' dependably great performance in CONCLAVE that makes you think the movie is more profound than it is, to star-making turns by Mikey Madison, Aaron Pierre, and especially Josh O'Connor, but I went with "Other."
Now, which "Other" did I go with? Perhaps it was Chris Hemsworth in FURIOSA, who inhabits a deranged, post-apocalyptic Fagin who never lets us forget he's a human, or Glen Powell in HIT MAN, who shows that you can be a handsome, charismatic leading man and a scene-stealing character actor in the very same performance so long as you perform the right script. I'm very tempted to go with Nicholas Hoult in JUROR #2, who gestures at the everyman voice of reason character that once belonged to Henry Fonda, but who personifies the subjectivity of moral closure and justice in ways that are tremendously effecting while being never overplayed.
But I have to go with Timothee Chalamet in DUNE: PART TWO, who truly manages the complicated character arc that the entire DUNE saga hinges on. I knew that Chalamet's sensitivity, wiry frame, and ability to inhabit contradiction with a princely whininess would do well in PART ONE, when Paul is a beleagoured dukeling, but I was skeptical he could pull off the transformation into Muad'Dib required of him in PART TWO. But he aced it. There are two hinge moments that showcase just what makes Chalamet's performance so wonderful and nuanced. One is a quiet moment where Chalamet internalizes all the pain and anguish that fuels this character. After realizing that the Harkonnens will never stop hunting him if he stays in the North, he tells Zendaya's Chani that he'll head south and do what he must. The dejection and surrender of the line shows that he knows such a decision will kill the real Paul, but he has to do it to defeat his enemies. He can't even bring himself to look her in the eye. Later, when Paul crashes the Fremen conclave in the south after drinking the Water of Life, he transforms into the charismatic, religious zealot, telling prophecies, seemingly reading minds, commanding a massive room of armed soldiers with the sheer force of his conviction. Chalamet is not a physically imposing actor by any means, but in this scene, he commands our attention. It's no small feat to manage such a transformation. By the film's end, when Paul, Chani, and Irulan are left standing in the throne room, and Paul looks over his shoulder to give a dejected look to Chani, as if acknowledging his betrayal, I knew that the movie was nailing the tragic climax of Herbert's novel. And I knew that none of this would be possible if Chalamet didn't nail the assignment.
It's Mikey Madison in Anora. Why? I haven't seen any of these movies yet. I will see Anora eventually. I'd hate to miss the best performance of the year. Does that make sense? I hope not.
I’ll use an Other vote to add a second comedy performance to the list, Maisy Stella from My Old Ass. I admit recency bias here, but she absolutely nails it in this role, bringing energy and layers to what could be a stereotypical character. A great performance in a great movie.
sorry for the Adrien Brody, The Brutalist vote, in time you will see way I couldn't go with any of the fine options suggested, sometime something is just to powerful and gentle, an art performance that I feel some of it was made specially for me, but somehow other people understand. he shows the horror and the light of being a human, living in pain and surviving.
otherwise, Kirsten Dunst was great.
My vote goes to Kiernan Culkin in A Real Pain. You don't often see a character so deeply felt and so fully realized on screen. He may be conning the Oscars into running as a Supporting Actor, but he's the lead -- the movie starts and ends with him, and that ending shot is magnificent.
A lot of these still left to see, but I'm still confident in putting my vote in for Aaron Pierre.
If we're going strangely sexiest performance then Josh O'Connor takes this one no questions asked, but the more conventional award, it's Ralph Fiennes in a performance that balances comedy and drama more deftly than anyone since... Well, The Menu.
Madison has such a tough exterior and a shrewd, street smart mind, but almost believes she can use her body to swing up into the upper class. Madison is so agreeable and self-assured and then so angry and then so vulnerable, she wins this year by a mile for me. I found Faist better in Challengers. O'Connor was believably disheveled, but he didn't seem athletic enough to be good at tennis, or charming enough to be anyones friend or unforgettable lover.