We’ve come to the end of the year, so that means its time to dole out the superlatives. These aren’t my picks for who I think will be nominated for Oscars (although the Academy’s glaring disdain for broad comedies means they’ll always overlook performances likeJesse PlemonsinGame Night), but really just who stood out for me in a variety of categories.
As always, we have our standard acting and directing categories, and if you want to check out picks forBest CinematographyandBest Scores, I highly recommend reading Adam Chitwood’s list. I’ve also included lighter categories like Best Villain and Best Action Scene among others. I’m sure you’ll disagree with some or all of my choices! Enjoy!
Best Actor
Ethan Hawkeas Toller inFirst Reformed
Runners Up:
This was a pretty close contest, but I never really was able to shake Hawke’s performance inFirst Reformed. Hawke’s always been a bit of an underrated actor, and he’s also incredibly difficult to nail down because he jumps between so many different genres, but he took his talents to an entirely new level with his performances Reverend Toller inFirst Reformed. Watching the slow disintegration of a man who wasn’t doing too great to begin with is not an easy task, but Hawke provides a quiet, internal performance that finally builds to an explosive crescendo.
Best Actress
Kathryn Hahnas Rachel Biegler inPrivate Life
For a while, I had Colman as my top pick, and I even put her down on my ballots for Atlanta Film Critics Circle and Southeastern Film Critics Association. But if we look at these kind of “awards” as a way to highlight deserving work, I would hate for Hahn to be overlooked. I’ve alreadywritten an articleabout why her performance is so powerful, but it’s a role I just can’t get over. Hahn is a comic genius, but her dramatic turn here is so immediate and really the soul of the movie. She has an impressive co-star inPaul Giamatti, but a lot of the emotional heavy lifting comes from Hahn and she does it admirably.
Best Supporting Actor
Sam Elliottas Bobby inA Star Is Born
There were so many good supporting actor roles this year that it was tough to keep it to just five. But among these five, there was never really any doubt in Elliott. He’s been around forever, butA Star Is Bornshows you how good he is because Bobby really isn’t on screen that much. He has maybe five or six scenes total, but he hits it out of the park every time. And every time, he’s asked to do something different, whether it’s go toe-to-toe with Bradley Cooper or deliver a powerful monologue about the “twelve notes” or just absolutely wreck you with a silent look as he backs out of a driveway. It’s an astounding performance from an actor who’s long overdue for widespread recognition.
Best Supporting Actress
Regina Kingas Sharon Rivers inIf Beale Street Could Talk
I had mixed feelings onIf Beale Street Could Talk, but I was absolutely floored by King’s performance. Even if the only scene in the movie was her silently trying on the wig, that would be more than enough to merit her as the Best Supporting Actress of the year. But what she does around that scene is equally impressive, and like Elliott, she’s an actress who deserves to get her due.
Best Director
Yorgos Lanthimos,The Favourite
The Favouriteisn’t my favorite movie of the year, but damn does Lanthimos direct the hell out of it. And I’m not someone who loves everyone of his movies. I thinkFavouriteandThe Lobsterare great while I findDogtoothandAlpspretty unwatchable while being at a bit of a loss withKilling of a Sacred Deer. But what’s in arguably his most “accessible” film (a low bar), Lanthimos rejuvenates the period drama with a spin that never feels too modern and yet it also never feels staid and tired. Between the fish-eye lenses, the dance scene, and the crazy ending,The Favouriteis a film that’s constantly surprising you even if you think you know courtly dramedy inside out.
Breakthrough Performance
Lady Gaga,A Star Is Born
So what qualifies as a “breakthrough performance”? Gaga is one of the biggest stars in the world. I would counter that she’s one of the biggest music stars, but as an actress, she was largely a unknown quantity to the point outside some roles onAmerican Horror StoryandSin City: A Dame to Kill For.A Star Is Bornputs half the movie on her shoulders and she carries it like an old pro. Yes, it requires her musical talent as well, but she looks like a natural when it comes to every dramatic turn. Gaga had to followJanet Gaynor,Judy Garland, andBarbra Streisand, and for this character, she ended up outshining them all.
Best Villain
Erik Killmonger,Black Panther
It’s not just that Killmonger is the best Marvel villain since Loki (not a particularly difficult bar to clear). It’s that Killmonger has an understandable and relatable point of view where his point of view is probably highly sympathetic, not just because of his upbringing, but because of what it says about power. For Killmonger, he’s still an isolationist of sorts, but instead of keeping Wakanda a secret, he wants Wakanda to own the world. He’s seen what happens when Wakanda sits on the sidelines, but for him, the solution isn’t aid, but dominance. He’s clearly the “bad guy”, but it’s rare for blockbuster villains to have motives that are worth discussing. Anchored by Michael B. Jordan giving yet another outstanding performance and you have a villain you won’t soon forget.
Best Action Scene
Helicopter Chase,Mission: Impossible – Fallout
I figured it wouldn’t be fair ifMission: Impossible – Fallouttook all five slots, but it could have. However, I decided to spread the love around, andFalloutis just the winner. I could have also gone with the bathroom fight or the HALO jump or the motorcycle chase, but the helicopter chase is just absolutely mindblowing. Setting aside that we haven’t really seen that kind of chase before, we then getTom Cruiserisking his life in a helicopter crash for our entertainment. It’s a genuinely thrilling climactic set piece that’s made even more exciting thanks to Cruise doing his own stunts and the way director Christopher McQuarrie shoots the whole thing. I look forward toMission: Impossible 7where Tom Cruise wears a suit made of dynamite and walks into a burning building.
Weirdest Disaster
Life Itself
Runner Up:Welcome to Marwen
Best Movie That Didn’t Receive Theatrical Distribution
The Tale(Released on HBO)
Runner-Up:Set It Up(Released on Netflix)
