Forewarning: This isn't a Best Film or Best TV list.
Instead, I just decided to single out the performances that I thought were the best. To be honest, there weren't a lot of overall movies or television shows that I thought knocked it out of the park this year, but there was certainly a lot of great acting going on.
Here's my list:
Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black.
Best performance in anything, ever, anywhere this year. I boycotted the Emmy's when I found out she wasn't nominated...for like a day and then I watched them, because they're the Emmy's and I'm me. But still--outrage. She's incredible.
Bonus: She was really funny on Parks and Recreation, because she just had to prove she can do anything.
Louis C.K. in American Hustle
I have a rule: If I'm making a "Best Of" list, then Louis C.K. has to be on it. Although, if I'm nominating someone from American Hustle who ISN'T Jennifer Lawrence (clearly the best thing in the movie--and in any movie for that matter) then I'll go with Bradley Cooper in another "Wow, he can actually act!" performance.
Emma Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks
I don't know why I'm surprised when Emma Thompson turns in an incredible performance, but for some reason, I didn't anticipate her wow-ing me in this role, and then she single-handedly delivered a heart-breaking yet uncompromising performance, and here's what I love about it--most of what she's reacting to isn't in front of her. It's all in her mind. She might as well be in a Michael Bay movie reacting to robots on a blue screen--and I mean that as a compliment.
Kevin Spacey in House of Cards
The show premiered in January. On Netflix. And I'm still talking about it. A year later. That oughta tell you something.
Anna Gunn in Breaking Bad
Skylar Haters can hit the door. I'd defend her, but then she went ahead and won the Emmy in a year when even Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul didn't win, so I think that about sums it up.
Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Bonus: He's also fantastic during the limited amount of time he has onscreen in The Wolf of Wall Street.
Beau Bridges and Allison Janney in Masters of Sex
So much about Masters of Sex is great, but they stole every episode they were in--and broke my heart in the process. In terms of character building and acting subtext, it was almost like seeing two pros step up to the plate and say "Okay, stand back. We'll show you how it's done."
Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock in The Heat
Funniest performances I saw all year by a mile. As per usual, they're not getting any attention because it wasn't exactly high-brow comedy, but they were perfect together.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini in Enough Said
Sweetest couple of the year. No seriously. Have you seen this movie? What are you waiting for?
The Women of Saturday Night Live
I thought when Kristen Wiig left it was going to take a few years before SNL could build up the talent pool again, but I think they've already got their groove back. "Twin Bed"--need I say more?
Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Another Woody Allen-driven masterful performance. The best Blanche DuBois that never was. I was riveted the entire time she was onscreen. It was like watching a Greek tragedy. She was vulnerable and dangerous at the same time. Just give her the Oscar.
Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years a Slave
In a year full of flashy performances (Don't get me wrong--I love you, Jennifer Lawrence) this was the quietest, and perhaps, most affecting.
Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street
I should absolutely hate a movie like The Wolf of Wall Street, and yet I found it to be my favorite movie of the year. It was just flat-out entertaining, well-written, and the performance Leonardo DiCaprio gave was like nothing I've ever seen.
Just when I thought I was going to close out 2013 without a favorite film, Wolf took me by surprise.
It might just surprise some people when the awards are handed out too.
Instead, I just decided to single out the performances that I thought were the best. To be honest, there weren't a lot of overall movies or television shows that I thought knocked it out of the park this year, but there was certainly a lot of great acting going on.
Here's my list:
Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black.
Best performance in anything, ever, anywhere this year. I boycotted the Emmy's when I found out she wasn't nominated...for like a day and then I watched them, because they're the Emmy's and I'm me. But still--outrage. She's incredible.
Bonus: She was really funny on Parks and Recreation, because she just had to prove she can do anything.
Louis C.K. in American Hustle
I have a rule: If I'm making a "Best Of" list, then Louis C.K. has to be on it. Although, if I'm nominating someone from American Hustle who ISN'T Jennifer Lawrence (clearly the best thing in the movie--and in any movie for that matter) then I'll go with Bradley Cooper in another "Wow, he can actually act!" performance.
Emma Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks
I don't know why I'm surprised when Emma Thompson turns in an incredible performance, but for some reason, I didn't anticipate her wow-ing me in this role, and then she single-handedly delivered a heart-breaking yet uncompromising performance, and here's what I love about it--most of what she's reacting to isn't in front of her. It's all in her mind. She might as well be in a Michael Bay movie reacting to robots on a blue screen--and I mean that as a compliment.
Kevin Spacey in House of Cards
The show premiered in January. On Netflix. And I'm still talking about it. A year later. That oughta tell you something.
Anna Gunn in Breaking Bad
Skylar Haters can hit the door. I'd defend her, but then she went ahead and won the Emmy in a year when even Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul didn't win, so I think that about sums it up.
Matthew McConaughey in Dallas Buyers Club
Bonus: He's also fantastic during the limited amount of time he has onscreen in The Wolf of Wall Street.
Beau Bridges and Allison Janney in Masters of Sex
So much about Masters of Sex is great, but they stole every episode they were in--and broke my heart in the process. In terms of character building and acting subtext, it was almost like seeing two pros step up to the plate and say "Okay, stand back. We'll show you how it's done."
Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock in The Heat
Funniest performances I saw all year by a mile. As per usual, they're not getting any attention because it wasn't exactly high-brow comedy, but they were perfect together.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini in Enough Said
Sweetest couple of the year. No seriously. Have you seen this movie? What are you waiting for?
The Women of Saturday Night Live
I thought when Kristen Wiig left it was going to take a few years before SNL could build up the talent pool again, but I think they've already got their groove back. "Twin Bed"--need I say more?
Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine
Another Woody Allen-driven masterful performance. The best Blanche DuBois that never was. I was riveted the entire time she was onscreen. It was like watching a Greek tragedy. She was vulnerable and dangerous at the same time. Just give her the Oscar.
Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years a Slave
In a year full of flashy performances (Don't get me wrong--I love you, Jennifer Lawrence) this was the quietest, and perhaps, most affecting.
Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street
I should absolutely hate a movie like The Wolf of Wall Street, and yet I found it to be my favorite movie of the year. It was just flat-out entertaining, well-written, and the performance Leonardo DiCaprio gave was like nothing I've ever seen.
Just when I thought I was going to close out 2013 without a favorite film, Wolf took me by surprise.
It might just surprise some people when the awards are handed out too.
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