Best of 2013: Acting

There's been a lot of articles and talk regarding 2013's directing and best pictures, but not enough about the acting. There were some solid performances – and yes, James Franco playing a thugged-out, braid sporting, drug dealing gangster is on the below list. This past year was a decent one on the acting front; it was definitely one of the most unique, but it was an off-kilter one. Some categories were filled to the brim, while others (cough cough Best Supporting Actress) just weren't that impressive. Per usual, sound off in the comments with additions, critiques and/or rants. 

Best Lead Actor

Mathew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

This has been the year of McConaughey. It’s obvious his acting for this role is spot on, but what takes him the extra mile here is the dedication to physically starve himself to show not only how dilapidated he is, but how much of a struggle it is to deal with his condition.

Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips

Mr. Hanks genuinely embodies this role and deserves recognition for it, but a lot of his acting is fueled and brought out even further by a hell of a supporting cast.

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street

This isn’t the first time our boy Leo has played a loudmouth asshole that’s extravagant in every facet. It’s on a different level in TWOWS. Typically his characters have a sense of remorse, enlightenment or transformation. Nope. Not here. And it’s glorious.

Sam Rockwell – The Way, Way Back

Pulling off one of my favorite performances of the year, Rockwell’s subtle, witty and genuine acting elevate TWWB to a Stand By Me caliber. He’s the guy we all want to be: fun, carefree and basically a party rock star that everyone loves. But what Rockwell does well, while being supported by Faxon’s and Rash’s honest script, is capture the negatives of what that lifestyle represents. We don’t have any real back-story on Owen, but we eventually find out “he knows because he just knows” and that is good enough for us. He’s been there. He’s done that. And that’s all we need to know.

Joaquin Phoenix – Her

A simple performance, but one that balances sadness and hopefulness by the same thread. Phoenix shows us what it means to need a genuine connection even when you don’t always want one.

Idres Elba – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Placed in a film that is padded and overstuffed, Idres Elba manages to turn out a creepily identical depiction of Mr. Mandela. From voice to mannerisms to the inner power of one that drove him to inspire millions, Elba was the perfect choice.

Best Lead Actress

Brie Larson – Short Term 12

My favorite female performance of the year. Brie Larson is not even acting here; she has delved so deep into this role it’s hard to tell if she doesn’t do this work as her day job.

Judi Dench – Philonema

Funny and with biting sarcasm, Dench is a pleasure to watch… per usual.

Amy Adams – American Hustle

Drop dead gorgeous and completely untrustworthy, Adams keeps us guessing till the very end of whom her allegiance is to. That includes herself.

Elle Fanning – Ginger & Rosa

The most underrated performance of the year that solidifies Elle Fanning is doing it right. Ginger & Rosa is flawed, but 100% worth it for Fanning’s performance alone.

Sandra Bullock – Gravity

Singular acting is no easy task, but Bullock makes it look like a cakewalk. Externalizing all internal problems, Ms. Bullock lets us into her mind and why she both has the power to want to commit suicide and the want to live to see another day. 

Best Supporting Actor

Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Dark, gritty and independent with every line, Leto’s Rayon is one of the year’s most unique performances.

Jonah Hill – The Wolf of Wall Street

Big teeth and a big prosthetic… well, you know, aren’t the only things that transform Hill into the grease ball that is Donnie Azoff. Jonah Hill beautifully sinks to a level of crack, prostitutes and damn good acting. It may be hard, but if you look through all the cocaine, Quaaludes and neck sweaters you will see Jonah Hill somewhere.

Michael Fassbender – 12 Years A Slave

Fassbender gives us gold with an acting job that should come with its own R-rating. Be wary, it’s brutal, but one of the best of the year.

James Franco – Spring Breakers

One of the strangest supporting roles of the year does indeed go to a character named Alien. With his cornrows and his quick charm, Franco haunts the screen by slowly easing us into a neon-lit fever dream that we can’t come out of.

Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips

Not much else to say here but I want more Abdi immediately. Can’t wait to see him in coming films. Great work from a first round actor.

Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

Typical JLa fare that’s sassy, obnoxious and loud to the point of us wanting to scream at the screen – I mean this in the best of ways. She has mastered yet another role, a New Jersey housewife… with “class” of course. Awesome work, JLa.

Julia Roberts – August: Osage County

My favorite supporting actress performance of the year goes to Georgia girl, Julia Roberts. She brings her roots to this role, which is why it is done so well. That, mixed with a so-so script dynamic of the “dysfunctional family,” allows Roberts to be raw with no unneeded flare.

Lupita Nyong – 12 Years A Slave

Her role could be a single representation itself of the film, unyielding and not scared to take [real] risks. Not only this, but a job so well done it stands out in a crowd of top-notch heavy actors and actresses.