Gautam Anand
10. Javier Bardem, ‘No Country For Old Men’
As the walking bringer of death, Bardem was outstanding — his dead eyes looking long enough at a victim to decide if they were going to live or die. Truly frightening. Those normally warm brown eyes are filled with something less than contempt for humanity, as he plods forward he is chilling.
9. Heath Ledger, ‘The Dark Knight’
What can one say? Arguably, the most popular choice in this list. And that’s not without any reason. When was the last time a villain of superhero movie got such acclaim for his performance. Probably, never. And I don’t think any actor will ever be able to reach the same height in a villainous role in a comic-book movie.
8. Philip Seymour Hoffman, ‘Capote’
In chronicling the emotional journey of a man obsessed with his work, Hoffman literally transforms into Capote, perfectly portraying the subtle eccentricities that made the man an enigmatic figure. With his high-pitched voice and odd mannerisms, Capote is not your usual guy-next-door, and Hoffman brings out these physical characteristics of his, while slowing slipping into the mind of the man.
7. Michael Fassbender, ‘Shame’
Fassbender’s searing portrayal of a man battling his sex-addiction will be remembered for a long time. It’s a performance that’s equivalent to other great performances of “man battling his inner demons” like Robert de Niro in ‘Taxi Driver’ and Jack Nicholson in “The Shining”. Fassbender new found stardom has a lot to do with this performance.
6. Leonardo DiCaprio, ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’
A Wall Street rock and roll star, as Jordan Belfort, DiCaprio gave one of his finest and funniest performances, definitely one that should have won the Academy Award. Liar, thief, cheat, surrounded by the best and the worst that money can buy — drugs, booze, and hookers — he is riveting, and deeply funny. The sheer joy he takes in the performance is part of what makes it so great. There is a ferocious energy to his work that is astonishing to behold.
