C. Robert Cargill,
Dec 31, 2007
What a year for performances. There were so many meaty parts this year and so many that just were taken to another level. Here are the five that have stuck with me most:
5.) Ben Foster – 3:10 To Yuma
While Christian Bale and Russell Crowe gave incredible performances in this stunner of a Western, Ben Foster seemingly rode out of nowhere to give a creepy, memorable performance as Crowe's sinister sidekick. This was a career-defining role that put him on the map. You're gonna recognize him next time you see him: casting agents are probably bending over backwards to get the guy in for reads and critics are salivating at the thought of seeing him on screen again. And when an actor does that in a film opposite two of the hottest and most talented leading men in the business, he's done something very, very right.
4.) Allison Janney - Juno
Playing an uptight, annoying, Midwestern housewife isn't exactly the thing of legend. But to do so and make the character not only likable, but lovable -- you've really proven yourself. Allison Janney is one of the best in the business and finally she's been given a role worthy enough to get her the gold she deserves.
3.) Philip Seymour Hoffman – Charlie Wilson's War
While Ben Foster managed to stand out against two of Hollywood's biggest names, Philip Seymour Hoffman ran circles around the two he went toe to toe with. It's not that Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts were that bad, it's that Hoffman was just that damn good. I thought Javier Bardem had the Best Supporting Actor award locked up until I saw this mind-blowing piece of support acting. Probably my favorite character of the year.
2.) Don Cheadle – Talk To Me
Man, I can only imagine how tough it was for the normally sedate Cheadle to slip into the skin of legendary radio personality Petey Green. Petey was a smalltime crook with the fashion sense of a colorblind pimp and the mouth of a drunken sailor. But he was also funny, charismatic and spoke from the heart. Cheadle took the man and gave him form on the screen that really brought him to life. Sadly, not enough folks have checked this out yet. If you haven't, you really should.
1.) Daniel Day-Lewis – There Will be Blood
I swear the script to this has to be only a couple dozen pages long. Despite its long running time, there are 15-20 minute stretches without a single word being spoken. So, how the hell does anyone get through it? Because you cannot take your eyes off of Lewis for one second. He is fascinating. To say that Mr. Plainview is not a nice guy is something of an understatement. He's a total bastard, a truly destructive force of nature. A mean-spirited, miserly jerk that, no, doesn't find a Dickens ending of salvation. And yet, he is one of the most riveting, beautifully realized characters you will ever see. I can't imagine anyone but Daniel Day-Lewis having played this. I simply don't think there is anyone else alive that could have done this.
C. Robert Cargill - - - Email Me
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Austin-based Cargill, who not only loves but owns The Cutting Edge, writes on movies and DVD five times a week.
