Ok dokey, it’s the last in my three part series looking at my favourite actors, actress and directors. Today, I’m looking at my favourite actors. To again note, only performances in the last 10 years have been considered.
Getting the chop from last year’s list were Jim Carrey and Edward Norton. They’ve been favourite actors of mine for a long time but some of their recent work has let me down. Carrey made rubbish including The Number 23 and Fun With Dick & Jane (my most hated film of 2005). Norton has been quiet of late and his performances in films such as Kingdom Of Heaven and The Illusionist haven’t dazzled me. Included at the expense of Carrey and Norton are Chris Cooper and Ryan Phillippe.
Actors just outside my top 10 include James McAvoy, Shia LaBeouf, Josh Hutcherson, Anthony Hopkins, Jeff Bridges and Clive Owen.
Philip Seymour Hoffman is number 1 for the 4th year in a row. I thought long and hard about putting another actor on top but none of those close behind him (Damon, Gyllenhaal and DiCaprio) have such an impressive list of credits over the past 10 years. Hoffman is still the best at picking the right roles.
Anyway, here’s the list…
10. Ryan Phillippe (not ranked last year)
Best Recent Role: Gosford Park (2001)
Other Great Performances: Breach (2007), Flags Of Our Fathers (2006), Crash (2004), Igby Goes Down (2002), Antitrust (2001)
9. Paul Giamatti (last year’s rank: 10)
Best Recent Role: Sideways (2004)
Other Great Performances: The Illusionist (2006), Cinderella Man (2005), American Splendor (2003), Storytelling (2001), Man On The Moon (1999),
8. William H. Macy (last year’s rank: 7)
Best Recent Role: The Cooler (2003)
Other Great Performances: Bobby (2006), Thank You For Smoking (2005), Seabiscuit (2003), Focus (2001), State And Main (2000), Magnolia (1999)
7. Geoffrey Rush (last year’s rank: 3)
Best Recent Role: The Life & Death Of Peter Sellers (2004)
Other Great Performances: Pirates Of The Caribbean (2003), Swimming Upstream (2003), Lantana (2001), The Tailor Of Panama (2001), Quills (2000)
6. Russell Crowe (last year’s rank: 4)
Best Recent Role: A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Other Great Performances: Cinderella Man (2005), Master & Commander (2003), Gladiator (2000), The Insider (1999)
5. Chris Cooper (not ranked last year)
Best Recent Role: Adaptation (2002)
Other Great Performances: Breach (2007), Syriana (2005), Jarhead (2005), Capote (2005), Seabiscuit (2003), The Bourne Identity (2002), American Beauty (1999), October Sky (1999)
4. Leonardo DiCaprio (last year’s rank: 5)
Best Recent Role: Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Other Great Performances: Blood Diamond (2006), The Departed (2006), The Aviator (2004), Gangs Of New York (2002), The Beach (2000)
3. Jake Gyllenhaal (last year’s rank: 8)
Best Recent Role: Donnie Darko (2001)
Other Great Performances: Zodiac (2007), Jarhead (2005), Proof (2005), Brokeback Mountain (2005), The Good Girl (2002), October Sky (1999)
2. Matt Damon (last year’s rank: 2)
Best Recent Role: The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Other Great Performances: The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), The Departed (2006), Syriana (2005), The Bourne Identity (2002), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), All The Pretty Horses (2000)
1. Philip Seymour Hoffman (last year’s rank: 1)
Best Recent Role: Capote (2006)
Other Great Performances: Cold Mountain (2003), Owning Mahowny (2003), 25th Hour (2002), Red Dragon (2002), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Almost Famous (2000), State And Main (2000), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Magnolia (1999)