It’s time to go through my 10 favourite actors of the moment.
When I sat down and thought it through, this year’s list is very similar to that of last year. Two actors unluckily slip out (Christian Bale and Jeff Bridges) and two actors sneak in (Matt Damon and Jake Gyllenhaal). For the third straight year, Philip Seymour Hoffman has the number 1 spot.
Here we go…
10. Paul Giamatti (last year’s rank: 10)
Best Recent Role: Sideways (2004)
Other Great Performances: Cinderella Man (2005), American Splendor (2003), Storytelling (2001), Man On The Moon (1999), Saving Private Ryan (1998), The Truman Show (1998)
9. Edward Norton (last year’s rank: 6)
Best Recent Role: Fight Club (1999)
Other Great Performances: 25th Hour (2002), Red Dragon (2002), The Score (2001), American History X (1998), Rounders (1998), Everyone Says I Love You (1998)
8. Jake Gyllenhaal (not ranked last year)
Best Recent Role: Donnie Darko (2001)
Other Great Performances: Jarhead (2005), Proof (2005), Brokeback Mountain (2005), The Good Girl (2002), October Sky (1999)
7. William H. Macy (last year’s rank: 5)
Best Recent Role: The Cooler (2003)
Other Great Performances: Thank You For Smoking (2005), Seabiscuit (2003), Focus (2001), State And Main (2000), Magnolia (1999), A Civil Action (1998), Pleasantville (1998), Wag The Dog (1997)
6. Jim Carrey (last year’s rank: 2)
Best Recent Role: The Truman Show (1998)
Other Great Performances: Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events (2004), Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004), How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Man On The Moon (1999)
5. Leonardo DiCaprio (last year’s rank: 8)
Best Recent Role: Titanic (1997)
Other Great Performances: The Departed (2006), The Aviator (2004), Gangs Of New York (2002), Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Beach (2000), Celebrity (1998)
4. 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), L.A. Confidential (1997)
3. 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), Shakespeare In Love (1998), Elizabeth (1998), Les Miserables (1998)
2. Matt Damon (not ranked last year)
Best Recent Role: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1998)
Other Great Performances: The Departed (2006), Syriana (2005), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), The Bourne Identity (2002), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), All The Pretty Horses (2000), The Legend Of Bagger Vance (2000), Rounders (1998), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Good Will Hunting (1997), The Rainmaker (1997)
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), Happiness (1998), The Big Lebowski (1998), Boogie Nights (1997)