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| Selena Gomez gives my favorite underrated performance of 2013. |
Happy Thanksgiving, readers! Here's a quick look at some underrated performances I love from this fantastic year (in no particular order). More precisely, they're performances that will probably not get major awards consideration. Nevertheless, I'm thankful for them.
Note: Actors in films like What Richard Did, Lore, Blancanieves and Ginger & Rosa have already been nominated for major awards, so they didn't make the list.
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Fifth Estate
He never puts a foot wrong, and he would likely be in the conversation if the film were better.
Jude Law, Side Effects
He's been praised in positive and negative reviews for the film, but his reliability as an actor is often overlooked by awards groups.
Selena Gomez, Spring Breakers
James Franco still has a shot with critics groups, but Gomez is the heart of the film. I couldn't love her performance more.
Mark Strong, Welcome to the Punch
He plays the "bad guy" role like a straight dramatic part, and to great effect. He's quite powerful, albeit in a generic crime thriller.
Vincent Cassel, Trance
Another "bad guy" role done with an interesting twist. The character is complex, and Cassel makes sure he doesn't become a 2-dimensional villain.
Naomi Watts and Robin Wright, Adore
Two stellar performances in a divisive, overlooked film, which owes a lot to their fine work.
Justin Kirk, Last Love
The character (a son with contempt for his estranged father) on the page is a meaty role, and Kirk gives it everything without resorting to loud antics.
Simon Pegg, The World's End
His best performance yet. Pegg is hysterical, honest and touching.
Domhnall Gleeson, About Time
Picture a Hugh Grant character who can not only stutter, but also can actually move you. It's a wonderful performance that should get him more lead acting jobs.
Haven't seen too many of these, but completely agree with Selena Gomez. Everything about Spring Breakers is so important and needed right now - film wise and I guess art in general - that the timing couldn't have been more perfect.
ReplyDeleteStill my favourite film of the year and hoping to see it in your end of year round-up if you've got one planned!
A nice mixture of actors on here though and some films I should check out from your recommendation, so good post!
Thanks! I love Spring Breakers, and it should make my year-end top 10 list. Gomez is even my Best Supporting Actress winner. That film deserves more praise in general.
DeleteI really want to see About Time, I didn't like Gleeson in Anna Karenina, but this seems like a role that would suit him better.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a fan of his performance in Anna Karenina either, but he was great in About Time.
DeleteTotally agree on Gleeson, he was adorable and needs more love!
ReplyDeleteHe was so great in that role!
DeleteThis reminds me how much I have yet to see this year! I've only seen (and loved) Gomez. DAMN IT! Now I want to change my Supporting Actress winner again.
ReplyDeleteHaha. She's been a lock since I saw the film months ago. I don't see her losing, unless I really love Lawrence in American Hustle or some other performance that blindsides me.
Delete100% with you on Cassel and Trance. Nice list, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Glad you agree on Cassel.
DeleteCertainly some good picks here, Jude Law especially. He was great in that movie, showing off so much range as the radically different directions that film took dictated of him.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chris. I've always been a fan of Law's work, and he didn't disappoint.
DeleteMan, I haven't seen a single one of these. But I really want to see About Time, it sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed About Time, even if it is lesser Curtis.
DeleteYay for Vincent Cassel! I love this guy, and I loved him in Trance. I'm glad you singled out Law too. I really enjoyed Side Effects
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Dig all of the love for Cassel and Law.
DeleteI was wondering about Benedict Cumberbatch's performance, since I thought it looked pretty darn marvellous from the trailers but then the movie happened and that was the end of that. Bit of a shame. Can agree on Gomez and Law though...but I do think Rooney Mara's performance in Side Effects is massively underrated. She's so scary in that film!
ReplyDeleteYeah, The Fifth Estate just kind of died quickly, which is unfortunate. Oh, I agree on Rooney Mara. She was close to making my list.
DeleteGreat list! Jude Law and Domhnall Gleeson are currently in my top 20 performances of the year. I thought Selena Gomez was really good too.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I love that they make your current top 20 list. Best Actor is so crowded that I don't nominate either of them in my top 5, so I'm glad I could spotlight them here.
DeleteJude Law's performance deserves a ton of credit in Side Effects, so it's great to see that on this list. I'm not sure about Gomez, though. Her character has a bit more depth than the others, but I'm not sure it's the acting that makes that happen.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see another fan of Law's work in Side Effects. That's a fair point on Gomez, but I think she serves the part quite well, even if she owes a lot to the screenplay.
DeleteI'll definitely agree with you regarding Selena Gomez. I think most people initially dismissed this movie because of the cast. Boy, those girls proved me wrong, especially Selena Gomez...what a wise career choice!
ReplyDeleteI know, right? She's brilliant in that role. Gomez deserves any awards consideration that Franco will get.
DeleteEh, Simon Pegg mostly just annoyed me in "The World's End." A really overrated and unfocused movie, which wasted the talents of it's leads, especially Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan, who are two of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI'm hearing bad things about "Spring Breakers," but Harmony Korine is a polarizing filmmaker, and his films are really a love-them-or-hate-them kind of deal. I still have mixed feelings about "Julien Donkey-Boy," though.
"Side Effects" was a lame movie but Jude Law was okay in it I guess. I didn't like his character at all but the acting was fine.
Fair enough. The World's End is actually my favorite of the Cornetto trilogy.
DeleteI really need to check out more of Korine's work, as I've only seen Spring Breakers. It's in my top 10 of the year right now.
I really enjoyed Jude Law in Side Effects, but I'm a Law fan, so I'm biased.
Well, that's your opinion! To me, neither "The World's End" or "Hot Fuzz" can beat "Shaun of the Dead!" : )
DeleteI can watch "Shaun of the Dead" over and over and never get bored.
I liked the first two films, but I loved The World's End for some reason. It was a pleasant surprise. :)
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