Best Performances of 2017

As usual, I'm a bit late on my favorite performances of the previous year.  For 2017, a few (very brief) thoughts on my favorites of the year.

Best Actress

Salma Hayek, Beatriz at Dinner: She could have played this for broad comedy, but instead she digs in fully and reveals deeper truths.

Vicky Krieps, Phantom Thread: Probably my favorite of the three central performances in the movie. If she doesn't work, the movie doesn't. Astonishing. Can't wait to see what she does next.

Saorsie Ronan, Lady Bird: Perfect. I could watch this movie and this performance countless times.

Emma Stone, Battle of the Sexes: Follows up her Oscar win with another beautiful performance.

Meryl Streep, The Post: A great performance in a good movie. Probably my favorite of her performances since Adaptation.

My winner: Ronan

Runner-Up: Krieps

Matches with Oscar: 2 (Ronan and Streep). McDormand (3 Billboards), Hawkins (The Shape of Water), and Robbie (I, Tonya) were all great as well and would make my runner-up list. A really strong year for Best Actress.

Best Actor

Timothee Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name: Wow. Maybe one of my favorite performances ever.  We will all definitely look back and rage at Oldman beating him for the Oscar.

Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out: Get Out hinges on the believability of his performance, and he plays it for real and for keeps.

Daniel Day Lewis, Phantom Thread: If this is really his last performance, wha t way to go! Digs in and never lets go.

Adam Sandler, The Meyerowitz Stories: Dials back the Sandler-ness and delivers an emotionally honest, moving performance.

Ben Stiller, Brad's Status: Very Stiller-y, but in the best way. Can play quirks and neuroses like no one else!

Winner: Chalamet
Runner-Up: Kaluuya

Matches with Oscar: 3. I thought winner Gary Oldman (The Darkest Hour) was overly broad, and I didn't see Denzel in Roman J. Israel.

Best Supporting Actress

Tiffany Haddish, Girls Trip: Definition of a scene stealer. Elevates the movie in every single second she's on screen.

Holly Hunter, The Big Sick: Perfection. HOW did she not get nominated?

Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread: Does so much by saying so little. Gets all the best sick burns in the movie, and gradually reveals layers to her character.

Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird: Pricky and multi-dimensional. Toes the line of likable/unlikable and never lets up.

Michele Pfeiffer, mother!: Brings a manic, creepy, sexy energy when she enters the movie.

Winner: Hunter
Runner-Up: Metcalf

Matches with Oscar: 2 (Manville and Metcalf). Allison Janney (I, Tonya) was close to the list. I thought Mary J. Blige (Mudbound) and Octavia Spencer (The Shape of Water) were solid but not awards-worthy.


Best Supporting Actor

Willem Defoe, The Florida Project: A portrait of lived-in goodness, something different than we usually see from Defoe.

Tracy Letts, Lady Bird: Metcalf got much of the praise for the mother role, but Letts is just as crucial as the warmer side of the parental unit.

Rob Morgan, Mudbound: A small role but one that made an impact on me with its grace and sadness.

Ray Romano, The Big Sick: Romano's calm, resigned demeanor is the perfect counterpart to Holly Hunter's energy.  Funny as hell too.

Michael Stuhlbarg, Call Me By Your Name: Yes, for that ending scene. But also for creating a believable, loving fatherly presence throughout the whole film.

Winner: Stuhlbarg
Runner-Up: Defoe

Matches with Oscar: 1 (Defoe). I liked Woody Harrelson (3 Billboards) and Richard Jenkins (The Shape of Water) pretty well, but was so-so on winner Rockwell. I didn't see Christopher Plummer in All the Money in the World.