This is a list I have never attempted before, but I decided to give it a shot this year and point out what I believe are the Best Performances of 2007. No matter how big or small I believe these to be the best performances I saw all year and while there are a few I have left off that had I listed 12 instead of 10 would be here (I’m looking at you Viggo) I felt it was best to keep it to ten since these things can be a bit worthless if you end up with too many, and I already have enough ties in this one as is.
So, without further delay here is my Top Ten Performances of 2007 in absolutely no particular order.
No matter whether she made you uncomfortable, nervous or if you just didn’t like her, Tilda Swinton did her job in Michael Clayton as U/North litigator Karen Crowder. Without Swinton’s performance the more powerful moments in this film quite simply would not have been possible. While Clooney and Wilkinson were both outstanding I think it was Swinton that lead the way to making this film great.
Here’s a film that barely missed my Honorable Mention for Best Movies of 2007, the reason being was not the acting, the directing or anything along those lines. It was primarily the film’s length and what it stood for that turned me off of it, but that is a completely different topic. Emile Hirsch is the subject here and he had a break out performance with Into the Wild. To watch his transformation in this film as the selfish and inconsiderate Christopher McCandless was magnificent and worthy of high praise.
He’s the Russian Godfather except he seems to be 100-times scarier. Armin Mueller-Stahl’s performance in David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises as Vory V Zakone ring leader Semyon is disturbingly calm and soothing, however behind the facade you can tell there is a beast hell bent on satisfying himself before others. While Viggo Mortenson is fantastic in this film, and his character made my Best Characters of 2007 list, it is Mueller-Stahl that had the knock-out performance.
If the Academy was ever going to give an Oscar to a supporting actress with approximately five minutes of screen time Vanessa Redgrave would hands down be the one taking it home. Just watch Atonement and tell me the moment she tosses her face in her hands doesn’t say everything that is needed to say to the audience just before she gives the film’s final reveal. It is an Oscar-worthy performance if I have ever seen one.
I couldn’t help myself, I had to mention all three of these folks. I am sure some may be upset I didn’t include Tommy Lee Jones, but his performance in No Country for Old Men didn’t quite stand out as much as these three and I wasn’t about to spend three spots mentioning all three since that just wouldn’t be worth the effort. Of the bunch I think Kelly MacDonald is the one that really stands out the most, but Brolin and Bardem are a close second with Javier already revving up the speech machine as he just might be taking home some Oscar hardware come February.
I already talked about these two boys in my article right here so I won’t elaborate much more than to give you this quote from what I said earlier:
These two boys are given a much harder task than that asked of Ellen Page or Michael Cera in Juno and they are absolutely magnificent in their efforts. This isn’t a quirky comedy made up of one liners; The Kite Runner is a heavy handed drama and these two boys not only have to convince you of their characters for the first half of the film, they have to shape those characters in such a way that their grown-up counterparts immediately feel fully fleshed out. Both of them succeed at this task, and Mahmoodzada does it in such a way that you will be absolutely floored.
I could have easily given this spot to both Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, but it was Carter’s performance as Mrs. Lovett that really takes the cake pie in Sweeney Todd. Her voice is pleasantly perfect for the role and if you don’t get absolute enjoyment out of her singing “A Little Priest” then there is no hope.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s performance as CIA Agent Gust Avrakotos in Charlie Wilson’s War is one of the first times in a long time that I can remember Hoffman playing a character that didn’t just seem to be an alter-ego of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. So often his performances are great, but they all seem to simply be the same person whereas he seemed to slide effortlessly into Gust’s shoes and transform himself into a completely different person.
Can we finally say Casey Affleck is where the acting talent in the Affleck family resides without any debate? Yeah, Ben had a knock out film with Gone Baby Gone, but I’m talking acting here and Casey has proven time and time again that he can own just about any role handed to him whether it is a Jesse James worshipping little punk or a Boston P.I. investigating a missing girl.
I know I said this list is in absolutely no order whatsoever, but I will admit I saved the best for last. Whether you like There Will be Blood or hate it there is no denying that Daniel Day-Lewis absolutely nailed his role as Daniel Plainview. Just watch any interview with the man followed by a scene from the film and you will see just how much of a departure Lewis’ characters are from his real life persona. This guy is a true talent and I hope he already dusted off his mantle for his second Oscar, because it is on the way.
