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Top 10 Tuesdays: Top 10 Performances of 2017

Jan 17, 2018 by PowerRankings101

2017 was a killer year for film. Every year, I make a top 10 list of performances from the prior year’s films. In order to do that, I rank my top 10 supporting actors, top 10 supporting actresses, top 10 actors, and top 10 actresses, and then finish with my top 10 overall for the year. Enjoy, and stay tuned for my top 10 of 2017 next week (once I see a few more films that I haven't seen yet).

Top 10 Supporting Actors:

10. Sebastian Stan (I, Tonya)
9. Patrick Stewart (Logan)
8. Will Poulter (Detroit)
7. Jack Black (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle)
6. Dave Franco (The Disaster Artist)
5. Adam Driver (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
4. Willem Dafoe (The Florida Project)
3. Bryan Cranston (Last Flag Flying)
2. Armie Hammer (Call Me by Your Name)
1. Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)

Top 10 Supporting Actresses:

10. Tatiana Maslany (Stronger)
9. Beanie Feldstein (Lady Bird)
8. Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip)
7. Dafne Keen (Logan)
6. Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049)
5. Mary J. Blige (Mudbound)
4. Holly Hunter (The Big Sick)
3. Allison Janney (I, Tonya)
2. Carrie Fisher (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
1. Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird)

Top 10 Actors:

10. Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick)
9. Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out)
8. James McAvoy (Split)
7. Andy Serkis (War for the Planet of the Apes)
6. Hugh Jackman (Logan)
5. Jake Gyllenhaal (Stronger)
4. James Franco (The Disaster Artist)
3. Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour)
2. Daniel Day-Lewis (Phantom Thread)
1. Timothee Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name)

Top 10 Actresses:

10. Brie Larson (The Glass Castle)
9. Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
8. Emma Stone (Battle of the Sexes)
7. Brooklynn Pricne (The Florida Project)
6. Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman)
5. Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water)
4. Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread)
3. Margot Robbie (I, Tonya)
2. Frances McDormand (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)
1. Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird)

Top 10 Performances of 2017:

10. Carrie Fisher (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)- Easily the heart and soul of the film, Fisher brought a nuance to a role that we thought we had seen all of. We were wrong, as she brought so much more to this role. It’s a shame we won’t see her grace our screens again, but what an amazing finish to a brilliant career.

9. Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)- The supporting actor race this year was a bit weak, but Rockwell’s performance in this film was a standout. The film is messy in lots of places, in my opinion, but his performance is one of the high points. He brings comedy when comedy is due, brings the jerkiness when he’s being a jerk, and gives us a sincerity when it’s due. It’s a multi-layered performance and is the best film performance of Rockwell’s career.

8. James Franco (The Disaster Artist)- The accent isn’t perfect, but a few minutes in, Franco’s Tommy Wiseau feels comfortable and natural and real. All of the issues with his impersonation are masked by his raw ability and connection to his dialogue. Franco makes us love Tommy and love his spirit, and has us sympathize with someone who never got much praise in the past. I like the real Tommy better, but Franco’s is still pretty darn good.

7. Margot Robbie (I, Tonya)- So many amazing actresses emerged from this year, and I think my entire top 10 can expand to a top 20. Robbie is one of the best of the year, and her portrayal of Tonya Harding is spot on. Robbie finds the sweetness, but also finds the grit in Harding’s character. It is a beautiful star turn for Robbie, who wasn’t taken seriously enough until now. I think this is the start to a great career for her.

6. Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour)- This film is a total dud without Oldman’s performance. It’s spot-on, and while the makeup does half the job, Oldman still brings a great presence with him as Winston Churchill. It’s his career-best, and one of the better historical figure portrayals we’ve ever seen (but not anywhere close to DDL’s Lincoln, which is why I don’t put him toward the top).

5. Frances McDormand (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)- Like I said with Rockwell, I don’t love this movie. But a movie and a performance are two different things. McDormand knocks it out of the park, and brings such a cool presence to this character. While a lot of it is familiar to what we’ve seen of hers in the past, there is also lots of new stuff to admire and to love about her performance. I ate it all up, and it’s one of my favorites of the year.

4. Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird)- Metcalf plays such a dynamic character that sounds so simple on the outside but is so layered and complex on the inside. She steals every scene she is in, and deserves several awards for this. She is such a big part of this amazing story, and is a marvel to watch in every scene.

3. Daniel Day-Lewis (Phantom Thread)- THE master of modern acting, Day-Lewis is probably the most impressive man working today. Well…he’s not acting anymore, BUT, this final performance of his is a damn good one to go out on. It is grounded, detailed, and every little ounce of DDL that we have grown to admire so much. While I think his “There Will Be Blood” performance will always be his best, this is another knockout performance of his.

2. Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird)- Lady Bird was my favorite movie of the year, and while the movie is great on its own, I think Ronan adds a lot to her character. First off, her accent is amazing (she has a thick Irish accent in person that never creeps into her new Sacramento accent). Second, her chemistry with everyone she works with on-screen is fabulous (Metcalf, Chalamet, Hedges, Letts, Feldstein). Third, she is just a joy to watch and brings so much to one of my favorite movie characters of the decade.

1. Timothy Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name)- Chalamet has had quite the year: Lady Bird, Hostiles, etc. But this film, Call Me by Your Name, is his big breakout film. He is immaculate in his role, showing such a realness in every line of dialogue he has. He not only brings it emotionally, but speaks in two different languages in the film. Also, doing what he does at his age is just flooring. There is really no performance this year that both broke my heart and made me as genuinely happy this year as his did. Being a straight guy from the US, I didn’t think I could relate as much to this film, but his performance is something that anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak can relate to, no matter what your sexuality is. That is why Chalamet is the MVP of the year, and is the scene-stealer of 2017. Bravo.

#casting

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Top 10 Tuesdays: Top 10 Performances of 2017

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