list-o-mania
from the cluttered wishing to be categorized brain of Nathaniel R
Compiled in February 2006 using a complex mathematical formula [snort] involving number of films, clarity of obsession, quality of work, and other *undefinables* (such as previous films, awards show appearances, publicity, tv, & stage work) that influence me even though the list is meant to be about 2000 through 2005 only for more on the workings of this list -check out the introduction
Actors of the "Aughts" 50-41 |
50 Michael Gambon
I thought to begin by suggesting that this 65- year-old Irish wonder gets no respect but this isn't quite right. How do you claim a knighted multiple BAFTA winning actor gets no respect? I think it's just the way the movies have treated him. The plot in Gosford Park (2001), or what there is of it, turns on his murder. But if you stopped to ponder his demise for more than a minute you'll lose the movies true concern; the interplay of its teeming cast. Forget about Gambon, he's already out of the picture! He's already dead when Being Julia (2004) begins, too. He merely shows up on occasion to banter with Bening in spirit. And then there's the matter of being the replacement cast (shudder!) in Harry Potters Azkaban (2004) and Goblet of Fire (2005) . But in all of these movies it's hard to discount Gambon's gift. So, no, he's in no danger of co-opting that Rodney Dangerfield's catchphrase but the man who appears in all of these memorable roles plus stints in Charlotte Gray (2001), Sylvia and Angels in America (2003), Sky Captain and The Life Aquatic with Steve Sizzou (2004), and Layer Cake (2005) ought to be enjoying a little more public love in America.49 Dustin Hoffman
After three decades of superstardom, hits, and Oscars, Hoffman's career practically hit a brick wall in the 90s. Only Wag the Dog (97) didn't seem to be wasting his gift or misunderstanding it (hello Outbreak, 95 --now good riddance). This decade didn't start off strong either (Moonlight Mile, 02 was pleasant enough but not vintage Hoffman) but something magical has been happening lately as Hoffman has been popping up with increased frequency and acting with increased inspiration in a number of films. It's like he shows up briefly and blesses the film. I don't much care for Finding Neverland (2004) but the film is better for his quiet gravitas in his few scenes. He's a riot paired with funny girl Barbra Streisand in the otherwise flabby Meet the Fockers (2004) and --I saved the best for last-- he's downright brilliant as the spacey existential detective in I Heart Huckabees (2004). It's as if the past decade of failure has freed him from the demands of carrying films and maintaining superstardom. Now he's just a super actor again. I hope Harrison Ford is taking notes.
48 Sean Penn
"Only #48 !?!" I hear you gasping. You're aware that he was "Sam" in I Am Sam, though, right? So shut up --#48 is all he gets. You have to subtract points for that. You really do. Oscar nomination be damned. In all honesty Sean Penn has never been one of my favorite actors (sorry Nick) but I'm not about to deny that given the right role and the right direction he can sometimes emote with near volcanic power. He has had two such magical screen roles this decade, both in 2003. For Mystic River he understandably won the Oscar (I preferred Murray and Depp but all three were special) and in 21 Grams he got extra points for a powerfully doomed performance that didn't feel at all like the one he gave in River that. That's range we like.47 Tobey Maguire
At some amorphous point in the 90s I developed an aversion to Tobey Maguire. I came to resent it each and every time he got a rave review. He got a ton of them for Wonder Boys (2000) with a performance I didn't at all care for though I enjoyed the film. I was probably more surprised than anyone when he proved so unarguably perfect for Spider-Man (2002). But the brilliance of the casting was that his normally somnambulistic acting was actually a perfect match for Peter Parker and provided unexpectedly good comedy when becoming Spider-Man metaphorically woke him up. I've seen the first and its even better sequel Spider-Man 2 (2004) a number of times now and I'm more and more convinced that I should have nominated him in for the role in my own awards. He really is exactly right in each. By the time Seabiscuit arrived in 2003 I was done resisting him as an actor and OK with any praise he got. Maybe it's time I revisit Wonder Boys.
46 Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood scares me. His face is too wide. His eyes are too blue. His teeth are too small. But. But... I love his performance in all three Lord of the Rings films (2001-2003) even in the moments where you feel you've seen him sweetly smile or go wide-eyed with panic a dozen times too many. You never for a moment feel that he's less than committed to the mass illusion of this long term epic. Frodo's slow disintegration feels a bit like the actor slipping away too till all that's left is Frodo. And there isn't much of Frodo left at the end of that journey either. Which is why it came as such an enormous shock to me when Elijah Wood was suddenly with us again. In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) he's amoral, lovesick, and creepy in the non-violent socially awkward way. This is Frodo? Same thing again in Sin City (2005) where he manages to be scary by simply removing the acting. His body moves all predator like but it's an ego less performance. His face contains but one expression. I know this sounds like strange praise. But Elijah Wood is a strange one. Few actors leave me as bewildered as to what their next decision might possibly be.45 Russell Crowe
*Ducking to avoid tomatoes and phones flying rapidly my way*
Longtime readers of The Film Experience will know I have a complicated "love to hate him" relationship with Mr. Crowe. As early as the Australian film Proof (91) I was an admirer and happy to see him rise rapidly through the ranks in the 90s. But as soon as he walked into the afterlife to see his dead wife and son at the end of Gladiator (00) I was getting bored. It's an enjoyable movie-star turn but it hardly rated an Oscar. Where were all these voting AMPAS members when he rocked the world in LA Confidential (97)? Anyway... the disappointment mounted. I thought he was overly fussy in A Beautiful Mind (01) but his stardom and ego continued to grow. My admiration was turning to disapproval. Then came all the bad behavior. Maybe I'm just a contrarian but as he soon as he became THE GREATEST ACTOR THAT EVER LIVED to both the public and himself, I was 100% done with him. All that said he's absolutely a movie star. I can dig that star mojo when the film/role is right. Loved him in Master and Commander (2003) and thought he was swell if not Oscar worthy in Cinderella Man (2006), too. I just wish he weren't so overpraised, overcompensated, and underachieving in his career choices (middlebrow overload) considering the talent that's obviously there.44 Paul Rudd
Remember wayyy back (an entire decade ago) in Clueless when it took Alicia Silverstone almost 97 minutes of film to realize that Paul Rudd was a total "Baldwin"? The entire audience was like 'well, duh!' since they'd figured that out 96 minutes before. Happily for them Paul did not suffer the fate of so many of his Clueless co-stars: he still has a healthy film career. Onscreen Rudd has proven his worth as a comic performer with some regularity including stints in the underrated laugh-fest Wet Hot American Summer (2001) and the critical and box office success The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005). His considerable dramatic stage chops haven't really transferred as easily to the screen (see The Shape of Things, 2003 or don't) but they may still get there. The little seen P.S. (04) contains another memorably sharp but brief Rudd turn. At the time of this writing he's on Broadway starring opposite Julia Roberts and will woo Michelle Pfeiffer (#8 in Actress chart) onscreen later this summer. Yes, the ladies love Paul Rudd. He's more of a Baldwin than any of the Baldwins at this point.
43 Chris Cooper
There's not many performers that could yank audiences attentions away from Meryl Streep when she's given as much fascinating business to work with as she was in Adaptation (2002) but Chris Cooper arguably does just that. He has the Oscar to prove it. But even removing that career topping work in that Charlie Kauffman / Spike Jonze mindbender he'd still make the chart. Whether this Missouri born actor is grounding a scene with no-nonsense heartland presence (Seabiscuit, 02 or Capote, 05) or working in a more sinister register (The Bourne Identity, 02 or Syriana, 05) or just plain overworking his role (Jarhead, 05) it's almost impossible to fault casting directors and Hollywood for relying on him so much. He delivers.42 Morgan Freeman
From one sturdy beloved featured player to another. Morgan Freeman also won the Supporting Actor Oscar this decade but in his case it was for a role he coulda performed in his sleep (to push the comparison further it'd be rather like giving Cooper the Oscar for his work in Seabiscuit). But you can't not love Morgan Freeman. I think it's a rule. I'm more than a little tired of the 'let Freeman narrate!' crutch that Hollywood employs to lend their films instant gravitas (Million Dollar Baby, 04, March of the Penguins and War of the Worlds, 05) but he does have a great voice, no argument there. What I'm not tired of is the twinkly joy that he brings to his work in movies like Bruce Almighty (2003) where he played God --perfect casting! or Batman Begins (2005). But my favorite Freeeman performance this decade is the sly one he was giving in Nurse Betty (2000), the one nobody seemed to notice.
41 Allesandro Nivola
I have been known to spot future superstars well in advance. I couldn't take my eyes off of Nivola the first time I saw him in Face/Off (1997) so I immediately assumed he'd become one soon thereafter. That still hasn't happened so I'm content to share him with his small but, you'll have to agree, insanely devoted admirers. I don't care what he's doing onscreen, I'm watching. He can assist Mia Maestro on only a quarter of the screen (Timecode, 2000), hunt dinosaurs (Jurassic Park III, 2001), f*** everything that moves (Laurel Canyon, 2002), or sing church hymns (Junebug, 2005)...I simply don't care. I am there!
next page: (THE TOP 40 BEGINS )
The Complete List for The Films of 2000-2005
100 -91 / 90-81 / 80-71/ 70-61 / 60-51 / 50-41
40-31 / 30-21 / 20-11 / 10-6 / 5-1
