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" 70-61 |
70 Willem Dafoe
Here's a strange one. I don't especially like Willem Dafoe. Sometimes I think he overdoes it. Sometimes I just feel shivery with ickiness watching him. Sometimes I just don't understand why it's him in the role. But all of these reactions, one could argue are intentional or at least serve the film in his most memorable roles. He's a busy busy actor with 20+ films and stage diversions in the past six years. The performances I have found most memorable in that time include: Shadows of the Vampire (FB Gold Medal in 00), Auto Focus (02), The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (04) and his stage work with the Wooster Group in To You The Birdie --I know I'm not supposed to count that for this film list. But I'm just trying to avoid talking about the Green Goblin in Spider-Man (02) a movie I love but the performance less so.69 Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels and I both proudly consider Michigan home (though he wasn't born there and I don't live there). I grew up loving him. He's big in Michigan you see. This past year was especially sweet for me, seeing him critically lauded for his brutally self-serving brilliance in The Squid and the Whale (FB Gold Medal 05). I've missed him. He doesn't often star in films I'm that interested in but I'm always rooting for him. This decade's pinnacle was obviously Squid but he's good in small roles in both The Hours (02) and Good Night and Good Luck (05).68 Jesse Eisenberg
This young actor gives me hope in the next generation of actors. He's 22 now so there's potentially many treasured performances to come. There he is in Roger Dodger (02) managing to not only not get blown off the screen by one of the best performances of the decade (from Campbell Scott @ #76) but making sure the film is a fascinating duet rather than just a one-man-show. There he is again doing a similar magic trick opposite another towering performance --this time from Jeff Daniels in The Squid and the Whale (05). If those two films aren't enough proof of his solidity as an actor there he is in the horrid Cursed (05) clearly trying even though the big star this time (Christina Ricci) has completely given up. Good for him.
67 Ben Kingsley
I swear --his career these days. He usually appears in crapola like The Thunderbirds (04) and BloodRayne (05) or quickly forgotten stuff like Rules of Engagement (00) or Tuck Everlasting (02). Yet everytime I'm thinking "No. No. No. No" about his career, there he is in my face, bald and forceful screaming "YES! YES! YES! YES!" in response. Just like he did in Sexy Beast as "Don Logan." When Kingsley cares it's impossible to shake his work. He can keep making bank on Thunderbirds as long as he gives me more "Don Logan"s and "Behrani"s (House of Sand and Fog, 03).66 Alan Cumming
I'm trying to ignore any work outside of the movies but I'm failing. The reasons I love Alan Cumming have less to do with his screen work than with his hilarous use of his celebrity and his triumphant stage work (I'm seeing his Broadway Threepenny Opera performance in just nine days from this writing) but that said, he's often a hoot onscreen too. Really enjoyed him as "Nightcrawler" in X2 (03) even if that wasn't exactly my idea of Nightcrawler from my youth reading comics. Other memorable screen work this decade included supporting work in Urbania (00), the lead role in The Anniversary Party (which he wrote and directed too) supporting again in Josie & the Pussycats (both 01), and a funny bit in Nicholas Nickelby (02).
65 & 64 [Collateral Twins] Tom Cruise & Jamie Foxx
If you just cringed seeing both these names, know that I share your pain. While it's true that I wrote this list, I can often be found arguing vehemently with myself. Also excel spreadsheets and complicated point formulas regarding all of the actors in the world is not a foolproof system. So nutcase Tom Cruise makes it on the strength of his Minority Report (2002) and Collateral (2004) work but if I'd have been more on my toes when I made this list some time ago I'd have knocked more points off for the abundantly annoying work in Vanilla Sky (2001) and The Last Samurai (2003). As for Jamie Foxx, Oscar category fraud aside I thought he was quite good in Collateral and in Ray (2004) AND in Ali (2001). But as with the man whom he shares this double bill, the ego shows. The ego is a turnoff.63 Ian Holm
Ian Holm was one of my favorite actors when I first started truly loving the cinema (in the mid 80s). I'm less impressed with his work these days in films like Garden State (2004) or From Hell (2001) --in fact, I don't like that last performance at all, very overwrought. But I can never quite fall out of admiration for him, even well after his peak plum role-picking years. This decade you have to give him points for Bilbo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings (2001 & 2003), a fun brief gig in The Aviator (2004). But most of all. You just have to love his loose marbles rendition of "There are no flies on Jesus" in Joe Gould's Secret (2000), don't you?62 Vince Vaughn
Given my recent acquired distaste for my once favorite "Friend" Jennifer Aniston and considering their current hookup and the mounting evidence that Vaughn's only got one acting trick in his book; fast talking slightly pathetic comic relief...it might be unwise to admit that I usually love him in the movies. I wish he's do something as surprising as Psycho (1998) again. Thumbsucker (2005) was a tentative good step in that direction. But until he does really surprise me --and I hope he does, he does make me laugh a lot. For me he's the bright spot comedically in both Be Cool and Mrs & Mrs Smith (2005). I have yet to see The Wedding Crashers (my bad, I know) andI have no particular feeling for his work in Old School (03). So what I'm trying to say is that by the end of this decade he will either be higher in the list or not in the list at all.
61 Edward Norton
Speaking of fluctuating affection... what exactly is going on with Edward Norton's career? After American History X (1998) it seemed like the cinema would be his for the taking. Instead we get a technically dazzling but less committed retread of his Primal Fear performance (The Score, 2001), some roles clearly taken solely to make bank (Red Dragon, 2002 and The Italian Job, 2003) and an enticing cameo of sorts in Kingdom of Heaven (2005). Thank God for that "f**k you" peak in 25th Hour (2002). I can't wait to see him get passionate about a role again but I'm beginning to wonder when how long that wait will be.
next page (60-51) coming soon
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
