Each year I set aside time to examine and spotlight what I think are the best performances of the past movie year. In keeping with the upcoming Oscars I have adopted their format and for the next several days I’ll be highlighting the very best performances for each of the four acting categories. Much like in the supporting category, women had a ton of fabulous performances to consider which made this tough to narrow down. Nonetheless these are my five favorites.

#5 – Sarah Paulson (“Blue Jay”)

In “Blue Jay” (the first of Netflix’s multi-picture deal with Mark Duplass) two high school sweethearts bump into each after years apart. Duplass and Sarah Paulson start by reminiscing over the past but soon open up painful old wounds. Paulson is a true highlight. Much of her performance features a considerable amount of improvisation but you never notice. She’s completely in tune with the material. A truly wonderful performance.

#4 – Amy Adams (“Arrival”)

It saddens me to see “Arrival” getting such little attention from the awards crowd, but one thing they have all recognized was the fine work from Amy Adams. In Denis Villeneuve’s cerebral science fiction thriller Adams takes the role of a linguist but (as the director himself said) first she is a mother. That adds an entirely different layer to the role which Adams handles with an understated beauty.

#3 – Rebecca Hall (“Christine”)

“Christine” tells the sad, tragic story of the final days in the life of news reporter Christine Chubbock. Rebecca Hall’s portrayal of Chubbock is unquestionably one of the year’s most unforgettable performances. Hall’s handling of depression, loneliness, and self-doubt is brilliantly agonizing. Hall gives every ounce of herself, physically and mentally transforming into a deeply troubled real-life character. It’s incredible work.

#2 – Emma Stone (“La La Land”)

I can finally say I am sold on Emma Stone. What a performance in this Damien Chazelle modern day musical. Channeling beats from the MGM musical heyday but with a real-world messiness, Stone acts, dances and sings her way through this uplifting yet bittersweet story. This had to be impossible to visualize, but Stone hits it with a full commitment to every task she is given. The results are magical.

#1 – Kate Beckinsale (“Love & Friendship”)

How, oh how, has Kate Beckinsale not been given the awards attention she so richly deserves for her superb performance in Whit Stillman’s “Love & Friendship”. It is such a tricky role. Beckinsale nails this wacky mixture of beautiful eloquence and casual toxicity. She’s both charming and appalling. I love the other performances I’ve mentioned, but there was nothing quite like Beckinsale.

Those are my picks for the five best lead actress performances. See something you agree or disagree with? Please let me know in the comments section below.

Each year I set aside time to examine and spotlight what I think are the best performances of the past movie year. In keeping with the upcoming Oscars I have adopted their format and for the next several days I’ll be highlighting the very best performances for each of the four acting categories. Today we look at Supporting Actors. It was incredibly hard to whittle down, but these are my five picks.

#5 – Michael Shannon (“Nocturnal Animals”)

Talk about an actor with an incredible knack for stealing scenes. Michael Shannon is often the most captivating character on the screen. You could say the real-life Shannon is a touch unhinged – a quality that feeds into many of his fascinating characters. It’s certainly true for “Nocturnal Animals”. He hits every batty, off-beat note and as he often does, he steals every scene he shares.

#4 – Tom Bennett (“Love & Friendship”)

I literally can’t think about Tom Bennett’s performance in Whit Stillman’s brilliant “Love & Friendship” without laughing. Bennett’s lovable goofball offers up the film’s broadest comedy, but he also gives us some of the funniest scenes of the year. His bits on English peas and “Church-Hill” are pure comedy gold. It’s a lighter role than others, but no less impressive.

#3 – Kevin Costner (“Hidden Figures”)

And to think until I saw it I had no idea Kevin Costner was in “Hidden Figures”. Costner has long been a favorite of mine, an actor as reliable as they come. Here he brings a steady and obvious assurance to his role. His performance resembles a classic form of acting, not showy, but one that allows his veteran acting chops to do the heavy lifting. He was a highlight in a film filled with great performances.

#2 – Hugo Weaving (“Hacksaw Ridge”)

I’ve been surprised at how few people have talked about Hugo Weaving’s piercing performance in Mel Gibson’s “Hacksaw Ridge”. The very few comments I’ve read have been mixed, but I feel Weaving is both brutal and devastating as a father dealing with a truckload of emotional baggage. It’s deeply moving and reveals a side of Weaving I wasn’t expecting.

#1 – Dev Patel (“Lion”)

Here is an actor I’ve always enjoyed but who is rarely (if ever) considered a “leading man”. In “Lion” his performance is hard to categorize. It is a supporting role, but he is very much the lead in the film’s second half. He’s also a significant reason the movie has such an emotional pull. Patel takes his character through inner turmoil and conflict while never hitting a false note. It’s a captivating performance, and it’s good to see him getting awards season attention.

So there are my favorite supporting actor turns of 2016. We will look at the leads in the next few days. What do you think of these picks? What would have made your list? Let me hear it in the comments section below.

Each year I set aside time to examine and spotlight what I think are the best performances of the past movie year. In keeping with the upcoming Oscars I have adopted their format and for the next several days I’ll be highlighting the very best performances for each of the four acting categories. The ladies go first and we start by looking at Supporting Actresses. Last year was rich with quality supporting performances from so many talented actresses. It was tough to narrow down, but these were my standouts.

#5 – Lucy Boynton (“Sing Street”)

The more I watched her character in “Sing Street” the more I appreciated Lucy Boynton’s surprisingly nuanced performance. The role isn’t nearly as shallow as its first impression. Boynton deftly unwraps her character’s inner turmoil but she’s also a ton of fun playing within John Carney’s nostalgic, spirited 1980’s sandbox. As the film went on I loved the performance more and more.

#4 – Aïssa Maïga  (“The African Doctor”)

There are a number of scenes that demonstrate why I appreciate Aïssa Maïga’s performance in “The African Doctor”. But I particularly appreciate how she balances the numerous things thrown at her. She has her broader comedy moments, but she also deals heavily with frustration and resentment. In many ways she is asked to be the film’s conscience. Maïga handles it all with ease.

#3 – Octavia Spencer (“Hidden Figures”)

There are few performers with more natural talent for acting than Octavia Spencer. You never doubt what she brings to the screen regardless of the size of her role. This was never more true than in “Hidden Figures”. Her performance is so grounded in truth that you never question her character’s feelings or motivations. Even when the script is bit on-the-nose Spencer has you buying every second of it.

#2 – Nicole Kidman (“Lion”)

I had lost sight of Nicole Kidman’s brilliance as an actress. Silly me. Her performance in “Lion” served as a wonderful and welcomed reminder. There isn’t an ounce of glamor or show in what she does. Through her every scene Kidman remains quiet and understated yet she steadily brings an emotional heft. It’s a tricky role that many actresses would have milked dry. Kidman knows exactly how to play it and the results are astounding.

#1 – Viola Davis (“Fences”)

For my money there was never a competition for first place. From the moment I left the theater after seeing “Fences” I knew I had seen my favorite female performance of the year. Simply put Viola Davis is electrifying in what is close to being a lead role. Sharing this much dialogue and screen time with Denzel Washington may seem a bit intimidating, but Davis matches him line for line. It’s an absolute master class and anything short of the Oscar would be an insult.

So there are my picks out of a really strong category. What do you think? Please share your thoughts on this list and on what would have made yours.

Awards season is upon us and the Golden Globes got the ball rolling. The Hollywood foreign press sparked several interesting storylines that we will be talking about all the way to Oscar night. It was a fun night will a few surprises and a few disappointments. Here are a handful of random thoughts:

• Who had the best night? Do I even need to tell you? “La La Land” went a perfect 7/7 which was both wonderful and surprising.
• The first surprise of the night came quick. Aaron Taylor-Johnson wins Best Supporting Actor for “Nocturnal Animals”. Hard to argue. It’s a great performance, but Michael Shannon was that film’s scene stealer and he didn’t even get nominated.
• Predictably “Zootopia” wins Best Animated Film. I know I know, people love it. For me it was insanely heavy-handed. Great message but handled with bludgeoning subtlety.
• Jimmy Fallon was an okay host. The opening musical riff on “La La Land” was a hoot. After that Fallon kinda disappeared.
• Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical went to Ryan Gosling. Hmm. Well it was a weird group. The inclusion of Reynolds and Hill was baffling to me. And while Grant and Farrell are both good, they are hardly give Awards caliber performances. That’s why Gosling won. But he needn’t worry about giving an acceptance speech on Oscar night. He’s toast when tossed in with Washington and Affleck.

• Speaking of Gosling, he gave my favorite speech of the night. It was humble and very personal. There was no doubt it came from the heart. Good job Ryan.
• And then you have Meryl Streep’s speech. As unpopular as this may sound, I zoned out halfway through. I’m just tired of the political wrangling especially when both sides start repeating themselves. The speech will be heralded by the left and railed on by the right. Whatever. I would have MUCH rather heard her talk about what won her the award in the first place. Oh well, it was her time to spend.
• The Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher tribute was such a tender moment. Just a lovely montage.
• “Elle” certainly turned some heads. Not only did it win the Best Foreign Language category but Isabelle Huppert wins Best Actress – Drama. Look out Oscars!
• Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig – Best presenters of the evening (Seeing Rocky and Apollo together – a close second).
• Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn – Worst presenters of the evening.
• Did anyone else notice the weird selective aggression when it came to the cut-off music. There was no rhyme or reason for it.
• “Hidden Fences”?
• Casey Affleck is a good actor. I’ll give him that. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find any better performance than Denzel Washington’s in “Fences”. Electrifying. I was hoping he would win.

• Speaking of “Fences”, Viola Davis. I can’t express how thrilled I was to hear her name called for a Best Actress-Drama. It was a stacked category but her performance was on an entirely different level. Pure brilliance.
• I loved Damien Chazelle’s win for Best Director. “La La Land” was such a gutsy undertaking, but to then deliver the way he does. A truly magnificent accomplishment and a well deserved win.
• Chazelle’s win for Best Screenplay. Well, that was a little surprising.
• Did you guys notice all of the beards?  I mean beards were everywhere!
• “Moonlight” winning for Best Picture-Drama was no surprise. While I prefer “Hacksaw Ridge” out of that group, “Manchester By the Sea” was the only real challenger for “Moonlight”. Up next, a showdown with “La La Land” on Oscar night. That should be fun to watch unfold.
• Every time I saw Ryan Reynolds I just shook my head. Very likable guy and all, but “Deadpool” nominated for two Globes? Can’t see it.
• Yes Meryl Streep was nominated again this time for “Florence Foster Jenkins”. It’s become a regular thing at this stage of her career (whether deserved or not) . I’m hoping the Academy doesn’t do the same. Don’t get me wrong. Streep gives a nice performance, but there are so many actresses who deserve it more this year. Hey Oscar, let’s give them a shot.

• Regardless of whether you prefer “La La Land” or “Moonlight”, everyone can agree that Dev Patel and Sunny Pawar were adorable!
• How about that teleprompter malfunction? Could there have been a worse possible time for Jimmy Fallon? I felt for the guy.
• Here’s hoping the internet doesn’t give “La La Land” the “Boyhood” treatment after such a big night. We may like one film more than the other and that’s okay. Winning at an awards show won’t change a film’s value to us. Let’s just be collectively happy that we have some really good films to talk about this season. That’s a good thing.

So there are just a few thoughts from last night’s big show. It was fun in a very Golden Globes-like way. So what did you think of the show, the winners, the losers, Casey Affleck’s hair? Share you thoughts in the comments section below.

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Last year was my first full year of doing this Blind Spot thing and it was a ton of fun. It compelled me to watch some films I should have already seen and to dive into classics that others have spoken so highly of. Now it’s a new year which means a new Blind Spot list. Here are the movies I’ll be seeing or seeing in full for the first time in 2017.

JANUARY – “Infernal Affairs” [REVIEW]

FEBRUARY – “In the Mood for Love” [REVIEW]

MARCH – “Diabolique” [REVIEW]

APRIL – “Umberto D” [REVIEW]

MAY – “Days of Heaven” [REVIEW]

 JUNE – “Ikiru”

JULY – “L’Argent”

AUGUST – “Grave of the Fireflies” [REVIEW]

SEPTEMBER – “The King of Comedy”

OCTOBER – “The Passion of Joan of Arc”

NOVEMBER – “The Fly” (1958)

DECEMBER – “The Producers” [REVIEW]

So that’s this year’s Blind Spot list. What do you think? Are any of your favorites included or are there some you still need to see? What do I have in store for me? Please share you thoughts in the comments section below.

Sometimes we need to take a break from all of the excitement and celebrations of awards season and come back down earth. What better way to do that than by reminding ourselves that not every 2016 movie was a good one. In fact there were some real stinkers. To prove it I’m sharing what I thought were the five worst films of the past year.

Keep in mind I was fortunate enough not to see all of the cinematic dreck that funneled through theaters so you may notice a few missing. I consider that a blessing. Still these five movies more than hold their own against any others.

#5 – “The Purge: Election Year”

I find something oddly intriguing about the Purge franchise’s concept despite its absolute absurdity. This third installment teases its potential but completely loses it in a mire of silliness and heavy-handed sermonizing. There wasn’t must subtlety in the political messaging of the first two films, but this installment is so laughably direct and it smothers out any hint of a decent story.

#4 – “Suicide Squad”

This epic blunder was the last thing DC Entertainment and Warner Brothers needed. It certainly doesn’t help them gain ground on Marvel’s cash cow. There is an interesting concept hidden somewhere within “Suicide Squad” but we never see it. Instead we get a pasted together mess filled with flat characters, dull action, and a bland, forgettable antagonist. In fact, that actually describes the movie perfectly – flat, dull, bland, and forgettable.

#3 – “Independence Day: Resurgence”

You would think if someone was going to make a sequel some 20 years after the original film that they must have something good in mind. Nope. “ID: Resurgence” is basically a rehash minus any of the charm from the original. This film is a joyless slog featuring cheap, paper-thin characters and some of the worst performances of the year. And it doesn’t help to have a truly awful script at the center. I didn’t think this would be good, but I also didn’t think it would be this bad.

#2 – “Gods of Egypt”

I have an incredibly high tolerance for cheesy fantasy, but even I couldn’t get over the myriad of problems with “Gods of Egypt”. This thing is filled to the brim with lame plot contrivances, mind-numbing action sequences, uninspired creatures, and some truly terrible performances. Even the effects (supposedly the film’s bread-and-butter) can be shockingly gaudy. Sadly we have come to expect this from a Gerard Butler movie, but talk about a crazy way for a studio to waste $140 million.

#1 – “The Do-Over”

Expecting a decent movie from Adam Sandler has become an exercise in futility. He is content with churning out garbage and cashing his checks for it. This is one of his worst and that’s saying something. “The Do-Over” is yet another excuse for Sandler to take vacation with his buddies on Netflix’s dime. It’s stupid, juvenile, disgusting, and offensive yet it masquerades as comedy. I happily checked out before the end simply because there was nothing redeemable about this slop. Yet another new low for Sandler.

So there are my worst films of 2016. See one I miss? Have any thoughts on these? Please let me hear them.