Today I’m wrapping up my look back at the best performances of 2021. All that will be left is my Top 10 Films (look for that next week). We finish with the Lead Actor category, one that is brimming with Oscar-worthy leading work. Several big names as well as a few unexpected ones made this a really hard group to narrow down. But such are the silly rules. So here we go, starting with a few honorable mentions.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Oscar Isaac (“The Card Counter”), Eric Bana (“The Dry”), Tim Blake Nelson (“Old Henry”), Bradley Cooper (“Nightmare Alley”), Joaquin Phoenix (“C’mon C’mon”), Luke Kirby (“No Man of God”), Ciarán Hinds (“The Man in the Hat”), Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Power of the Dog”), Denzel Washington (“The Little Things”), Jude Hill (“Belfast”), Adam Driver (“House of Gucci”), Don Cheadle (“No Sudden Move”), Tom Hanks (Finch), Harvey Keitel (“Lanksy”)

#5 – Will Smith (“King Richard”)

I’ve always found Will Smith performances to be pretty hit-or-miss. But his portrayal of Richard Williams in “King Richard” tosses aside any hesitation I may have had. Williams was a complicated man and Smith transforms to shed light on the determined father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. I wasn’t particularly excited for “King Richard” but it really surprised me. Smith was a big reason why.

#4 – Andrew Garfield (“Tick…Tick…Boom!”)

While the script and direction for “Tick…Tick…Boom!” was a little shaky, there was nothing lacking in Andrew Garfield’s lights-out performance. Both when acting and singing, the magnetic Garfield infuses the film with an infectious energy. He quite literally carries the movie on his shoulders and it’s impossible not to be drawn in by the enthusiasm and the emotion he brings.

#3 – Nicolas Cage (“Pig”)

While these days he’s probably known more for the unbridled nuttiness he brings to so many of his roles, sometimes we forget that Nicolas Cage is actually an immensely talented actor. Look no further than “Pig” for proof. He turned a lot of heads with his restrained and affecting portrayal of an off-the-grid hermit who sets out to find his stolen truffle pig. It may sound silly, but it’s hard not to moved by his performance.

#2 – Peter Dinklage (“Cyrano”)

One of the great surprises of the 2021 movie year was Peter Dinklage in the brilliant musical “Cyrano”. Anyone who follows Dinklage knows he’s a terrific actor. But here, not only does he get to showcase his acting chops with a meaty dramatic leading role, but he also gets to sing too. And it does it extremely well. Mix the two talents together and you have one of the best performances of the year.

#1 – Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of MacBeth”)

I learned a long time ago that in the world of acting there’s nothing Denzel Washington can’t do. And through the years he continues to prove that to be true. His latest film “The Tragedy of MacBeth” is even further evidence. Washington’s take on Shakespeare’s classic character is utterly captivating and he offers a perspective that honors the Bard’s vision yet still feels strikingly fresh. This is Denzel at the top of his game. Then again, when is he not?

Thanks for following along. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Today I’m continuing my celebration of the best performances from the past year. We spent the last two days covering the top supporting work of 2021. Now we’re moving to the lead categories beginning with Best Actress. This is a stacked group of incredible talent and narrowing them down proved to be tough. As before, I’ll begin by naming a few worthy honorable mentions.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Tilda Swinton (“Memoria”), Isabelle Huppert (“Mama Weed”), Emilia Jones (“CODA”), Olivia Munn (“Violet”), Millicent Simmonds (“A Quiet Place II), Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”), Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”), Rebecca Hall (“The Night House”), Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”), Niamh Algar (“Censor”), Renate Reinsve (“The Worst Person in the World”), Noomi Rapace (“Lamb”), Thomasin McKenzie (“Last Night in Soho”)

#5 – Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”)

The buzz coming out of Venice following the world premiere of “Spencer” had everyone talking about Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Princess Diana. The buzz has died down a little but she still seems to be an Oscar front-runner. The good thing is she has earned the hype. From her voice to her mannerisms, Stewart gets it right while also melding nicely with the film’s psychological edge.

#4 – Mélanie Laurent (“Oxygen”)

Mark this as a movie that fell under too many radars. “Oxygen” is a taut claustrophobic sci-fi thriller where Mélanie Laurent wakes up in an airtight medical cryogenic unit with no idea how she got there. For the most part Laurent is the lone cast member and she quite literally carries the movie. “Oxygen” is sharply written and directed, but it’s Laurent who keeps us locked in.

#3 – Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”)

While the supporting cast of “West Side Story” has gotten the bulk of the attention (and understandably so), Rachel Zegler makes a splash in her feature film debut. With a sparkling presence and a powerful voice, Zegler sings her way through some of the film’s best scenes. She also has a budding charisma that promises only to grow as her career continues.

#2 – Jodie Comer (“The Last Duel”)

In Ridley Scott’s medieval epic “The Last Duel”, Jodie Comer’s character finds herself trapped within a brutal and oppressive world ruled by men. It’s a role that sees Comer tackling a range of emotions and often suppressing her character’s feelings out of fear of retribution. But there’s also a strength and resilience in her performance that is crucial to the story. She is a star on the rise.

#1 – Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”)

Whenever you see Olivia Colman’s name you know the kind of top-notch performance you’re going to get. Her work in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter” is further proof of that. Here she’s explores a character clearly troubled and full of mystery. As the layers of the story are shrewdly peeled back, Colman gets some material she can really sink her teeth into. It’s one of her best performances in a career full of great performances.

Check back tomorrow as we finish up with the Best Actor Category

Yesterday I began my look back on the best performances of 2021. We started with the Supporting Actress category and today we follow it up with Supporting Actor. Much like the ladies, this is a category rich with great performances from a wide variety of movies. So lets get to it starting with a few honorbale mentions who just missed the cut.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Rob Morgan (“Don’t Look Up”), Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”), Jon Bernthal (“King Richard”), Willem Dafoe (“Nightmare Alley”), David Strathairn (“Nightmare Alley”), Richard Jenkins (“The Humans”), Woody Norman (“C’mon C’mon”), Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”)

#5 – Troy Kotsur (“CODA”)

It has been great seeing my critic colleagues from across the nation sharing this pick. Troy Kotsur’s performance in the surprisingly wonderful “CODA” could have been an easy one to overlook. Thankfully people have taken notice and now Kotsur has a legitimate shot at an Oscar nomination. He gives a performance so sincere and full of life. And the way he represents the hearing impaired community is inspiring. If you haven’t seen “CODA”, you should.

#4 – Jason Isaacs – (“Mass”)

There were so many powerful performances this past year, but few moved me quite like Jason Isaacs work in the heart-rending drama “Mass”. While the film relies on its incredible ensemble, Isaacs’ performance spoke to me the most. He brings a raw and pained intensity to the film’s heavy subject matter and you feel the emotion in every word he shares. The entire cast blew me away, but it was Isaacs who I really connected with.

#3 – Ben Affleck (“The Tender Bar”)

I think the most scene-stealing actor out of this year’s batch may be none other than Ben Affleck. He could easily have made this list for his work in Ridley Scott’s “The Last Duel”. But I’m going with the George Clooney directed “The Tender Bar”. Affleck is a captivating presence, swiping every scene he’s in and bringing a relatable down-to-earth personality that Clooney wisely utilizes. He’s terrific.

#2 – J.K. Simmons (“Being the Ricardos”)

Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos” was a nice surprise. Of course it had Sorkin’s signature snappy dialogue. But it was the performances that stole the show. One of the best of the group came from the always reliable J.K. Simmons who played the surly but secretly compassionate William Frawley. Simmons loses himself in the role (as he often does) and really captures his character. Easily one of my favorites of the year.

#1 – Mike Faist (“West Side Story”)

Hands down one of my favorite things about the fabulous “West Side Story” was Mike Faist. Full disclosure: I wasn’t familiar with Faist prior to this, but his eye-opening work in Steven Spielberg’s musical remake/adaptation blew my mind. Not only is he boiling over with charisma, but his performance has a modern day edge yet feels like something that could have been yanked from the 1961 film. There were several great performances in “West Side Story”, but Faist’s was tops on my list.

Come back tomorrow when I look at the Lead Actress Category

Tis the season for us film critics to start looking back over the movie year that was and compiling lists (it’s what we do). Before I get into my Top 10 movies of the year, I want to hone in on some of the 2021’s very best performances. Over the next few days I’ll be focusing on the very best work from each of the four major acting categories. So as I normally do, let’s start by with the Supporting Actress category.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”), Haley Bennett (“Cyrano”), Nina Arianda (“Being the Ricardos”), Marlee Matlin (“CODA”), Martha Plimpton (“Mass”), Rita Moreno (“West Side Story”), Alicia Vikander (“Blue Bayou”), Jayne Houdyshell (“The Humans”)

#5 – Emma Thompson (“Cruella”)

While I’m not seeing her name pop up on many (if any) ‘Best of’ lists, Emma Thompson’s hilariously venomous performance in “Cruella” has stuck with me all year. Sure, it’s not the kind of super-serious prestige role that grabs voters’ attention. But Thompson is an acid-spewing delight and she brings a villainous energy to the movie that I loved.

#4 – Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”)

In Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter” Jessie Buckley is given a tricky role to pull off. She’s asked to feed us fragments of a troubled woman’s past through a series of story-critical flashbacks. She’s up for the task in every respect. Buckley skillfully wrings out every layer of conflict in her rich but complicated character. It’s yet another great performance from an actress who never disappoints.

#3 – Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”)

I was overjoyed to see critics groups from around the country recognizing Ariana DeBose’s vibrant and layered performance in “West Side Story”. Whether she dancing, singing or shouldering one of the movie’s heaviest scenes, DeBose leaps off the screen and brings an energy that’s impossible to match. I love this performance and I left the theater immediately wanting to know more about her.

#2 – Cate Blanchett (“Nightmare Alley”)

Leave it to the effortlessly great Cate Blanchett to give us one of the best movie femme fatale’s since film noir was in its heyday. In “Nightmare Alley” she absolutely simmers with mystery and panache, mixing wicked elegance with lethal cunning. By now nothing Blanchett does is surprising. She’s always in top form and this performance is no different.

#1 – Caitríona Balfe (“Belfast”)

“Belfast” is Kenneth Branagh’s warm, tender and earnest reflection back to his childhood growing up in the tumultuous late 1960’s. It’s focus is firmly on family and what made the film work was the terrific cast that brought them to life. Caitríona Balfe’s heartfelt and textured performance really captures the movie’s range of emotions. Funny, frustrated, compassionate and courageous – Balfe conveys it all through her stellar work.

Check back tomorrow as I look at the Supporting Actor category

2022 is already shaping up to be good one for movie lovers. Case in point: the epic revenge thriller “The Northman”. Visionary filmmaker Robert Eggers (“The Witch”, “The Lighthouse”) brings his stark visual style to 10th Century Iceland, a place that feels right in his wheelhouse. To add to the appeal, the film sports an all-star cast that includes Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Björk, Claes Bang, and Ralph Ineson.

The film seems to have a pretty basic revenge story premise, but it’s the setting and Eggers’ furious style that really sells this. Skarsgård plays Amleth, a man driven by vengeance since he was a child. That’s when he watched his Viking King father (Hawke) murdered, his mother (Kidman) kidnapped, and their kingdom stolen by his uncle Fjölnir (Bang). This thing looks violent, ferocious, and absolutely absorbing. I can’t wait to see it.

“The Northman” opens exclusively in theaters April 22nd. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

Next in line in the increasingly popular buddy action-comedy genre looks to be “The Lost City”. Directed by brothers Aaron and Adam Nee, this silly looking romp puts Sandra Bullock alongside Channing Tatum for a wacky adventure with Daniel Radcliffe playing the main antagonist. I’m not 100% sure how those particular pieces will come together, but the first trailer released today by Paramount looks reasonably entertaining.

Bullock plays a romance writer on a book tour for her latest novel when she is kidnapped by a wacky billionaire (Radcliffe) who is convinced she can lead him to a treasure in a place known as The Lost City (or something like that). Tatum plays her hunky but air-headed cover model (think an even more ridiculous Fabio) who makes it his mission to go save her. Obvious hijinks ensue. The trailer looks utterly absurd which could be a good thing. But its biggest laugh comes with the appearance of a certain unexpected star near the end of the trailer. I’ll let you discover it for yourself.

“The Lost City” is set to hit theaters March 25th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.