What follows is a list of what I consider the best acting in films released in 2015. Four days ago, I published my list of best (and worst) films of the year, and most actors in most of those films turned in admirable performances. The same goes with directors. I see no need to publish a separate “best directors” list, since if the film is good, then I credit the director. A few actors and actresses in films which I did not put among my top choices still made into this new list, since they were so mesmerizing and memorable, even if the film was not.
Therefore, the actors and actresses listed, below – each with a clip of their performance (when available, and if none is available – or if the available clip is not very good – then I include the movie’s trailer, instead) – are the 5 per category (I stick with just 5, like the Academy, though this is sometimes difficult) whose work most stands out (for me) within the context of the film they’re in; those performances which most contribute to raising the quality of the movie. All movie titles are hyperlinked to my review, and if you follow that link, you can learn more about the movie, itself, and my thoughts on what makes that actor’s performance so special in that movie.
It’s so difficult to choose, but here goes (in alphabetical order by last name within each category):
BEST ACTRESS:
Brie Larson, Room
Teyonah Parris, Chi-Raq
Bel Powley, The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years (no full review yet, so I link to my “best films of the year” page, where I have a capsule review)
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Joan Allen, Room
Elizabeth Banks, Love & Mercy
Kiersey Clemons, Dope
Olivia Cooke, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
BEST ACTOR:
Paul Dano, Love & Mercy
Michael B. Jordan, Creed
Shameik Moore, Dope
Géza Röhrig, Son of Saul (no full review yet, so I link to my “best films of the year” page, where I have a capsule review)
Jacob Tremblay, Room
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Oscar Isaac, Ex Machina
Michael Peña, Ant-Man
Tony Revolori, Dope
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Alexander Skarsgård, The Diary of a Teenage Girl
