Friday
Aug262016
Request: Oscar Nominated Performances of the Aughts, Ranked
Friday, August 26, 2016 at 8:21PM 
by Nathaniel R
This list was requested by Carlos recently in the comments. Perhaps in light of the Oscar Nominated Performances ranked of the past six years... so why not. It's a perfect weekend activity and will help you get in the mood for the possibly turbulent Oscar season ahead. So let's do this crazy...
ALL THE OSCAR NOMINATED PERFORMANCES RANKED (2000-2009)
First a terrible confession for one such as I: Two Oscar nominated performances in the Aughts slipped right past my movie devouring eyeballs (the shame. the shame.) I never got around to Tommy Lee Jones In the Valley of Elah or Cooler Alec Baldwin. I accept your judgment and will choose my favorite of whatever punishments are recommended.
So let's rank the whole other 198 lot of 'em, with the caveats that this is silly (apples & oranges) and had you asked me on a different day the order might have been different though the general truth of the groupings below would stay the same.
- Mo'Nique, Precious (2009) *
- Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
- Johnny Depp, The Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)
- Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
- Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood (2007) *
- Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal (2006)
- Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds (2009) *
- Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton (2007) *
- Ellen Burstyn, Requiem for a Dream (2000)
- Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises (2007)
- Nicole Kidman, Moulin Rouge! (2001)
- Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler (2008)
- Julianne Moore, Far From Heaven (2002)
- Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake (2004)
- Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine (2004)
- Chris Cooper, Adaptation (2002) *
- Laura Linney, You Can Count on Me (2000)
- Ian McKellen, Lord of the Rings (2001)
🔺 so amazing. I can't even...
also spectacular... 🔻
- Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson (2006)
- Julia Roberts, Erin Brockovich (2000) *
- Sean Penn, Milk (2008) *
- Julie Christie, Away From Her (2007)
- Clive Owen, Closer (2004)
- Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married (2008)
- Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) *
- Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men (2007)*
- Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight (2008) *
- Adrien Brody, The Pianist (2002) *
- Bill Murray, Lost in Translation (2003)
- Holly Hunter, Thirteen (2003)
- Laura Linney, The Savages (2007)
- Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton (2007)
- Catherine Zeta Jones, Chicago (2002) *
- Jack Nicholson, About Schmidt (2002)
- Meryl Streep, Adaptation (2002)
- Penelope Cruz, Volver (2006)
- Colin Firth, A Single Man (2009)
- Ben Kingsley, Sexy Beast (2001)
terrific choices Oscar, well done...
- Sissy Spacek, In the Bedroom (2001)
- Benicio Del Toro, Traffic (2000) *
- Willem Dafoe, Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
- Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James (2007)
- Diane Lane, Unfaithful (2002)
- Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air (2009)
- Virginia Madsen, Sideways (2004)
- Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There (2007)
- Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart (2009) *
- Annette Bening, Being Julia (2004)
- Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild (2007)
- Javier Bardem, Before Night Falls (2000)
- Denzel Washington, Training Day (2001)*
- Tom Wilkinson, In the Bedroom (2001)
- Renée Zellweger, Bridge Jones Diary (2001)
- Marcia Gay Harden, Pollock (2009) *
- Viola Davis, Doubt (2008)
- Albert Finney, Erin Brockovich (2000)
- Forrest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland (2006) *
- Nicole Kidman, The Hours (2002) *
- Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener (2005) *
- Amy Adams, Junebug (2005)
- Gabby Sidibe, Precious (2009)
- Cate Blanchett, The Aviator (2004) *
- Ellen Page, Juno (2007)
- Carey Mulligan, An Education (2009)
- Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
- David Straithairn, Good Night and Good Luck (2005)
- Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls (2006)
- Jude Law, Cold Mountain (2003)
- Diane Keaton, Something's Gotta Give (2003)
- Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler (2008)
- Melissa Leo, Frozen River (2008)
- Tom Hanks, Castaway (2000)
- Nicolas Cage, Adaptation (2002)
- Charlize Theron, Monster (2003)*
- Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker (2009)
- Benicio Del Toro, 21 Grams (2003)
- Robert Downey Jr, Tropic Thunder (2008)
- Natalie Portman, Closer (2004)
- Paul Newman, Road to Perdition (2002)
- Ben Kingsley, House of Sand and Fog (2003)
- Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote (2005) *
- Terence Howard, Hustle & Flow (2005)
- Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
- Adriana Barazza, Babel (2006)
- George Clooney, Michael Clayton (2007)
definitely worthy of praise even though in some cases maybe people got a little carried away with the superlatives...
- Daniel Day Lewis, Gangs of New York (2002)
- Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line (2005) *
- Kate Winslet, Iris (2000)
- Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator (2004)
- Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice (2005)
- Josh Brolin, Milk (2008)
- Meryl Streep, Julia & Julia (2009)
- Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose (2007) *
- Kate Winslet, The Reader (2008) *
- Helen Mirren, Gosford Park (2000)
- Saoirse Ronan, Atonement (2007)
- Marisa Tomei, In the Bedroom (2001)
- William Hurt, A History of Violence (2005)
- Jim Broadbent, Iris (2001)
- Shohreh Agdashloo, House of Sand and Fog (2003)
- Thomas Hayden Church, Sideways (2004)
- Maggie Smith, Gosford Park (2000)
- Ed Harris, Pollock (2000)
- Halle Berry, Monsters Ball (2001) *
- Marcia Gay Harden, Mystic River (2003)
- Catherine Keener, Capote (2005)
- Will Smith, Ali (2001)
- Richard Jenkins, The Visitor (2008)
- Julianne Moore, The Hours (2002)
- Frances McDormand, Almost Famous (2000)
good stuff even if Oscar nominations or especially wins feel, let's say, a bit generous
- Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children (2006)
- Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby (2004) *
- Penelope Cruz, Nine (2009)
- Kate Winslet, Little Children (2006)
- Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace (2004)
- Renee Zellweger, Chicago (2002)
- Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal (2006)
- Kate Hudson, Almost Famous (2000)
- Woody Harrelson, The Messenger (2009)
- Christopher Walken, Catch Me If You Can (2002)
- Joan Allen, The Contender (2000)
- Matt Dillon, Crash (2005)
- Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby (2004) *
- Jamie Foxx, Collateral (2004)
- George Clooney, Up in the Air (2009)
- Mark Wahlberg, The Departed (2006)
- Helen Mirren, The Queen (2006) *
- Julie Walters, Billy Elliott (2000)
I get it but ...
- Samantha Morton, In America (2003)
- Kathy Bates, About Schmidt (2003)
- Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
- Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby (2004)
- Jamie Foxx, Ray (2004)*
- Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air (2009)
- Frances McDormand, North Country (2005)
- Christopher Plummer, The Last Station (2009)
- Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line (2005)
- Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond (2006)
- Ed Harris, The Hours (2002)
- Ethan Hawke, Training Day (2001)
- Sophie Okonedo, Hotel Rwanda (2004)
- Geoffrey Rush, Quills (2000)
- Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone (2007)
- Keisha Castle Hughes, Whale Rider (2003)
- Juliette Binoche, Chocolat (2000)
- Patricia Clarkson, Pieces of April (2003)
- Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road (2008)
- Russell Crowe, Gladiator (2000)*
- Sean Penn, Mystic River (2003)*
- Meryl Streep, Doubt (2008)
- Judi Dench, Iris (2001)
- Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls (2006) *
- George Clooney, Syriana (2005) *
- Jeff Bridges, The Contender (2000)
These nominations are either head scratchers or totally fine but probably nothing one should name "BEST" of a year
- Angelina Jolie, Changeling (2008)
- Ruby Dee, American Gangster (2007)
- Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon (2008)
- Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man (2005)
- Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunchine (2006)
- Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd (2007)
- Michael Caine, The Quiet American (2002)
- Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda (2004)
- Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt (2008)
- Alan Alda, The Aviator (2004)
- Djimon Hounsou, In America (2003)
- Laura Linney, Kinsey (2004)
- Jon C Reilly, Chicago (2002)
- Taraji P Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- Judi Dench, Mrs Henderson Presents (2005)
- Rinko Kikuchi, Babel (2006)
- Helen Mirren, The Last Station (2009)
- Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side (2009) *
- Queen Latifah, Chicago (2002)
- Jennifer Connelly, A Beautiful Mind (2000) *
- Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine (2006) *
- Ken Watanabe, The Last Samurai (2003)
- Amy Adams, Doubt (2008)
- Morgan Freeman, Invictus (2009)
- Peter O'Toole, Venus (2006)
- Matt Damon, Invictus (2009)
- Salma Hayek, Frida (2002)
- Judi Dench, Chocolat (2000)
- Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- Charlize Theron, North Country (2005)
I think the rest are in their own unique ways, bad performances. Either the actor can't make sense of the character, or the performance is needlessly fussy or dull, or its over the top in an aggravating way
- Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart (2009)
- Felicity Huffman, Transamerica (2005)
- Joaquin Phoenix, Gladiator (2000)
- Naomi Watts, 21 Grams (2003)
- Johnny Depp, Finding Neverland (2004)
- Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
- Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War (2007)
- Renee Zellwegger, Cold Mountain (2003) *
- Jon Voight, Ali (2001)
- Russell Crowe, A Beautiful Mind (2001)
- Tim Robbins, Mystic River (2003) *
- Sean Penn, I Am Sam (2001)
- Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond (2006)
- Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones (2009)
Reader Comments (63)
MARK - you're right....I feel as if they'd had some scenes filmed during their 'off-moments'. What a pity. They could have been consistently solid performances through and through.
I completely understand the distaste for Blanchett in The Aviator but I think it's a remarkable performance deserving of the oscar. I still wish she didn't win though because it would have made her a shoe in for I'm Not There (love Tilda but she has Blanchett's oscar). In The Aviator, Blanchett is playing one of Hollywood's biggest legends ever as a villain. It is very uncomfortable to look at because she is so mannered and over the top but I believe Blanchett wanted to portray Hepburn as a self-absorbed actress constantly mounting a performance... when she's flirting, with her family, with her producers, never really stopping to show real emotion, even willing to let go of a loving man if she feels the focus is no longer on her. It's a tricky tricky performance but she nails it for what she sets out to do and I can't really imagine anyone else giving Katharine Hepburn justice. Watching interviews of the late Hepburn, I'm not sure there was any other way to play her.
It's interesting that people keep repeating it's one of the worst wins ever. The performance came at a time when the academy was starving to reward Blanchett. They knew they fucked up bad with her Elizabeth loss and her movies since had been too low profile for them to consider seriously and then she comes in with a star turn. At the time Virginia Madsen was her biggest competition with a worthy performance and I wish she had won so that we can stop hearing about the misinterpretation of Blanchett's Aviator performance.
My top 10:
1. Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
2. Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds
3. Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
4. Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line
5. Catherine Zeta Jones - Chicago
6. Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
7. Helen Mirren - The Queen
8. Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
9. Nicole Kidman - The Hours
10. Laura Linney - The Savages
Top 10
1. Amy Adams, Junebug
2. Sean Penn, Milk
3. Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
4. Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
5. Laura Linney, You Can Count on Me
6. Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain
7. Tom Wilkinson, In the Bedroom
8. Ellen Page, Juno
9. Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
10. Charlize Theron, Monster
Bottom 5
5. Russell Crowe, A Beautiful Mind
4. Cate Blanchett, The Aviator
3. Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia
2. Leonardo DiCaprio, The Blood Diamond
1. Johnny Depp, Finding Neverland
I always felt the Blanchett Oscar for The Aviator was more about Hollywood's love for Hepburn rather than for Blanchett. When you watch those scenes now, it seems so campy and Leo seems childlike. When they part in the film is amazingly bad acting. Thank goodness she was subsequently rewarded for Blue Jasmine.
My Top 10:
1. Winslet-Eternal Sunshine
2. Theron-Monster
3. Ledger-Dark Knight
4. Day Lewis-There Will Be Blood
5. Murray- Lost In Translation
6. Penn-Milk
7. Mo'Nique-Precious
8. Streep-Prada
9. Waltz-Inglourious
10. Cotillard- La Vie En Rose
Blanchett was very good in The Aviator! Nathaniel has her at Number 2 of the nominees that year. Their order is hard for me to determine without a re-watch, but the top three of the nominees that year was definitely Blanchett, Madsen and Portman. .
Regardless she was in the top three of her category that year (alongside Madsen & Portman).
Also, I'm shocked how many people seem to hate Dicaprio in Blood Diamond, I thought he was good fun in that. How the heck anyone can say Penn in I Am Sam or Zellweger in Cold Mountain is better is beyond me and probably deserve to re-watch those horrors.
My worst nominees:
Tucci - The Lovely Bones
Sean Penn - I Am Sam
Depp - Finding Netherland
Hudson - Dreamgirls
Zellweger - Cold Mountain
Downey - Tropic Thunder (his performance does NOT age well at all)
Top 10:
Javier Bardem, Before Night Falls
Viola Davis, Doubt
Benicio Del Toro, Traffic
Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Julianne Moore, Far From Heaven
Julia Roberts, Erin Brockovich
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chicago
Bottom 10:
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Matt Damon, Invictus
Matt Dillon, Crash
Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder
Ellen Page, Juno
Sean Penn, Mystic River
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Jon Voight, Ali
Mark Wahlberg, The Departed
Renee Zellweger, Cold Mountain
I'm one of those contrarians who stans for Zeeee in Cold Mountain, and for the movie in general. It's tone and execution is way more experimental than anyone would give credit. We talk about it like a very straightforward period drama but it's far from it—a patchwork of styles, performances, and aesthetics aiming to make an impressionistic view of the Civil War. I think Zellweger's outsized Eudora Welty caricature is right at home in the hodgepodge.
I love that we are listing a lot these days! But that is a bunch, so I'll go Casey Kasem and give a top 40.
1. Julianne Moore, Far from Heaven
2. Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine
3. Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will be Blood
4. Catherine Zeta Jones, Chicago
5. Nicole Kidman, Moulin Rouge!
6. Denzel Washington, Training Day
7. Ian McKellan, LOTR: FOTR
8. Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
9. Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
10. Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
11. Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
12. Daniel Day-Lewis, Gangs of New York
13. Clive Owen, Closer
14. Adrian Brody, The Pianist
15. Ellen Burstyn, Requiem for a Dream
16. Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
17. George Clooney, Michael Clayton
18. Carey Mulligan, An Education
19. Javier Bardem, Before Night Falls
20. Julia Roberts, Erin Brockovich
21. Benicio del Toro, Traffic
22. Johnny Depp, POTC: TCOTBP
23. Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
24. Joan Allen, The Contender
25. Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
26. Charlize Theron, Monster
27. Jude Law, Cold Mountain
28. Monique, Precious
29. Diane Lane, Unfaithful
30. Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
31. Laura Linney, You Can Count on Me
32. Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake
33. Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
34. Holly Hunter, Thirteen
35. Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland
36. Nicolas Cage, Adaptation
37. Meryl Streep, Adaptation
38. Keira Knightley, Pride and Prejudice
39. Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
40. Ellen Page, Juno
Jim Broadbent at #99? So low...
@ Nat & Everyone:
Johnny Depp's #3 placement made me watch The Curse of the Black Pearl and...
Nat, what have been smoking?
1) The funniest bits in the film are Keira's "I can't breathe" moments
2) Depp's manifestation of Jack Sparrow is significantly in the lines of Blanchett's Golden Age Elizabeth. While the characters are by no means identical & the films - different in nature, it's UNNATURAL to place Depp at #3 and Blanchett in the bottom 10 :D
I'm organically amused.
Charlize Theron, Monster at 74 and Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose at 93 and Felicity Huffman, Transamerica at 186?
Whoever made this list is a nuts.