Halfway Mark 3: Fav Performances of 2023 (thus far)
Friday, July 14, 2023 at 7:34PM by Nathaniel R
Teyana Taylor (A Thousand and One), Greta Lee (Past Lives), Nicolas Cage (Renfield), Chris Messina (Air), and Scarlett Johansson (Asteroid City)
We already discussed gay cinema of 2023 and favourite movies (thus far) in general. Now let's talk the magical gift of acting. Herewith a handy cheatsheet of favourite film performances (and why we love them) from the first six months of 2023 so we don't forget them later on in the year-end glut. Although will we have a year-end glut this year? Hollywood has come to a standstill throwing the futures of the year end releases into question as no actors will be available to promote their work. This is a small problem in the grand scheme of things -- fair pay and treatment is more important than the timing of any batch of releases -- but it could make for a strange year in cinema (and tv, too).
The halfway lists are generally our way of taking stock of the year. Consider it "intermission". Some of these performances won't factor into our own Film Bitch Awards at years end but that's no reason not to love on them right now...
LEAD ACTRESS
Virginie Efira in "Other People's Children"
- Virginie Efira as "Rachel" in Other People's Children
Insightful and captivating as a childless woman who's been ambivalent about that fact... till now. If only Hollywood still made movies about the inner lives of adult women the way they did in the 70s and the way France still thankfully does. - Salma Hayek as "Maxandra Mendoza" in Magic Mike's Last Dance
From a capsule review: A swirling nightmare mix of emotional avoidance, entitlement, short-attention spans, loneliness and horniness... and yet her maddening behavior is somehow endearing! It's an electric but accidental reminder that we seldom see big stars appearing "hungry" onscreen. - Greta Lee as "Nora" in Past Lives
For a good long while she doesn't appear to be doing much but she (and the brilliant writer/director) are playing a long game, and Nora's emotional shifts, avoidances,and inconsistencies ("the one who stays? the one who goes?") are the show and the key to the film's intricate treasures. - Jennifer Lawrence as "Maddie" in No Hard Feelings
Hilariously game and raunchy as a townie who hasn't yet realized how 'stuck' she is. Lots of nuanced beats within the busy and blissful comic antics. - Teyana Taylor as "Inez de la Paz" in A Thousand and One
The singer turned actress has the goods (and how) in this involving drama about a stubborn mother who refuses to be separated from her little son, whatever the cost both of them.
Also of note: Sally Field in 80 For Brady (yes really) and Lubna Azabal in The Blue Caftan
Haven't yet seen but am generally a big fan: Virginie Efira in Revoir Paris
LEAD ACTOR
Thom Green and Elias Anton in "Of an Age"
- Elias Anton as "Kol" & Thom Green as "Adam" in Of An Age
A fine duet, filled with wary mutual sexual curiousity but authentic chasms of experience between them. - Nicolas Cage as "Dracula" in Renfield
Skewering a certain ex-president, megalomoniac disorders, evil bosses, and the world's most famous horror legend all at once? Inspired fun. - Jason Schwartzmann as "Augie Steenbeck" in Asteroid City
It's not that he transcends the material, like the next actor we'll mention from this same film, but that he so 'gets' it. Little surprise given his long history in this filmography, sometimes co-writing and sometimes just selling the Anderson dialogues and emotional rigidity. - Teo Yoo as "Hae Sung" in Past Lives
Heartbreaking as the more emotionally open but paradoxically more 'stuck' half of this relationship drama. You worry for him and fall for him simultaneously.
So promising! Andrew Barth Feldman as "Percy Becker" in No Hard Feelings
Haven't yet seen: Joaquin Phoenix in Beau is Afraid
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Scarlett Johansson in "Asteroid City"
- Carrie Coon as "Jean Cole" in Boston Strangler
Dry but never dull. Forcefully competent while never feeling like a type. - Viola Davis as "Deloris Jordan" in Air
Would the film even work without her gravitas? Too bad it wasn't told from her point of view for a more high stakes emotional throughline. - Scarlett Johansson as "Mitch Campbell" in Asteroid City
Everyone should have realized by now that she's one of Hollywood greatest movie stars -- no caveats. She's able to shape-shift to meet the needs of every possible genre, director, and tone. Add Mitch Campbell to her ever expanding gallery of memorable characterizations, often in high wire roles that are far removed from "awards" type parts with their big obvious dramatics. - Rachel McAdams as "Barbara Simon" in Are You There God? It's Me Margaret
What is it about Rachel McAdams? This wonderful family film knows just how to harness her innate warmth and likeability. (Also prepare to feel old as the Queen Bee of Mean Girls is now a believable mother to a teenager) - Sigourney Weaver as "Norma Haverhill" in Master Gardener
She's still bringing it but where is the film and role with a high enough profile to bring her back to awards conversations? It won't be this one but she plays this problematic and manipulative wealthy woman well.
Also of note: Rasti Farooq in Joyland and Lubna Azabal (again) in El Houb
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Hugh Grant in "Dungeons & Dragons"
- Ben Affleck as "Phil Knight" in Air
Great fun and 80s cool. Convincing as the barefoot executive who must be himself convinced. - William Catlett as "Lucky" in A Thousand and One
The element of surprise. He keeps revealing new facets of Lucky, whenever you think you know the guy. - Hugh Grant as "Forge" in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Fans of Grant's enduring floppy haired British charm, have long known that it's somehow even more fun when the charm goes a little rancid with questionablly amoral characters or outright despicable ones. - John Magaro as "Arthur" in Past Lives
His contribution to this brilliantly patient character drama doesn't draw attention to itself, but that doesn't mean he isn't delivering exactly what the film needs. - Chris Messina as "David Falk" in Air
Deliciously vulgar as the fed up bizarrely hostile sports agent. Messina always delivers whether playing softies or sharks (but usually not anything inbetween. Hmmm)
Also of note: Salmaan Peerzada in Joyland
JUVENILE PERFORMANCE (UNDER 18)
Ariana Greenblatt in "65"
- Aaron Kingsley Adetola as "Terry" in A Thousand and One
- Elle Graham as "Nancy Wheeler" in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
- Ariana Greenblatt as "Koa" in 65
- Callie Ferreira-Goncalves as "Leila" in Other People's Children
- Abby Ryder Fortson as "Margaret Simon" in Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
A special ineligible shout-out: Praise be that perfect quintet of young adult actors (Grace Edwards, Ethan Josh Lee, Sophia Lillis, Aristou Meehan, and Jake Ryan) playing the teenage "Junior Stargazers" in Wes Anderson's Asteroid City.
LIMITED OR CAMEO PERFORMANCE, FEMALE
- Hong Chau as "Polly" in Asteroid City
- Rosemary Dunsmore as "Mrs Possey" in To Catch a Killer
- Delissa Reynolds as "Mrs Jones" in A Thousand and One
- Chiara Mastroianni as "Alice" in Other People's Children
- Alicia Pilgrim as "Simone" in A Thousand and One
Also fun: Deanna Dunagan as "Waitress" in Asteroid City, Amalia Yoo as "Natalie" in No Hard Feelings
LIMITED OR CAMEO PERFORMANCE, MALE
- Willem Dafoe as "Saltzburg Keitel" in Asteroid City
- Ralph Ineson as "Dean Possey" in To Catch a Killer
- Matt Lauria as "James" in 80 For Brady
- Marlon Wayans as "George Raveling" in Air
- Frederick Wiseman as "Wiseman" in Other People's Children
Also of note: Eban Moss-Bachrach in No Hard Feelings, Michael Cram in To Catch a Killer, Bradley Cooper in Dungeons & Dragons
VOICE ONLY OR MOCAP PERFORMANCE
The voices of Hailee Steinfeld & Shameik Moore in "Across the Spider-Verse"
- Mamoudou Athie as "Wade Ripple" in Elemental
- Shameik Moore as "Miles Morales" in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Jason Schwartzmann as "Spot" in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Hailee Steinfeld as "Gwen Stacy" in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- Luna Lauren Velez as "Rio Morales" in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Given that all but one slot went to the same film (and the honorable mentions would also be from that film!) it's worth mentioning that I very much believe in spreading the wealth. Yet everyone in Spider-Verse was really giving A Performance so we have to give credit where its due. Absolutely no phoning it in from the booth for an easy paycheck as so many "names" do when they're cast for their celebrity in animated films. But there was actually a ton of competition (already in just six month's time) for this particular category given our visual fx franchise heavy world. So apologies to the rest of the voice cast of Across the Spider-Verse, as well as a few key across spread out amongst films like Elemental, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and The Little Mermaid.
ENSEMBLE
CASTING
STUNT TEAM
- 65
- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
- Renfield
- To Catch a Killer
HERO OF THE YEAR
- "Eleanor Falco" (Shailene Woodley) in To Catch a Killer
- "Miles Morales/Spider-Man" (Shameik Moore) in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- "Rocket Racoon" (Bradley Cooper) in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
- "Ember and Wade Ripple" (Leah Lewis & Mahmoudou Athie) in Elemental
- "Xenk" (Rege-Jean Page) in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
VILLAIN OF THE YEAR
Nicolas Cage in "Renfield"
- "Dracula" (Nicolas Cage) in Renfield
- "Gabi" (Mia Goth) in Infinity Pool
- "Forge & Sofia" (Hugh Grant & Daisy Head) in Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
- "Rich" (Mark Patton) in Swallowed
- "Spot" (Jason Schwartzmann) in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
DIVA OF THE YEAR
Salma Hayek in "Magic Mike's Last Dance"
- "Biba" (Alina Khan) in Joyland
- "Jessica Drew" (Issa Rae) in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
- "Maxandra" (Salma Hayek) in Magic Mike's Last Dance
SEXPOT OF THE YEAR
Jennifer Lawrence in "No Hard Feelings"
- "Adam" (Thom Green) in Of An Age
- "Afonso" (André Cabal) in Will-o-the Wisp
- "Maddie Barker" (Jennifer Lawrence) in No Hard Feelings
- "Mike" (Channing Tatum) in Magic Mike's Last Dance
- "Mitch Campbell" (Scarlett Johansson) in Asteroid City
WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR IN THESE CATEGORIES? And which are still on your list to see?
Reader Comments (11)
Greta Lee has arrived. I feel like 2023 is all about her.
It would be fun if the strike directs momentum back to the first half of the year
I'd add Bradley Cooper for his voice work as Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 while I'll also add Margot Robbie's cameo in Asteroid City.
Parker Posey in Beau Is Afraid.
I would add:
Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton in Blackberry.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus in You Hurt My Feelings.
Emma Mackey in Emily
Hong Chau in Showing Up.
Jonathan Tucker in Palm Trees and Power Lines
I loved Ben in Air. I think it’s one of his best performances. He’s so fun and plays every beat of the movie so well. Viola and Messina were great too.
Greta Lee spins magic, but I’m happy to see Magaro and Yoo singled out. That film is a great three handed, and I hope they all land nominations at the indie spirits.
Those three magical performances in PAST LIVES... I still can't get over it. Same with the two leads in OF AN AGE. Glad you cited all of them.
I would've added Rosy McEwen from BLUE JEAN and Ben Aldridge from KNOCK AT THE CABIN.
I'm also shocked the duo performance of Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott from SANCTUARY aren't anywhere. And while I understand it's complicated right now, I still think Jonathan Majors was very good in CREED III.
Obviously choices have to be made to avoid filling entire categories with Asteroid City residents, but I would have made space for Jeffrey Wright and Adrien Brody. I got a particular kick out of their small parts.
Definitely see 'Blue Jean' - Rosy McEwen won the BIFA for Best Actress for her unforgettable performance last year.
Very much a fan of your lists, I still have not seen Past Lives and look forward to seeing it so much. The standout performances for me so far I've seen are Teyana Taylor, Rachel McAdams, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jennifer Lawrence & Viola Davis. I look forward to how the rest of the year will progress.
To me, the standouts so far are Scarlett Joahansson and Jake Ryan from Asteroid City and all 3 from Past Lives. For a cameo I'd throw in Adrien Brody from Asteroid City, and for a villain, Bill Skarsgard from John Wick 4.
Fun read and lists as usual!
I haven't seen either of Efira's movies yet but I'm also normally a fan so looking forward to those (she finally won a Cesar for Revoir Paris)
Also, I think ScarJo's character in AC is probably Midge rather than Mitch?