The Film Experience

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

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?