With the year's first quarter over, we're listing our favorites in multiple categories. Why? Well, each month of the year tends to contain good work so why pretend otherwise when Oscar season rolls around and only 3 months worth of releases are considered? (We already listed best technical achievements)
Here are the 17 male performances (divvied up into 3 categories) that I was most taken with in the first quarter of 2017. For your consideration...
7 FAVORITE LEAD PERFORMANCES
Paul Hamy as "Fernando / António" in The Ornithologist
(would also top a "sexiest" list were we doing one)
16 more talented men after the jump...
Hugh Jackman as "Logan" in Logan
Happy he got the swansong he deserved with his signature character. If The Greatest Showman is Oscar calibre, this movie will surely help that Oscar bid.
Daniel Kaluuya as "Chris Washington" in Get Out
Menashe Lustig as "Menashe" in Menashe
Playing a fictionalized version of himself.
James McAvoy as "The Horde" in Split
Hammy and showoffy, maybe, but the right choice for this gimmick thriller
Roland Møller as "Sgt Rasmussen" in Land of Mine
Pierre Niney as "Adrien Rivoire" in Frantz
7 FAVORITE SUPPORTING PERFORMANCES
Lars Eidinger as "Ingo" in Personal Shopper
Louis Hoffman as "Sebastian Schumann" in Land of Mine
and
Joel Basman as "Helmut Morbach" in Land of Mine
LilRel Howery as "Rod" in Get Out
John C Reilly as "Hank Marlow" in Kong: Skull Island
The only actor that seems to be having a great time on set in this film which really helps the audience have a decent one, you know?
Patrick Stewart as "Professor Xavier" in Logan
Ernst Stötzner as "Doktor Hoffmeister" in Frantz
Broke my heart.
3 FAVORITE LIMITED OR CAMEO PERFORMANCES
Joe Alwyn as "Adrian" in The Sense of an Ending
His intended star-making film (Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk) didn't work out well but he's such a good actor. We're hoping to see a lot more of him soon.
Arnošt Goldflam as "Dr. Janusz Korczak" in The Zookeeper's Wife
Lakeith Stanfield as "Andrew King" in Get Out
So reliable since his breakout in Short Term 12, don'cha think?
You were so quiet about the "best technical achievements of the first quarter" post... which either means you haven't been going to the movies this year (SHAME UPON YOU MY FRIENDS!) or you're not yet ready for listing (SHAME UPON YOU ALSO). Which is it?
And which actors got you excited if you have been hitting the movie theater?