Award Contenders

   Following in the “Best of the 00′s” series, we now look at the ten greatest performances by a male.  If you missed the prior lists, I have already unveiled my top 10 Characters and top 10 Female Performances of the decade. 

   Unlike those lists, I had no doubt as to who the number one should be for this category.  I won’t give too much away, but I want to say that I feel the performance in my number 1 spot is one for the ages.  And the movie it is from should without question grow to be one of the finest movies ever made.  It is not a film for everyone, so I may take some heat for saying this, but I can’t help but feel how fantastic it is with each and every viewing.

   I also feel very strongly about the performance in my number 2 spot.  Ironically, the type of portrayal in my number 2 spot is the exact opposite as the one in my number 1.  I feel it is subtle genius, and another film to be among the greats of all time.  

   Enough suspense!  See the list after the cut…

   10.  Bill Murray as Bob Harris in Lost in Translation, 2003 (Nominated for Lead Actor)

   9.  Russell Crowe as John Nash in A Beautiful Mind, 2001 (Nominated for Lead Actor)

   8.  Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men, 2007  (Won Supporting Actor)

   7.  Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in Milk, 2008  (Won Lead Actor)

   6.  Adrien Brody as Wladyslaw Szpilman in The Pianist, 2002 (Won Lead Actor)

   5.  Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight, 2008 (Won Supporting Actor)

   4.  Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman Capote in Capote, 2005 (Won Lead Actor)

   3.  Sean Penn as Jimmy Markum in Mystic River, 2003  (Won Lead Actor)

   2.  Heath Ledger as Ennis Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain, 2005 (Nominated for Lead Actor)

   1.  Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood, 2007 (Won Lead Actor)

     And… since Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance is not only my number one male performance, but my number one overall performance… you get two scenes! 

   Honorable Mention:  Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles in Ray, 2004 (Won Lead Actor);  Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, 2005 (Nominated for Lead Actor);  David Strathairn as Edward R. Murrow in Good Night, and Good Luck, 2005  (Nominated for Lead Actor);  George Clooney as Bob Barnes in Syriana, 2005 (Won Supporting Actor);  Jackie Earle Haley as Ronnie J. McGorvey in Little Children, 2006 (Nominated for Supporting Actor);  Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill “The Butcher” Cutting in Gangs of New York, 2002 (Nominated for Lead Actor);  Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, 2003 (Nominated for Lead Actor);  Christoph Waltz as Hans “The Jew Hunter” Landa in Inglourious Basterds, 2009 (Heavy favorite to be nominated and win for Supporting Actor at this years Oscars);  Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, 2006 (Won Lead Actor);  Frank Langella as Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon, 2008 (Nominated for Lead Actor);  Mickey Rourke as Randy “The Ram” in The Wrestler, 2008 (Nominated for Lead Actor);  Philip Seymour Hoffman as Father Brendan Flynn in Doubt, 2008 (Nominated for Supporting Actor);  Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes in The Aviator, 2004 (Nominated for Lead Actor);  Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland in Cast Away, 2000 (Nominated for Lead Actor);  Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus in Gladiator, 2000 (Nominated for Supporting Actor);  Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius in Gladiator, 2000  (Won Lead Actor);  Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Wheeler in Revolutionary Road, 2008;  Denzel Washington as Alonzo in Training Day, 2001 (Won Lead Actor);  Nicolas Cage as Charlie and Donald Kaufman in Adaptation, 2002  (Nominated for Lead Actor);  Tim Robbins as Dave Boyle in Mystic River, 2003 (Won Supporting Actor);  Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda, 2004 (Nominated for Lead Actor);  Paul Giamatti as Miles in Sideways, 2004.