20 Favourite Performances of All-Time

Half the reason people go to the movies is to see their favourite actors on the big screen and while I have concentrated more on directors here I thought it would be great to look where the camera is looking for once rather then who's behind it.

While there is only one director per film, there are always several performances in a film which just multiplies the amount I could choose from. Instead of doing a top 10 male and female performances list I have chosen to do five of each and an additional five for couple performances and five juvenile performances.

But what makes a great performance? How should I pick one performance over another? Well a great movie should evoke an emotional response in its audience so that's what I have done here. 20 performances that evoked a response in me, what ever that emotion may be.

MALE

1. Charlie Chaplin (City Lights)

Easily one of the most recognisable performances as well as enduring. This Chaplin performance as The Tramp managed to evoke an emotion in just about everyone who has seen it since it's release since in 1931, even Einstein.

2. Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)

Before this film Jack Nicholson was a great actor in a time filled with great actors. Then when this come out he stood above the rest. His range was solidified and his nuance mixed with anger became iconic.

3. Clive Owen (Children of Men)

Maybe it's the story that triggers a response in an audience. But a story needs a link to its audience and I can't think of a stronger bond between story, performance and audience as it is here in Clive Owen in Children of Men.

4. Jim Carrey (The Truman Show)

Expectations are great. It means you have something to go against. To redefine yourself. Yet to remain yourself while breaking said expectations is a fine art and Carrey has that silly side yet he works with the story to get the audience on his side instead of laughing at him.

5. Harry Dean Stanton (Paris, Texas)

I knew this couple that had never seen Paris, Texas (actually, when I say couple I say quite a few people) and I thought it's one of the biggest mistakes in their movie watching life. For a man who doesn't say anything for the first 26 minutes, you'll certainly be invested by the end.

(Honorable Mentions: Peter O'Toole in 'Lawrence of Arabia', Kirk Douglas in 'Ace in the Hole', and Daniel Day Lewis in 'There Will be Blood')

Female

6. Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves)

Even if I only recently saw this movie its impact is sure to be felt for much longer than the 2 and a half hour run time.

7. Bjork (Dancer in the Dark)

Right from the beginning in this film you'll get emotional and it's mainly thanks to Bjork's performance. If actors want a swan song in their career Bjork certainly did it here (it was her only film performance)

8. Naomi Watts (Mulholland Dr)

It's bewildering that Naomi Watts was only cast based on a photo of her but in the end it was the right decision from David Lynch. She manages to play naive, sensual, confused, aggressive and more all in one performance that you won't forget.

9. Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream)

It's a reason to smile? Well not exactly in this film but Ellen Burstyn is the anchor for the audience in this film. In an ending that won't leave you the same it's Burstyn's character that will make you what Aronofsky was going for the most.

10. Natalie Portman (Black Swan)

Initially I wanted to only include one performance per director but here I am breaking that rule for the second and for good reason. I won't tell you if Black Swan is a story of a downfall or a defining moment but Portman makes it so damn compelling one watch isn't enough.

(Honorable Mentions: Irene Jacob in 'The Double Life of Veronique', Isabelle Huppert in 'The Pinao Teacher' and 'Elle', and Jodie Foster in 'The Silence of the Lambs')

Couple

11. Jean-Louis Trintignant & Emmanuel Riva (Amour)

This isn't a case where chemistry makes these performances compelling but rather how two of the greatest french actors compel each other to new heights

12. Jack Lemmon & Tony Curtis (Some Like it Hot)

Easily the greatest comedic performances from an age where the actors would talk about the scene like a drama and create the comedy out of that. It certainly stands out against today's comedy which just feels like no thought has been put into not only its jokes but its performances too.

13. Joaquin Phoenix & Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master)

Paul Thomas Anderson has said that his biggest fear is bad acting in his film but I am sure that the performances in this film made him forget about that fear (if his earlier films didn't). I hope that Phoenix and Hoffman are remembered for this movie over any other in their filmographies.

14. Lea Seydoux & Adele Exarchopoulos (Blue is the Warmest Colour)

Now this IS a performance built on chemistry. It shows the intimacy of a relationship that so few films have managed to do. The performances also idolise the idea that imperfections equal what make us raw human beings and not ideas presented in the media.

15. Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy (Before Trilogy)

There is more than one way to show intimacy and in this case it's built on personality rather than the physical attributes of a relationship. The heavily rehearsed dialogue doesn't impeach on the fact that the performances seems so natural (some even think it's improv) and believable.

(Honorable Mentions: Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung in 'In the Mood for Love', Ralph Finnes and Tony Revolori in 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', and Nicholas Cage and Nicholas Cage in 'Adaptation')

Kids

16. Ivana Baquero (Pan's Labyrinth)

When you have a whole fantasy world surrounding you it could be easy to be easy to become part of the background but Baquero more than holds her own here against Faun and the Pale Man.

17. Jared Gilman & Kara Hayward (Moonrise Kingdom)

I know I cheated here by putting a couple here but if you have seen the movie you know how well these two carry the movie despite the film having an a-star cast. They also bring the right amount of realism to a Wes Anderson film.

18. Jean-Pierre Léaud (The 400 Blows)

The holy grail of juvenile performances. Need I say more?

19. Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood)

The second holy grail? Well Coltrane had the ability to give his performance over 12 years, giving him the chance to really build the character even if it as simple as it is despite its scale.

20. Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild)

I'm not sure a seven year old will ever give a performance with the emotion showed here ever again. Wallis has really set the bars high for any future performances.

(Honorable Mentions: Jacob Tremblay in 'Room', Annika Wedderkopp in 'The Hunt' and the kids in 'Stand by Me')

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What performances have I missed? Comment below to let me know.