Demián Bichir in A Better Life (2011)
2012: Demian Bichir as Carlos Garlindo in A Better Life
◄ IMDb Polls
Poll: Standout Leading Man
Every so often there is a performance of a leading actor that just stands out and is nominated for an Oscar even though the film itself is not all that great and does not receive a nomination in any other category. Which of these performances is your favourite?
Listed are all performances from the last 50 years (1964-2014), plus one earlier one as a default option for those who prefer a performance in an older film.
If you'd like to give a shout-out to a particular earlier performance you can do so here.
Make Your Choice
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Colin Firth in A Single Man (2009)
2010: Colin Firth as George in A Single Man -
Richard Jenkins in The Visitor (2007)
2009: Richard Jenkins as Walter Vale in The Visitor -
Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises (2007)
2008: Viggo Mortensen as Nikolai in Eastern Promises -
Best Actor
2008: Tommy Lee Jones as Hank Deerfield in In the Valley of Elah -
Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland (2006)
2007: Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland -
Peter O'Toole and Jodie Whittaker in Venus (2006)
2007: Peter O'Toole as Maurice in Venus -
Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
2007: Will Smith as Chris Garner in The Pursuit of Happyness -
Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson (2006)
2007: Ryan Gosling as Dan Dunne in Half Nelson -
Michael Caine in The Quiet American (2002)
2003: Michael Caine as Thomas Fowler in The Quiet American -
Sean Penn in I Am Sam (2001)
2002: Sean Penn as Sam Dawson in I Am Sam -
Javier Bardem in Before Night Falls (2000)
2001: Javier Bardem as Reinaldo Arenas in Before Night Falls -
Denzel Washington stars as Rubin Carter
2000: Denzel Washington as Rubin Carter in The Hurricane -
Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
2000: Richard Farnsworth as Alvin in The Straight Story -
Edward Norton in American History X (1998)
1999: Edward Norton as Derek Vinyard in American History X -
Peter Fonda in Ulee's Gold (1997)
1998: Peter Fonda as Ulee Jackson in Ulee's Gold -
#17
1998: Robert Duvall as The Apostle E.F. in The Apostle -
Richard Dreyfuss in Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
1996: Richard Dreyfuss as Glenn Holland in Mr. Holland's Opus -
Richard Harris in The Field (1990)
1991: Richard Harris as Bull McCabe in The Field -
Edward James Olmos in Stand and Deliver (1988)
1989: Edward James Olmos as Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver -
Robin Williams in Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
1988: Robin Williams as Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning Vietnam -
Oci ciornie (1987)
1988: Marcello Mastroianni as Romano in Dark Eyes -
Michael Douglas in Wall Street (1987)
1988: Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street -
Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, and Cathy Tyson in Mona Lisa (1986)
1987: Bob Hoskins as George in Mona Lisa -
#25
1985: Jeff Bridges as Starman in Starman -
Peter O'Toole and Ramon Sison in My Favorite Year (1982)
1983: Peter O'Toole as Alan Swann in My Favorite Year -
Tribute (1980)
1981: Jack Lemmon as Scottie Templeton in Tribute -
John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever (1977)
1978: John Travolta as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever -
Give 'em Hell, Harry! (1975)
1976: James Whitmore as Harry S Truman in Give 'Em Hell, Harry! -
#30
197: Maximilian Schell as Arthur Goldman in The Man in the Glass Booth -
Peter O'Toole in The Ruling Class (1972)
1973: Peter O'Toole as the 14th Earl of Guerney in The Ruling Class -
"Women In Love" Alan Bates 1969 UA
1969: Alan Bates as Yakov Bok in The Fixer -
Cliff Robertson in Charly (1968)
1969: Cliff Robertson as Charly Gordon in Charly -
Rod Steiger in The Pawnbroker (1964)
1966: Rod Steiger as Sol Nazerman in The Pawnbroker -
Cary Grant and Irene Dunne in Penny Serenade (1941)
I prefer any of these ealier performances: Cary Grant in Penny Serenade, Stuart Whitman in The Mark, Laurence Olivier in The Entertainer or in Richard III, Anthony Franciosa in A Hatful of Rain, Dan O'Herlihy in Robinson Crusoe, Jose Ferrer in Cyrano De Bergerac, Richard Todd in The Hasty Heart, Clifton Webb in Sitting Pretty, Paul Muni in Black Fury, Leslie Howard in Berkeley Square, Fredric March in The Royal Family of Broadway, George Arliss in The Green Goddess, Maurice Chevalier in The Big Pond, Ronald Colman in Condemned, Lawrence Tibbett in The Rogue Song, George Bancroft in Thunderbolt, Richard Barthelmess in The Patent Leather Kid or in The Noose, Emil Jannings in The Way of All Flesh,
