Every year on Oscar nomination morning, I listen closely to the nominations and smile, cry, and scream. Often, my favorite movies or performances are never at the forefront of award season, but given the opportunity, I always like to highlight my favorites. If anything, I hope that when you read this, you want to watch these movies for these performances.
Andre Holland - Exhibiting Forgivness
I saw this movie at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, and Titus Kaphar's feature film debut blew me away. At the heart of the movie was Andre Holland's performance as Tarrell. Every emotion you feel within Tarrell is painted beautifully with every move. It's often within his silence you are captivated by the film. Holland has always been an actor who never gets enough credit, but this man deserves his flowers for one of the year's best lead actor performances.
Naomi Scott - Smile 2
This is a performance that is being talked about, but not one that people are taking seriously enough. Horror movies can have great performances that are worthy of awards recognition. Scott and Lily-Rose Depp (Nosferatu) give two of the best lead actress performances of the year, both of which are in horror movies. Scott perfectly captures the essence of a pop star while also battling these internal unfightable demons trying to dictate her life. Her performance mesmerized me and wished the Academy would wake up and see how good it was.
Lady Gaga - Joker: Folie a Deux
I know I stand on an island when it comes to Joker: Folie a Deux. For me, it was a brilliant follow-up to the 2019 masterpiece Joker. Todd Phillips created this masterful look at how society loves to create villains and even root them on. Lady Gaga played Lee Quinzel, a woman obsessed with the Joker. Her performance within the film was a masterclass in manipulation because she loved the Joker and not Arthur Fleck, and when Fleck decided to let go of his villainous life, she wanted no part. Gaga sings, dances, and acts her way through this movie and is incredible.