'The Snavely Awards 2010'

'The Snavely Awards 2010'

While the movies in 2010 were sometimes lacking in greatness and originality you can always count on great acting any year. 2010 was another strong year for actors, new and old, who lit a fire on the big screen. The Snavely Awards are my ideal of showcasing the actors that get over looked during the awards season or what I sometimes call the popularity contest. Some of these names I have on my list you have not heard of being mentioned at the Oscars or the Golden Globes. I am here to spotlight those actors that don't get the major push. For example one of my awards goes to an actress that gave a performance as great as Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman or Annette Bening. On my list I usually write down the actors that gave great performances and then from that list pick my top few favorites. Usually I will not pick a Best Actor or Actress but will have a top two or three. Sometimes I don't believe there is just one best anything but on occasion I will pick a number one if it is miles ahead of everyone else. I will also give you names of actors on their way up to stardom and new faces to look for that could make a big impact soon. Without further ado here is my Snavely Awards for 2010.

Worst Acting of 2010

1.) Rip Torn-Happy Tears

It is not all Torn's fault but his depiction of an elderly man with dementia is embarrassing.

2.) Everyone in Clash of the Titans

When did this story demand tenth rate Shakespeare in the Park acting

3.) Katherine Heigl-The Killers

Run around, scream, yell, scream, run around and act like a buffoon on speed, that is Heigl's acting plan in this turkey.

4.) Robert Pattinson-Remember Me, Twilight movies

Brood, simper, brood, scowl, pose like a model. That is Pattinson's acting plan in two losers. Kristen Stewart gets slammed for her acting in Twlight? Really? Really?!

Worst Actress and Actor of 2010:

Male-Tracy Morgan-Cop Out, Death at a Funeral

Maybe I am the only one but I am getting tired of Morgan's over the top mugging and over acting and screaming. He can be very good like on SNL but I am afraid he ruined "30 Rock" for me and I don't watch it anymore. In "Cop Out" I wanted to punch him in the face.

Female-Megan Fox-Jonah Hex

Looks can only get you so far and I don't find Megan Fox that hot anyway. In "Jonah Hex" I don't know who taught her a Southern accent but her lazy drawl and lazy, stiff acting made me fall asleep.



Future Stars according to Mr. Snavely:

1.) Amber Heard-The Joneses
2.) Jeffrey Dean Morgan-The Losers
3.) Lucas Black-Get Low
4.) Maricel Alvarez-Biutiful
5.) Amanda Seyfried-Dear John, Chloe, Letters to Juliet, 2011's Red Riding Hood
6.) Russell Brand-Get Him To the Greek, 2011's Arthur
7.) Jonah Hill-Cyrus, Get Him to the Greek
8.) Jaden Smith-Karate Kid
9.) Noomi Rapace-Girl Who Played With Fire, Kicked Hornet's Nest, With Dragon Tattoo
10.) Rebecca Hall-The Town
11.) Emma Roberts-Valentine's Day, It's Kind of a Funny Story
12.) Bryce Dallas Howard-Hereafter
13.) Olivia Wilde-Tron:Legacy, TV's House, 2011's Cowboys and Aliens

_____Your Table Is Ready: Actors With Many Nominations in Their Future:

1.) Carey Mulligan-The Greatest, Never Let Me Go-I sang the praises of the beautiful Carey Mulligan with a once in a lifetime performance in "An Education". In 2010 she made a maudlin "The Greatest" greater and was haunting in "Never Let Me Go".

2.) Mia Wasikowska-The Kids Are All Right

In Kids, Mia was in a lot of ways the backbone of the movie and she is a natural talent. She played a believable teenager and held her own with Moore and Bening. Her Alice in "Alice in Wonderland" was sweet and captivating, holding that film together.

3.) Chloe Grace Moretz-Kick-Ass, Let Me In

Chloe reminds me of Jodie Foster with her intelligence, grace and energy. She can be sweet and haunting in "Let Me In" and can steal a movie and bring energy to it like she did in "Kick-Ass". Her wise beyond her years delivery and intelligence make her a talented and very beautiful actress.

4.) Kerry Washington-Night Catches Us, For Colored Girls

I think Washington is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen on the movie screen. She is also captivating and a very fine actress who can play any type of role. In "Night Catches Us" she gives a quiet, measured and Oscar caliber performance. She also stands out in a very small role in "For Colored Girls" and she gives the best performance in it.

5.) Greta Gerwig-Greenberg

Actually Gerwig was so great as Ben Stiller's love interest in "Greenberg" I could have seen her take a spot in the 5 Oscar nominated actress list. Gerwig is a tall, unique beauty who comes off like a regular every day woman you could meet in real life. She is the perfect choice for the Liza Minelli role in 2011's remake of "Arthur".

6.) Jennifer Lawrence-Winter's Bone

Talk about an actress making a huge impact! Jennifer Lawrence is amazing as a back woods woman trying to find her father in a very scary setting. She is a natural and makes every acting choice in this movie effortless.

7.) Jackie Weaver-Animal Kingdom

Weaver's Oscar nomination was no fluke for her subtly scary crime matriarch is as frightening as Anthony Hopkins in "Silence of the Lambs". She can be so sweet in certain scenes but turn your back on her and she will stab you in the back.

8.) Emma Stone-Easy A

I have such a crush on Emma Stone, that red hair, that voice and her great sense of humor and comic timing. Emma is beautiful, different, funny and charming and she will be a major star right away! She reminds me of Molly Ringwald with her performance in "Easy A" which resembles a John Hughes movie but Stone is a much better actress.

9.) Ryan Reynolds-Buried

I have slammed a lot of Ryan Reynolds movies and a lot of times I think he is obnoxious. While watching "Buried", where he was trapped in a coffin buried underground, I was very impressed. He is funnier than he has ever been but also his dramatic acting in this movie is powerful.

10.) 11.) Rooney Mara-The Social Network
Justin Timberlake-The Social Network

I was amazed by how great and captivating Timberlake was in Network. I knew he was very funny on SNL but I didn't know he could carry a movie in a supporting role. Also Mara, in just one very short scene in Network, made a huge impact. No wonder she got the lead role in the Stieg Larssen trilogy remakes quickly.

12.) Aaron Johnson-Nowhere Boy

Johnson was great as a young John Lennon in the very solid "Nowhere Boy". It was a great performance because it wasn't an impression of Lennon, it was a natural and effective performance of a normal kid before he became an icon. He was also very effective as the lead in "Kick-Ass".

13.) Rachel McAdams-Morning Glory

I also have a huge crush on McAdams and in "Morning Glory" she reminded me of Holly Hunter in "Broadcast News" and that is great praise. Her energy, smile, charm, humor and beauty were captivating. When you upstage Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton you have arrived.

14.) Mila Kunis-Black Swan

Kunis is another crush of mine and it is not just because of the eyes or her exotic beauty. Mila Kunis has shown in the past that she is a great comic actress as she was in TV's "That 70's Show" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". In "Black Swan" she gives a great dramatic performance and the movie does not succeed without her.

15.) Hailee Steinfeld-True Grit

This young actress did what many young actresses would dream of, have a major lead and focus point in a movie with the names Bridges and Damon. Steinfeld is the real reason "True Grit" is getting major accolades. "True Grit" is a solid Western but not a great one and Steinfeld makes it amazing. What a mature, detailed and gritty performance. This is the kind of role that Anna Paquin rode to a surprise Oscar win for "The Piano". Do not be surprised if Steinfeld steals the award this year.

The Best Acting of 2010

Best Supporting Actors

1.) Susan Sarandon-The Greatest
2.) Ann Morgan Guilbert-Please Give
3.) Andrew Garfield-The Social Network

Andrew Garfield was equal to Jesse Eisneberg in this instant classic and he gets your immediate sympathy. Watch for Garfield to rise to stardom with the new "Spiderman" movie.

4.) Justin Timberlake-The Social Network
5.) Diane Wiest-Rabbit Hole

Wiest is a dependable and legendary actress who is amazing in small scenes but as always she makes a huge impact!

6.) Sam Rockwell-Conviction

I will sing the praise of Sam Rockwell until I am blue in the face. Deniro, Pacino, Depp, Bridges, I just mentioned actors that Rockwell is a great as.

7.) Mia Warsikowska-The Kids Are All Right

Best Acting in a Lead Role

1.) Chloe Grace Moretz-Kick-Ass
2.) Hilary Swank-Conviction

I am in love with Hilary Swank and I think it is because she is like that naturally beautiful blue collar woman with no vanity that you would love to spend time with. She is a natural for roles like the one in "Conviction".

3.) Kevin Spacey-Casino Jack

Again Spacey makes what is essentially a flawed movie and makes it that much better.

4.) Kerry Washington-Night Catches Us
5.) John C. Reilly-Cyrus

Reilly is becoming the go to guy for supporting characters that steal a movie and sometimes he is the lead actor and he knocks it out of the park. He is extremely funny in "Cyrus" and he never over does it, his line readings are as great as Vince Vaughn's.

6.) Emma Stone-Easy A
7.) Ryan Reynolds-Buried
8.) Aaron Johnson-Nowhere Boy
9.) Rachel McAdams-Morning Glory
10.) Matt Damon-True Grit

Matt Damon is amazing in everything he acts in from lead roles to supporting roles. He was equally great with a small, character part in "True Grit" as he was in a lead performance in "Green Zone".

11.) Rebecca Hall-Please Give, The Town

This beautiful and tall British actress is making quite a huge impression lately and her American accent is flawless. I see greater, bigger and more impactful performances right around the corner.

The Cream of the Crop: The Snavely Awards for Greatness in Acting for 2010

Best Supporting Performance (Male)

1.) Michael Shannon-The Runaways

This great Chicago based actor has been turning in bravura performances in everything from "Boardwalk Empire" to "Revolutionary Road" to his scary and powerful performance as a maniacal rock band manager in a new, rock movie classic.

2.) Bill Murray-Get Low

Murray is equal to Robert Duvall here and the performances carry the movie. Bill Murray is understated here, droll and very funny. He is getting better and better over the years and making a fun cameo in "Zombieland" adds to his iconic greatness.

3.) Jeremy Renner-The Town

Following his powerful and gritty performance in "The Hurt Locker", Renner has such a fierce energy and life force. He plays a small time crook so convincingly that with "The Town" and "Hurt Locker" you know he can play the hero or the bad guy.

4.) Niels Arestrup-A Prophet

I don't know why I don't see more of Arestrup but based on his powerful performance in "A Prophet" I think I will see more. His crime boss who is so powerful in prison he can get people killed on the outside is a revelation. He is fierce, mean and powerful and he is that classic, grizzled veteran actor that people don't know enough about.

5.) John Hawkes-Winter's Bone

John Hawkes is another great character actor that has been around a long time. You see him a lot and if you don't know the name you will recognize the face. Hawkes is super scary and at the same time strangely sweet in this crime movie and he can scare you just by staring a hole in you.

6.) Mark Ruffalo-The Kids Are All Right

One of my new favorite actors has been so solid and great in role after role but never gets the recognition. That has changed with his super laid back and sweet performance in this well written drama. In Kids, Ruffalo is sexy, funny, charming and naive in equal measure.

7.) Geoffrey Rush-The King's Speech

Without Rush's subtle and great performance, "The King's Speech" would not be as great and Colin Firth wouldn't have been as wonderful either. He is wry, funny, charming and is every bit as equally great as Firth is here.

8.) Christian Bale-The Fighter

Some critics say Bale's performance as Dicky Eklund is showy, over the top and melodramatic. If you see the real Dicky Eklund in the end credits you will realize that Bale is perfect and dead on. There is no possible way you can call his performance over rated!

9.) Jeff Bridges-True Grit

Bridges gives another dependable and great performance here and now the man is finally getting Snavely respect. The only thing is that Steinfeld is the only lead here and Bridges role is supporting. Bridges gives a fun, grizzled and charismatic performance as Rooster Cogburn.

These are the actors here I would pick equally as the best: Shannon, Bale, Rush, Hawkes and Ruffalo

Best Supporting Acting (Female)

1.) Jackie Weaver-Animal Kingdom
2.) Helena Bonham Carter-The King's Speech

Bonham Carter may seem to be on the sidelines during the movie especially when Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush are so big. Still I find Carter to be funny and flawless as the King's wife. She plays her as a supporting woman that stands besides her husband instead of behind him.

3.) Mila Kunis-Black Swan
4.) Melissa Leo-The Fighter
5.) Amy Adams-The Fighter

Here are two extreme and opposite sides of acting by two beautiful and great actresses. Melissa Leo is a life force as a demanding and stubborn mother and her performance is showy but so real. I love actresses that go all out and bury themselves in a role becoming unrecognizable. Still Amy Adams gives a much different performance than she has ever given. Her performance is also so lived in and real but more subtle. She disappears into her role and I have never seen her play a tough woman ever. I am so used to her being sweet and daffy but here she is sexy, tough, hot and unique.

This is a small list but I have to say that Melissa Leo is the standout winner with Carter right behind because I love subtle performances by actors like Carter's

Best Acting in a Lead Role (Male)

1.) Robert Duvall-Get Low

Duvall here is the real reason that I enjoyed "Get Low" along with Bill Murray because the movie is hard to embrace for me. Duvall is great here as he was in "Tender Mercies" and his final speech is powerful and touching.

2.) Javier Bardem-Biutiful

Here is another case of a movie being hard to love but with a performance that makes the movie. Bardem's dying, criminal father is a tough role to play and Bardem nails it with his deep, expressive eyes and meticulous grace.

3.) James Franco-127 Hours

Franco's role here had to be impossible to do but he brings energy, vulnerability and pain to his brash hero. I have been a huge supporter of Franco since TV's "Freaks and Geeks" and I am impressed by his stardom and workaholic ambition.

4.) Michael Douglas-Solitary Man

Many movie goers have not seen this performance or movie and I urge everyone to watch it on DVD ASAP. This is Douglas's best performance since the original "Wall Street". He is rascally, vulgar, brash, funny and vulnerable. This movie is an actor's showcase and Douglas is amazing here and reminds us how great he can be. This reminds me of old vintage Jack Nicholson like performances and classic Douglas.

5.) Jesse Eisenberg-The Social Network

Eisneberg gets knocked a lot for playing the same kind of role and giving the same kind of performance. I disagree but in Network I think he finally proves he can play any kind of role. Eisenberg usually plays the naive, good kid role but here his character can be a real jerk and Eisneberg nails it. What impressed me more is that Eisenberg made me like and actually care about this man. I admire Zuckenberg more and that is all because of Jesse.

6.) Colin Firth-The King's Speech

Colin Firth has been so great in romantic comedies like "Bridget Jones's Diary" amd "Love, Actually". He had also proved that he was on the cusp of a major Oscar for a dramatic turn in "A Single Man". In "The King's Speech" he gives his best performance and one of the best in years. He not only makes us feel for him and care for him but he also makes us stand up and cheer him. This is a touching, subtle and amazing performance that is flawless and beautiful.

7.) Mark Wahlberg-The Fighter

When I talk about loving subtle performances, Mark Wahlberg in "The Fighter" is the poster child for it. With all the crazy characters and performances around him he always stays grounded and becomes the sane voice of reason. Wahlberg does two great things here, makes us care and cheer for his hero and makes us totally believe his character is real.

8.) Aaron Eckhart-Rabbit Hole

Eckhart is every bit as equally great in "Rabbit Hole" as Kidman is. Both performances are quietly powerful but Eckhart has the trickier and less showy role. His sense of grief is palpable and his quiet anguish is flawlessly played.

9.) Ryan Gosling-Blue Valentine

I truly believe that Ryan Gosling is the future of Hollywood greatness in acting. He might be the best young actor working right now. This is another real and fascinating performance by Gosling. Playing one half of a marriage that has gone from loving to painful, Gosling is perfect. Like in "Half Nelson", he plays a real life blue collar man and even despite makeup for his balding husband we never sense Gosling is acting.

Clearly Colin Firth is the best hands down on this list but I think Gosling and Eisenberg are not that far behind.

Best Acting in a Lead Role (Female)

1.) Dakota Fanning-The Runaways

I am a big fan of Cherie Curie and the 1980's cult classic "Foxes" and Dakota Fanning is pure perfection as Curie. This is one of the most under rated and under appreciated performances ever on screen. If not for Natalie Portman in "Black Swan" this would be Fanning's year. Playing a real life rock star is very hard and Dakota is pure magic, powerful, vulnerable, sweet and naive and her transformation here is what great acting is all about.

2.) Greta Gerwig-Greenberg
3.) Jennifer Lawrence-Winter's Bone

What a great impression Lawrence makes here in "Winter's Bone"! She is a natural screen presence who in this movie has to be tough, mature and just tender enough to make us feel her love for family. This is a performance that can easily catapault Lawrence into a very sought after actress. Here performance is flawless and extremely captivating.

4.) Julianne Moore-The Kids Are All Right
5.) Annette Bening-The Kids Are All Right

Moore and Bening make such a believable and real life couple and it is a complete joy to watch both actresses at the top of their form. I love Bening for she is grounded and motherly but very sexy also. I actually think Moore gives the slightly better performance and makes a bigger impact. The scenes with Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo are some of my favorite scenes. Both actresses are funny, touching, magical and fun to watch. Bening gives one of her best performances by under playing the role and Moore defintely gives her best performance.

6.) Natalie Portman-Black Swan

Natalie is probably my favorite actress right now and I am proud and fascinated by her performance here. Not only shedding pounds and training hard to play a ballerina but always, with the movie, staying grounded and not unraveling into a mess. This is a dedicated acting job and Portman should be rewarded. This is like Deniro's transformation in "Raging Bull". The movie really lives or dies with Natalie and she has given a flawless, meticulous and powerful performance with grace.

7.) Claire Danes-Temple Grandin

Yes, Claire Danes was in a made for television, HBO movie "Temple Grandin" but the movie and her performance are greater than almost anything on the big screen in 2010. This is a performance where an actress totally disappears into her role. Her perfromance as the autistic Temple is ten times better and more believable than Dustin Hoffman's in "Rain Man". Danes is magical in making us embrace a character that is not too easy to embrace and she is flawless.

8.) Nicole Kidman-Rabbit Hole

Even with the bad press I believe this is Nicole Kidman's most powerful and best performance so far. Her grieving mother has many powerful scenes and Kidman handles them with beauty and grace. This is the most Kidman has been asked to express herself in a movie and I think she is amazing and true.

9.) Hailee Steinfeld-True Grit

Stinfeld belongs in the Best Actress category because she has the main role and without her "True Grit" is just another Western.

10.) Lesley Manville-Another Year

Lesley Manville is a life force in this somber Mike Leigh character study. She plays a sometimes pathetic and very clingy woman and Manville nails that perfectly. The trick is that she makes us feel for and sympathize with her. Her performance as a lonely, needy woman is touching and beautiful.

11.) Michelle Williams-Blue Valentine

Along with Natalie Portman I don't believe any actress is better at this moment than Michelle Williams. Williams is heartbreaking, natural and totally believable as half of a crumbling, married couple. What Williams excels in better than any other actress is in playing real flesh and blood characters. She is real without a trace of vanity and I never see her acting. She is the most natural screen presence and beauty I have seen since Meryl Streep burst on the scene.

I am leaning towards Natalie Portman as the clear choice for the best but I am going to say that Jennifer Lawrence, Dakota Fanning and Michelle Williams are equally great. So I am calling it a four way tie for Portman, Lawrence, Fanning and Williams. Those four are the best this year equally and they will be honored and great for years and decades to come.

On a final note I am begging the Oscars to expand the acting categories. Will the world end and Katherine Heigl win a Best Actress award if you nominated maybe 6 or 7 in any category?