…………………………………………………

Best Actor Performances of 2024

Hollywood is all about feminism these days, which continues to negatively impact male performers. Once again the men had it much worse than the women, so making this list was quite difficult. Most of the praised performers this year were not particularly great, so I turned my attention toward some lesser-known performers and some international stars. Here is my admittedly very unconventional list of 2024’s finest actor performances.

5. Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice, A Different Man

Of all the actors this year nobody had it stronger than Sebastian Stan. He starred in A Different Man, where he was stellar and very memorable. But his best work was in The Apprentice, where he depicted none other than Donald Trump himself. The character didn’t fully work due to obvious reasons, but this is no fault of Stan himself, who killed it in the role. It would have been very easy to go the caricaturist and over-the-top route, which he thankfully never did, instead delivering a very subtle, grounded performance. He’s such a good actor.

4. Ryland Brickson Cole Tews – Hundreds of Beavers

One of the smallest movies of the year, Hundreds of Beavers still impressed those viewers who did manage to see it. This is a wonderful comedy flick that is a great ode to silent cinema that felt like an instant, timeless classic. The handsome and gifted comedian Ryland Tews is one of the biggest reasons why the movie worked as well as it did as his Jean Kayak is such a memorable, goofy protagonist. Tews wasn’t just funny, but he was also immensely charismatic and endearing.

3. Ralph Fiennes – Conclave

Conclave is a flawed film, but one that benefits from such a strong cast. Ralph Fiennes delivered one of his best works to date in such a well written, complex role. His character’s motifs and intentions are quite complicated and Fiennes sold his more ruthless and more empathetic side with flying colors. This is more of a subdued performance, but Fiennes managed to remain the most memorable actor throughout, which is a testament to his acting talents. It’s a shame that he didn’t have a stronger Oscar campaign when in reality he should have won against his lackluster competition.

2. Yura Borisov – Anora

Yura Borisov of ‘Compartment No. 6’ fame delivered such a wonderful performance in Anora. He played by far the most sympathetic character of the bunch. Igor is a very likable dude as this physically imposing man who is actually a big teddy bear at heart. I loved the dynamic between him and Ani that was very amusing and grounded. Borisov made the most out of his smaller, but impactful and very sweet role, and he is the heart of the movie for sure. I was so glad that he was nominated for an Oscar and he most definitely should have won as this was easily the best supporting actor performance of the year.

1. Arvind Swamy – Meiyazhagan

In a year when Hollywood didn’t really give me a lot to work with when it comes to the gentlemen, I had to turn my attention elsewhere for my number one pick. Thankfully, I did not have to search for long to find a truly worthy performance to top this list. Meiyazhagan is one of the best Indian movies of the year, a film that truly moved me with its touching tale of friendship and nostalgia. Arvind Swamy plays the protagonist and he is the standout performer as his acting here is absolutely phenomenal. This is a powerhouse performance in such a rich and emotional role that was so well written. He was both memorable and grounded. If audiences in the West actually watched some Indian movies for a change, he would undeniably be appearing in best of the year lists. As for me, he is my definite number one choice.

Honorable Mentions:

Karren Karagulian – Anora – This movie fired on all cylinders when it comes to its cast that was superb all around. Karren Karagulian deserved more attention for delivering such a strong comedic turn. He stole the movie during its propulsive and hilarious second act, which is no small feat.

Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice – Jeremy Strong is a terrific actor and he was incredible in The Apprentice. His Roy Cohn was very memorable and his dynamic with Stan was fantastic.

Andrew Garfield – We Live in Time – Andrew Garfield is one of the best actors of his generation and his work in this moving tragedy is reliably terrific and emotional.