Performances That Take Your Breath Away

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 2:38pm

One that pops immediately to mind is Billy Bob Thornton's work in SLING BLADE. This goes beyond just "good acting". This is a complete transformation. Everything about that movie is just so spectacular, but Thornton's performance is in its own stratosphere. He is a god in that film.

The monologue at the beginning...*chills*

Anyone else have a similar favorite performance?

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 2:40pm

I don't know that it would really take my breath away but one of my favorite performances is Kathy Bates in Misery.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 2:41pm

"Don't be fooled in I should chuckle
like heyenas in a zoo.

It's just the gas,
It's got me high.

But don't let that fact deceive you
any moment I could die."

[pemberlee]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 3:04pm

Al Pacino and Robert de Niro in Godfather II

[luvliza89]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 3:22pm

Judy Garland in A STAR IS BORN.

I talk about this film a lot and how Judy is simply stunning in it. In my opinion there aren't many female performances that revival Judy in this film. Of course the musical numbers are sublime and "Born In A Trunk" simply smashing, but Judy's acting throughout is awe-inspiring. One of my favorite moments is when Judy is in the car with Norman and she talks of how roller-waitressing at some burger joint was an all time low and how she would never do that again, no matter how bad times were. Her performace surely takes my breath away =)

[ahmelie]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 3:37pm

Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice
Bette Davis in All About Eve and Jezebel
Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard

They're the only times I can think of being completely in awe while watching a movie, so fantastic.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 3:39pm

Glenda Jackson made a movie in the early 1980's about the British poet Stevie Smith called, "Stevie." She played the part onstage in London and the film is little more than the play filmed. It, like the play, takes place in her memory and in the apartment that she shared with her maiden aunt, played by Mona Washburne.

They are both incredible. As are the two other men in the show, I can't remember who they are at the moment.

The absolute crime is that Glenda Jackson was not eligible for an Oscar for it. The film got screened in Los Angles one night a year or so before it finally found a distributor. Because it got shown that one time, when it got released, it couldn't not be nominated.

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 4:00pm

Elizabeth Shue and Nicolas Cage both gave breath-taking in Leaving Las Vegas. Elizabeth perhaps more so that Cage, she was absolutely magnificent, she is truly underrated and an exceptional talent.

Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting. Enough said.

John Goodman in Barton Fink was truly exceptional.

On a slightly different note Chris Rock in Never Scared truly left me awed. He was always 'funny', but wow. There was no doubt after that show that he has truly evolved into one of the smartest, most clever truly gifts stand up comedians of all-time. I am impressed with the level of sheer comedic, timing, social commentary and satirical genius he has ascended to since his first HBO special.

Updated On: 4/29/07 at 04:00 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 4:02pm

Billy Bob was great in that movie. Did a fantastic job.

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 4:05pm

natalie wood in splendor in the grass and love with the proper stranger.

truly underrated and it's sad to know she isn't regarded with the likes of taylor, hepburn or even monroe because i think she was just as talented as they were.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 4:27pm

"Billy Bob was great in that movie."

Another BRILLIANT post, Amanda!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 4:30pm

I was just making a comment on Biily Bob. Not being sarcastic.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 4:33pm

Did I say anything about HOW you said it?

No.

I was commenting on your brilliant thoughts about Billy Bob being in 'that movie'.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 4:37pm

this isn't from a movie, but i was compleatly blown away by "the circle of life" in the stage version of the lion king

[Effie Im TIRED]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 4:42pm

Judy Garland performing "Smile"

Ella Fitzgerald performing "How High The Moon"

[AC126748]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 5:37pm

Julianne Moore in Far From Heaven

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 4/29/07 at 7:33pm

Every single person, Nazi and victim alike, in Schindler's List.

I gotta say, everytime I see a Meryl Streep movie, I think "Goodness. It's disgusting that someone is this good." I love her. Out of Africa is the best movie ever. Just..ever.

ANNND. Victor Garber in Titanic drives me insane. I'm not that much of a Titanic fan, but the minute that scene happens at the end with Victor Garber at the fireplace..and Kate Winslet comes running in..and the look on his face....at that moment I start crying and I don't stop until two hours later. It's bad.

[mmajer]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 12:54am

Bjork in "Dancer In The Dark"

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 8:39am

Undeniably the best female performance ever captured on film, IMO, is Judy Garland in A STAR IS BORN. She was the essence of sheer brilliance in that film, completely embodying her role from the first frame to the last. It was one of the only performances that I have ever seen, on film, or in any other medium, where I really felt like I was watching some kind of an autobiographical film...it was like Judy Garland didn't even exist for two hours...but Vicki Lester was alive and kicking.

Most recently, my breath was taken away while watching Ryan Gosling's performance in HALF NELSON. It was the best performance of last year and he should have won the Oscar for it. An increasingly difficult and complex role to play with so many contradicting emotions to convey in a real and raw manner, I believed that he was Dan Dunne for the entirety of the movie.

Some recent breathtaking performances that I have seen include:
Charlize Theron, MONSTER
Jennifer Hudson, DREAMGIRLS
Phillip Seymour Hoffman, CAPOTE
and (I know I'm in the minority here): Sandra Bullock, INFAMOUS...I thought INFAMOUS was better and more enjoyable than CAPOTE and Bullock was so captivating as Harper Lee.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 8:44am

Ellen Burstyn in Requiem for a Dream.

F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus.

Ted Levine in Silence of the Lambs.

Updated On: 4/30/07 at 08:44 AM

[mattonstage]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 11:04am

Meryl Streep's performance in 'Sophie's Choice' is, to me, the greatest screen performance ever given. Stunning, heartbreaking, and breathtaking.

Other breathtaking performances:
Meryl Streep in The French Lieuenant's Woman
Meryl Streep in Out of Africa
Meryl Streep in Ironweed
Meryl Streep in Silkwood
Meryl Streep in Plenty
Meryl Streep in Holocaust
Meryl Streep in Kramer Vs. Kramer
Meryl Streep in A Cry in the Dark
Meryl Streep in Postcards From the Edge
Meryl Streep in The Seagull (Central Park)
Meryl Streep in Defending Your Life
Death Becomes Her
Marvin's Room
Dancing at Lughnasa
One True Thing
Music of the Heart
Adaptation
The Hours
Angels in America
The Devil Wears Prada
Mother Courage (Central Park)

I'm sure I will be blown away by Meryl in:
Mamma Mia
Dirty Tricks
Doubt

As you can tell, I'm a fan of Ms. Streep's.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 1:53pm

Leonardo DiCaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father
Adrien Brody in the Pianist
River Phoenix in Running On Empty
Helen Mirren in the Queen

and something about Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness makes me melt.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 2:04pm

Keisha Castle-Hughes - Whale Rider

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 2:04pm

Oh holy crap. River Phoenix.
How could I neglect each and every one of his performances?
As I watched Last Days -- I kept thinking
a.) Gus Van Sant is beginning to redeem himself...and make gut-wrenching films again.
b.) as good as Michael Pitt was I kept thinking wow. River would have been genius.

My best friend worked on the post-production with Daniel Day Lewis and Jim Sheridan on My Left Foot so I am biased towards that movie and thus did not list it, but I am glad somebody did -- he was incredible. He was also exceptionally good in Gangs of New York.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/30/07 at 2:24pm

Jane Fonda in KLUTE
John Hurt in anything
Anna Magnani in THE ROSE TATTOO
Marlon Brando in REFLECTIONS OF A GOLDEN EYE


Haven't seen them? Netflix NOW!