Forget Oscars. Forget box office. Which leading actor and actress had the best batting average of the last 10 years? The most consistent body of work, the highest good-to-bad, one-for-me, one-for-them ratio? In this case, one or two totally awesome movies does not a contender make if they filled the rest of the years with total dreck (that's you,
Hilary Swank). Also, we're focusing on leading actors and actresses vs. more supporting/character actors/scene stealers (the
John C. Reillys and
Alan Rickmans of the world) because so much more weight and expectation is carried on a lead. (Plus, supporting actors do a lot of dreck too.)
So here are our nominations for Best Leading Actor, 2000-2009 (Best Actress and Director to come in later posts). Voice acting and cameos not included, wins/losses are a carefully calculated formula of box office and overall critical reception--or, just a gut feeling.
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Johnny Depp (*Amazon Movies staff pick)
Wins: Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Sweeney Todd, Finding Neverland, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Before Night Falls, Blow, Chocolat
On the fence: Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, From Hell, Public Enemies
Losses: The Libertine, Secret Window, Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Christian Bale
Wins: Batman Begins/Dark Knight, The Prestige, 3:10 to Yuma, I’m Not There, Rescue Dawn, The New World, The Machinist, American Psycho, Shaft
On the fence: Public Enemies, Terminator Salvation, Harsh Times
Losses: Equilibrium, Reign of Fire, Laurel Canyon, Captain Corelli's Mandolin
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George Clooney
Wins: Up in the Air, Syriana, Ocean’s 11 and 13, Michael Clayton, Good Night and Good Luck, O Brother Where Art Thou , The Perfect Storm
On the fence: Intolerable Cruelty, Leatherheads, Ocean's 12, Burn After Reading
Losses: The Men Who Stare at Goats, The Good German, Solaris, Welcome to Collinwood
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Wins: Almost Famous, Capote, M:I-3, The Savages, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, Charlie Wilson’s War, Doubt, The 25th Hour, Punch-Drunk Love, State and Main
On the fence: Synecdoche, NY, Pirate Radio, Cold Mountain, Owning Mahowny, Red Dragon, Love Liza
Losses: Along Came Polly
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Leonardo DiCaprio
Wins: Revolutionary Road, Body of Lies, Blood Diamond, The Departed, The Aviator, Gangs of New York, Catch Me if You Can
Losses: The Beach
Sean Penn
Wins: Milk, Mystic River, The Assassination of Richard Nixon, 21 Grams, I Am Sam, Before Night Falls
On the fence: The Interpreter, Up at the Villa
Losses: All the King’s Men, It's All About Love, The Weight of Water
Who else would you add to the list? --
Ellen
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