10. Jon Hamm- The Town- Easy pick, this one. In my opinion, this is one of the most criminally underrated films of the last 5 years, being snubbed at all of the major awards shows for the likes of The Kids are Alright (really?). Hamm plays the FBI agent charged with bringing down Ben Affleck's crew of professional bank robbers.
9. Jim Parsons- Garden State- A small role, but outstanding turn from Parsons in Zach Braff's 2004 directorial debut. He plays the former high school pee-on who has just been promoted to Jouster at the local Medieval Times restaurant. He is also banging his former classmate's (Peter Sarsgaard) mom.
8. Amy Poehler- Wet Hot American Summer- One of Poehler's first features outside of taped segments of Upright Citizens Brigade. She plays a hilariously uptight camp counselor who only wants to put on a great talent show for the last day of summer. I might add that Bradley Cooper is her partner-in-crime and does an equally bang-up job.
7. Ty Burrell- Dawn of the Dead- Who would ever believe Phil Dunfee could be a jackass? Anybody who has ever seen Dawn of the Dead, that's who. Here Burrell plays overly-confident Steve Marcus, whose loud mouth, and disagreeable personality eventually turn on him.
6. Timothy Olyphant- The Girl Next Door- My personal favorite Emmy nominee this year. Finally recognized for his brilliant work in Justified, Olyphant plays a character you might expect his TV persona, Raylan Givens to lock up. He plays the greasy porn producer nemesis of a young Emile Hirsch, as the latter tries valiantly to save his new girlfriend (Elisha Cuthbert) from the smut industry.
5. Alan Cumming- Reefer Madness- Okay, so I may be cheating a little bit with this one as Reefer Madness is a Showtime movie, but I think this performance merits it. Cumming plays the lecturer walking the parents of the local town through the story of Jimmy and Mary- a young couple torn apart by the evils of- wait for it- MARIJUANA!
4. Steve Carrell- The 40 Year Old Virgin- Carrell may have gotten his start on "The Daily Show", but The 40 Year Old Virgin is what made him a superstar. Backed by a hilarious supporting cast, all I can say about Carrell's wonderful performance is "KELLY CLARKSON"! If you haven't seen this one then no amount of words can explain the glory.
3. Steve Buscemi- Fargo- Buscemi has had a grab-bag of great roles in film ranging from the goofy (Big Daddy), to the profoundly dramatic (Reservoir Dogs). As Carl Showalter, he is a mix of the two. In classic Coen brothers style, Buscemi is a quirky "just kinda generally funny lookin'" half of a couple of crooks hired to kidnap the wife of a client.
2. Laura Linney- Kinsey- Playing the wife of the infamous Dr. Kinsey (Liam Neeson), Linney proves once again why she is one of the best living actresses to grace our screens. This Oscar nominated turn sees her vulnerable homemaker questioning the research she has blindly supported for so many years in a touching, moving performance.
1. Alec Baldwin- Glengarry Glen Ross- Alec Baldwin takes the cake here. And for once it isn't for portraying Jack Donaghy. Baldwin's part in Glengarry Glen Ross is limited. In fact, it is only one monologue. This scene was added to the movie version by screenwriter David Mamet, having been left out of the original stage play. Thank God it was. With no more than 10 minutes of screen time, Baldwin delivers this "brass balls" monologue like the old pro we perenially see gobbling up gongs at awards ceremonies.
Agree? Disagree? Did I cover my bases or leave out glaring omissions? Only your comments will answer that.
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