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Jason Statham (The Beekeeper)
Action movies can often have underrated performances. The reason is usually low expectations and the focus put on the explosions, the fights, and the visual effects. Acting is considered secondary if noted at all. I would say, with the help of Phylicia Rashad, Jason Statham made himself an exception.
Yes, he continues to speak in a monotone voice and is a man of few words, but unlike many action heroes, even Statham’s past roles, they make it so the catalyst for his adventure isn’t simply a fuse to multiple explosive moments. No, because Rashad isn’t cast to be a girlfriend or something to lust over, but a maternal figure that brings peace and joy to a retired military man, we get something drastically different.
I’d submit, rather than this simply be an action movie starring Statham, Kurt Wimmer’s writing pushes the idea that “The Beekeeper” was written for Statham’s strength and to allow him, alongside his stuntman Tom Connelly, to tell a story through a man’s pain. He lost one of the few people who have been kind to him without wanting much, if anything, in return, and that pain, that drive, we see him have, it’s less of an ends to a means, and more like the only way he can move on is his form of justice.
Jenna Ortega (Miller’s Girl)
For all actors, especially former kids stars like Ortega, there is always a wait for that role, which will be their breakout or role when they take on something more adult. “Wednesday” might have been that breakout role for Ortega, but I’d submit “Miller’s Girl” was the one that showed she could be more than the viewer’s favorite or someone’s love interest.
As Cairo, Ortega plays off not only Martin Freeman’s Mr. Miller, but also Gideon Adlon’s Winnie, and she plays a game with both, pushing the idea of her being a femme fatale. Wronged by Mr. Miller not living up to expectations, Ortega pushes Cairo to make Freeman’s Miller small and vulnerable, and she uses the death stare that may have made her version of Wednesday notable, but seemingly has use beyond the Addams Family’s iconic character.
In one scene in particular, as she and Martin Freeman are alone in his classroom, post-him rejecting her, she decides to cut him into a million pieces. In our original review, we noted it was with precision similar to what we saw Elektra do on FX’s “Pose” and from her literally stepping on a platform to make it clear she is above Freeman’s Miller, to raising his chin to force him away from being his coward and take note of each word she is saying, I’d submit Freeman was perhaps shocked as all who watched the film – hence him being flabbergasted in the scene.
Corinne Bailey Rae (The Black Rainbows Tour)
Stepping away from scripted roles for a moment, I have to highlight Corinne Bailey Rae’s performance at the Blue Note in New York City this past February. Being that the Blue Note is an intimate space (read: packs in patrons like clothes in a laundry hamper), you are within almost arm’s reach of whoever performs and can see the color of their eyes, subtle gestures, and with being right upon the stage, Rae delivered a performance like no other.
Mind you, you don’t have to be as close as I was to appreciate it, but to see her get lost in the music, almost re-experience songs from perhaps a decade ago, after all she has been through as a person, was an experience. Add in her breaking down songs from her new record, making it seem like we were watching an extended interview, and you seeing a joy reminiscent of your best friend telling you about a wonderful date they’ve been on, Rae definitely paints herself as an artist to go see if you ever get the chance.
Kecia Lewis (Hell’s Kitchen)
“Hell’s Kitchen,” which has elements of Alicia Keys’ life, won quite a few awards at the most recent Tony’s, and thankfully, Kecia Lewis was one of the award winners. Her performance, to me, was the most memorable. I’d even add, she was memorable beyond any of Alicia Keys’ hit songs.
As Miss Liza Jane, she brought a commanding force to “Hell’s Kitchen” that could get you in the audience to sit up straight and act right. In portraying one of the few people in Ali’s life who was no-nonsense and didn’t stand for her being rude or obnoxious, she was that proverbial person we’re always shown on television, movies, or hear about that changes someone’s life because they were not only hard on them, but consistent.
Since Ariana DeBose, we have not seen someone live, without knowing who they are, and wanted to take note of what they do next. For if she was able to do so much with a featured role, imagine what she could do as a lead?
Percy Hynes White (My Old Ass & Winter Spring Summer or Fall)
I would submit that we don’t necessarily see a huge amount of heartthrobs when it comes to actors anymore. There isn’t that actor who, in multiple movies, has played the love interest you could fall for, want to be like, or hope your friends meet someone similar. In both “My Old Ass” and in White’s “Winter Spring Summer or Fall,” which reunited him with Jenna Ortega, he does just that.
In giving us a young man in both who is trying to navigate having feelings for an intelligent, independent, and sometimes a young woman who sees his character’s approach as bad timing, his work is cut out for him. Yet, despite the hesitation in both films, you see him win over both of his lead actresses in a way that will surely make audience members swoon. For with guy next door appeal and an earnestness that can be seen as disarming, Percy Hynes White may have found a niche that no one in his age range has filled.
FULL REVIEW – WINTER SPRING SUMMER OR FALL
Naomie Harris (The Wasp)
Carla (Natalie Dormer) and Heather (Naomie Harris) | The Wasp
When it comes to Naomie Harris in “The Wasp,” like many on this list, her performance is partly due to the support she has in the film. For Harris, it is playing off of Natalie Dormer, commonly known for “Game of Thrones,” and young actress Leah Mondesir-Simmonds, who plays her younger counterpart. Let me just say, what Harris presents to you is what happens when writers like Morgan Lloyd Malcolm have the right actress to play out their scripts.
The journey Harris sends you through, as she goes back and forth with Dormer, and Mondesir-Simmonds provides the assist, makes me hope so dearly that this gains traction when it is released in theaters. I’d hate for this to end up like “Fair Play” where you get a notable, pedestal-worthy performance that gets lost to the ethos just because it didn’t get a big enough push upon release.
Delainey Hayles (Interview With The Vampire)
At this point, Claudia, the child vampiress of “Interview With The Vampire” has been played on screen by three people. Kirsten Dunst played her in the 90s, alongside Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, and gave the world yet another precedent for what child actors can do, when they aren’t regulated to prove two characters had sex or loved each other at one time. Nearly three decades later, season one of the show featured Bailey Bass, who now is working on the “Avatar” films and is yet another example of someone who got big after their experience as Claudia.
However, due to “Avatar,” Bass could not film the second season, and Hayles got cast. Now, it is hard enough to follow up a movie that has, for decades, held the example of who Claudia is, and it be considered legendary and iconic. But to add to that, you are following an actress who not only revived the part, but was notable for it, and handled the race swapping with ease?
Needless to say, Hayles had an uphill battle upon being announced for the role, and yet took that challenge like she had a 4×4 vehicle and was going up the hill on a dry day. Rather than replace Bass, her performance made it seem she was being handed a baton to finish what Bass started and take Claudia beyond where Dunst could have in a two-hour movie.
As Claudia, Hayles gave us the aging woman stuck in a teenager’s body. She could show how she was stunted physically and sometimes emotionally because of Louis’ decision and how she played off Jacob Anderson, often made it so her character was only second to Lestat. Heck, because of Hayles’ performance, an actress named Roxane Duran, she became notable for what Hayles brought to Claudia was more than a performance that made herself look good, but made others as well. She pushed the spotlight on them to the point that an association with Claudia was a gift, not just you ending up being fodder so Hayles could shine.
Zendaya (Challengers)
Zendaya’s career is becoming rather strange. Since leaving Disney Channel, almost every role she has played has been treated as a breakout role for her. Whether it is “The Greatest Showman,” “Euphoria” the often skipped over “Malcolm & Marie” or now “Challengers,” there is almost always a conversation as if she isn’t one of the few consistent actors out there who seemingly works not just for money, but the craft – with consideration for her long term legacy.
In “Challengers,” what is noted as her first “adult” role as lead, rather than look at her performance as Tashi as her first “adult” role, I would consider it another precedent. Tashi brings what we saw in “Malcolm & Marie” to the big screen. Tashi takes the toxicity that Zendaya’s character Marie took from John David Washington’s Malcolm, but puts it into female form.
She knows how to manipulate the two men in her life, Art and Patrick, played by Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, respectively. Yet, you see that manipulation is a defense mechanism for being something or feeling less than. Tashi was better than both of them within her side of tennis, yet here she is, injured, watching them flail because they have the privilege of never having to be great, just good enough to qualify.
Watching Tashi manage a constant string of disappointments, seek out thrills, and do all this without letting her emotions get the best of her, Zendaya shines. Tashi isn’t given the luxury, no matter how rich she gets, to feel sorry for herself, and Zendaya makes a way to allow you to see Tashi as flawed, unsure of herself, yet determined in ways that continue Zendaya’s streak of notable productions that make her the star actor to cast.
Karen Gillan (Douglas Is Cancelled)
Karen Gillan is the only actor on this list who got on because of a mini-series and is the only one for a role that was, at least partly, comedic. But what makes her really stand out amongst the many shows, movies, plays, and musicals we saw is that while many of the actors allowed for some sort of back and forth, let everyone benefit, type of role, for the most part, Karen Gillan as Madeline, she ate up whoever she was in a scene with.
As Madeline, a young woman whose mentor, icon, and perhaps friend at one time was accused of telling a career-ending sexist joke, she pursued trying to figure out if he was joking about her? If Douglas, the title character, who missed the opportunity to play hero, was using her to make others laugh.
Her pursuit of the truth has her feigning what can almost be seen as ditziness, something she has used to maybe lower most people’s guard down. But, when it is time to go from prey to predator, how Gillan switches on people is so good it’ll make you take notice. Especially because it isn’t all about delivering some dramatic performance, but she gets quite a few jokes in there, too.
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