The best part about this performance is the way Page camouflages the rest of Hayley's instincts when one takes center stage. She turns one side on and the others off like a light switch, but does so with a degree of mastery you don't often see with material that has such a high degree of difficulty. Helen Mirren or no, Ellen Page is the best actress of 2006.
4. The Anonymous Faces in United 93
Having seen the best movie of the year a couple of times now, I've gained a greater appreciation for the things that on first glance may seem like background. There's no lead character in Paul Greengrass's soon-to-be legendary film. There's a pile-up of confusion, from passengers to hijacking terrorists to military personnel to air traffic controllers. And that confusion is the reason this movie works so well.
Greengrass has crafted the perfect rendering of the tragedy (and hopeful conclusion) aboard that flight, and he's done so without the use of movie stars or even much of a script, from the standpoint of dialogue. And amazingly, he leans on an ensemble that has one goal — build panic. It may not look like much, but watch it again, and marvel at the sensational acting from hundreds of people that only gets stronger as the action demands it.
5. Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat)
Comedic performances can be tough to gauge. With drama, there's a specific goal, much as I highlighted with the performances in United 93. In comedy, if they don't laugh - and in particular, if they don't laugh where and when and how you want - it's a failure. Sacha Baron Cohen's performance as Borat is otherworldly. Why do you think he's being sued so frequently now? He convinced everyday Joes to appear in his Kazakh documentary and then made every last one of them look like giant American boobs. And he did it all in character.
Again, this isn't scripted comedy. This is Cohen as Borat approaching people on the street, and none of them were wise to it. So don't be surprised if he gets an Oscar nomination. It's not just some of the best filmed comedy of this generation, it's also Peter Sellers-level acting.
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Great job, Colin! I've shamefully missed most of the above -- thankfully that's what netflix is for!
2 - Ty
"Helen Mirren or no, Ellen Page is the best actress of 2006"
Finally, some respect for Hard Candy!
3 - Victor Plenty
Or respect for Ellen Page, at any rate.