Charlize Theron’s portrayal of Aileen Wuornos in Monster was one of the best of the best Oscar wins!!!

I believe Charlize Theron in Monster is one of the greatest performances ever, it’s interesting because before that she was known for Wife/Girlfriend roles that took a backseat to the main character and here she showed everyone 🙌🏼

Julia was excellent in Erin Brockovich, but Ellen Burstyn was flat-out robbed for Requiem For A Dream.

Cotillard being unrecognizable + playing every age and emotions was amazing! :)

Ellen Burynstein was robbed of the Oscar for Requiem for a dream

I feel like Monique hands down should’ve been on this list. She was a completely unrecognizable in the film as she disappeared in the role. Her monologue at the end of the movie was breathtaking great. She was so good that she swept awards season without even campaigning.

Marion’s performance in La Vie En Rose is my all time favorite performance from anyone in anything. Just spellbinding.

I just want to thank you for making Charlize number one. I really think every list should have her as number one. Monster was a transformative and transcendent performance.

Marion Cotillard’s was amazing

Theron gave one of the greatest performances in cinematic history 👏👏

Wow 2000's was a very strong year for great performances

Another performance that I think is drastically underrated. Angelina Jolie for “Girl, Interrupted.” She portrayed a pure sociopath so realistically that I forgot that she Angelina Jolie. She transformed herself into that role so I would give her an honorable mention💯

Charlize Theron was spectacular in Monster. A well deserved Oscar for that performance. I could not even recognize Charlize in the film.

For me, the most impressive acting by an Oscar winner would be by Ms. Marion Cotillard in LA CIE EN ROSE/LA MÔME. No word could describe how magnificent her portrayal of Edith Piaf had been on this film.

Agree with Charlize Theron for number 1! My favourite winners not mentioned were Catherine Zeta Jones (Chicago) and Renee Zellweger (Cold Mountain) My favourite nominees who didn't win were Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain), Marisa Tomei (In The Bedroom), Rinko Kikuchi (Babel), Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain) and Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream) And some of my favourites who missed out on nominations were Nicole Kidman (The Others) Jennifer Connelly (Requiem for a Dream) Julianne Moore (Magnolia - 1999 but was up for awards in the 2000 Oscars) Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive) Brad Pitt (Burn After Reading) Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King)

My Top Ten from 2000-2009 1. Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) 2. Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) 3. Javier Bardem (No Country For Old Men) 4. Chris Cooper (Adaptation) 5. Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) 6. Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby) 7. Adrien Brody (The Pianist) 8. Jamie Foxx (Ray) 9. Charlize Theron (Monster) 10. Benicio Del Toro (Traffic) 10.

I started watching the Oscars in 2001 (which means in Middle Europe to take one day off the next day because it is in the middle of the night till early morning here). I saw literally everyone on your list and your honorable Mentions win (except Hillary Swank in "Boys Don't Cry") and cheered for almost all of them. All of them are intense, your no. 1 blew me away. The surprise wins of Marion Cotillard for "La Vie en Rose" and Sean Penn for "Milk" made me believe that sometimes the Academy does know its job. As much as I wanted Kate Winslet finally to win her Oscar I found Meryl Streeps performance in "Doubt" a little better. I wished that Felicity Huffman hat won in 2006 and Imelda Staunton in 2005.

My list: 1. Charlize Theron in "Monster" 2. Adrien Brody in "The Pianist" 3. Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" 4. Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" 5. Hilary Swank in "Boys Don't Cry" 6. Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men" 7. Sean Penn in "Milk" 8. Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland" 9. Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote" 10. Jamie Foxx in "Ray" HM. Chris Cooper in "Adaptation" HM. Penélope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" HM. Angelina Jolie in "Girl, Interrupted" HM. Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose" HM. Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line"

With no double the best performance of the decade (one of the best in the history) is Charlize Theron in Monster!

My fave Oscar moment of that decade was Marcia Gay Harden’s surprise win for Pollock and I wish she had found a spot in your list.

Julia roberts?...ellen burstyn should win that year

Charlize Theron’s performance in Monster is in my view one of the all time greatest performances in all of screen history. Absolutely astonishing. Especially as there was nothing earlier in her career to suggest she was capable of THIS!!!!

I agree with the whole list especially Charlize and Heath... but I think u should have included Halle Berry somewhere on the list even if runner up... her performance in monsters ball is epic

1.Catherine Zeta Jones 2.Daniel Day Lewis 3.Charlize Theron 4.Heath Ledger 5.Javier Bardem

I love your channel and videos man. Now that most people are like ashamed of saying "I enjoy the Academy Awards", those of us who do love them can find so much interesting information and analysis from your videos. Keep it up!

There are performances and PERFORMANCES. Then, there is what Charlize Theron did in Monster. I am glad I was alive to see that.

I’m surprised that Helen Mirren isn’t on the list. She was THE QUEEN

Agreed with this assessment. To this day it's astonishing the profound transformation and dimension that Charlize Theron brought to that role and to that film.

My favorite performance from this decade belongs to Nicole Kidman in The Hours.

Marion Cutillard´s performance in La Vie En Rose as Edith Piaf is one of THE BEST performances of all time imo

So many surprise performances & impactful villains across the board. For me, women outperformed men this decade in terms of memorable performances in highly rewatchable films that aren't merely tedious Oscar-bait. Favorite Lead: Nicole Kidman in The Hours - definitive Helen Mirren in The Queen - uncanny, definitive Adrien Brody in The Pianist - surprise performance Julia Roberts in Erin Brokovich - rewatchable Jamie Foxx in Ray - uncanny, definitive Halle Berry in Monster's Ball - gutsy, controversial, historic, has to be included Favorite Supporting: Monique in Precious - iconic villain Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight - iconic villain Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men - iconic villain Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Bastards - iconic villain Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago - essential to the film Cate Blanchett in Aviator - uncanny, masterful Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls - singular, essential to the film, tour de force singing Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton - against type, underrated, essential to the film Marcia Gay Harden in Pollock - surprise, underrated, essential the film

Gosh... what a challenging task. the 00's was a great decade for film, especially during the first few years. I can't disagree with much on this one, Brian. I'll just add a quiet shoutout to Halle Berry, Christoph Waltz, and Helen Mirren. They were also exceptional.

What about Adrien Brody for The Pianist and Chris Cooper for Adaptation, they both would be on my list.

my top 10: 1. Charlize Theron (Monster) 2. Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) 3. Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose) 4. Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) 5. Hilary Swank (Boys Don't Cry) 6. Denzel Washington (Training Day) 7. Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) 8. Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich) 9. Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago) 10. Nicole Kidman (The Hours)

Sean Penn’s heartbreaking scene in Mysti River deserve a spot here

Bravo for putting Charlize Theron at #1 - I've been a movie geek since childhood, so well over 40 years, and look forward to the Oscars every year and make a point of watching all the Best Actress nominee's movies before the big night and I can tell you I consider her turn as Eileen Wournos to actually be one of the greatest performances put on film - without a doubt. Let alone one of the best wins. She does not put a foot wrong for every minute she is on screen - its breath-taking. I remember seeing her in 2 Days in the Valley and thinking ' wow, what a beauty, but what a talented actress too' - and again in The Devil's Advocate. She absolutely deserved her Oscar - runner up I'd give to Naomi Watts for 21 Grams - very effective as well.

I watched the Last King of Scotland when I was 12 for the first time. I didn't understand the movie at all..but that interracial love scenes of James made a big step in my puberty.

i’m addicted to your videos and have been listening to them on the way to work daily now. 😭

Very good list, but I am struggling with your Julia Roberts pick. If she hadn't beat Ellen Burstyn in Requiem For a Dream, the performance that really should have won the Oscar, I may feel a bit different about this choice.

Kate should've been on more than just a honourable mention but I can't deny she was much deserving for Revolutionary Road. I always she could've made history at the Oscars winning both Best Actress for Revolutionary Road and Best Supporting Actress The Reader 🥰

Wow, what a list of performances! And what a great series! I hope you continue through the decades because you are spotlighting actors and films I either haven't seen or haven't seen in too long. As much as I agree with your No.1 pick (no spoilers for anyone scanning the comments while watching), I knew that actor was capable of pulling that off because they had done some soulful work before that kind of scratched at that potential, but it's your No. 4 that knocked me out of my seat! Just incredible. I had never heard of that actor before or the legend they were playing, and they took my breath away! I'm getting chills just thinking about it. Lastly, I can't believe Heath Ledger was only 28 when he passed. That's not a spoiler because of course he'd be on a list like this. Either he was an old soul or just that talented to portray the breadth of roles he did in such a short time. I mourn the performances he will never get to give. Well done. I always look forward to your videos!

Kevin in american beauty and kate in the reader also my favourites🥰😘😘

Spot on list. Marion Cotillard is masterful, and Kate Winslet should 100% have won for Revolutionary Road.

I think Nicole Kidman is just brilliant in The Hours! That's my pick. 💙

I loved DDL in There Will be Blood-one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen!

If Hilary Swank would make my list (and she would) it will be for Million Dollar Baby because that was in 2004, Boys Don't Cry was released in 1999, therefore that would not make this particular list.

Not crazy about Del Toro and Roberts, but the rest are great picks.

Swank, Hoffman, Cotillard.

I'm so happy that you said such glowing things about Julia Robert's performance in Erin Brockovich! That is the first Oscar-winning performance I ever fell in love with. All I hear from people now is that Burstyn deserved it more. I disagree. EDIT: And I'm so happy that you gave the first spot to Charlize Theron! That is total immersion. I've never seen an actor access such dark emotions as easily as Theron did in that film. She was so fully there in every scene. Unbelievable work. My list goes; Charlize Theron, Julia Roberts, Hilary Swank (BDC), Marion Cotillard, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Mo'nique, Sean Penn (Milk), Heath Ledger.

10. Sean Penn as Jimmy Markum (Mystic River) 9. Denzel Washington as Detective Alonzo Harris (Training Day) 8. Hilary Swank as Maggie Fitzgerald (Million Dollar Baby) 7. Tim Robbins as Dave Boyle (Mystic River) 6. Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz (The Reader) 5 Charlize Theron as Aileen "Lee" Wuornos (Monster) 4. Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh (No Country for Old Men) 3. Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly (Chicago) 2. Heath Ledger as The Joker (The Dark Knight) 5 HMs: Julia Roberts as Erin Brokovich (Erin Brokovich), Penélope Cruz as María Elena (Vicky Christina Barcelona), Halle Berry as Leticia Musgrove (Monster's Ball), Helen Mirren as Queen Elisabeth II (The Queen), Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius (Gladiator) 1. Daniel Day Lewis as Daniel Plainview (There Will Be Blood) Yet to see Boys Don't Cry, The Cider House Rules, Girl, Interrupted, Pollock, Iris, Adaptation., Mystic River, Cold Mountain, Ray, Capote, Syriana, The Constant Gardener, The Last King of Scotland Dreamgirls, La Vie en Rose, Michael Clayton and Milk. Saw about a half of American Beauty years and years ago, and never had the chance to catch the whole thing.

I love your channel!! So great to re-live these masterful performances. Gosh, when it is done by a master of their craft, the acting world is mesmerising. Great choices here- Day Lewis, Cotillard, Hoffmann, Ledger.... what's not to love? The only one I would disagree with is Roberts- yes, she's good, but top 10? No, I wouldn't go that far considering some of the others that missed out. Nowhere near as good as Winslet or Brody for example.

You can't really argue with that #1 spot. It may be in my personal Mt. Rushmore of Leading Female Oscar performances. I would probably swap Julia Roberts with Jennifer Hudson. But, in summary, very good list!

Gosh. No mention at all of my favorite performance of that decade, Adrian Brody in “the pianist”.🤔

agreed Charlize Theron’s performance is one for the ages. Actors still use that role as a template for Oscar-baiting.

I cannot be the only one who thinks Helen's award for Queen should have been here or atleast mentioned in the runners up

I was really hoping number 1 would be Charlize Theron in Monster and you didn't disappoint, Brian! Such a painfully poignant performance and movie. I personally would have switched Julia Roberts with Rachel Weisz in Constant Gardener. Julia as Erin has never really done it for me. She's very charismatic and charming in the role, but I didn't feel like she went deep enough in the role.

Julia roberts ?!? Really ?

7:53 -- all I hear is: "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! ... I have given you my soul, leave me my name!" Both excellent performances by Daniel Day Lewis, just saying these two scenes are very similar (to me). xD

Sorry, I believe Ellen Burstyn was robbed of an Oscar for Requiem For A Dream.

These are some excellent choices 👌 Personally, I would have put Penelope in the Top 10, but good to see you mentioned her brilliant performance

Probably my top choices of the decade ( I think I had Mo’Nique down on the 2010’s list. A performance for the ages. Charlize Theron Catherine Zeta Jones Adrian Brody Benicio Del Toro Heath Ledger Javier Bardem Marion Cotillard Jennifer Hudson Russell Crowe Forest Whitaker Sean Penn Julia Roberts

What about Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Bastards? He won at Cannes, Bafta, Golden Globes, Sag and an Oscar. One of the best charming villains on film.

Christoph Waltz should easily be on this list

Hard to beat Charlize! A masterclass. We bow down to the Queen. Sad to say Uma could not be on the list for Kill Bill.

Where are Christopf Waltz (Inglorious Basterd) and Cate Blanchett (Aviator)?

I personally would put cotillard and day-Lewis over Theron. There isn’t a scene in Monster that hits me like numerous ones in La Vie En Rose (marcel, carrot orange red hair and dying) or TWBB (the deafening, the ending, etc.) Also don’t think Sean Penn deserves to be that high on the list. A worthy winner, but not as memorable as others on the list. I do agree with your assessment of Winslet. Even though she wasn’t supporting in the reader, I do wish the academy awards repeated her golden globe wins. Also.. did I miss Helen Mirren in the Queen on this list? Because that’d be an unforgivable omission..

Finally someone discussing Julia’s performance in the positive!!!! One of my favorite winners!!!!!

Thank you for including Julia Roberts for Erin Brockovich. It is still one of my favourite performances together with Ellyn Burstyn and Bjork that year. Her performance was very towering and although it wasn’t as emotionally compelling as Ellyn Burstyn but it was very layered, heroic and believable. I believe that that’s how Erin Brockovich is in real life as much as Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos in Monster. The narrative of her character in the movie is so nuanced and layered and that’s why she won the Oscar that year. It was a very empowering character and she makes every comedic timing so dramatic, she has great dialogues and she expresses herself elegantly and confidently to her maximum level. Ellyn Burstyn was simply stunning in Requiem but her narrative was anti hero and not empowering. I love these two but now im starting to understand why Julia won her Oscar.

Adrien Brody in The PIANIST should not be missed in this list..

Great list! It's always interesting to watch you break down the decades. I'm one of the few people who did not care for Jennifer Hudson's performance in Dreamgirls. I would have chosen any of the other 4 in the category that year. Her rendition of the song was terrific, but the rest of the performance was lacking for me. Other than that, I might swap Julia for Jaime, but I think that is a terrific list!. Also, I LOVED Kate in Revolutionary Road and completely agree!!

Hi! So glad I found a like minded awards lover. I've only ever met one other person who enjoyed this "thing" the same way I do. Your love of Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation" and Sandra & Kate....the other person I would talk to this all about we constantly disagreed, and I always felt like I was wrong. But you've definitely solidified my opinions.

Benicio Del Toro is a very good actor, but his role in Traffic was acclaimed by people who don't speak Spanish. He is supposed to be Mexican in the movie, but he uses a Colombian accent, being himself from Puerto Rico. No idea where that decision came from.

Can you do your Top 10 for each decade for folks you thought should have been nominated?

Ah, 2007 acting winners... ❤️

Catherine zeta Jones in Chicago! Not even a runner up? She was dazzling in that role and the reason I love musicals now.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman is top one performance for me

For me, Marion Cotillard in "La Vie En Rose" is the greatest performance since "Sophie's Choice."

I love the performance of Marion Cotillard !

People giving Sandra Bullock a standing ovation and being all meh about Theron’s win is just insane. Theron’s performance is one of the best in the history of cinema.

My list: 10. Julia Roberts - "Erin Brockovich" 9. Jamie Foxx - "Ray" 8. Sean Penn - "Milk" 7. Philip Seymour Hoffman - "Capote" 6. Heath Ledger - "The Dark Knight" 5. Jim Broadbent - "Iris" 4. Charlize Theron - "Monster" 3. Javier Bardem - "No Country for Old Men" 2. Angelina Jolie - "Girl, Interrupted" 1. Marion Cotillard - "La môme"

Not a fan of many of those performances to be honest, haven't seen some of those movies either. My favorite winners from the 2000s: Catherine Zeta Jones, Kate Winslet, Heath Ledger, Nicole Kidman. I see Will Smith sitting behind Charlize's mom and I think "yeah, that ain't happening anymore, he's out, cancelled, dead for the academy ..." 😂

I concur, no Monique? Take Robert's off at least, Afterglow and Requiem had waaay better performances that year, just no wins. Soooo agreed with Theron though. So sensational, in my top 5 Ever list. Incredible what a person can put themselves through and or depths travel to when given the chance. Would've moved up Bardem though. I was Atonement over No Country by a mile that year but Bardem, line Dench for Shakespeare in Love, Did you dare blink for a second when each was on film? I didn't. Of course, subjective; well played.

10. Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds. 9. Adrien Brody - The Pianist. 8. Benicio Del Toro - Traffic. 7. Charlize Theron - Monster. 6. Nicole Kidman - The Hours. 5. Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose. 4. Daniel Day Lewis - There Will Be Blood. 3. Javier Bardem - No Country for Old Men. 2. Catherine Zeta-Jones - Chicago. 1. Mo'Nique - Precious. Runner Ups: Marcia Gay Harden - Pollock. Tim Robbins - Mystic River.

Charlize Theron in Monster is the greatest performance, male or female ever period.

I hope you do the 90s !! also maybe to negative but top ten actors who didn't deserves wins

Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago and Monique in Precious should be on this list

Excellent list 🎉 Agree 💯

Too low for Javier, him playing an original character should at least put him into fourth. Everything about that film is still as breathtaking and haunting today as it was the first time I watched it.

Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain should've beaten Capote. Unfortunately, Oscar has a bias for rewarding roles that are real (and mostly famous) people.

Javier Berdam is my favorite Oscar winner from this decade

Julia Roberts? Definitely wouldn’t make my Top 40.

One of the great mysteries, just why Hilary Swank wasn't in more great movies? One of the truly great actors.

Funny how some people say these are the worst Oscar’s nominees hahahaha 😂

One you didn't mention I think is worth noting is Denzel Washington on training day

How could Joaquin Phoenix not be on this list for “Joker” (2019)??? The best acting performance “ever”!!!

Again, quite exquisite choices :)))) and runners-ups (minus Winslett). I would also throw in Monique, Adrian Brody and Helen Mirren.

Me personally, I woulda put Heath at #1, but whatever. Great list

Fun list. Objectively though, I would hard disagree with 1 thing. I believe Jennifer Hudson deserves to easily be in the top 3, at minimum top 5 of the entire decade. In the past 50 years, I cannot recall someone who completely outshines a star studded cast as their debut. Jennifer was raw, nuanced, bold, and subtle all at once. Also, just as iconic and legendary as Heath's performance was (deserving of #2), Jennifer's And I'm Telling You Moment had a nationwide acclaim and had standing ovations in movie theathres. Standing ovation make sense in theathre and live television, but in film and theaters its extremely redundant and pointless to do because it's obviously not live. However, moviegoers all across didn't care and were screaming and clapping and cheering for her moment. I understand that these kinds of list are subjective, but to have reached such an emotional reaction with such acclaim is a legendary fest in film history and easily deserving of the top 3 performances of the 00s decade in my opinion. That's not even taking into consideration her being only the 4th black actress to win an Oscar over 8 decades. Hudson's AIATY moment was even nominated this year's Oscar fan favorite film moment and was the only moment that was not correlated to a superhero franchise. That is such an feat that even established actors never make and in terms of pop culture mainstream integration I feel like Hudson and Ledgers Oscar winning performances are the only ones that really stood the yest of time where even a casual film goer would've remember the impact of that moment on screen.

I would have put Theron and Cotillard together but spot on list anyway.

I haven't seen all these perfomances therefore I don't have a ranking but I like: Heath Ledger, I mean what perfomance!! Daniel Day-Lewis; Julia Roberts; But this is a really solid list with great perfomances.