Rolling Stone: Best Actor Oscar-Winners of the 21st Century, Ranked Worst to Best

For once, I don't have any major quibbles with their list.

I would have put "There Will Be Blood" last (of those I've seen) rather than first. His character had no development. In general the list makes me think this century's movie acting is impoverished compared to the last one.

Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood" was as ridiculous and over-the-top as Faye Dunaway in "Mommie Dearest."

Yet he was overpraised and won a second lead Oscar, while she was mocked and awarded with a Razzie.

Go figure!

I think Will Smith is too high, but other than it's pretty spot on.

It's a pretty good list. Forget the naysayers, Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood was the undeniable choice.

The author mostly resisted the urge to rank the choices based on reputation alone, which authors have a tendency to do. A lesser list would have ranked Denzel Washington much higher and Casey Affleck much lower based on how people feel about those actors.

Denzel's 2nd Oscar was as big of a joke as Halle's first.

I would put DDL in "Lincoln" first because that was a type of person I had never genuinely seen anyone play before on the screen (least of all other actors who had played Lincoln). He made Lincoln folksy and patient and resolute, but somewhat at a loss as to how to deal with his nutso wife.

I would not have Russell Crowe in "Gladiator" the top ten. That part just wasn't that interesting.

I would rank Anthony Hopkins in "The Father" at #2 or #3 (giving PSH in "Capote" the other position).

I see best to worst and worst to best at OP. Is it #1 that’s best or is it #1 that’s worst?

R8, #1 means best of the lot.

[italic]Gladiator[/italic] is not that interesting of a part, but that's what makes Crowe so worthy of a best actor award. His talent was essential to making that movie so interesting. I grew up with swords-and-sandals films on TV every weekend. Handsome men but boring movies.

For comparison, watch [italic]Kingdom of Heaven[/italic] from the same director. Orlando Bloom is handsome, but he does not have the talent or charisma to make that movie a hit, despite the fascinating events and places involved.

USA Today gives their ranking for the last 25 years: