Actors like to act, and even if the movies they’re acting in don’t always work out as planned, there can still be notable performances to be gleaned from them. Here’s a salute to some of the best dramatic work delivered in some decidedly non-notable movies.
Brett Kelly – “Bad Santa 2”
Kelly’s Thurman Merman may be older than in the previous “Bad Santa,” but he’s no wiser, and Kelly’s wide-eyed naïveté steals the picture.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – “Miss Sloane”
There were plenty of script problems in this lobbyist drama, but Mbatha-Raw’s portrayal of an activist nursing old wounds was searing and powerful.
Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol – “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
Forget the beasts; this “Harry Potter” prequel belonged to a Muggle baker and his magical lady love.
Kristen Stewart – “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk”
Even with Ang Lee’s 120-frames-per-second camera shoved into her face, Stewart delivered another lovely, restrained performance.
Toby Kebbell – “Ben-Hur”
Much of this epic remake was misguided, but it did give us the best Messala of all three versions, thanks to Kebbell’s insight and vulnerability.
Viola Davis – “Suicide Squad”
She’ll be duly remembered for “Fences” this year, but Davis’ ability to maintain her dignity amidst the noise and chaos deserves a salute as well.
Emily Meade – “Money Monster,” “Nerve”
There didn’t seem to be much on the page for either of these characters, but Meade squeezed the roles for every drop of wit and humanity she could muster.
Nicole Kidman – “The Family Fang”
You probably missed Kidman’s turn as a controversial cult actress trying to go legit; it was this dramedy’s most notable facet.
Ben Schnetzer – “Snowden,” “Warcraft”
In addition to his stellar lead work in “Goat,” up-and-comer Schnetzer stole every scene in films that were otherwise routine (“Snowden”) or downright disastrous (“Warcraft”).
Leslie Mann – “How to Be Single,” “The Comedian”
Two characters that could easily have been Generic Female Co-Star were elevated by Mann’s warmth, empathy and sharp wit.
Holliday Grainger – “The Finest Hours”
This Coast Guard drama didn’t make many waves, but Grainger wowed its relatively few viewers with old-school movie star glamour and moxie.
