Every year French Toast Sunday takes a look at the best of the past film year with a series of top 5 lists. By using a ranked score from our collective lists, we determine the overall highest rated choices. Now we’re talking about our top 5 favorite male performances from 2014. WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS!
Honorable Mentions
Mark Ruffalo in Foxcatcher / Edward Norton in Birdman / Jesse Eisenberg in The Double / Bill Hader in The Skeleton Twins / Brad Pitt in Fury / Steve Carrell in Foxcatcher / JK Simmons in Whiplash / Dan Stevens in The Guest / Oscar Issac in A Most Violent Year / Chris Evans in Snowpiercer / Liam Neeson in Walk Among the Tombstones / Tom Hardy in Locke / Chris Evans in Captain America: Winter Soldier / Matthew McConnaughey in Interstellar / Ben Affleck in Gone Girl / Andy Serkis in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes / Ethan Hawke in Boyhood / Ellar Coltrane in Boyhood
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#05 / Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything
Physical transformation is not what makes a great performance – but it often triggers one. In his first major lead role, Eddie Redmayne wonderfully portrays Stephen Hawking and his various stages of living. From an awkward elite student and his first love to a wheelchair-bound mute genius, and throughout all the parts in between, Redmayne delivers a nuanced (and surprisingly humorous) performance. And thus the redheaded actor parts with his pretty-boy-in-small-movies image and breathes some well-earned award season air. – Mette
[virtual_slide_box id=”20″]#04 / Chris Pratt – Guardians of the Galaxy
Chris Pratt has never been one of my favorite actors but that changed in Guardians Of The Galaxy. For me, it is the mark of a great actor to play a role that mixes genres and appeals to a huge demographic. He’s able to be a funny action star with a serious story and emotions that appeals to young and old alike. – Will
[virtual_slide_box id=”22″]#03 / Michael Keaton – Birdman
Michael Keaton IS Birdman. There really is nothing more to say. Michael Keaton gives you the physical definition of tour de force with his award-worthy performance in Birdman and it makes you question why he isn’t in more films today. – Nick
[virtual_slide_box id=”19″]#02 / Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler
Shrewd. Machiavellian. Ruthless. All descriptive of Jake Gyllenhaal’s Lou Bloom. The actor brought the freelance cameraman to wicked life in Dan Gilroy’s Nightcrawler. The film follows Bloom as he slinks and speeds through the L.A. night in search of anything horrific enough to make it onto the nightly news. The fact that Bloom is the nastiest thing in the film is a testament to Mr. Gyllenhaal’s abilities. Well done, Jakie G. – Robert
[virtual_slide_box id=”21″]#01 / Ralph Fiennes in – The Grand Budapest Hotel
This film is as preposterously delightful as it is thanks in huge part to Ralph Fiennes’ dynamic performance as the legendary Gustave H. He makes Gustave a larger-than-life and yet utterly refined character, blending sophistication and silliness in a way that is impossible not to watch and love. – Sara