Every year the Oscars hand out an award for Best Actor. But since they also hand out awards for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress they still leave the most fundamental question unsettled: who gave the year’s best acting performance.
Well (now that the dust has finally settled form this year’s crazy Oscars) I’m here to retroactively answer that question for every year dating back to 1990. Welcome to the Uber Oscars!
2016
Casey Affleck
Emma Stone
Mahershala Ali
Viola Davis
If Viola Davis had competed in Best Actress like she should have she would have won it easily. I’m starting the exercise with a gimme putt.
2015
Leonardo DiCaprio
Brie Larson
Mark Rylance
Alicia Vikander
Time changes how art is perceived, and this feels too recent to really have a clear perspective on it. I would wager that 5-10 years from now Brie Larson’s work will be considered the best of the bunch, but Leo so thoroughly dominated last year’s award season and his win loomed so large in the popular consciousness I gotta give him the nod here for now.
2014
Eddie Redmayne
Julianne Moore
JK Simmons
Patricia Arquette
I remember being blown away by Julianne Moore in Still Alice, but the movie came out only three years ago and yet I barely remember a single thing about it. JK Simmons’ performance in Whiplash on the other hand was instantly iconic to everyone who saw it and will define his entire career. So, sorry Julianne, but you’re lagging every so slightly.
2013
Matthew McConaughey
Cate Blanchett
Jared Leto
Lupita Nyong’o
Screw your McConaisssance, this is Cate Blanchett all the way. Leo should have beaten McConaughey anyway, and then we could have had a real debate. Great year though overall.
2012
Daniel Day-Lewis
Jennifer Lawrence
Christoph Waltz
Anne Hathaway
Another great year. Anne Hathaway is now officially underrated and Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most memorable winners of recent years. But one of my rules in life is that in an acting-related contest between anyone and Daniel Day-Lewis, the winner is always Daniel Day-Lewis.
2011
Jean Dujardin
Meryl Streep
Christopher Plummer
Octavia Spencer
Uh, well someone has to win, so using the Daniel Day-Lewis Rules, this one goes to Meryl Streep, I guess? Says a lot about the 2012 Oscars that one of the hardest trivia questions in the world is “who won Best Actor six years ago”
2010
Colin Firth
Natalie Portman
Christian Bale
Melissa Leo
At the time it was probably Christian Bale. Now it’s probably Natalie Portman. But it’s close.
2009
Jeff Bridges
Sandra Bullock
Christoph Waltz
Mo’Nique
I might be biased here, but I think Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds is an all-timer. If you wanted to talk me into Mo’Nique though I’d be willing to listen.
2008
Sean Penn
Kate Winslet
Heath Ledger
Penelope Cruz
REALLY strong year. Any of the other three could have won most years. But Heath Ledger’s Joker is arguable the single best performance of the 2000s. It’s certainly the most iconic.
2007
Daniel Day-Lewis
Marion Cotillard
Javier Bardem
Tilda Swinton
If Heath Ledger’s Joker isn't the best acting performance of the 2000s then Daniel Day-Lewis’s Daniel Plainview IS. So, sorry Javier Bardem, but you're gonna have to settle for being the strongest Uber-Oscars runner-up of them all. And Tilda Swinton, any day now feel free to give Cate Blanchett the Oscar you stole from her.
2006
Forrest Whitaker
Helen Mirren
Alan Arkin
Jennifer Hudson
As much as I want to try and argue that it’s Jennifer Hudson, I think it’s pretty clearly actually Helen Mirren.
While we’re here, 2006 Best Supporting Actor is on the shortlist for weakest Oscar acting category of all time.
2005
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Reese Witherspoon
George Clooney
Rachel Weisz
Fun fact: Even George Clooney can’t totally remember what movie he won an Oscar for. Anyway, this was the easiest call on the whole board. Not so fun fact: this was the Crash year.
2004
Jamie Foxx
Hillary Swank
Morgan Freeman
Cate Blanchett
Oh god…is it Jamie Foxx for Ray? It’s Jamie Foxx for Ray isn't it? UGH. I hate this game, why did I make it up?
2003
Sean Penn
Charlize Theron
Tim Robbins
Renee Zellwegger
Why does it feel like Charlize Theron’s performance in Monster doesn't get its proper due? It’s profoundly great work and should be talked about way more. Is this how think pieces get started?
2002
Adrien Brody
Nicole Kidman
Chris Cooper
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Can I pick none of the above?
2001
Denzel Washington
Hallie Berry
Jim Broadbent
Jennifer Connelly
If you want to really get me talking, ask me about how Art Carney’s 1972 win for Harry and Tonto led to Denzel beating Russell Crowe out for this Oscar. I’m fun at parties.
2000
Russell Crowe
Julia Roberts
Benicio del Toro
Marcia Gay Harden
If Kate Hudson hadn't been upset by Marcia Gay Harden I would have given this one to her. But you have to actually get the Oscar to be eligible for an Uber Oscar.
1999
Kevin Spacey
Hilary Swank
Michael Caine
Angelina Jolie
We have winner from the Supporting Actress category! Full disclosure: I’ve somehow actually never seen Boys Don't Cry. But Angelina Jolie is not only incredible in Girl Interrupted, it’s the performance that made her into a superstar. It’s impossible to overstate how famous Angelina Jolie was overnight in the wake of this Oscar win. That counts for something.
1998
Roberto Benigni
Gwyneth Paltrow
James Coburn
Judy Dench
I’m a big Shakespeare in Love fan and defender and even I refuse to give this to Gwyneth Paltrow. Also, the only thing that has aged worse than Roberto Benigni’s win is this poster: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/71st_Academy_Awards#/media/File:71st_Academy_Awards_poster.jpg
1997
Jack Nicholson
Helen Hunt
Robin Williams
Kim Basinger
Would you like for me to quote the entirety of Good Will Hunting for you? Because I can. Have I mentioned yet that I’m fun at parties?
1996
Geoffrey Rush
Francis McDormand
Cuba Gooding Jr
Juliette Binoche
This basically comes down to what you value more in a performance: craft or charisma. Although craft seems like the obvious answer, in this case Cuba Gooding Jr. basically invented an entirely new character archetype through sheer force of personality. So let’s call it a tie for now.
1995
Nicholas Cage
Susan Sarandon
Kevin Spacey
Mira Sorvino
Yes that’s right kids, Nicholas Cage not only has a Best Actor Oscar but he’s actually one of the most deserving Oscars winners of the 1990s. The 90s were a weird time man.
Speaking of which, here are actors who won Oscars in 1996 for things other than acting: Mel Gibson, Emma Thompson and Christine Lahti. As I said, the 90s were weird.
1994
Tom Hanks
Jessica Lange
Martin Landau
Dianne Wiest
Here’s the thing, this should be Martin Landau. He's incredible in Ed Wood. It’s one of the best supporting actor performances of all time and definitely one of the best overall performances of the decade. 1994 Best Supporting Actor is one of the strongest categories of all time and he won it easily. But that said, no one is beating Tom Hanks for Forrest Gump. Is it great acting? I genuinely don’t know. But off the top of your head name 10 performances in the history of film that are definitely more iconic than Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump. I’m not saying I feel great about it, but for better or worse, right or wrong, this completely meaningless made-up award is his.
1993
Tom Hanks
Holly Hunter
Tommy Lee Jones
Anna Paquin
Holly Hunter winning acting awards is so 90s. And I hear your arguments for Tom Hanks in Philadelphia, but so much of the esteem for that performance came from “straight man plays gay and has bravery to depict AIDS”. Nothing against Tom Hanks and the great work he does, but you don’t brownie points for that in 2017. Plus, although people sleep on it now, The Piano is actually straight fire son.
1992
Al Pacino
Emma Thompson
Gene Hackman
Marissa Tomei
I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to give this to Marissa Tomei. But I recognize that it actually belongs to Emma Thompson. However it definitely DOES NOT belong to Al Pacino. Scent of a Woman wasn't even his best Oscar nominated performance of 1992.
1991
Anthony Hopkins
Jodie Foster
Mercedes Ruehl
Jack Palance
Hey, remember a few seconds ago when I asked if you came name a more iconic acting perforce than Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump? Well here’s your answer. This probably the Uber Oscar winner of the whole decade.
On an unrelated note, I kinda miss the days when people like Jack Palance, Marissa Tomei, and Dianne Wiest could win Oscars for comedic roles. #MakeOscarsGreatAgain
1990
Jeremy Irons
Kathy Bates
Whoopi Goldberg
Joe Pesci
If Anthony Hopkins isn't the overall Uber Oscar winner for the 1990s then Joe Pesci is. In fact I extended this meaningless exercise all the way to 1990 just to include him. And now that I’ve reminded you of the greatness of Joe Pesci in Goodfellas we can finally draw this to a close. Congrats to all the fake winners on your fake awards!
