Maximus' Top Ten of 2011-Best Actress

This is the 3rd in a 6 part series of my top performances, films, and directing jobs of the year. Today we look at Best Actress.

10. Emily Browning-Sucker Punch: A terrible movie no doubt, but in a weaker year for acting performances, hers stands out as the only bright spot in the film. Playing a woman who retreats into her own mind to get through horrendous situations at her mental institution, she has to wear many hats, and wears them well.
9. Carey Mulligan-Drive: On the borderline between actress and supporting actress, but as the emotional center of the film, I put here in this category. As a woman who falls in love with a good man just to have her husband get released from prison, then get murdered, she had no shortage of emotional scenes.
8. Paula Patton-MI4: Another one on the border between actress and supporting, but Patton is in more scenes then the previous MI ladies, and stands toe to toe with Tom Cruise more than any of them have in the past.
7. Emma Stone-The Help: Was left out of most awards conversation, but did a fantastic job centering the film.  As Christian Bale talked about a lot last year, every obvious performance requires a quiet one. And Stone's was the one that kept all the other craziness in check.
6. Saoirse Ronan-Hanna: Carried the entire movie on her back, and while Ronan's acting skills should no longer surprise us, seeing a young girl do what she does is amazing.
5. Kristen Wiig-Bridesmaids: Brought her manic awkwardness from SNL to the film, but instead of it turning into an overly long sketch, she showed that she can really bring it to a two hour film.
4. Emma Watson-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: Hermione has always been the one that kept the gang together, and you felt that way with Watson's performances. She seemed like a pro from day one, and it really culminated in 7.2.
3. Berenice Bejo-The Artist: In my opinion, has been incorrectly put in the Supporting Actress category in most races. However in a film that goes from happy and light to dark and depressing, her smile kept the darker parts of the silent film from becoming convoluted or overly morbid.
2. Rooney Mara-Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Rape, torture, murder, mind games, Mara had to act in scenes involving all of it. In addition she had to play a really unique character who had to show so much without the typical explanation of the characters past.
1. Viola Davis-The Help: Not much else to say about Davis that hasn't already been said, but just to add to it, she was fantastic, great, and amazing. By far the best performance of the year in this category, and its not even really that close.

Next up will be Actor and Director.

-Maximus