I thought I would put together a new list this year for what I saw in 2016 (here) with the standout female performances of the year, this is going to combine the whole leading and supporting roles. Just what I have been really impressed with!
PHOTO: Karen Ballard for STX Entertainment
" data-orig-size="640,427" title="SECRET IN THEIR EYES" data-image-title="SECRET IN THEIR EYES" data-orig-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/secret-in-their-eyes-s-082_site_06201r_rgb_zpskh9uo04o.jpg" style="width: 383px; height: 256px;" height="256" width="383" data-medium-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/secret-in-their-eyes-s-082_site_06201r_rgb_zpskh9uo04o.jpg?w=300" data-original-height="256" alt="SECRET IN THEIR EYES" data-original-width="383" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.2","credit":"Photo by Karen Ballard","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark III","caption":"PHOTO: Karen Ballard for STX Entertainment","created_timestamp":"1424687653","copyright":"\u00a9 2015 STX Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.","focal_length":"70","iso":"3200","shutter_speed":"0.005","title":"SECRET IN THEIR EYES","orientation":"1"}" data-large-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/secret-in-their-eyes-s-082_site_06201r_rgb_zpskh9uo04o.jpg?w=590" />
Let’s take a look at who made the list . . .
25. Shailene Woodley – Snowden
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" data-orig-size="640,360" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" data-image-title="_MG_0972.CR2" data-orig-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/snowden-snowden_zps0kpnoop7.jpg?w=500&h;=281" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"5","credit":"[email protected]","camera":"Canon EOS 6D","caption":"_MG_0972.CR2","created_timestamp":"1428421742","copyright":"","focal_length":"150","iso":"640","shutter_speed":"0.000625","title":"_MG_0972.CR2","orientation":"1"}" width="500" data-medium-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/snowden-snowden_zps0kpnoop7.jpg?w=500&h;=281?w=300" data-permalink="https://letsgotothemovies7.com/2017/01/04/top-25-female-performances-in-2016/_mg_0972-cr2/" alt="_MG_0972.CR2" height="281" srcset="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/snowden-snowden_zps0kpnoop7.jpg?w=500&h;=281 500w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/snowden-snowden_zps0kpnoop7.jpg?w=150&h;=84 150w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/snowden-snowden_zps0kpnoop7.jpg?w=300&h;=169 300w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/snowden-snowden_zps0kpnoop7.jpg 640w" class="alignnone wp-image-19085" data-large-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/snowden-snowden_zps0kpnoop7.jpg?w=500&h;=281?w=590" />I seem to be in the minority with enjoying and liking this film. I thought Woodley put in a very good performance in this, she has had a bit of a varied career so far. I thought she worked very well with Gordon-Levitt.
24. Naomi Watts – Demolition
While this film is a bit of a strange one and the character is rather crazy I thought Watts did it very well and had good chemistry with Gyllenhaal.
23. Bryce Dallas Howard – Pete’s Dragon
Bryce Dallas Howard is Grace in Disney’s PETE’S DRAGON, the adventure of a boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just happens to be a dragon.
" data-orig-size="640,423" sizes="(max-width: 499px) 100vw, 499px" data-image-title="PETE’S DRAGON" data-orig-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/pd_00381r_zpsfpkhvhek.jpg?w=499&h;=330" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4.5","credit":"Matt Klitscher","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark III","caption":"Bryce Dallas Howard is Grace in Disney's PETE'S DRAGON, the adventure of a boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just happens to be a dragon.","created_timestamp":"1422385550","copyright":"\u00a9 2016 Disney Enterprises Inc. All Rights Reserved.","focal_length":"40","iso":"500","shutter_speed":"0.004","title":"PETE'S DRAGON","orientation":"1"}" width="499" data-medium-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/pd_00381r_zpsfpkhvhek.jpg?w=499&h;=330?w=300" data-permalink="https://letsgotothemovies7.com/2017/01/04/top-25-female-performances-in-2016/petes-dragon/" alt="PETE'S DRAGON" height="330" srcset="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/pd_00381r_zpsfpkhvhek.jpg?w=499&h;=330 499w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/pd_00381r_zpsfpkhvhek.jpg?w=150&h;=99 150w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/pd_00381r_zpsfpkhvhek.jpg?w=300&h;=198 300w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/pd_00381r_zpsfpkhvhek.jpg 640w" class="alignnone wp-image-19084" data-large-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/pd_00381r_zpsfpkhvhek.jpg?w=499&h;=330?w=590" />This film certainly had a lot more heart than I ever expected it too, Howard was certainly a standout performance wise. Having to deal with the issues from when she was a child to then trying to really make a difference to the town.
22. Emma Roberts – Nerve
This was certainly one of the biggest surprise films of the year in terms of enjoyment and interesting concept. It was therefore good to see Roberts quite easily lead the film and put across a pretty real character.
21. Jena Malone – The Neon Demon
As much as I well hated this film and some of the scenes especially one with Malone in it, I still have to give her credit for a rather bold and brave performance in this film. She certainly stepped well and truly over the line and into a pretty horrible area in all honesty and made me realise that I actually do have limits for things I want to watch.
20. Emilia Clarke – Me Before You
Yes this film has plenty of negatives but Clarke really was not one of them, she was outstanding and strong. I was very impressed with her, a character you could relate to and see yourself doing the same thing as she did. I cried my eyes out at the film as well which has to be partly to her moving performance.
19. Kate McKinnon – Ghostbusters
I really thought McKinnon was the standout performer in the new Ghostbusters which was such a nice pleasant surprise as will admit I had no idea who she was prior to the film. She was in your face and larger than life in every single scene she in.
18. Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
A heartbreaking performance from Vikander as the woman who must come to terms with her husband also wanting to be a woman. She was the only good thing about this film as I really thought it was just playing up for the Awards season. I will hand it to her though as she was certainly a bright spark in a very dull film.
17. Helen Mirren – Eye in the Sky
A no-nonsense role from Mirren who is making tough decisions very quickly and therefore very annoyed when those around her will not listen to her advice right away. A different type of role to that we are used to seeing from the Dame and certainly good to watch.
16. Rosamund Pike – A United Kingdom
No mistaking how much I enjoyed and loved everything about this film. I have never found myself overly impressed with Pike but she really did impress me in this one. The white woman moving to Africa with the man she loved and not be accepted at all. A very powerful film.
15. Renee Zellweger – Bridget Jones’s Baby
May seem like a strange choice considering this is Zellweger’s third outing as Bridget Jones. Everything building up to the film was focusing on how she now looks, instead of the actual film. The best thing about it is that she was back on good form, some similarity in the jokes but it was great to have her back!
14. Ruby Barnhill – The BFG
For a young actor to have to lead a film like this Barnhill was superb as Sophie. Must be very difficult to pull this level of performance from a child actor but that was a good job for Spielberg who certainly brings out the best in a young performer. Her first film role was certainly a breakthrough performance.
13. Amy Adams – Arrival
I have never been a big fan of Adams and have often failed to understand the hype around her roles. With this one though I really did think she was perfect, showing the right amount of fear and determination at the same time. A character who you would like to meet and wanted to succeed.
12. Angourie Rice – The Nice Guys
Another standout performance from a young actress and it really was a very impressive turn in a brilliant film. It couldn’t have been easy working with Gosling and Crowe with the high level of performance they put in but Rice certainly held more than her own. I was so impressed with the strong character she was given.
11. Blake Lively – The Shallows
It really does take a good performance to be on-screen about 90% of the time alone and Lively really did step it up for this film. Managing to engage and captivate the audience, quite possibly the best role I have seen her in yet. I think mainly because I was not expecting anything at all from this film and it was very good.
10. Hailee Steinfeld – The Edge of Seventeen
I have really enjoyed seeing the way Steinfeld’s career is developing and evolving over time. She really was outstanding in this coming of age drama as the teenager who cannot cope with well herself. I was totally not expecting the film to have as much depth as it did, with Steinfeld the key to that.
9. Julia Roberts – Secret in their Eyes
PHOTO: Karen Ballard for STX Entertainment
" data-orig-size="640,427" sizes="(max-width: 499px) 100vw, 499px" data-image-title="SECRET IN THEIR EYES" data-orig-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/secret-in-their-eyes-s-082_site_06201r_rgb_zpskh9uo04o.jpg?w=499&h;=333" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.2","credit":"Photo by Karen Ballard","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark III","caption":"PHOTO: Karen Ballard for STX Entertainment","created_timestamp":"1424687653","copyright":"\u00a9 2015 STX Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.","focal_length":"70","iso":"3200","shutter_speed":"0.005","title":"SECRET IN THEIR EYES","orientation":"1"}" width="499" data-medium-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/secret-in-their-eyes-s-082_site_06201r_rgb_zpskh9uo04o.jpg?w=499&h;=333?w=300" data-permalink="https://letsgotothemovies7.com/2017/01/04/top-25-female-performances-in-2016/secret-in-their-eyes/" alt="SECRET IN THEIR EYES" height="333" srcset="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/secret-in-their-eyes-s-082_site_06201r_rgb_zpskh9uo04o.jpg?w=499&h;=333 499w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/secret-in-their-eyes-s-082_site_06201r_rgb_zpskh9uo04o.jpg?w=150&h;=100 150w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/secret-in-their-eyes-s-082_site_06201r_rgb_zpskh9uo04o.jpg?w=300&h;=200 300w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/secret-in-their-eyes-s-082_site_06201r_rgb_zpskh9uo04o.jpg 640w" class="alignnone wp-image-19079" data-large-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/secret-in-their-eyes-s-082_site_06201r_rgb_zpskh9uo04o.jpg?w=499&h;=333?w=590" />Not many people seemed to even mention this film very much and I might be a little bit biased towards Roberts, but I really do feel she put in such a great emotional and haunting performance. She never really seems to get enough credit if the film is serious, but I think this one certainly confirms just why she is one of my favourite actresses.
8. Felicity Jones – Rogue One
Another Star Wars based film meant that we were going to get another incredible female character (hopefully) but this was confirmed with Jones really powering the film and being the core aspect of the whole story. You like her from the very start and that has to be because of the performance.
7. Jennifer Jason Leigh – The Hateful Eight
What doesn’t happen to Leigh in this film? Well, not a lot really, she is well beaten and bruised with a very mysterious character. I was actually pretty shocked when I saw a picture of her as looks totally different to her character. It certainly cannot be easy being the only female in a Tarantino film!
6. Hayley Squires – I, Daniel Blake
A truly heartbreaking performance from Squires as her character is battling poverty whilst trying her best to raise two children and being moved to the North East of England from London. The things she must go through is so difficult to watch at times and I really do think she was just brilliant in this very important thought-provoking film.
5. Brie Larson – Room
An Oscar-winning performance has to be on this list as Larson really did go above and beyond as the woman who had been locked in the Room, but the best part of the performance came after that she had to adapt to actually being in society again, which was truly heartbreaking.
4. Meryl Streep – Florence Foster Jenkins
06690 Florence Foster Jenkins – Photo Nick Wall.NEF
" data-orig-size="634,408" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" data-image-title="null" data-orig-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/33c78dd600000578-0-image-a-1_1462488047115_zpshfiwy71u.jpg?w=500&h;=322" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"NIck Wall","camera":"","caption":"06690 Florence Foster Jenkins - Photo Nick Wall.NEF","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"Pathe","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"null","orientation":"0"}" width="500" data-medium-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/33c78dd600000578-0-image-a-1_1462488047115_zpshfiwy71u.jpg?w=500&h;=322?w=300" data-permalink="https://letsgotothemovies7.com/2017/01/04/top-25-female-performances-in-2016/null/" alt="null" height="322" srcset="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/33c78dd600000578-0-image-a-1_1462488047115_zpshfiwy71u.jpg?w=500&h;=322 500w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/33c78dd600000578-0-image-a-1_1462488047115_zpshfiwy71u.jpg?w=150&h;=97 150w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/33c78dd600000578-0-image-a-1_1462488047115_zpshfiwy71u.jpg?w=300&h;=193 300w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/33c78dd600000578-0-image-a-1_1462488047115_zpshfiwy71u.jpg 634w" class="alignnone wp-image-19074" data-large-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/33c78dd600000578-0-image-a-1_1462488047115_zpshfiwy71u.jpg?w=500&h;=322?w=590" />This film seemed to get quite a lot of criticism but how is that even possible when Streep is leading it? She was brilliant as the want to be Opera singer who actually well can’t sing Opera and became quite a joke. It wouldn’t be a year in film without a brilliant Streep performance would it? Of course not.
3. Rachel McAdams – Spotlight
I am sure you are already well aware of how much I loved Spotlight and thought it was outstanding. McAdams was certainly one of the shining stars in it, managing to put in such a balanced performance as the reporter searching for the truth. She shares many different serious scenes that are very key to the story and totally nails them all.
2. Mary Elizabeth Winstead – 10 Cloverfield Lane
A very clever film which was unexpected in my opinion, Winstead is a woman who ended up in a cellar or so she thought. A haunting performance as she must deal with being trapped and trying to figure out the truth about the man who “saved” her. Some great scenes with John Goodman and I really was so impressed with her level of performance.
1. Madina Nalwanga – Queen of Katwe
AppleMark
" data-orig-size="640,360" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" data-image-title="nyet914-919_2016_064716_hd_zpsol4ojj5i" data-orig-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/nyet914-919_2016_064716_hd_zpsol4ojj5i.jpg?w=500&h;=281" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"AppleMark","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"(c) 2016 Disney Enterprises inc. All Rights Reserv","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" width="500" data-medium-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/nyet914-919_2016_064716_hd_zpsol4ojj5i.jpg?w=500&h;=281?w=300" data-permalink="https://letsgotothemovies7.com/2017/01/04/top-25-female-performances-in-2016/nyet914-919_2016_064716_hd_zpsol4ojj5i/" alt="nyet914-919_2016_064716_hd_zpsol4ojj5i" height="281" srcset="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/nyet914-919_2016_064716_hd_zpsol4ojj5i.jpg?w=500&h;=281 500w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/nyet914-919_2016_064716_hd_zpsol4ojj5i.jpg?w=150&h;=84 150w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/nyet914-919_2016_064716_hd_zpsol4ojj5i.jpg?w=300&h;=169 300w, https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/nyet914-919_2016_064716_hd_zpsol4ojj5i.jpg 640w" class="alignnone wp-image-19060" data-large-file="https://filmreviews7.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/nyet914-919_2016_064716_hd_zpsol4ojj5i.jpg?w=500&h;=281?w=590" />This was easily the standout performance of the year, Nalwanga really taking it to another level as Phiona in her first and so far only film role. Based on the incredible true story of a young girl who through Chess can create a new life not only for herself but her family as well. Showing that everyone should have hope that things can change for them. The range of emotion shown from Nalwanga really is brilliant and I really do recommend that everyone watches this inspirational film!
Who impressed you in 2016?
