The 15 Best Movie Performances Of The Year

Soon enough, the Oscar nominations will arrive, and the chorus of “X was robbed!” will be heard far and wide. But one should discard the notion that the Academy always gives awards for merit. While the Oscars often get it right, other instances merely convey the story that Hollywood wants to tell about itself. Oscars are sadly awarded for marketing, for buzz, for amount of screeners sent out, for number of luncheons attended. Respectfully and humbly, we at the Playlist are not so afflicted.  

We’ve already brought you the list of our favorite Breakthrough Performances, so consider those to be sprinkled among this list of 15 —we classified those actors and actresses as newer up and comers to keep an eye on. But this list is where we collect all of the excellence of the year, rank it slightly arbitrarily and wax poetic.

Click here for our complete coverage of the best of 2015

15. Ben Mendelsohn, "Mississippi Grind"
Since making his name in the U.S. with...