NYT's Great Performers
Around this time of year, acting in movies starts to feel like a kind of athletic event, with prizes awarded to the winners while the losers are reduced to being glamorous extras on televised award show after televised award show. By the time of the Academy Awards, which this year will take place on March 5, the spirit of the contest seems to take precedence over artistic achievement. This year, as in the previous two, The New York Times Magazine has tried to eschew this notion of competition by saluting the performances that moved, surprised and thrilled us, regardless of whether they were nominated for awards... Once again, the photography team of Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin has beautifully composed and captured the variety of characters who resonated with us this year and distilled the essence of what makes great movie acting great.These are the portraits of 26 actors who made the films of 2005 so memorable including George Clooney (Syriana), Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain), Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain), Amy Adams (Junebug), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote), Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line), Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line), Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Deep Roy (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Eric Bana (Munich), Shirley MacLaine (In Her Shoes), Ziyi Zhang (2046), William Hurt (A History of Violence), Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener), Birol Ünel and Sibel Kekilli (Head-On), Charlize Theron (North Country), Viggo Mortensen (A History of Violence), Vera Farmiga (Down to the Bone), Bill Murray (Broken Flowers), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Mysterious Skin), Natalie Press and Emily Blunt (My Summer of Love), Penélope Cruz (Don't Move), Jeff Daniels (The Squid and the Whale), Daniel Day-Lewis (The Ballad of Jack and Rose). Check out the gallery!
Categories: Charlize Theron | Eric Bana | Heath Ledger | Joaquin Phoenix | Rachel Weisz | Reese Witherspoon | Terrence Howard | Zhang Ziyi
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i really fell in love for joaquin phoenix in walk the line, he is soooo hot
Goodness me! All the photos look somewhat frightening but are artistically challenging. I am glad the New York Times took into consideration some small independent films and foreign film that had no God fathers to drum publicity for their nominations.
Wow, these pictures are really cool. Somewhat scary, yes, but yet interesting.
Interesting and thought provoking...some definitely scary but they are artistically done.
Very artsie! Love the pics - total luv for Joaquin Phoenix & Terrance Howard. Two of my top luvs to watch for - #1 of course being Brad & Ang! Love the site!
i love this photos. I think that they are very different and show some of the great films that many missed. I loved the film my summer of love and i'm glad it's getting some recognition.
Where have they been hiding Joseph Gordon-Levitt? and why isn't he the biggest thing in Hollywood? His is super fine and mucho-mass talented. He has paid his dues in full and should be getting more movie offers. Boy needs a new agent.
these pictures are amazing! I love this photoshoot.
Emily Blunt and Natalie Press! They definitely deserve SOME recognition for My Summer of Love
these pictures are amazing! I love this photoshoot.
Emily Blunt and Natalie Press! They definitely deserve SOME recognition for My Summer of Love
very lovely pictures indeed!!
Why these pictures are so small? I liked JJ for their biggest pics of the biggest stars! Please, turn it back!!!
charlize is the most beautifull glamrous and talented actrise on the holl world she is hot to death i loooooooove heeerrrrr
God! I have that issue. What IS it about Heath Ledger?? He is gorgeous in a very unconventional way. I'm thinkin' James Dean. Early Brando here. Very primal. Very sexy. Very vulnerable. And a face like an angel. And no! My name is not Michelle!