2005 was an infinitely better year for actors than it was for actresses and culling down my list to just five took a lot of thought. My final selections made their way onto this list after much consideration and inner debate.
Ralph Fiennes and Nicolas Cage came this close to being included, but ultimately neither made the final cut. The five fine actors who did wind up on my Best Of list did so because their performances were powerful and stuck with me - even if I didn't like their movie.
1. Heath Ledger - "Brokeback Mountain"
I haven't always admired Heath Ledger's choices, but there's absolutely nothing you can fault him with for tackling the role of a gay cowboy in the romantic drama, "Brokeback Mountain." A quiet, restrained, yet heartbreakingly true effort on Ledger's part, this challenging role finally let audiences see the talent that was hinted at when Ledger first burst on the scene in the romantic comedy, "10 Things I Hate About You."
2. Philip Seymour Hoffman - "Capote"
Philip Seymour Hoffman is Truman Capote. It's that simple. We've witnessed very few biopics where what appears on the screen is a seamless blending of the actor and the real person he's portraying. In "Capote," Hoffman so becomes Capote that it's virtually impossible to separate the actor from the real man who inspired the film. And it's not just that Hoffman has Capote's voice and mannerisms down pat. This performance resonates on every level - emotionally, physically, and intellectually.
