The Great Performances

Acting is an art form, and behind every iconic character is an artist expressing themselves. The Great Performances is a recurring column in which Jacob Trussell explores the art behind some of cinema’s best roles.

If you are new to reading this column, we suggest starting with these entries:

Browse the archive for The Great Performances below

There’s No Horror Hero Quite Like Lin Shaye in ‘Insidious’

Career character actor Lin Shaye was finally given a chance to shine as demon slayer Elise in James Wan and… Read More

The Absurdity (and Poignancy) of Tim Robinson in ‘I Think You Should Leave’

We’re examining a couple key moments that show the expansive range of Tim Robinson’s chaotic (and surprisingly moving) brand of… Read More

6 Performances That Have Made ‘Ted Lasso’ Great

We're Richmond till we die! We know we are, we're sure we are, we're Richmond till we die! Read More

‘Just Another Girl on the I.R.T.’ Still Demands Our Attention, 30 Years Later

Leslie Harris’ debut film, featuring a knock-out performance by Ariyan A. Johnson, hasn't lost a hint of its revolutionary spirit… Read More

Kathleen Turner is Criminally Underrated in ‘Serial Mom’

As Beverly Sutphin, Turner surfaces the seedier side of the picture-perfect suburban housewife in John Waters’ cult classic. Read More

Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo Were Brothers in Bond on ‘Super Mario Bros.’

The actors may have been a little inebriated while filming the most infamous disasterpiece of 1993, but their off-screen bonding… Read More

What’s Not to Love About Hugh Grant in ‘Paddington 2’?

He was the floppy-haired heartthrob of the 90s, but by 2018, Grant found ways to poke fun at the very… Read More

Examining the Tragic Male Friendships in ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ and ‘In Bruges’

Why can’t we tear our eyes away from the emotionally devastating interplay between Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell across Martin… Read More

It’s a Good Thing Penn Badgley Hates His Character in ‘You’

The actor may hate Joe Goldberg, but we still can’t get enough of the psychosexy sociopath Badgley brings to life… Read More