Joey Magidson
Margot Robbie could easily have built a very lucrative career as just a pretty face. The roles would have been easier, the money would probably be comparable, if not better, and she’d be an uber celebrity. However, Robbie is better than that and wasn’t interested in that, essaying a career in front of the camera that is en route to an Academy Award. With her latest performance in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey hitting screens, a ranking of her best performances is certainly in order.
In my review of Barbie (here) from back before release I raved about Robbie (and Ryan Gosling) like so:
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are phenomenal here, each as good as they’ve ever been. Gosling is a comedic goldmine and deserves legitimate Best Supporting Actor consideration. The amount that he throws himself into this role is staggering and staggeringly delightful. The commitment itself is hilarious, let alone his comic timing. Robbie is funny too, but has the dramatic high points, potentially making you roll a tear by the end. I know I did. The other Barbies and Kens have their moments, for sure, but Gosling and Robbie are the highlights.
When I reviewed Babylon (here) I had the following to say about Robbie and her main co-stars:
Diego Calva, Brad Pitt, and especially Margot Robbie lead a game ensemble cast. Calva and Robbie are best in show, while Pitt is just having a ball. Calva is our audience surrogate, really embracing the wonder, as well as the compromised values, that mark his journey. His final scene hammers home not just the strength of the performance but the themes of the movie as well. Pitt is having fun and going on the most predictable arc, but he’s a blast to follow along with. Then, there’s Robbie, who is best in show and an absolute spitfire. She’s a force of nature here and impossible not to be captivated by.
Below, you can see how Robbie stacks up for me. The top two, at least for yours truly, are clearly Barbie and I, Tonya (in whatever order is preferred for you). Then, I go Babylon, though there’s also Bombshell, either of her choice Harley Quinn turns (Birds of Prey and/or The Suicide Squad), and her breakthrough in The Wolf of Wall Street. Plus, my list would have to include one of her more underrated turns in Z for Zachariah. I’ve yet to take in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (it was a casualty of the screening date being very soon after returning from TIFF), so it’s not included here, but plenty else is, so take a look…
Here now is my ranking of the best of Margot Robbie. Behold:
Honorable Mention: About Time, Amsterdam, Focus, Goodbye Christopher Robin, and Mary Queen of Scots
9. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
8. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
7. Birds of Prey
6. The Wolf of Wall Street
5. Bombshell
4. Z for Zachariah
3. Babylon
2. Barbie
1. I, Tonya
What are your favorite performances from Margot Robbie? Let us know!
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