Joey Magidson
When I first noticed Adam Driver on HBO’s Girls, I instantly recognized an actor with a screen presence that can’t be taught. Now, you never know who’s going to become a star and who won’t, but it’s not shocking to see Driver then and think that he could be a future A-lister. Now, he’s a two time Academy Award nominee, one of the best actors in the business, and someone who consistently makes interesting career choices. With a phenomenal turn in the stunning James Gray film Paper Tiger now in theaters, it felt like high time to finally rank Driver’s best work so far.
In my review of Paper Tiger (here), I raved about Driver’s performance in the movie, alongside co-stars Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller, like so:
The trio of Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller turn in some of their very best work here for Gray. They’re all phenomenal, each in their own specific ways. Driver is best in show, delivering a boisterous and charismatic, yet deeply internal performance. Even when you’re wondering if Driver’s Gary is on the up and up, you never doubt his love for his brother, or his belief that he can right whatever wrong has been done.
Below, you can see where I think Driver’s best stacks up. For me, it’s Paper Tiger that’s his best so far, as it’s the actor at the height of his powers. Truly, it’s stunning work. Next in line for me would be Driver’s performances in BlacKkKlansman, Marriage Story, and Paterson. I’d also point out smaller performances in The F Word and Inside Llewyn Davis as underrated turns from Driver. You can’t go wrong with any of these titles though, as he’s ace money in them all. It’s only a question of when, not if, Driver will eventually win an Oscar. He simply has the goods in a way that few do. The full list, including Paper Tiger, is up next.
Here now is my ranking of the best performances to date from Adam Driver. Take a gander:
Honorable Mention: Ferrari, Logan Lucky, Midnight Special, Misty Green, Silence, and While We’re Young
10. The F Word
9. The Report
8. Inside Llewyn Davis
6. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
5. Annette
4. Paterson
3. BlacKkKlansman
2. Marriage Story
1. Paper Tiger
What are your favorite Adam Driver performances? Let us know!
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