7) Jason Segel in The End of the Tour
It seems indecent that Jason Segel fell off the Oscar radar this season so soon. The shock of Steve Carell nailing a dramatic performance out of nowhere in Foxcatcher earned him a Best Actor nomination last year, and yet Segel isn’t even in the running for 2016. It’s a shame because, once the initial surprise of seeing this former sitcom actor doing drama capably in The End of the Tour subsides, you find yourself watching one of the most brilliant and soulful turns of 2015.
As David Foster Wallace, Segel ditches his frat guy comic persona and crawls under the skin of the author, a man seemingly pained by existence. Segel’s not always easy to watch here – he can be moody, unpredictable, achingly all too real as Wallace – but he is never less than mesmerizing. It’s an almost hypnotic turn, powered by the will of an actor apparently dedicated to completely changing the direction of his career.
6) Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn
She’s only just 21, but – amazingly – Saoirse Ronan has been doing the acting thing at star level since eight years ago, when she was Oscar-nominated for Atonement aged just 13. Now, having graduated into adult roles for the first time, Ronan stands to be in the Academy’s sights again: in John Crowley’s 50s-set immigrant tale Brooklyn, Ronan’s easily the best she’s been since her breakout role.
As Eilis Lacey, the Irish girl relocated to New York, Ronan is by-turns vulnerable, steely, despondent and joyous. It’s the meatiest part Ronan’s ever had, and the film rests largely on her shoulders (though Domhnall Gleeson and in particular Emory Cohen provide fine support). Luckily for director Crowley, she’s terrific, announcing herself as a leading actress meant for real drama.