10. Edward Norton Basically Playing Himself - Birdman
Edward Norton will likely be picking up a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination next week for his superb work in Birdman as Mike Shiner, a beloved Broadway actor who essentially represents all that Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) wants to achieve. He can remember lines in a split second and is preternaturally brilliant at any acting assignment he takes on. Mike is also a self-important actor who defines difficult, and the casting of Norton is crucial given his industry reputation for being overly opinionated and a challenge to work with. Norton willfully mocks himself here as an outrageously over-the-top method actor who, when his part requires being drunk, actually gets wasted on stage with a bottle of Gin, much to Riggan's disgust. Few actors would have the self-awareness to send themselves up so brilliantly, unless, of course, Norton somehow doesn't appreciate the real-life parallel, which would only make it even funnier.