10. Ray Winstone - The Departed
There's ne'er an actor alive who can manage cold, mean and domineering as well as native Brit Ray Winstone and I truly am a fan, which is why I write with a heavy heart that I felt his performance in The Departed was oddly empty and inhibited. Perhaps you could say that was down to the limited exposure of his character although I'd argue back that his exposure wasn't
that limited; plenty of time for an actor of Winstone's pedigree to leave a palpable mark. In truth, I believe his over-restrained performance can be attributed to fear and if you look closely, you can perceive that fear, that
restraint, in his eyes when he's on screen. I mean imagine it; you're surrounded by bona-fide cinema legends like Scorsese and Nicholson, jostling for position and recognition amongst such Hollywood A-list talent as Sheen, DiCaprio, Damon, Whalberg. I'd be s**ting my pants too. An unfortunately unremarkable tturn from a performer who we know has greatness in his repertoire.