10 Great Performances That Were Overshadowed By Their Co-Stars

9. Jeremy Renner - American Hustle

Overshadowed By: Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper Jeremy Renner had one of the most difficult parts to play in American Hustle - he wasn't one of the "main four," his character was out of the loop for much of the movie, and he had to settle for less screen time than Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper. So although all the awards glory and attention has fixated on those actors, it's important to remember that Renner's turn as the Mayor of New Jersey, Carmine Polito, is one of his best roles in years. It just happens he had to share the screen with some of the best actors going when it happened. Watch the careful facial expressions that Renner provides his character with all throughout David O. Russell's crime caper - unlike the rest of the cast (who are really going for it), Renner decides to play things subtle, and makes no attempt to hijack scenes. Instead, he provides a gentle, innocent and brilliant portrait of naivety - so much so, that he gives us a place to ground ourselves, away from all the cons and the commotion. In his willingness to be less, Renner gives us more. So we should remember American Hustle as having five great performances, not four.