2. Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix is not the most consistent actor around, and his choice of movies is spotty as well, but there are few performers today who can throw themselves as completely into a character as he can. A former child actor, Phoenix's first big adult role came in 2000 when he portrayed the Emperor Commodus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator. Over the next five years, Phoenix took on a number of roles of varying quality, Signs and Walk the Line being the two best of the period. In 2007, he took a break while filming a mockumentary with Casey Affleck but returned for Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, the primary role that places him so highly here. Phoenix conjured up the performance of a lifetime as disgruntled war vet Freddie Quells, but unfortunately his path to Oscar glory was blocked by Daniel Day Lewis despite arguably accomplishing a more impressive feat. Later this year, Phoenix will appear in Spike Jonze's Her and has begun filming Paul Thomas Anderson's next film, Inherent Vice. Both roles should result in acclaim for Phoenix and his potential is through the roof as long as he keeps picking the right films. Phoenix has an almost unnatural ability to almost become his characters. He's not a method actor but somehow he finds a way to completely inhabit his character in a way that is reminiscent of some of the all-time greats. His filmography is inconsistent but every three of four years he seemingly turns in a performance that is head and shoulders above everyone else. If he keeps that up for the rest of his career, there will be no shortage of roles that he will failed to be remembered for in the years to come.