15 Recent Performances That Were Criminally Underrated

Benny Safdie is both the co-director of this film and the actor for a major character in it. That traditionally sounds like a recipe for the disaster, but his performance as Nick Nikas is excellent, perhaps because he is the director and he knows exactly what he wants the character to be like.

He portrays Nick's emotional and intellectual simplicity with the necessary grace and sensitivity that comes with playing a disabled character. He feels realistic in the role, and not at all degrading or offensive. He's a person, not comedic relief.

He also functions as the moral center of the film. He's one of very few people in the film with the potential to become a good person, however he is being taken advantage of and Safdie's endearing performance makes this all the more heart-wrenching.

He's the person that you're reminded you should have been rooting for after the film makes you feel bad for liking the infectiously charismatic Connie Nikas, played by Robert Pattinson. Pattinson's performance was great as well, and in many ways it has overshadowed Safdie's performance during discussion of the film. However, Benny Safdie absolutely deserves credit for tackling such a tricky role with success, and for doing it all while also directing the film.