20 Best Movie Performances Of 2016
14. Mahershala Ali - Moonlight
The House of Cards and Luke Cage star may only appear briefly in Moonlight's first act, but he sure as hell makes his screen time count as Juan, a crack dealer with a heart of gold who serves as a mentor to the youngest version of the movie's protagonist, Chiron.
Moonlight is a film full of expectation-defying roles, and it's simply great to see a character who bucks the typical convention of a drug dealer, providing wisdom and insight despite his inherent personal flaw.
Ali absolutely nails the role, and though there is definitely a frustrating element to a certain unresolved aspect of his character arc, what's there on screen is nothing short of magnificent.