20 Best Movie Performances Of 2017

19. Jake Gyllenhaal – Stronger

The ever-reliable Jake Gyllenhaal adds another terrific performance to his cachet of awards-worthy work with his stirring performance as Boston Marathon victim Jeff Bauman.

Gyllenhaal crucially doesn't overdo it as so many actors tend to when portraying real-life figures suffering through tremendous adversity, but thanks to a script that surrenders Bauman's very human flaws, the actor is able to create a well-rounded portrayal of a regular guy struggling to triumph over physical and spiritual defeat.

From his Boston accent to the more visceral aspects of the part, Gyllenhaal absolutely nails it, and at present is considered an on-the-rim contender to score a Best Actor Oscar nomination.