20 Essential Movie Performances That Will Define 2016
17. Nate Parker - Nat Turner (The Birth Of A Nation)
Release Date: October 7
The Role: Nat Turner, the black slave who led a rebellion in Southampton County, Virginia in August 1831.
Why It'll Define 2016: Because the movie has been earning rave reviews since its Sundance premiere, much being for Parker's lead performance, and if that wasn't good enough, Parker also wrote, directed and produced the film.
It goes without saying that Parker will be in Oscar contention for his work both in front of and behind the camera, and at a time where the Academy is desperately trying to make itself seem more diverse, it's highly likely that him and his movie will be snagging the lion's share of the press moving forward.
It won't be for mere tokenism, though: critics are calling Parker's performance a jaw-dropper, and it just so happens that it also plays perfectly into the current #OscarsSoWhite conversation.