3. Patton Oswalt - Young Adult (2011)
Known originally for his stand-up and stint on sitcom King of Queens, Patton Oswalt has gone on to become something of a cult hero. With skits on Funny or Die and his now legendary Star Wars filibuster on Parks and Recreation, its easy to forget how talented and serious a screen actor Oswalt can be. With roles in the likes of Big Fan and The Informant, the stand-up has proven himself to be as versatile as he is creative, and no performance is more noteworthy than his portrayal of Matt Freehauf in Jason Reitmans Young Adult. Oswalt brings his acting chops as the scarred and disabled Freehauf, who befriends former high school classmate Charlize Theron on her return to their hometown. The actor is able to throw off the shackles of sitcomitis with ease, and make the audience care for his fragile character. It would have been easy to milk the crutches for easy sympathetic results, of course, but Oswalt is so good here that you never consider that's happening for a second. While Young Adult is a well-crafted film, the presence of Patton Oswalt elevates it beyond measure and makes it truly great. Who would have thought such a thing possible 10 years ago?