John C Reilly: 5 Awesome Performances & 5 That Sucked

1. Amos Hart - Chicago (2002)

For all the well-placed criticisms Chicago's critical adoration inspired, there can be no doubt that John C Reilly deserved his Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. Even if he didn't deserve to win, the acknowledgement alone was the right reception for his tender, wounded performance as the wronged husband.

Looking at his past supporting roles and his flair for tragedy of the oldest form, Amos Hart might well have been made for him. He's an unspectacular, unremarkable comfortable man, dependable, charming and unexotic in equal measure, and Reilly's sad reflection on his condition - particularly in his version of "Mr Cellophane" is just perfect.

Amos should be a fool (and he is to a certain degree), but the power of his performance is that it sells the deceitful marketing of the film. Despite himself, and despite how obviously he's being played, he's hopefuly and caring and he's sold the Old Razzle Dazzle utterly helplessly. And if it were any other actor you'd blame him - it's just that Reilly is so damn sympathetic.

And now on to the moments where he hasn't shone quite so brightly...