Oscars 2019: 13 Biggest Acting Snubs

Hugh Grant is perhaps one of the most reliable commodities in all of Tinseltown. For decades now, whether the film he's performing in is any good or not, Grant has consistently delivered performances characterized by charm, wit, and likability. Which is why it is such a genuine thrill to see him turn his entire legacy on its head (and skewer it in the process) with his performance as Phoenix Buchanan in Paul King's ever-delightful Paddington 2.

The fact that Paddington 2 wasn't nominated in several categories should be a federal offense, but let's let that slide here to focus on Grant's insanely great performance. In the film, Buchanan is a once-revered actor who has now been so belittled as to star in dog food commercials. In an attempt to regain the public's affection and respect, Buchanan seeks out a treasure with which he could fund his one-man play. In attempting to do so, he also comes into conflict with Paddington, ultimately framing him for theft and putting him in jail.

Grant jumps into the role's more nefarious nature with vigor and is clearly having a ball ripping into overly-vain actors and, in essence, his own career. It gets so meta that Buchanan even has Grant's actual headshots hanging up around his house. But even as Grant hams it up, he's also delivering the best performance of his career. Moments such as Buchanan finding Mr. and Mrs. Brown snooping around his house see him giving a layered and powerful performance, becoming one of 2018's best big-screen baddies in the process.