Top 10 Performances: Ethan Hawke

10. The Magnificent Seven
A remake of a remake that was better than it had any right to be, aside from a rather lousy villain and a somewhat disappointing third act. Hawke is arguably the best part of the film, giving a real sense of pathos and empathy to the role of the gunslinger haunted by the demons of his violent past, and has excellent chemistry with co-stars Denzel Washington (in a far friendlier capacity than another performance here), and especially Lee Byung-hun.

9. Gattaca

He might be just a tad bit overshadowed by Jude Law giving one of his best performances, and the sheer scope of the film which attempts (and largely succeeds) at covering some very interesting ethical debates, but Hawke gives a rock-solid leading man turn as a 'genetically inferior' man who goes to great lengths to become one of the 'valids' who can travel to space. He makes for an appropriately sympathetic hero to the story, and works particularly well as a sort of everyman's view into the unique sci-fi world created by Andrew Niccol.

8. Born to Be Blue

Hawke's portrayal of jazz musician Chet Baker's life went largely under the radar when it came out, and I will say that it's not terribly inspired so far as musical biopics go, but Hawke is very strong in his portayal of essentially a cinematic re-imagining of the man. He hits the expected beats with quite the aplomb without falling into Walk Hard parody territory, and his performance in the actual musical scenes is quite something to behold. While I don't love the film, this is certainly another very strong performance from Hawke.

7. Dead Poet's Society

One of my favourite tearjerkers (all the more so in wake of Robin Williams' passing), Hawke is the closest the film comes to a 'lead' character, so to speak, as the most soft-spoken and shy of Mr Keating's pupils. His character's arc is beautifully portrayed throughout and he's an essential, perhaps the most essential element, of some of the film's most famous moments like his outburst of poetry, his emotional breakdown in the snow, and that brilliant ending.

6. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

It's testament to Hawke's talent that he doesn't get overshadowed by the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Albert Finney giving magnificent performances. As the deadbeat brother of the former and son of the latter, he is part of the fascinating family dynamic at the centre of the film, creating a unique sort of earnestness to his character's far less manipulative nature in contrast his 'good' brother, and making it rather heartwrenching as he and his family's life spirals out of control.

5. The Before trilogy

Technically cheating as it's three films, but it's all about the consistency of approach and most importantly, his onscreen chemistry with Julie Delpy in their portrayal of the vividly realized romance between Jesse and Celine. The trilogy, spanning over nearly two decades, is organically and beautifully crafted, with director Richard Linklater and his leads working together on the screenplay over the years to create a very realistic, low-key yet memorable dynamic between these indivdiuals. This is a series where I'd say that all three films are pretty much on par with one another, though I will say that Hawke, as well as Delpy, arguably shine the most in Before Midnight.

4. Training Day

Not to be forgotten opposite Denzel Washington's over-the-top yet incredibly memorable portrayal of dirty cop Alonzo Harris, is Hawke's portrayal of Officer Jake Hoyt, the boyish, somewhat naive rookie cop Alonzo takes under his wing for an evaluation. He provides the perfect counterpoint to Washington's performance with his largely reactionary performance, never trying to overshadow the veteran, but quietly making his impact through developing his character's arc into a wiser and more assertive cop, and knocks his key scenes out of the park, like the brilliant 'bathtub scene' and that oh so cathartic finale.

3. Boyhood

While J.K. Simmons was a great winner, I do kind of wish that Hawke would have won the Oscar for his portrayal of Mason Evans Sr.. Boyhood as a film hasn't stayed with me as much as I thought I would on first watching it, but one aspect that has continued to linger on is Hawke's portrayal of an initially rather deadbeat dad, with whom the 12-year gimmick of the film really works as he develops Mason Sr. so naturally into a more responsible figure. It's one of Hawke's most endearing, charismatic and subtly complex performances where, as per usual, he manages to create a character you could just imagine running into in everyday life, while making quite the impact.

2. Maudie

Perhaps the most underrated performance last year, as the film itself, a biopic of Canadian artist Maud Lewis, was largely unseen, and all praise that went to the film was for Sally Hawkins' brilliant portrayal of the titular character. Now Hawkins is great, but Hawke is just as amazing in the role of her gruff, initially rather cruel husband. Fashioning an accent and disposition that conveys his none-too-bright state, and just the sheer physicality he brings to his character's rough demeanour without being a carciature, he delivers such a convincing portrayal that is amplified by his brilliant chemistry with Hawkins, and makes the gradual loss of this gruffness so realistic and ultimately rather heartbreaking. 

1. First Reformed 

I'll talk more about this performance at a later date - and the film itself I will say, check it out, it must be seen to be believed - but this is his greatest performance to date, in a rather unexpected way as Hawke knocks it out as per usual, but brings something a little extra that even a huge fan of him like myself, will admit is rather unprecedented.