best film: Emma Stone had a dominant 2010s decade. She is a key part of three of top sixteen (16) films on the most recent top 100 of the 2010s decade list. So, although La La Land is the answer here, Birdman and The Favourite are not far behind. This category is an undeniable strength for Stone’s case on this list- most actors hope to be an integral part of one, or maybe two masterpieces over a long career.
Stone’s audition scene in La La Land is the arrival of Emma Stone (actually it is Birdman in 2014)- but this performance, in a masterpiece, cements it. Here above, both Stone and Gosling have powerful silent moments as the film ends.
best performance: She simply splits less time in screen in La La Land (divided two ways with Ryan Gosling) than she does Birdman (divided in three this time with Michael Keaton and Edward Norton) or The Favourite (three again- distributed nearly equally with Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz). Stone walked away with the Oscar in 2016 and Damien Chazelle gives Stone at least three brilliant individual scenes: Stone dazzles in the breakup scene, the ending look back —and the superb audition scene of course.
stylistic innovations/traits: Some may scoff at the high placement here for Emma Stone her resume may actually warrant an even higher placement on this list. Giving a standout performance in a masterpiece is extremely rare for any actor- to that point masterpieces are fairly rare altogether. So, for Stone to give exceptional performances in three masterpieces in a five year span (2014, 2016, 2018) is an example of superior work. Stone’s three characters in those masterpieces are actually extremely different from each other- so that bodes well for her future and potential range. She is, without a doubt, a skilled comedienne- but her dramatic chops (on display in sections of both La La Land and Birdman specifically) are as sharp as any actor of her young generation as well.
from Birdman – sticking the landing in a masterpiece – a fitting epilogue and final image with Emma Stone and those Margaret Keane eyes looking at the skyline
directors worked with: Nobody yet more than once but Emma is young obviously with a long future ahead of her it would seem. From her work thus far- Damien Chazelle, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Yorgos Lanthimos are three of the best auteurs working today.
from Lanthimos’ The Favourite – character depth – Stone, Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz all have a backstory, a struggle, and motivations. Each have their highlights and moments given to shine- including Stone hilariously posing as a monster
top five performances:
- La La Land
- The Favourite
- Birdman
- Battle of the Sexes
- Cruella
archiveable films
| 2009- Zombieland |
| 2014- Birdman |
| 2016- La La Land |
| 2017- Battle of the Sexes |
| 2018- The Favourite |
| 2021- Cruella |
AND she’s only 33 years old. Pretty incredible, as of right now, she definitely seems to be the pick to end up being the best of her generation
@Matthew- Looks like she’ll be working with Lanthimos again in Poor Things due out in 2023
No Superbad in the archives? It’s the first time I saw her and the 1st acting credit, well 1st movie credit anyhow.
@James Trapp- I’ve seen Superbad 10 times but never archived it- I probably should.
@Drake – it’s funny to think that this High School sex comedy started the career of Emma Stone and to a lesser degree Jonah Hill, it wasn’t Hill’s 1st film in fact it was his 10th but it was arguably his breakout performance. Then again Sean Penn’s breaking out role was as Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
I’ve been huge fan of Emma since La La Land which is probably her most versatile movie as an actress.
But even after all those years I still believe her best performance to be in Easy A. Such a nice blend of charisma, comedic talent and star-power in one package.
The first or the second audition scene? (The answer might be obvious but I haven’t seen the film in awhile)
@Matthew – the second one