TOP 10 Most Promising Movie Actors (under 30)

Today I discussed about how awful some "teen icons" are and then we talked about some exceptions. So, I decided to make a little list, a TOP 10, with the male actors that I think that will become music in an ocean of noise somewhere in the future (I did one list before, but it was a little bit pathetic and I didn't justify my choices).

Let's start...

1 - Ryan Gosling

He may not have a huge list of movies in his body of work, but the few times he makes something, all the time he almost carries the movie. In fact, Gosling is a proof that talent does exist and that you don't need excentrical characters to receive raves. He rose to fame after the big screen adaptation of The Notebook (2004) and then received lots of critical praise for his performances in movies like Half Nelson (that gave him an Oscar, a SAG Award and other major awards nominations), Lars and the Real Girl (that gave him a Golden Globe, a SAG Award and other major awards nominations) and Fracture (in which he shres the screen with Anthony Hopkins). This year he starred Blue Valentine alongside Michelle Williams, a very well-received indie movie that got raves in both Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, specially the two lead's performances, starting a early Oscar buzz for Ryan Gosling and his co-star. Gosling can act, is not a bad singer and, to be honest, I like him, really, because he seems a cool guy and doesn't give bad examples to the fans.
most notable performances: The Believer (2001); Half Nelson (2006); Lars and the Real Girl (2007); Blue Valentine (2010);

upcoming movies: All Good Things (2010); Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011); Drive (2012); Untitled Kurt Cobain Project (2012) (rumoured);

2 - Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is maybe one of the most interesting actors working today. I don't know why, but the few times I saw him acting he seemed so nuanced and real in his character. He may not have a lot of accolates (unfortunatly, he is a little bit underrated in general - I think he deserved a little but more for (500) Days of Summer), but Gordon-Levitt is an actor who deserves respect for is versatility. Recently, he starred in (500) Days of Summer and in this year's Inception by Christopher Nolan, making him a great promise for a nearly future in both indie productions and blockbusters.
most notable performances: Mysterious Skin (2004); Brick (2005); (500) Days of Summer (2009);

upcoming movies: Live With It (2010); Looper (2010); Breathers: a Zombie's Lament (rumoured); Premium Rush (2012); Untitled Batman Project (2012) (rumoured);

3 - Jake Gyllenhaal

Gyllenhaal has something that women like and I envy him for that, that's the truth, but I can't deny that Gyllenhaal is more than just eye-candy for some audiences, actually, I think he can really act! He was nominated for an Oscar for his supporting role as a gay cowboy in Brokeback Mountain (I just could see the beggining of the movie, sorry) and received some raves for his performances in other movies, but I would detach his performance in Jarhead and in Zodiac as interesting ones, not just because they were good, but because the character were so different and Gyllenhaal was able to do both very well, but with something that make us say "This guy is Jake Gyllenhaal!". He doesn't disappear in his characters, but he melts enough into them. He's talented, popular, seems a crazy and cool guy and somebody say he's good looking - he has everything to be one of the TOP actors of tomorrow.
most notable performances: October Sky (1999); Donnie Darko (2001); Brokeback Mountain (2005); Jarhead (2005);

upcoming movies: Nailed (2010); Love and Other Drugs (2010); Source Code (2011); Damn Yankees (2012);

4 - Paul Dano

To be completly honest, I only saw Paul Dano in Little Miss Sunshine and in There Will Be Blood, but that's enought to say that he's going to be a great performer. His silent performance in Little Miss Sunshine makes everyone think about how good he is to be so awesome without saying one word and after saying something - that was the first time I saw him acting and I just said to myself "I wanna be able to act like him!". His performance in There Will Be Blood was elctrifying, good enought to share the screen with the amazing Daniel Day-Lewis! And... hey! He's a stage actor too! Most of the best actors in the world work on stage (you can't ask to repeat a "take" when you have an audience watching you live from...), so I'm sure he will be a BIG name soon.
most notable performances: Little Miss Sunshine (2006); There Will Be Blood (2007);

upcoming movies: For Ellen (2010); Cowboys & Aliens (2011);

5 - Emile Hirsch

Emile Hirsch is an actor who seems to follow Ryan Gosling advice - work less, but impress - and he's in a good way, in my opinion. After Lords of Dogtown and Alpha Dog, Hirsch began gainning respect from the audience and the critics but it was in Into the Wild that he let me, the majority of audiences and almost all the critics chapfallen - his Christopher McCandless was so real, so natural, so vivid and unforgettable without need to scream (he melt in the character so deeply that I saw "Alexander Super Tramp" instead of the actor). He was nominated for some major awards and won some of them and was named one strong contender for an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Into the Wild, but he was snubed by the Academy (as the movie in general who deserved more nods than in the Best Supporting Actor and Best Editing categories). He appeared in some important projects such as Gus Van Sant's Milk (starring alongside Sean Penn, James Franco and Josh Brolin) and in Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock. No one can deny that he's a big promise, specially with such a good body of work and a big number of raves that he got!
most notable performances: The Mudge Boy (2003); Into the Wild (2007); Milk (2009);

upcoming movies: The Darkest Hour (2011); Hamlet (2011);


6 - Jesse Eisenberg
most notable performances: The Squid and the Whale (2005); Adventureland (2008); Zombieland (2009);

upcoming movies: The Social Network (2010); Rio (2011); 30 Minutes or Lesser (2011);


7 - Andrew Garfield

most notable performances: Boy A (2007); Red Riding: 1983 (2009); Red Riding: 1974 (2009); Red Riding: 1980 (2009);

upcoming movies: Never Let Me Go (2010); The Social Network (2010); Untitled Spider-Man Reboot (2012);

8 - Michael Cera
most notable performances: Superbad (2007); Juno (2007); Scott Pillgrim Vs the World (2010);

upcoming movies: Arrested Development (2012);


9- Tahar Rahim
most notable performance: A Prophet (2009);

upcoming movies: The Eagle (2010); Free Men (2011); Cool Water (2011); Aimer à perdre la raison (2011); Black Thirst (2011) (rumoured);

10 - Aaron Johnson
most notable performances: Nowhere Boy (2009); Kick-Ass (2010);
upcoming movies: The Phone (2010); Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall (2012);