AFT Awards: Best Breakthrough Performance

This is the fifteenth category of the 1st Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by film title. Winners will be announced in late February.

This category contains nominees with their first major film roles. I have excluded Saoirse Ronan because she has some previous work and Michael Cera, who has done a whole lot of stuff before this year.

The nominees:
NIKKI BLONSKY, HAIRSPRAY
I hesitate to nominate Blonsky here because I am worried that her excitement might kill her after seeing her reaction to receiving a Golden Globe nomination and winning this trophy at the Critics’ Choice Association Awards. But I must admit that I enjoyed her buoyant performance as the immutable, energetic Tracy Turnblad. She was the main reason that this film worked so well.

MARCUS CARL FRANKLIN, I’M NOT THERE
I wrote about Franklin’s performance in my Best Supporting Actor post. It's really all there. No pun intended.

TANG WEI, LUST, CAUTION
You would never believe this was a debut performance. Wei carries this film and holds her own against veteran actor Tony Leung. Additionally, she fits into the time period so smoothly and really makes you root for her in her espionage efforts. I look forward to seeing her future work.

CHRISTOPHER MINTZ-PLASSE, SUPERBAD
“I am…McLovin!” Within moments of his entrance on screen (that fantastic walking-down-the-hall scene), his performance becomes eternally classic. His fake ID and name adds to the hilarity, and his ease at shamelessly embarrassing himself is astounding. The fact that Mintz-Plasse is probably just like Fogell does not take away from his performance; it makes it even funnier.

ED SANDERS, SWEENEY TODD
Moments before Sacha Baron Cohen upstages Johnny Depp, Sanders pops up as the energetic, sympathetic young indentured servant of sorts whose charm stems from his ability to stretch out the word “please” over a few syllables. He is a terrific singer and his role is far too small for his talent. He works marvelously with Cohen, Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter.