In Praise of Subtle Performance

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Big, intense performances are the ones that get a lot of the recognition and praise (often for good reason!). But a lot of my favorite moments of acting are tiny, subtle expressions. In this video I highlight the power of some of these subtler moments of performance, and acknowledge that talent is about much more than intensity.
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#ThomasFlight #VideoEssay #Acting

[@erzarose2082]

"It's sad to watch people cry, but it's far sadder to watch people try not to cry." Biggest lesson I've learned as an actor

[@RamonaGelosi]

Omg that’s so true

[@andrewkiefte376]

Who is that a quote from?

[@rafabar6652]

Margot Robbie - I, Tonya - Mirror scene :P

[@stryomberg]

@@andrewkiefte376 Pretty much any good acting teacher :) it's one of the essential principles.

[@erzarose2082]

@@andrewkiefte376 my dramaturg lmao

[@dramaqueen465]

Florence Pugh’s micro facial expressions are truly something to behold. Face acting at its finest. She doesn’t even have to say a word and you know exactly how she’s feeling. It’s incredibly powerful.

[@iknowexactlywhoyouare8701]

meh not quite as powerful and amazing like adam driver or olivia colman

[@hockeyfan1799]

@@iknowexactlywhoyouare8701 watch midsommar

[@superhetoric]

@@hockeyfan1799 watch anything with FP

[@saranyaa7712]

Little women too!

[@iknowexactlywhoyouare8701]

@@saranyaa7712 please, the 1994 version was way better

[@janiholtshausen13]

this is why i love the quiet romantic moments of period dramas. The very subtle facial expressions during a proclamation of love is just everything

[@p_roduct9211]

Pride and Prejudice. Matthew McFadden, rain scene. 😢

[@pastelsumimasen]

@@p_roduct9211 Colin Firth in the 1995 BBC miniseries is phenomenal with this. You should give that a shot if you haven't already! Darcy wasn't much like MacFadyen's portrayal, imo

[@bubbleguppy6715]

@@pastelsumimasen colin firth was great at subtle acting in Girl With A pearl Earring as well!

[@kaviarnciggarettes]

@@OskarHersch what is bro chatterin about

[@thomaswilliams2723]

Barry Lyndon :)

[@tony9146]

Florence Pugh is absolutely among the greats with her performances so far in her career. Such a talented person.

[@hannahyalea]

Highly agree. Midsommar in particular, her performance absolutely floored me.

[@Spiderdancing]

She’s extraordinary in Lady Macbeth

[@livedeliciously]

She is my favorite. Her talent is out of this world.

[@ruthisgone]

her parents live rlly close to me lmao, she seems lovely but god her dad is annoying

[@bobstephens5599]

As Rowan Atkinson says, she has a face like playdough.

[@justincain2702]

When I was younger, I tried to do this kind of thing because I wanted to portray realistic emotion. Then I realized, I'm doing a school musical, no one is gonna even be able to see this kind of subtlety. It's great that film lets us explore quieter moments.

[@AngelinaX23]

Stage acting is so different from film acting.

[@teakettlebynatalie]

@Justin Cain That last sentence is wonderful that film lets us explore quieter moments I enjoyed your comment :)

[@JupiMeow]

Yep. Know your medium!

[@FinOsin9]

did you try/are you gonna try acting some days?

[@KTxtonguextied]

same here! when i got to college & did my first screen acting class i tried to express anger through Trying Not To Cry and heard some ppl in the back of the class whisper “omg is she really crying oh no what happened” like no besties i’m okay 😅

[@somebody_else8243]

There's a Brazilian movie critic that once said that Florence Pugh is someone that knows herself so well, has such a strong confidence of who she is, that it allows herself to become empty and leave enough space so the character can easily take control, there's no conflict between the real Florence and her roles, you can see when shes fully transformed into another person, she gives everything and i completely agree with that

[@Nellielsp]

Isabela Boscov, love her!

[@Lowlandlord]

Interesting, that starts to sound like some Japanese philosophy, specifically mushino no zen, "zen thinking" where you just lose conscious thought and do without thinking, without overthinking or over analyzing. Also a bit of Miyamoto Musashi and his Void chapter, which is related. In a less weeabo sense, we call it "the zone" in English, or at least there is some overlap in the concepts.

[@oikawascursedplushie9912]

@@Lowlandlord this was Interesting to read :o

[@nandax4936]

Isabela boscov, she's a big fan of florence

[@leviamorim9785]

Yeees, love Isabela Boscov. She also said that Florence lends her breath so the character can breathe through. For me it's like she gives all the necessary space for a new person to come to life, and that is such an amazing skill!!

[@MrTrymon]

This was one of the things that made Arcane so great. The animators nailed the subtle performances of all the characters in a way i've never seen in animation before. The quiet scenes stood out just as much as the big action scenes.

[@yuniakibona7267]

Not a single scene us wasted in arcane. Truly exceptional work 🙌🏿

[@scottfitzpatrick1939]

Out of curiosity could you share what Arcane is to me? On netflix there seems to be various versions of it. I tried watching one and it was an insufferable kid level story witch a character that started every sentence in the 3rd person. But I keep hearing people talk about it. Are there multiple animated series called Arcane?

[@esthermartell5369]

​​@@scottfitzpatrick1939just one-arcane league of legends. it's based off from the game. if I'm not mistaken the thumbnail is jinx, one of the protagonists, has blue hair and is staring somewhere off camera.

[@scottfitzpatrick1939]

@@esthermartell5369 thank you so much I found it and it is good. I couldn't find the other ones netflix must have dropped them. I dont know if they were spinoff or just had the same title but they were horrible lol. I kept asking myself why are people talking so much about this haha. Thanks for helping me find it.

[@FrelanceEQ]

@@scottfitzpatrick1939 algorithm abuse, yep

[@Crosshill]

i love it when big plot twists are foreshadowed not just by logic and reasonings but by those tiny little 'huh' feelings of very subtle acting

[@Sleve-McDichael]

Think about this next time you see something like that: it's not just the acting, it's the directing, camera work and editing. If a character is speaking to someone (e.g. husband explaining to his wife why he was late) and then the camera cuts to someone else reacting what they were saying (e.g. a teenage son) they could convey that the husband is lying just by showing the teenage son frowning slightly at the statement. A frown is not a complex action for someone to pull off but you wouldn't necessarily have noticed the frown or it's implied meaning unless the camera cut to him at that point.

[@mikaylaholland5536]

I loooove when you learn things throughout the movie and suddenly the little tensions you noticed in peoples’ expressions make sense. Not sure why but thinking about that makes me think of Toni Collette. Like I can see her hearing someone say something and a little look passing over her face where you can tell she HATED that before smiling like everything’s fine. You might not know why but immediately you’re like, oh there’s HISTORY here, got it 😅

[@sitcomchristian6886]

An acting teacher I had years ago, had an exercise where you would literally walk onto the stage, sit on a bench, and do nothing. He said it was the most difficult acting exercise he knew. And he's onto something: it's much more difficult to "not perform" than it is to put on a big show.

[@juliachandler2909]

oh yeah! I had a great acting teacher do similar things…I had this one classmate who was really into accents and silly characters, and he made that dude sit on a chair “on stage” in front of the rest of the class, and just count change in his hand. Made him look very human all of a sudden! He’d also have us “wait for the bus”/train etc. a lot. Great exercise.

[@meghannichole3806]

@@juliachandler2909 do you study the meisner technique by chance? because it sounds like “the activity” part of it!

[@juliachandler2909]

@@meghannichole3806 Maybe I did a little without knowing it! Haha. It was a general acting class mostly for voice over actors, but the teacher is a stage/screen actor so I’m sure he’s got Meisner in him! :)

[@ALBINO1D]

On a similar note, in yoga one of the hardest poses is "savasana", which is also called "corpse pose". It requires being absolutely still and relaxed, which is much harder to do than it sounds. The body is scanned for tension of any kind, which is released with intention as it is found. This includes relaxing the mind too. It's hard to be in that state of true and complete stillness.

[@stevecarter8810]

I think you out your finger on why it's often so easy to spot fake vox pops... The actors are 'doing normal' rather than being empty

[@mollie_b]

My favorite scene in Midsommar is when she's tripping and having a decent time, and the word "family" immediately brings her out of that bliss and into a nosedive bad trip. The acting was so incredible

[@potato-whiz]

Midsommar was a brilliant portrayal of what it’s like to be living with deep grief and despair and trying to continue living your life and not think about it but it’s always there waiting to bubble up and it just hits you and you can’t control it. And Pugh portrayed that perfectly.

[@La_Horca]

@@potato-whiz Yeah, is incredible how Pugh made such a perfect job. Her constant effort to keep on the line is noticeable on the whole movie. One of my favorite parts is when she sees the two elders jumping from the cliff and dying. We can see the impact and terror on her face while also the feeling of interest and attraction to the ritual. Is just another example of subtle acting that will blow anyone's mind.

[@Nah_I_Would_Plummet]

@@potato-whiz lmao that movie wasn't that good, characters don't make any sense especially the leading female character. Ari Aster fans don't want to hear it but it's true. Aster seems like a guy that has zero life experience. His characters have no agency and are just mere puppets in a game where they're perpetually doomed no matter what. Also the part where a grown mature women in Midsommar just loses all her moral beliefs & rationality in a course of a day because bad boyfriend lol. Also, using autism and body deformity for creepy effect is just...😐

[@moonchild5713]

@@Nah_I_Would_Plummet the irony of perfectly describing what makes Midsommar a horror film while failing to understand the reasoning behind her actions seems to be completely lost on you. It's okay to say that you don't understand the depth of her character, but to say she makes no sense is simply foolish.

[@Nah_I_Would_Plummet]

@@moonchild5713 Well, she doesn't have any depth. She seemed like a character with deeply held beliefs and integrity judging by her reaction from the horrific rituals and her boyfriend's abuse also the cut that didn't make it into the movie, I just can't imagine how a complete 360° flip is "deep" or meaningful in any capacity lol. It's like a completely different character. None of her actions make any real sense towards the end. Not to mention she's doomed anyway lol.

[@rosemendez6391]

that's why fleabag is my favorite show. its a quiet look into someone's unraveling, little things in actions and looks and interactions tell a whole story. it's so real and soooo incredible.

[@maidofthemisty]

That show broke my heart

[@Kiwimarauder]

Agreed, its fantastic

[@akshitamittal9813]

Fleabag is just the best show ever made…I’m so glad it exists

[@germen2631]

Just a tiny add, I wanted to point out this can be done in voice acting as well. I've revisited the Spiderverse movie a few times lately, in hype for the sequel, and something that gets me everytime is Miles' dad trying to tell him about his uncle, you can feel so much of him cracking from below the facade, it's beautiful

[@abigailcowling-smith3532]

The voice acting in the sequel is just as stellar, too, particularly for Hailee Steinfeild as Gwen. The way which she can shift between a tough Spider-woman to a frightened teenager is spectacular, especially when those two aspects are intermingled

[@buteobuteo]

Absolutely, and I love that scene. great comment

[@tatumgallahair7729]

The Justice league and Justice League Unlimited animated shows do this so well, it feels like real people talking especially Batman’s va

[@samsepiol6151]

Olivia Colman's character in Fleabag is one of my favourite examples of this kind of acting. She rarely raises her voice. She doesn't need to. Every line, every snarky comment she makes has such venom to it. Certain ways of on-screen communication can only be done in this subtle way. The evil stepmother's judgmental comments hit so much harder because of the subtlety that Colman achieves. Amazing performance

[@ThomasFlight]

Colman is brilliant at this

[@julianaxoxo6584]

yess love this take on her ❤️

[@13strong]

See her in The Lost Daughter or The Father.

[@lizziebooth5397]

But also Claire in fleabag Maybe the answer is fleabag

[@charlottecastillo7610]

Agree

[@forthehomies7043]

The hardest and most impressive part about micro expression is not only knowing when to do it, but being able to avoid doing it. You have to be completely comfortable and in the moment, to avoid awkwardness and to not make it seem like you're trying to do it. Body language, posture, facial expressions, we all do them subconsciously. Being able to control them and time them is incredibly difficult, let alone in front of an entire camera crew

[@elliekristine4156]

I agree with you to an extent but I also think acting is about letting go of control. It’s believing what you are saying and doing to the point you become the character. I don’t think actors like her even consider what their expressions look like, because they are totally immersed in the scene and in their emotions

[@elexene]

very well said

[@GreyException]

@@elliekristine4156 This. I envision it to me more like getting into a "mental zone" rather than forcefully contracting specific muscles in the face to illicit specific expressions.

[@GreyException]

I think you'd be surprised at how much acting we do subconsciously and how good the average person is (without accounting for range of roles).

[@LoveJungle420]

It'a not about control. In fact it's the exact opposite. You have to give up control to give a detailed performance. It's not about delivering the right micro expression at the right moment. That's too conceptual. Life is not conceptual. A concept will never give you the nuance of reality. We all have a natural ebb and flow of emotions, reactions, movements, thoughts etc going through us at all times. The trick is to maintain this natural flow of living during the unnatural process of acting. Normally we are unaware of living. If we are trained to maintain awareness and relaxation while we keep this flow of organic living and live in the circumstances of the film, the performance will be full of micro/macro expressions, full of life and very nuanced.

[@oscarshmuck5416]

I think it should be said that Adam Driver belongs in that “subtle” group for “Marriage Story”. The nuance and subtleties of his performance in that film are what make it one of the all time greats. Not the yelling and crying scene; that’s what can be so easily misinterpreted. What’s the achievement is everything he does in the lead up to it. How he somehow made a scene as operatic as that somehow feel earned and organic for his character. Nothing in the editing room can create that. Only a masterful actor crafting a layered, authentic performance.

[@Gregorio416]

Thanks for writing this. I was going to say something similar until I saw someone else already did

[@medha4961]

Very true!

[@anonymousme3632]

The scene where they serve him the divorce papers.

[@kurlykayla9013]

Thank you

[@blooddragon805]

It’s why I love the movie Paterson. The whole thing is focused on his ability to act minimally and subtly.

[@elliart7432]

An emotional scene where the character's trying NOT to cry and failing will always get me more than a character just freely letting out their emotions. It's just such a human thing to do. One of my favorite portrayals of this is David Tenant playing Crowley in the end of Good omens season 2, when he tries to go through with a love confession even after the plan for it has completely fallen apart in the worst way possible. There's this moment when his voice breaks and he immediately makes this really irritated humming noise, like he's not not only failing to keep his composure but angry at himself for it. That is SO fucking relatable, there is literally nothing more embarrassing and rage inducing then crying in front of someone when you _really_ don't want to

[@whysomy]

david tennant is a master at his craft for this exact reason! i also thought of this scene when thinking about ‘subtle’ acting, and i think it’s also evident in michael sheen’s performance as aziraphale as well-especially after crowley leaves the bookshop and he’s trying to hold back everything that just happened to talk to the metatron. he’s utterly devastated yet composes himself. that moment where he turns around, his face settles into a pleasant expression, and he talks to metatron like nothing happened always kills me a little inside.

[@GenomulUman]

Come back and thank me after you've watched "Manchester By The Sea". Casey is simply fabulous.

[@criswebb7470]

I cannot get over Florence Pugh's range. She's so believable and good portraying grief in Midsommar, but ... also amazing in her comedic scenes as Yelena Belova in Black Widow and Hawkeye. SUCHH a talent!

[@calowenby1654]

She was also really good in this movie called Malevolent, which gets way too much hate in my opinion. I recommend it if you haven't seen it.

[@potato-whiz]

She stole the whole movie in Black Widow lol

[@calowenby1654]

@@potato-whiz Personally I thought both the parents were great too.

[@kaihamasaki9307]

She's insane in The Wonder.

[@__ZANE__]

I just saw that she got the part for Princess Irulan Corrino in Dune! Woohoo!!!

[@ohitslikethathuh5107]

Realistically portraying "feeling an emotion while pretending not to" has always been the kind of acting that most impresses me, and is way more effective on me than outbursts of emotion, so I'm happy you made this video showing it some love!

[@KatieT97]

Or rather why acting is more difficult than it seems: pretending to feel an emotion while your character is pretending not to. To pretend that youre so overcome with anger or sadness or pain that you’ve turned numb or hide it to act strong

[@indiefairy09]

Sarah Snook in the closing shot of the s3 finale of succession

[@halatiny6537]

Exactly because humans may always feel but don’t always express. Acting isn’t just expressing things sometimes we just have to sense it in their face like humans do in real life.

[@gummy5862]

Outbursts can be moving when there’s enough build up. An out of context outburst is just cringy and uncomfortable (not in a way that constructive to the storytelling).

[@TomCruz54321]

🔖Some subtle performances I'd like to add. These are some of the best face acting and eye acting that I can recall. One look at their face and you can tell everything they're feeling: Ken Watanabe - The Last Samurai Jake Gyllenhaal - Nocturnal Animals Amy Adams - Nocturnal Animals Leo DiCaprio - The Aviator Jeremy Brett - Sherlock Holmes Robin Williams - Good Will Hunting Patrick Stewart - Star Trek TNG Claire Foy - The Crown Evan Rachel Wood - Westworld Will Smith - The Pursuit of Happyness Colin Firth - The King's Speech Jodie Foster - Silence of the Lambs Tom Hanks - Cast Away Nicole Kidman - The Others Johnny Depp - Edward Scissorhands Song Kang-ho - Parasite Helen Hunt - As Good As It Gets Hugh Bonneville - Downton Abbey Judi Dench - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

[@juvenileanomie357]

I loved Yeun's performance in burning. We are introduced to Ben as this charismatic and handsome guy, who irl would be generally well liked. Although at first we can tell that Jong-Su disliking him is because he sees him as a romantic rival, who he believes has a much better chance with Hae-mi than him, as the movie progresses Ben starts to slowly allow Jong-Su to look behind his mask and it turns into a completely different dislike. As the movie moves forward Ben becomes a very sinister and actually kind of terrifying person in the eyes of the viewer while within the fiction he maintains the front of being "good". We can also see a sort of fascination from Ben towards Jong-Su who even though being complicit to Ben's true nature has chosen to continuously remain a silent bystander. Ben is constantly poking Jong-Su to see if he will ever do something aka Jong-Su has become his new favourite toy.

[@Bjhorn279]

Perfect reading!

[@kevinc.cucumber3697]

I don’t think you really got what the movie was about. It’s not a straightforward movie where John soo is the good guy and ben is the bad guy. Although there are tons of hints, there is absolutely 0 proof that Ben is a bad person. Meanwhile, the movie is also hinting that Jong soo has potential for mental illness. Also the girls that worked with Hae Mi said that it’s normal for women to run away and disappear to get away from debt. The ending is meant to be ambiguous. Jong Soo murders ben, but we will never know if Ben is truly a bad person or if Jong Soo is just a mentally unstable person

[@juvenileanomie357]

@@kevinc.cucumber3697 never said it was as simple as good guy vs bad guy. We never really find out if Hae-Mi is alive and Jong-Su believes she is dead or if she was truly murdered by Ben. What we can see, and I choose to read as reality, is how Ben is uninterested in "normal" social interaction. That can indicate a disorder such as narcissism and sociopathy. Ben uses the people around him for amusement, discarding them when he no longer has a use for them and doesn't seem to have an actual connection with anyone. Also it is a movie that opens itself to interpretation as you said so both of our interpretations are just as valid.

[@LoneVocalist]

This movie is unforgettable. Yeun's best performance to date imo.

[@richie-3485]

i'm so glad you brought up Daniel Kaluuya because he was one of the first actors that came to mind for me lol. he's INCREDIBLE at subtle performances, obviously showcased fully in Get Out and Nope. and it's painful to see some people call his acting in those movies "boring" because they expect big emotive expressions of terror in a horror movie and they're completely missing all of the depth that he's giving us in a quieter package.

[@andrew12494]

The more I watch Midsommar, the more I think Pugh put on one of the best performances I have ever seen on film. The layers of emotion that she presents on her face is nothing short of amazing. Her ability to subtly show her trauma on her face while trying to hide it with a smile, or changing the subject felt like she wasn’t acting, but just tapping into something far deeper. Thanks for this video. You’ve articulated everything so well.

[@rmdir]

Yet many people dislike the film. I think it was a very jarring experience, because in a certain way it's a horror film without any horror trappings. We don't have darkness, ghosts, or vicious stalkers. The horror of this film is in the subtle emotions, as they build up towards the eventual breakdown, much like real life. Many viewers seem to have found this uncomfortable, but I agree with you it may be one of the best performances on film.

[@neutralfog]

I agree. She's phenomenal.

[@RamonaGelosi]

Florence is my queen

[@delpicsla65]

Even in “little women”, she had great facial acting, she showed hurt, anger, love, and even unbearable sadness. She was supposed to be a “side character” but she ended up being my favorite actor in the movie.

[@mysmirandam.6618]

I love that movie

[@demeedee3247]

The first micro facial expression I noticed was from Mads Mikkelsen in his Hannibal role. The way he always seems so poker-faced but you can just feel what kind of emotion he's actually conveying was amazing for me.

[@idork7302]

Especially when hes around someone that he finds rude, and you can just see in his eyes that hes already planned how to kill them, and he barely moves his face at all

[@emilymwaki7375]

I was just thinking “hmm Mads in Hannibal” and the next comment I saw was yours! I can’t wait to watch him win an Oscar one day. Incredible actor.

[@jackiep594]

Omg I was about to comment but you said it perfectly!

[@josephinepapin8858]

He is incredible in Drunk. The scene at the restaurant when he looks at his friends and starts crying quietly is just so realistic yet so raw.

[@idork7302]

@@josephinepapin8858 I've actually been wanting to watch Drunk, is it good?

[@bewtifulfreak]

I call this Gandalfing, after the poignant reaction of Ian McKellan's Gandalf in response to Frodo declaring that he'll take the ring; his face paints a complex picture of relief, sadness, admiration, concern, and so much more, and I always think of that incredible wordless performance when I witness other such subtle but powerful perfomances.

[@hanli2042]

I love this way of putting it 🥲

[@elisedasvin170]

When I read the neologism "Gandalfing" in your comment I immediately knew what moment you were referring to. 🩵

[@gpeddino]

Rhea Seehorn's performance as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul is a great example of this. She always manages to make her silence and stillness speak VOLUMES.

[@Watch3rOfTheSkies]

Yes, and the way she sometimes fakes a smile, or the tone of her voice sounds a little low and choked up when she’s telling a white lie to Jimmy or someone else.

[@PetiteMouse]

Steven Yuen continues to be a vastly underrated actor. I see him access certain roles, but he seriously does not get enough performance opportunities from what I can tell. Hollywood is sleeping on him (except for you Mister Peele, bless). Riz Ahmed is another. Every role is a piercing performance.

[@yamahrahda]

peele grasping on to steven and daniel as he should😭😭

[@brigittahegarini7162]

All hail Peele

[@daretoliveee]

Yuen has that incredible ability of being able to play innocent, heartwarming characters and then shift to the complete opposite and play cold, conniving ones.

[@IllusionmanJB]

I think Steven Yeun is much much better... ;)

[@LemmyKBrinkwood]

he is such an amazing actor, his bit on "i think you should leave" as the person who made a mudpie, didn't wash his hands and refuses to admit it is an oscar worthy, dramatic performance, opposed to a comedic take, wich makes it so much more hilarious

[@twilight79010]

Emma Thompson is another great master of this particular skill. I've seen Love Actually a million times, and the part where she's opening the Christmas gift from her husband just breaks my heart. The way she tries to conceal the heartbreak in front of her children, and the cut to the scene of her standing alone in the bedroom rubbing her wrist (a lot of us absentmindedly do little physical things like this when we're trying not to hysterically cry) and fluffing the blanket on the bed...it's just so real.

[@Featherpen0517]

A lot of that is from her theater background. Emma + Shakespeare = perfection. She knows how to work with nothing but her own body and the props she’s been given and really block a scene the way you would on stage. That love actually scene smacks of theater acting ❤❤❤

[@zeetuslupeedus]

A great example of her wonderful acting is in King Lear as well. Stellar cast all around as well.

[@markotandara3845]

I believe Kit Harrington said that his favorite piece of acting is that scene

[@ProfessorFlex825]

i was a teen when i saw love actually and the scene of her in the bedroom just trying not to lose her shit blew me away

[@gracebonifabulous]

oh my goodness, she is so wonderful in that movie. my favorite and least favorite part.

[@Bakedcakeyyy]

I watched Midsommar and was entranced with how good Florence Pugh's performance was. That film has so many long shots and she nails it every time

[@greenolly]

I love that: "Most acting, not best acting." You articulate so much I've never been able to communicate. This video was incredibly well written. Bravo. :)

[@smshh33]

Agreed!

[@tommytwo-times9053]

it makes me almost jealous as a writer, that i come up with all of these ways to let the dialogue speak for what’s going on and these actors can just..show it. perfectly and without explanation

[@user-pt5cl2ro6f]

I love writing these moments more than dialogues ngl 😅

[@elcar659]

@@user-pt5cl2ro6fi like writing moments of internal pain while seemingly normal dialogue is going on

[@christopherfeatherley]

When I was taught literary writing techniques, we were taught it was just as important what *isn't* said just as much as what is said. In a way, it's the equivalent of subtle acting in writing terms -- knowing how to refrain information, or to create a lack of what is obvious to the reader, to create a profound scene

[@scarletmoon95]

I think this is why I fell in love with Pattinson's Batman. He barely says anything, barely allows an emotion to be free, yet you can _feel_ with him anyway. His eyes were so entrancing.

[@mekaylaowo1928]

YES exactly he does so much acting with his eyes and it’s insane

[@RyanKaufman]

I saw The Batman multiple times. Which is a marathon of a task because it's a very long film. But I feel like one of the main reasons I kept going back was because of the opening (in total, not just the technical intro). Part of why it's so good to me is the end of it, with Pattinson observing the son of the first victim of the Riddler. It's not a simple staredown in any facet. You can feel him go through many things -- the son found the body, the son is now an orphan, the son is now alone, the son is *still* alone, the son sees him too. His eyes push through all of this without even really moving or twitching or showing much. But it has everything still.

[@peggedyourdad9560]

If you like subtle performances, George Mackay in 1917 is really good at it, and honestly one of my biggest reasons for recommending that movie. That, and how intimate it feels for what's supposed to be a war movie, it's the combination of the one-shot look and the over-the-shoulder POV we're given for a good chunk of the movie that really does it. The audience is stuck with this man while he's just doing his job, it's just that his job is very dangerous.

[@mark-nm5hi]

You could feel the stress he was portraying in Good Time as well

[@bootao1671]

@@tenoch5589 so what, enough to make a point

[@Argeaux2]

I like watching those actors who act “behind their eyes”. There is stuff going on in their minds. You can see it in their eyes.

[@Hidinginyourcupboard]

And in fact you rarely see people in real life having a melt down. Most people keep their real feelings hidden

[@moshambles]

Florence Pughs performance in Midsommar is one of the best I've ever seen. I could really feel everything the character was feeling and it made for a powerful, uncomfortable but worthwhile experience

[@MedusaWay]

She was great. While she totally sells her subtle scenes, her cry in the first act felt so real and heart-wrenching. I wanted to cry just hearing it which never happens to me.

[@cellokid5104]

Nah. Not really

[@addie8080]

@@cellokid5104 yes really

[@zZiL341yRj736]

Too bad piece of shit movie I didn't really notice.

[@sarahbearbabygirl]

for real. even when she’s in subpar movies playing poorly written characters (ala Don’t Worry Darling) she somehow brings that character so much more life than it ever would have had if any other actor had been chosen. give her the worst script and she can do the impossible, granting those characters the depth and emotion they don’t deserve. you can’t help but fall in love with her and want to see more of her.

[@amritadas8225]

Fleabag is a great example of what you're talking about. Not just PWB, but I think everyone in that show exhibits such subtle acting skill. The screenplay demanded it as well.

[@GemmaJohnshat]

fleabag is the epitome of subtle emotion

[@ChloeBarker-mv3sw]

olivia coleman was amazing at thus in the series

[@queenawesum]

@Herstory yeah

[@herbonfires]

Brilliant! All of them!

[@gecko7167]

YES! I immediately thought of Fleabag when he gave these other examples of subtle performance.

[@binzplaystheukez]

You said 'range' and I immediately thought of Tom Hiddleston, but when you reframed the word to mean 'range in intensity' I think Tom does an even more fabulous job. He's an underrated actor, one of the finest of this generation.

[@user-pf6ko7xw2d]

Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers was incredible…he was so subtle in his expression of grief and trauma. Watching his refrain in certain scenes with his parents absolutely broke my heart.

[@2kooldancin]

I think Daniel Kaluuya’s performance in Nope is a masterclass in subtle acting. So many people didn’t get his performance and that he wasn’t just some boring character. He’s so expressive in his eyes! And that’s honestly what denotes a genuine performance, the eyes.

[@recoveringintrovert717]

Yeah, he's a cowboy. He's stoic and strong. I thought Nope was such a perfect movie

[@ziggystatdust6008]

Thank you. Daniel Kaluuya has become one of my favourite actors who excels in subtle, emotive, non-verbal acting. Nope, Get Out, Black Mirror, JATBM, heck even the Jonny English movie, he does his best.

[@nahumkhokhar3441]

The eyes Chico, they never lie!

[@Mizraab2912]

@@ziggystatdust6008 Watch his episode on Black Mirror as well. He will blow you away

[@semicolon.advocate]

yes!!

[@valeriyav2149]

I love Mads Mikkelsen because his acting is so subtle and he uses a lot of micro expressions.

[@melanie62954]

Especially in The Hunt.

[@amemocci3580]

in hannibal too! hannibal lecter is this super stoic, mostly expressionless, restrained character yet mads manages to communicate so many subtle emotions through micro expressions, its amazing

[@sanna9062]

*Mikkelsen I love him too!

[@OsirisMawn]

Proven by all the women in this comment section

[@shadybutnotslim]

The movie Another Round reflects Mikkelsen's subtle acting skills very well

[@zwrulez185]

As someone who’s been acting for over half my life now, there’s two things I’ve learned that have really stuck with me. It’s different for every person, but these were my personal discoveries. 1. The type of immersion you describe here is so crucial, yet so hard to achieve - and it’s not something that can happen consciously. It can take months to begin to develop a character’s voice, posture, general behavior, memories, etc. Eventually, it becomes second nature, but you have to work for it. Sometimes that can mean method acting, sometimes it can mean buying a raw chicken breast, putting it in your shower, turning the water on, turning the lights off, and then entering your apartment and stabbing it through the curtain. (That’s not something _I_ have done, but I know someone who has.) But anyway, once you get to the point where you genuinely feel everything the character does, you can achieve both those subtle expressions and also the breakdowns and outbursts. They should come from the same place. 2. Anyone can mimic someone else’s performance, and anyone can just put on a mask and play the role. But if you’ve been cast as a role, it’s because there’s something that only _you_ can bring to the character. You can visualize it by imagining that there are hundreds of dials, each for a different trait that you have. Becoming a character means adjusting those dials, finding the things you need within you, not conjuring out of thin air. Intensify the extroversion a little, amplify the neuroticism, tone down the cynicism, play up the nerdiness. Don’t try to make yourself into the character, make the character into you.

[@sprich3200]

For someone who grew up watching Asian tv & movies, Subtle Performance is in fact one of the greatest acting an actor will be credited on. Given how most Asian production are really heavy on emotions. That is why when I transitioned to watching Western production at a later age, I always find it so different; louder body language, more flamboyant, bigger set, etc. Steven Yuen always give me such comfort. Best of both worlds.

[@SamuraiMujuru]

Daniel Kaluuya is so damned good at this kind of performance. Get Out, Judas and the Black Messiah, Nope, man's a legend.

[@ThomasFlight]

Absolutely agree.

[@brittanybelo1361]

I think about Daniel’s performance in Nope at least once a dayyy… so subtle & quiet but so much reverence and power

[@theautisticguitarist7560]

@@brittanybelo1361 All he does is change is eyes slightly and it somehow perfectly conveys his emotions. straight up GOAT

[@melanie62954]

Daniel Kaluuya can go either way--his role in Judas and the Black Messiah is more obviously intense, which is why he won the Oscar. He is incredible in it, but I still think Get Out is better. When he nods his head at the brother and just says, "Cool," I realized I would follow his career for life. Haven't seen Nope yet, sadly.

[@davidmckesey7119]

Watch him in Widows too

[@neilbarnwell]

Emma Thompson's character in "Love, Actually" opening her present from her husband and realising he was cheating on her, and the following two minutes, is some of the best acting committed to film.

[@leahmulligan2111]

This scene solidified Emma Thompson as one of my favorite actors. Absolutely heartbreaking to watch every single time.

[@mr.duck1248]

I feel the same way about musical performances, such as singing. Whenever you see a “best singing” compilation, it’s all people belting at the top of their longs, doing over the top riffs, and whistle notes. All of these take talent, yes, but there’s so much complexity and emotion that people can put into singing. When a voice sounds like it could fall apart at any moment but it never does, when just the tone of a voice tells a story without needing the lyrics, singing is so much more than belting, riffs, and whistle tones.

[@NuttyMongrel]

This is one of the reasons I love Good Will Hunting. Lots of really close-up shots of the actors' faces so you can see subtle facial expressions.

[@colinburleigh306]

Daniel Kaluuya's recent performance in Nope I think fits this bill to a tee. He has zero moments of "ACTING!" in that film and yet you know exactly what he's thinking and feeling at all times. His facial acting and what he does with looks is miles ahead of a lot of actors loudest performances. I think he's a generational talent, and while he can have bigger performances that still blow everyone else out of the water (Judas & the Black Messiah), I think his quieter performances take the cake for me in terms of ability. Edit: Typed this out before you got around to mentioning Kaluuya in the video. Great minds.

[@jrmurph]

I love the moment when he yells and slaps hands with his sister. It was so unexpected because he so far had such a subdued presence and it was great to see a moment of high emotion.

[@johnnyrivas2619]

I came here to bring up Kaluuya's performance in Nope as well, he was nothing short of magnificent. It's a prime example of subtlety in a performance, an almost minimalist approach. He says very little and yet conveys so much.

[@Mia-lw9xh]

Yes! I loved his role in NOPE and I think he did a great job elevating the “quiet cowboy” trope ❤

[@mycollegeshirt]

Yeah totally, I remember all of the dialogue at the beginning with the horse was unsaid, and how he conveys his relationship with his sister, and the father's role he's trying to take over, it was really done so seemingly effortlessly.

[@Fanpirecullenists]

I’m so glad we’re all in agreement with what an amazing actor Daniel is

[@PlanetADiM]

So glad you talked about Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal. The subdued desperation, frustration, shame, and sense of loss he portrays (often all at once) is absolutely crushing. Paired with the subtlety of Paul Raci, they performed one of the most heart-breaking scenes I have ever seen.

[@PetiteMouse]

Great point!

[@hawk2million]

Riz Ahmed is so good. One of the saddest scenes I've seen is his goodbye to his wife in Four Lions.

[@odallard]

I first saw him in The Reluctant Fundamentalist and he was powerful in his characteristic understated style.

[@lynxcore]

riz ahmed is amazing

[@rairai7991]

Why am I crying 🥲

[@almafely8040]

Richard Madden as Lieutenant Blake in the movie 1917 is a prime example of, "there's no such thing as small parts..." He goes through a range of very real emotions all in the span of two minutes; from joy to grief to a soldier's restraint . As humans, we are so complex, and his portrayal of these emotions is so moving. I cry every time I watch that scene.

[@Daninilahdia]

That's why i love Tony Leung.. His expressions are high level.. So subtle, but we felt it. His silent still can make me cry

[@sofiebachhofer9184]

For me, Moonlight is one of the best examples for this kind of subtlety in acting performances. The whole point of the movie is Chiron constantly containing his emotions and his true self.

[@kimaya4503]

My favorite film. So MANY amazing performances in one film.

[@missmimi610]

Absolutely!

[@nevaxh]

Yup, Ashton and Trevante’s facial expressions display enough and I’m so glad that movie won an Oscar

[@Locut0s]

Oops should have looked before posting lol said the same thing. Such a beautiful heart wrenching movie that’s so deeply relatable.

[@rimun5235]

This is the only movie I can think of where I actually watched twice and not to catch things that I had missed but because everything about it was beautiful to me. I just love how much of it is subtle. Such a freaking beautiful movie that leaves you melancholic without the drama.

[@lemonlazer5687]

Florence Pugh is so good in Midsommar it makes me feel anxious and sick feeling her despair. She conveys all the emotions you would expect from severe trauma perfectly

[@Lina-lf7ly]

The subtle emotions and „face acting“ is one of the reasons Heartstopper works as a show.

[@benjenstarkk]

Saoirse Ronan is also great in doing micro expression. Her act in Hozier's music video is amazing, it was really short, she was mainly sitting in front of a mirror and didn't say anything yet you could catch what happened and what she's feeling

[@karmasauce2323]

Agreed! It remains one of the most powerful on-screen performances I have ever seen.

[@devilinthedetails3751]

Lady Bird is a prime example of her acting prowess. Little women has been on my list for awhile now

[@schan4713]

Agreed!! was thinking of her this whole time!

[@nayrw1092]

I’m surprised no one is bringing up Homelander from The Boys. He totally nails subtle acting. You never know what he’s gonna do and his performance constantly leaves you on edge!

[@recoveringintrovert717]

You are soooo correct. And not just at how subtle he is, but how fragile the subtlety is

[@-PNGMAFIA-]

he looks crazy not in the joker way, but in the way that he's just completely dead eyed while smiling, y'know, a subtle expression. antony starr gives an amazing performance

[@neonovember3072]

@@-PNGMAFIA- oh god I forgot what season finale it was but when Homelander’s son chooses Butcher instead of him and he has this look on his face where you know he’s fully gone. It’s like a cry-half laugh and it’s so terrifying, it was scorched into my brain for days

[@midnightfun1277]

This. He was phenomenal. Just with his expressions you feel the atmosphere and how tense it is.

[@yilguy]

Terrifying performance. He nailed it

[@jpetersgoyanks]

I love love love when a video essay makes clear they in no way mean to praise one to lower another. Thank you, for the content as well as the context.

[@augustosarmentodeoliveira3023]

(commenting mid-way through) Amy Adams is the master of that kind of acting

[@lulinavone]

Nobody mentioning Jodie Comer? She's just so good with micro facial expressions and how she can say everything with her eyes too. You can see it either on Killing Eve with Villanelle or in The Last Duel with Marguerite de Carrouges. Well, I must say in every role she has done certainly nails the subtle expressions. She's so complete and versatile actress. Which it's crazy how underrated she is.

[@elsam8695]

Omg yes I was looking for the comment about Jodie Comer!!!

[@lulinavone]

@@elsam8695 Glad to know I’m not alone in this one!!

[@rakadoni8403]

Haha I was thinking this too

[@jodiecomercompilations1699]

yes yes yes!! I hope he does a video about Jodie because she's soo good but still so incredibly underrated! the fact that she was barely recognised for The Last Duel still baffles, me she was miles better than a lot of the nominated performances that year imo. What's so insane about her especially, is that you can see 2 pictures of her in full costume side by side as villanelle for example but you know instantly which is in character and which is not because even without a transformation physically she changes in every other way from the way she holds her face to her posture, she's like a completely different person, like she somehow knows how to change her entire aura, but yet at the same time, seamless switches between the character and herself like its nothing, dropping and picking up the accent and the persona in a split second none of that "getting in to the role" stuff you hear of, It really is fascinating to watch when you get to see behind the scenes footage.

[@lulinavone]

​@@jodiecomercompilations1699 Indeed, yeah, it would be great an analysis of her. She has to be studied lol

[@zxbc1]

Riz Ahmed is one of the greatest actors of his generation. He is so good at the big acting as well as the subtle acting, and he has this really calm and complex demeanor to him, it's not just facial expressions, but also body language. He reminds me a lot of a young Robert De Niro or Dustin Hoffman. He's in a whole other league compared to 99.9% of today's actors.

[@ThomasFlight]

More people should watch The Night Of for his work! Totally agree.

[@johnreznik3713]

He's in this small movie encounter, which probably won't get much notice but his performance is great and he makes what should be a bad movie great.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

can still remember Bohdi's face as he reflects on the grenade thrown into the ship he named Rogue One

[@DetectiveTrupo203]

He's excellent in Nightcrawler

[@blackbird8837]

Tomy Dalton as Lalo Salamanca sitting in a chair listening to some talker for straight 3min not moving a muscle and just turning from zero expression into a smile is peak lowkey acting.

[@georgiagalaxy]

I really love how soft, smooth and slow your voice is, it’s so much easier to understand than the usual video format 💗

[@micasway]

I agree with you completely! Growing up I've been exposed to media wherein the more you can cry the better actor you are. But it's a whole other ballgame to be able to showcase these nuances and nail those subtle actions and reactions and that's what I appreciate the most! I can't explain things very well but you laid it all out so perfectly, so I love your video! Kudos, will be watching more :D

[@VoidedMirror]

Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain. There was so much boiling under the surface of that character that was constrained by the society he lived in. An amazing, subtle performance from Ledger that should've won him his first Oscar.

[@nonagrace8172]

yesss he always seemed mysterious and reserved

[@petertromp8786]

YES! That movie kind of sucked (it was very much of-the-time "prestige" Oscar bait", but Heath Ledger's performance penetrated through the artifice. It was genuinely unsettling watching such a total performative of someone who's so clearly uncomfortable in their own skin.

[@atticstattic]

Good call

[@PatrickLofstrom]

@@petertromp8786 I see what you did there

[@mynameprivate7151]

This is 100% true! Ledger’s performance is so multi-layered in his silence and repression. It’s one of the greatest performances of all time.

[@urainyum]

Victoria Pedretti is pretty phenomenal with the subtle hard hitting emotions in her performances. especially in the haunting of hill house

[@chelseaxoxo784]

Yes yes yes yes yes and yesss

[@chelseaxoxo784]

Victoria is phenomenal!

[@edithputhy4948]

no the voice acting sounded very fake

[@urainyum]

@@edithputhy4948 ya mama

[@khronicallykatt]

There's a few scenes in You where she is sensational at subtly conveying so many layers of emotion in just an expression or reaction. It's wild to watch

[@moongirl54]

Meryl Streep at the Oscars. When Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt were presenting. They were making a joke. The camera cut to Meryl when she subtly changed her expression from happy/pleased to commanding/dissatisfaction. This is why she's the GOAT.

[@NoriMori1992]

Probably my favourite example of subtle performance is a scene in _Memento._ (spoilers ahoy!) The scene where Sammy Jankis's wife tries to snap him out of his short-term memory loss (which doctors have claimed is purely psychogenic) by tricking him into giving her her insulin shot over and over, in 15-minute intervals. If nothing else, she knows for _sure_ that he loves her. And she also believes - needs to believe - that he can snap out of his condition with the right motivation. So how could this test not work? After he gives second injection, and is getting up to walk out of frame and return to his seat, leaving her alone in the frame, there's a look on her face that's completely burned in my memory. She can't believe this is actually happening. She can't believe this didn't work. She knew he loved her, and she "knew" he could snap out of his condition. Now she's being forced to confront that one of those things is false, and it's like she can't decide which one because she doesn't know which would be worse. This was the ultimate test, a test where failing would cost her life, and he still failed. She looks dumbfounded and confused and heartbroken and bitterly disappointed and utterly alone. I can't do it justice in writing (you should just watch it), but if I'd been the director I would have been fist-pumping after I watched that take. It's an incredibly subtle expression, but it says _so much._ Frankly, the entire scene is full of great subtle acting. When she requests an injection for the third or fourth time, her voice goes a bit hoarse as she says "It's time for my shot", like she's trying not to cry. And it's obvious to us but it's subtle enough that you can believe even her husband would miss it if he lacked context. It's really, really good.

[@Rubiecat]

there's no actor more subtle than Mads Mikkelsen, the guy can convey 300 emotions with just a single eye twitch

[@angelotrinidad6888]

Poker Scenes in Casino Royale 🥴💀

[@ToriHiragana]

The hunt😍

[@vamp5169]

So true! All of his performances are amazing!!

[@Lunadish]

See the difference when he played Gridenwald. I love Depp and still preferred Mikkelsen.

[@pscharnett]

Even in Death Stranding you could see it.

[@shyslayer]

Steven Yeun's performance in Minari during the scene when his wife asked for a divorce had me uncontrollably sobbing because he was trying to hold his own sadness in - it was like I was feeling everything he couldn't express.

[@rrr441]

Yes he has very expressive eyes.

[@bravetherainbow]

Yes! I thought about that scene as well when his name came up

[@zoningout3028]

This subtle acting just shows how great actors are in digesting the script and picturing the emotions that go along the scene to be able to execute them very convincingly.

[@lexagolsove1301]

As an actor, this was such a fantastic video to watch. "I don't want to watch you go through it, I want to watch you get through it and fight against it," is advice that I cling to, meaning that while big emotions may be fun, they're often not what we do. That clip of Amy Adams trying not to cry is a perfect example.

[@ifyouknow2323]

Lol what have you been in?

[@EmZevSS]

Everything about Rhea Seahorn's performance of Kim Wexler is so emblematic of what you talk about here. I find it rly interesting the way she describes her process, about feeling all the emotions of her character physically in different parts of the body, and then actively fighting against those emotions to bring them out naturally in a roundabout way. Feels connected to what you were talking about with Rooney Mara and the involuntary neck twitch

[@MrOtistetrax]

Totally agree. Incredible performance.

[@vaovao1665]

Rheas performance is all the more impressive to me because of how restrained it is compared to the louder than life Jimmy as her companion. It would be easy to just go along with your fellow actor and chew the scenery (in a great way) but she genuinely blows me away with how much she conveys with such a minimalist speech pattern and body language

[@ThomasFlight]

Absolutely agree! I talk about her performance a little bit in my latest video on "Visual Storytelling" in BCS.

[@JaydevRaol]

Yeah, she was great!

[@berkeleyisonline160]

the part where another lawyer insults jimmy and she doesn't say anyhing but you can see her clench her jaw in anger is such a great moment of subtle acting

[@ilikebeanies3499]

I know Breaking Bad has been analyzed to death, but the subtle performances from each actor is really mesmerizing. Especially Walt, of course. He had outbursts, but also small moments too.

[@veronicaevans2246]

I actually was scrolling to see if someone commented about breaking bad and I'm so glad you did.

[@damienx0x]

​@@veronicaevans2246 Scowling is the wrong word.

[@veronicaevans2246]

@@damienx0x Oh my bad lol. Thanks for telling me, I'll fix it.

[@carolineyuen3247]

The pizza frisbee belongs in the acting manual

[@gaelzane9276]

And speaking of which - RHEA SEAHORN's Kim Wexler in BCSaul is an amazing and unsung example of what he talks about in this video.

[@LibbyRoseITM]

I think this is really needed in animated movies as well. I love the subtlety in the father's sadness in Tangled before they fly the 17th lantern, there's so much in the look he and the mother share. Thinking that the lanterns are useless. Having to be king and queen when all they want to be doing is joining the search for their lost daughter. Wondering whether she's even still alive.

[@fullmoonracoon9584]

Subbed, I love the discrepancy between the AMOUNT of quality takes in your videos and the calmness of your voice. This video helped me realize that, ironically

[@lnelson7397]

Dude. I am SO glad you talked about Steven Yeun's performance in Burning. When I first saw the title of your video, I immediately thought to myself, "Steven's performance in Burning would be a fantastic example of that," and then you opened with it as the first example! I've watched thousands of performances at this point in my life, but Yeun's portrayal of Ben is the best I've seen to date. That whole movie in general is a masterclass in subtlety. There's so much going on yet it's all so quiet and fleeting. I could analyze Burning for hours.

[@mattmorgan7172]

Yep, was gonna comment much the same myself! Yeun is so unnerving and terrifying in Burning to me - he has such tremendous screen presence that I remember thinking he seemed so much more physically imposing, so much bigger than Yoo Ah-in's character, and was shocked when I rewatched it and noticed that he's actually a little smaller. Of course, part of that also comes from Yoo's fantastic performance in making himself come across so small and powerless, but god Yeun is truly doing some top tier work throughout that film. Definitely one of my favourite performances of all time.

[@mayspark4536]

I started it but now I gotta watch. I loved him in the glass door scene in Walking Dead

[@skygrl22]

I'm adding this movie to my playlist. Never heard of it until now.

[@shadowranger125]

This exact reason is a huge part of why David Tennant's Doctor was so popular. He was his character, and everything that he felt you could see in his face. Every bit of excitement, grief, rage, awe, sarcasm, sadness, contentment showed up in expressions and transferred straight to the audience. Truly amazing acting.

[@TheLittleFrenchy2]

I’m not sure I agree. I adore David Tennant and he’s the reason I got into Doctor Who but he’s originally a stage actor and it showed, his Doctor was definitely more on the flamboyant side. He expressed so much and so well but I wouldn’t say his acting was particularly repressed.

[@kenziemydear]

I agree. Yes, he's playing a larger-than-life character who's flamboyant and hyper, but the scenes that make me cry are 100% credited to his acting. The Rose scene. The scene in "Midnight" when the he's now compelled to copy the entity. When he has to leave behind Donna after wiping her memory. All of these are sad and powerful situations, but there's a reason David Tennant's face was a big part of them. It's not easy to make an entire audience feel a fictional character's eternity of pain. It's been a while since I've watched the series, so I'm sure there's tons more examples.

[@AmethystCobain]

I'd say, DT in everything else actually. The detective show with Colman, they ARE the show, and you can see this micro things in last summer in Scotland. He doesnt get as much credit as he should

[@writerchick94]

@@TheLittleFrenchy2 he was big when it needed it and quiet when it needed it. Those quite subtle moments come across even more when they contrast the big ones.

[@kenziemydear]

@@AmethystCobain I haven't seen him in anything else personally but my mom watched Broadchurch (I think that's the name) and said it was fantastic. He really is a great actor.

[@jakecharles7511]

This dude gets it. When I watch a movie I really want to watch, I do it alone because I am constantly looking for that subtlety, those micro-expressions. I will run back a scene, a moment, over and over again to relish in the actor's adeptness. I live for that stuff, truly! Thank you for making this video!

[@animesuki05]

I don't know why the algorithm took me here but I really enjoyed this content. Acting is one of my biggest interests and I'm so glad you highlighted something I've always relished in. This subtle performance that you describe is what I call the moment when and where the actor disappears and the character becomes alive. There is the method acting which I feel is more calculated and the performance satisfies the eyes and brains of the viewers but there is also this natural involuntary acting which speaks to the heart. It may appear clumsy, diluted or subtle like the examples here, but it delivers a huge story and feeling and shapes the role into a real-life human that I am watching.

[@nerd26373]

Subtle performances are just overall stunning to look at. It takes a certain level of skill to be able to execute it seamlessly. Not all actors have the capacity to master the art of subtlety.

[@Raghy07]

Looking sus but you're right.

[@chasehedges6775]

I love this comment because it’s so true

[@packathonjohn4935]

I think that's why you can tell when someone is in inexperienced/unskilled actor or actress. It's like watching a high school play where it's sort of cartoonish and cringy, or watching one of those live action disney tv shows vs breaking bad.

[@MrWater111]

Nicolas Cage is the best for this :)

[@moonlitshadows]

Oh my god you are everywhere!! Definitely a bot lol

[@mssfuu]

Tony Leung in In the Mood for Love is one of the best performances I have ever seen. He speaks a lot without saying more, and he does this through masterful, subtle acting. I highly recommend his other films as well.

[@melanie62954]

His incredible acting elevated Shang-Chi so much! You make me want to go back and rewatch some of his Chinese films.

[@camilaandreabecerraplata4550]

Two words: "Happy Together"

[@maxz4819]

This is the correct answer

[@kidcaptainwembri]

Yes! He is known for acting with his eyes, such an amazing actor

[@SacredDaturana]

He is also excellent in Lust, Caution. Actually, that film is a masterclass in subtle acting, it feels like 80% of the film is wordless subtext. There are multiple scenes where the dialogue is a bunch of banal small talk but there is an additional layer to the scene that is all in glances and body language.

[@patmepin15]

This is why I love 'No Country For Old Men'. It's full of these performances. It's impossible not to become immersed in the story due to the amazing acting, writing, and direction. Incredible film.

[@lauraroth6630]

I love this video. And I personally think that Joaquin Phoenix and Leo DiCaprio got their Oscars because of what they did for the role, and not necessarily because of their performances. And Rami Malek got his because it was a biopic (and since then, many actors have been getting biopic flack for their performances bc Rami won). You showed Heath in The Dark Knight, and I think that he truly gave one of the best performances ever, even though it wasn't a subtle performance. And I also think he gave one of the best performances of all time in Brokeback Mountain, which was an incredibly subtle performance.

[@heysatan8]

Yes! Heath Ledger in Brokeback is one of my favorite examples of good acting. The movie is too depressing to watch again but I'll never forget his performance. His character is so repressed that it even affects how he speaks; as if holding back his entire self, which results in this tense mumbling. I had such respect for him as an actor I was really sad when he died.

[@Strega_del_Corvo]

Daniel Kaluuya is immediately who came to mind when I saw the topic of this video. Him and Pugh are amazing at this. When he is trying to hold on emotionally while remembering his mother in Get Out tears me up every time.

[@stephengrigg5988]

His performance in Judas and the black messiah was also amazing. Probably the best accent performance(I don't know what it's called) I've ever heard. I also think that that same character could have been done very over the top by a different actor.

[@dazem8]

He melts into every character. The bit in Get Out where he has that paralyzing breakdown with the mom is still one of the best scenes in a film ever imo.

[@brianaguilar8283]

@@dazem8 watch more films

[@Clairembify]

He’s fantastic. It’s so remarkable in Nope : he doesn’t have much dialogue, and yet he manages to pull focus with this very strong inner intensity. OJ in that movie felt like an old-school taciturn cowboy archetype, I loved it.

[@rocko5766]

@@brianaguilar8283 There are no wrong opinions. Whether that person has watched 1,000 films or just the one, if they like the scene, they like the scene.

[@milkyshakes]

I couldn’t be more happy when you highlighted Florence. Her performance was so scary good. Her begrudging disgust and hurt was translated so well and it was so raw and authentic. My favorite movie and performance.

[@aciuschristophores7789]

The fact that you are able to see into these things and bring them forth into words certainly conveys your own brilliance, Mr Thomas!!

[@NicholasRHunn]

This is the first vid I've ever seen on this channel, but it is easily as perfect as the performances of which you are discussing. Just brilliance.

[@SauronsAccntnt]

I recently rewatched 'Knives Out' and found myself really rediscovering how much I enjoyed LaKeith Lee Stanfield's performance as one of the accessory detectives. He knows how to play this sort of quiet, intense intelligence that is intriguing in even the shortest of scenes, and I feel like it embodies a lot of what this video discussed.

[@neconeconeco]

He's SO good.

[@rimun5235]

He honestly brings so much life to a lot of things I've seen him in.

[@nondescriptbeing5944]

He's my favorite part of Atlanta, I think.

[@rojelanogueify]

I second LaKeith Stanfield! He was my favorite part of Atlanta and this video immediately made me think of the Teddy Perkins episode. He's so under-appreciated!

[@deadaccountsadly4137]

He also does this type of performance well in sorry to bother you. Amazing underrated movie.

[@11cylynt11]

Anthony Hopkins is a prime example of subtle acting. His portrayal of Hannibal Lector is so errie because of his robotic like gestures, his ominous glare, and his calm yet intelligent manner of speaking. He never had any emotional outbursts or tried to make a creepy face. They made it a point in the film to relay to the viewer that even while he attacked a nurse, his heart rate stayed low. He simply fumed with tension just by standing and staring a certain way.

[@zachr5779]

The dinner scene he did in Season 1 of Westworld was downright incredible. Man goes through almost 6 emotions in the span of 12 seconds at one point.

[@11cylynt11]

@@zachr5779 yes I agree. He's great in Westworld.

[@commandercaptain4664]

A true test is when he's able to bring gravitas to a role in a movie like Freejack, an otherwise silly, over-the-top actioner, but when he shows up, the movie's energy simply changes and belongs to him.

[@MartijnPennings]

@@zachr5779 You've probably seen this Nerdwriter video in which every second of Hopkins' expressions in this scene is analyzed (if not, watch it!): kzbin.info/www/bejne/apy2eJ59gNyjb7c&ab_channel=Nerdwriter1

[@calgrump8458]

He did do a few creepy faces (for example, tereth clicking), but it was well timed

[@prizmic3448]

This stuff is the best. You said it, I love the big bursts of emotion too, but gosh I love just hanging on someone and you can tell they're feeling a lot with only the subtlety and the tiny changes from how they might normally act to indicate that something is amiss.

[@jordan101096]

I love seeing this on screen! As someone who works on a psych unit, it's the little cues that are really telling of how someone is thinking/feeling.

[@iblame_nargles]

It truly bums me out that so many people see “good” acting as something heavily emotional and super performative. As someone who loves writing/directing, seeing actors place themselves in a role to the point where minor actions speaks volumes is so fucking underrated. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are some of my favourite shows purely because of pacing but the performances the actors bring to their roles is unparalleled. You can tell so much about what a character is thinking based on subtle looks and small face actions and, while I think the writing in those shows are great, the actors are what brings those characters to life. Nerdwriter’s video on Anthony Hopkins’ performance in Westworld is why I love acting. The rhythm of line delivery, the way actors can say so much by doing so little; hell, the way actors can tell the audience one thing and tell the _characters_ another is so fucking rad. It’s such an impressive art that has SO MUCH subtlety. I’d also recommend Drew Gooden’s video on good acting; it’s a little more silly but also a fun watch.

[@DetectiveTrupo203]

When I'm watching a film and see incredible and subtle acting it makes me think of that nerdwriter video. Watching that video made me feel like I understood what good acting was for the first time.

[@rowanjoy419]

mmm I do not think so... if actually look, most people prefer small acting because is "most realistic" is really annoying for me.

[@11cylynt11]

Yes, Jodi Foster is one of my favorite actresses. I honestly can't think of any scene where she has an over-the-top emotional outburst. When I think of her acting, I picture calm, collected, compelling, commanding, etc. There were so many scenes in Silence Of The Land where it would have been appropriate for her to act hysterical and emotional. But it fit her character, Clarice Starling, better to be more calm and collected. As a result, the subtle and controlled acting presented is more believable. Those who become detectives have seen really disturbing things and therefore develop a tough exterior. It takes a lot to raise their eyebrows. She conveyed her desensitized subdued reactions in a realistic manner. A good detective would stay collected and cool in a tense situation. She pulled that off so well.

[@ShinyPrimarina]

I agree, for films and TV shows, subtlety or at the very least not going over the top is the best way to go.

[@sharingiscaring53]

I don’t think that’s the point what makes those scenes so good to people is because there are still subtle performances and personalities in the big emotional scenes still. It’s a combo of emotions and subtlety.

[@darianamsanchez]

I think the cast of Succession is great at subtle acting and representing repressed emotions. Especially on Shiv, Tom and Kendall.

[@jojoroque1429]

so much of this would’ve gone unnoticed if you hadn’t brought it to my attention. thank you for making this.

[@justlola417]

Oscar Isaac is sooo good too, he puts so much effort and emotion into everything he's in, he makes even the mediocre movies seem like art when he's in the scene

[@reedhouser4004]

Maybe I was just in the right mood but Garrett Hedlund and Oscar Isaac’s performances in Mojave made that one of my favorite movies

[@Alligator81]

In ‘Ex Machina,’ there were these little pauses where Nathan/Oscar Isaac would be looking at Caleb after he’s said something. Like he’s wondering if he’s wasting his time, or trying to hold back some expression of frustration. It’s something that a casual viewer might overlook, but when put to good use, a moment’s silence can speak volumes.

[@Lannec10]

@@Alligator81 he was so terrifying in that movie for so many subtle reasons

[@TwinkleStarLemonFruit]

Florence's performance in Midsommar is so raw and real. It's the subtle ways in which she reacts without uttering a word and how the people around her either don't acknowledge or notice it. We all know exactly what she's feeling and what she's thinking in those moments though. The performance is brilliant.

[@notverynotoriousg5674]

Its also works to establish the uncomfortable contrasts in the film, her individualism vs her bfriend and his friends lack of self-awareness, and the cult's collective feeling

[@hyperelliptik]

This is a thing I've noticed more and more in recent real-life-acting cinema! The camera stays zoomed in on the faces for much longer as dialogue or events happen that we can only hear, but we still see the event as an emotional reflection in the face of the character. I love it.

[@userSchlonsch]

If you want to talk about subtle performances, you have to talk about Thomasin McKenzie. Her acting in Leave No Trace, Jojo Rabbit, Life After Life and The Justice of Bunny King especially is truly impressive. She acts so naturally and can tell so much about her character, even in smaller roles and with only a few lines. My favorite performances are those that make me forget almost completely that what I am watching is staged. And the small details, be it facial expressions or body language, are what you know and understand automatically and almost subconsciously.

[@fredrikstaffansson4473]

In Manchester by the Sea, Casey Affleck plays a depressed/grief-stricken character with such realism and sublety. There is only one scene in the entire movie where he cries.

[@roseinivory5747]

I came here to say this!! When he talked about Darjeeling in the video, I got flashbacks of the hospital scene at the beginning of Manchester. And that crying scene. So good.

[@HankScorpio94]

Yessss, came in here to say this.

[@ThuyHoNYC]

It’s so good. That performance was excellent and I loved how music amplified his scene at the precinct

[@majorpwner241]

Interesting. This video definitely made me think of his performance in The Assassination of Jesse James where he was fantastic as a more meek, almost background character even in spite of being one of the main characters. He's an incredible talent. Too bad it doesn't run in the family, haha.

[@nondescriptbeing5944]

I just commented about this before I scrolled two lines and saw yours lol >Won best actor, but there aren't many huge emotional moments, just feels like dead resignation, smothered guilt, loss of a will to really live but not trying to actively die for the most part. I'm glad he got the recognition for it.

[@misterkevinoh]

To Adam Driver's credit, he did a lot of subtle acting in Marriage Story. The scene where he asks Alan Alda's character whether he's paying to hear his joke is really good. We all remember the explosive scene but there was fantastic subtlety by Adam AND Scarlett leading up to it.

[@alexlindstrom9971]

Yes, It is completely absurd to focus on Driver's performance in a Marriage Story and is a comically bad example of what he is trying to criticize.

[@mrbrightside3440]

@@alexlindstrom9971 tbf he wasn't criticising the entire performance, he was just criticising the notion that that scene is what good acting is, and that scene in particular went viral on social media for its acting

[@neilvannatta2520]

@@mrbrightside3440 in context this scene works really really well. There's a reason it got to this point.

[@d818581dd]

@@alexlindstrom9971 "completely absurd" okay, calm down drama queen!

[@pawacoteng]

@@alexlindstrom9971 You missed the point buddy - Driver's scene was an example of GOOD expressive acting. He never said he didn't also act subtly in the same film. I love his scene with the social worker observing dinner with his son. That was subtle acting on top of completely wild and ridiculous instances going on simultaneously.

[@bigmike5842]

you explained it beautifully with how they try to feel the emotion of the character and act through that. Thats exactly what i thought they did as well

[@apersonwhomayormaynotexist9868]

As a stage actor who occasionally does film work, the difference is night and day. A stage actor should be going full kylo ren. The audience can't see every twitch of your face, every subtlety of your performance. A small choice is a wrong choice. Pretty much every director I've ever worked with has, at some point in the process said "I'd rather you go too big and I have to pull you back in than you go too small and I have to tell you to go bigger" On the other hand, film is a very different story. It's far more personal, closer up, and more important to include subtlety. You don't need to be loud to reach the back of the audience. You don't need to have big facial expressions so that your face doesn't look the same the entire time to half the audience. You just need to act like a person would.

[@freefaregaming6174]

I think it's worth noting that most people don't get the big "punch the wall" moment in their life (as you alluded to) so a lot of people get a cathartic reaction from seeing actors experience and release those massive outpourings of emotion. I think that's a big part of why people connect to those moments, and why they will rewatch movies with them, or clips of them, or compilations of them.

[@lindseypalmer5969]

Are you saying most ppl don't get to violently punch walls while expressing big emotions to ppl in their life?

[@chechu2621]

@@lindseypalmer5969 as the "punch the wall" is between quotation marks. I think he just says that most people don't get a lot of cathartic experiences in their lifes, where they can just let all the emotion get out of their body, and that's why some of us feel really good seeing the "massive outpouring of emotion" in movies. It's cathartic because it does something we can't.

[@merlinho0t]

Just like Toni Collette and more recently Mia Goth, Florence Pugh joins the ranks of Oscar Worthy performances in horror films that get snubbed because the Academy is biased towards them. She was AMAZING in Midsommar.

[@gracehetfield5331]

The fact the Oscars won't acknowledge horror is the # 1 reason they ain't shit to me.

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

Its weird cuz horror for a little bit in the 90s used to get awards and be somewhat prestigious. Ppl complain Oscars were always broken, maybe, but good movies got their due credit it seems over the last 50 years even as some were snubbed naturally, they seemed to still include the popular films of that year and the ones people still talk about. Now im not so sure. Florence Pugh is definitely an Oscar-worthy actress and i hardly think the academy will be biased towards her outside of horror. Mia Goth however faces much more resistance, and its a damn shame given that shes quickly becoming one of my favs

[@lanagievski1540]

Haven’t seen much of Mia Goth. What’s something you recommend of hers?

[@sunflower304]

@@lanagievski1540Pearl, X