Oscar Isaac popped up on our screens over the two decades in relatively insignificant ways, but it was when he appeared in “The Nativity Story” and “Balibo” that the critical acclaim began to grow. It was with his breakout role in “Inside Llewyn Davis” however that to some serious buzz.
The emotional film directed by the Coen Brothers showcases his impressive dramatic skills as well as musical skills, too. These days he has nabbed some impressive block-busting movie credits to his name including “Star Wars, ” Ex Machina,” and “Dune”
Josh Brolin
Things haven't always been easy for Josh Brolin. He shot to success as a teen actor but suffered a rather rocky transition into adulthood. Fortunately Brolin "glowed up" in his 40s and got a real second chance in the biz. Ever since he has been nabbing up some super meaty roles earning him the status as one of Hollywood's most impressive comebacks.
He has given a number of outstanding performances in films such as "Milk," True Grit," and "American Gangster." He also wowed audiences as the formidable Marvel mutant villain, Cable, but his best performance yet was as the lead in the iconic "No Country for Old Men."
Idris Elba
British actor Idris Elba has received endless praise for every single performance, especially in top shows like HBO’s "The Wire" and BBC’s "Luther." It's no wonder that he's been nominated four times for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, taking home one.
He was also a major contender for becoming the next James Bond. Did you know that Elba is also a DJ and performs under the moniker DJ Big Driis? Still, with all that success, his most celebrated role will forever be as David Simon in "The Wire."
Willem Dafoe
The veteran actor has immersed himself in just about every genre and he just keeps surprising us. And that's with over 130 acting credits to his name, not to mention the four Academy Awards nominations. It's a shame he still hasn't managed to bag one, though we still have hope.
Out of his incredibly versatile career, Dafoe has starred in some remarkable films including "Platoon, "The English Patient," Spiderman," "The Aviator" and "The Florida Project." Just when we thought he couldn't' outdo "The Florida Project," the actor starred in the wild and hallucinatory "The Lighthouse" where he alongside Robert Pattinson, took us on an incredibly bewildering ride.
Mahershala Ali
Mahershala Ali flew under the radar for years but finally been got his long0-deserved break in 2013's "The Place Beyond The Pines." He went on to achieve major commercial success in a handful of popular TV series such as "House of Cards" and most recently "True Detective," but nothing quite compares to his Oscar-winning performances (two years in a row.)
The actor made waves in the indie cinema world with his breathtaking performance in "Moonlight." In the film, he portrays a criminal who provides refuge for a runaway named Chiron. The film tackles LGTQ issues, crime, and poverty in a strikingly beautiful way. It's no surprise that the film was serious Oscar bait.