Back to our regularly scheduled programming—A few weeks ago, I made my “Mount Rushmore of Actresses” of the 2000s, and today we continue the fun with Mount Actor!
Though with the new AI crackdown I couldn’t generate a cool image like I did with the actresses, nevertheless, my Mount Actor 4 of the 2000s are: Leonardo DiCaprio, Philip Seymour Hoffman, George Clooney, and Johnny Depp.
My only rule in deciding who deserves a spot on my mountain is simple: they must have several strong performances that garnered significant awards attention. Remember, it’s all subjective in the end—you may pick a completely different group of gentlemen for your mountain. I’ll be honest, I went back and forth on this so many times. Choosing four actors was much harder than choosing the four actresses!
Let’s get on with it.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Of course Leo has to make the mountain. He became a huge movie star in the ’90s as a “young buck,” but in the 2000s he cemented himself as a commanding leading man.
In that decade, Leo received:
– 2 Oscar nominations: The Aviator, Blood Diamond
– 2 BAFTA nominations: The Aviator, The Departed
– 3 Critics Choice nominations: The Aviator, The Departed, Blood Diamond
– 5 Golden Globe nominations: Catch Me If You Can, The Aviator (WIN), The Departed, Blood Diamond, Revolutionary Road
– 3 SAG nominations: The Aviator, Blood Diamond, The Departed
Leo became Martin Scorsese’s latest muse beginning in 2002 with Gangs of New York—which scored 10 Oscar nominations but somehow walked away empty-handed. Though Leo was left out of the lineup, the film kicked off a lifelong collaboration with Scorsese that benefited them both.
That same year, he also worked with Steven Spielberg on Catch Me If You Can, a fun, endlessly watchable crime drama. Leo followed those two hits with two more Marty collaborations, with performances in The Aviator, and Scorsese’s crowning achievement, The Departed—a brilliant, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller!
But in the same year, Leo gave us another Oscar-nominated turn in Blood Diamond. The two performances competed against each other, and he wound up being nominated for the latter instead of The Departed (which remains one of the Academy’s strangest category decisions). Somehow Mark Wahlberg was nominated over Jack Nicholson as well—a crime.
Leo capped off the decade with his haunting reunion with Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road. Both were phenomenal, and it’s a shame neither was nominated, though Kate finally won her Oscar that year for The Reader. Leo had a stellar run in the 2000s—and he has Scorsese to thank for much of that greatness.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
My heart still aches for the loss of Philip. He was one of my all-time favorite actors. I often wonder what brilliant performances we might’ve had if he were still here. He gave us a phenomenal decade of work in the 2000s, and for that, I’ll forever be grateful.
During that decade, PSH received:
– 3 Oscar nominations: Capote (WIN), Charlie Wilson’s War, Doubt
– 3 BAFTA nominations: Capote (WIN), Charlie Wilson’s War, Doubt
– 3 Critics Choice nominations: Capote (WIN), Charlie Wilson’s War, Doubt
– 4 Golden Globe nominations: Capote (WIN), The Savages, Charlie Wilson’s War, Doubt
– 2 SAG nominations: Capote (WIN), Doubt
– 2 Emmy nominations: Empire Falls, Arthur (voice performance)
– 2 Tony nominations: True West, Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Looking at that list from just one decade—it’s astounding what he accomplished. He was a master, through and through.
He kicked off the 2000s with one of my all-time favorite films, Almost Famous. Despite limited screen time, he delivered some of the film’s most important lines—people should rewatch it just for him. He followed that with smaller supporting roles, showing his range across comedies, rom-coms, and thrillers. He gave a short but memorable performance in Cold Mountain (a film I will die defending).
Then came the performance that cemented his legend: Capote. His first major lead role, and he absolutely blew everyone away—sweeping nearly every Best Actor prize that year. He showed his darker side as a villain in Mission: Impossible III, then joined Laura Linney in the criminally underrated The Savages. While Linney earned an Oscar nomination, PSH earned his next for Charlie Wilson’s War.
Finally, his last great entry of the decade was Doubt. What I would’ve given to be a fly on the wall during those scenes between him and Queen Meryl. Along with Amy Adams and Viola Davis, they all earned Oscar nominations, and the film is an acting masterclass—one that should be studied in drama schools everywhere.
Philip Seymour Hoffman—what I’d give for just one more performance from him. A true master of the craft.
George Clooney
Let me be clear: for the past 15 years or so, I haven’t been a big fan of George Clooney. He’s become quite arrogant and self-righteous. But credit where it’s due—the George Clooney of the 2000s earned that inflated ego. His achievements that decade are undeniable.
In the 2000s, Clooney received:
– 5 Oscar nominations: Good Night, and Good Luck (Director & Screenplay), Syriana (WIN), Michael Clayton, Up in the Air
– 6 BAFTA nominations: Good Night, and Good Luck (Director & Screenplay), Syriana, Michael Clayton, Up in the Air
– 5 Critics Choice nominations: Good Night, and Good Luck (Director & Screenplay), Syriana, Michael Clayton, Up in the Air
– 6 Golden Globe nominations: O Brother, Where Art Thou? (WIN), Good Night, and Good Luck (Director & Screenplay), Syriana (WIN), Michael Clayton, Up in the Air
– 3 SAG nominations: Syriana, Michael Clayton, Up in the Air
My favorite Clooney performance—and the one I personally would’ve nominated him for—was his first film of the decade, O Brother, Where Art Thou? The Coen Brothers’ take on The Odyssey gave him his most natural, relaxed role.
Then came Ocean’s Eleven, the stylish heist film with Clooney and his famous friends. It’s fun, but they really should’ve stopped at one instead of making a whole trilogy.
Clooney’s creative breakthrough was Good Night, and Good Luck, earning him directing and screenwriting nominations the same year he won Supporting Actor for Syriana. He followed that success with Michael Clayton and Up in the Air, both Oscar-nominated performances. He ended the decade with Up in the Air and the charming Fantastic Mr. Fox.
In retrospect, Up in the Air might be the only Oscar nominated Clooney performance I truly love—and honestly, I’d have given him the Oscar for it.
My major critique of Clooney is that in almost every role, it’s just… Clooney. He’s not a chameleon. He doesn’t disappear into characters. He just shows up to be himself. Still, his decade was too successful to ignore. I almost didn’t include him, but he kept forcing his way back into the conversation.
Does he deserve it? Probably. But I know it’s a controversial choice.
Johnny Depp
Yes, he’s canceled—and may never be “uncanceled”—but it’s impossible to ignore the legendary, iconic status Johnny Depp once held. In the ’90s, he was Tim Burton’s rising star. By the 2010s, he was on the decline. But the 2000s? He was iconic.
During that decade, Depp received:
– 3 Oscar nominations: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd
– 2 BAFTA nominations: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Finding Neverland
– 3 Critics Choice nominations: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd
– 5 Golden Globe nominations: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl AND Dead Man’s Chest, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sweeney Todd, Finding Neverland
– 2 SAG nominations: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Finding Neverland
Depp kicked off the decade in Chocolat—famously known as the film that got Almost Famous snubbed from Best Picture. It’s a charming movie that deserves more credit than it gets. Then came the role of a lifetime—Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. It made a fortune, turned him into a household name, and earned his first Oscar nomination.
Next came Secret Window, showing his knack for thrillers. My personal favorite Depp performance is Finding Neverland. It’s honest, heartfelt, and stripped of the eccentricity that defines so much of his work. I’d have given him the Oscar for that one.
His collaborations with Tim Burton continued with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Sweeney Todd—the latter being my introduction to Sondheim. I adored it at first, though I’ve since realized I may need to reevaluate both the film and Depp’s performance.
He closed the decade with Public Enemies, a biographical crime drama clearly gunning for Oscars. Depp entered the 2000s a rising star and left a legend.
Together, these men form my Mount Actor of the 2000s. I think they’re worthy—even if you disagree. I almost swapped in Heath Ledger or Daniel Day-Lewis, but ultimately, I’m satisfied with my four.
Between them, they earned 13 Oscar nominations, 13 BAFTA nominations, 14 Critics Choice nominations, 20 Golden Globe nominations, and 10 SAG nominations. They’re all icons in their own right, and they each deserve a place on my Mount.
Now I pass the reins to you, my friends—what four leading men would you put on your Mount Rushmore? Do your best, explain your reasoning, and remember: this is all subjective. Don’t take it too seriously. Be kind, be respectful, and most of all—Let’s Talk Cinema!
