Aileen Wuornos (Charlize Theron)

This may go slightly against my second criteria (and maybe my fourth criteria), but Monster wasn’t really a biopic in the sense that it was just telling the story of someone we knew.  Theron was still given some leeway to create an original character and she did a remarkable job.  She didn’t only change her physical appearance for the film, she showcased an entirely different level of talent that nobody knew she had.  The movie itself is not that memorable which might hurt my claim that Theron’s performance will be remembered ten years from now, but it ought to be (if that matters).

Amelie (Audrey Tautou)

As far as females go, this was probably my favorite performance by an actress of the decade.  Amelie is such a fun character and the film itself is so re-watchable and enchanting, and Tautou deserves all the credit for that.  She seems to have the whole package for this movie.  She’s funny, independent, has an untamable quality that only historically great actresses like Katherine Hepburn possess, and I look in her eyes that just makes you smile.  People will be watching Amelie for years and will fall head over heels for Tautou every time.

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