As 2023 comes to a close, it’s time to acknowledge the best performance of the year: Cillian Murphy in #Oppenheimer. Call me mainstream, I don’t care- Cillian was just too god damn excellent. Murphy is the anchor of Christopher Nolan’s three hour masterpiece and takes us inside the evolution, genius, and self-torture of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Murphy is the centerpiece of one of the best casts Hollywood can assemble but in a movie littered with outstanding performances, Murphy stands alone. You can feel Murphy’s anxiety throughout the film- from the Trinity Test to the post-bomb auditorium scene. In particular, the film’s last hour is where Murphy truly shines- down to the film’s final haunting frame. With each rewatch, Murphy’s performance seems to get better and better. Yes, 2023 was a special year for Cinema and featured amazing performances across the board. But I’m not going to overcomplicate this- Cillian Murphy was unforgettable. Hats off to a special actor and a special performance, hopefully the Academy gives Cillian the Oscar he deserves.