Joaquin Phoenix in The Master (2012)

Joaquin Phoenix delivers the most physically transformative performance of 2012, channeling post-war trauma through Freddie Quell's every twitch and snarl. His 30-pound weight loss and slurred speech create an animalistic presence that outperforms #10 Toni Collette in raw physical commitment. Opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman's controlled charisma, Phoenix elevates their scenes into what critics call the finest two-hander of the decade, with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes audience score for his performance alone.