1. Jess Weixler
She carries Free Samples as an unhappy, unlikable, whiny elitist with a surprising amount of sympathy and interest. But then she shines as a struggling-but-supportive newlywed in the phenomenal Best Man Down.
2. Dane DeHaan
First he's the troubled son looking for revenge in the very affecting The Place Beyond the Pines. Then he's a troubled trouble-maker looking to spice up Allen Ginsberg's formative years with an equally haunting and charismatic performance in Kill Your Darlings.
3. Imogen Poots
British actress Imogen Poots has had a number of smaller performances but then she starred alongside Catherine Keener, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Mark Ivanir and Christopher Walken in A Late Quartet, and she held her own. In a delightful performance she plays a perceptive daughter, mature enough to be past her rebellion years, but not mature enough for the relationship she gets herself into.
4. Brie Larson
She gives a wholly convincing and realistic performance of a mature and confident twenty-something counselor in Short Term 12 who is ill-equipped to manage the current drama in her life due to her emotionally damaging childhood. Larson has been working for years, but this critically acclaimed performance should cement her as a serious dramatic actress.
5. Barkhad Abdi
A young black actor from Minnesota who can play a Somalian pirate is sure to stand out. He has a unique screen presence in Captain Phillips with a captivating and darkly comedic performance.
6. Miles Teller
He first made waves as a troubled teenager in Rabbit Hole, but The Spectacular Now will prove to be his breakthrough role. He plays the selfish, completely inappropriate lead character who has a surprising amount of charisma, magnetic-appeal and excellent line delivery.
7. Tye Sheridan
Mud marks 15-year-old Tye Sheridan's second film appearance, and this time he's the lead. In a very realistic portrayal, Sheridan plays teenager Ellis who is falling in love, falling in love with the idea of love, and looking for a role model. The fact that that probably shouldn't be Mud just adds a touch of comedy.
8. Dylan O'Brien
He gives a delightfully relatable performance of a teenager falling in love in The First Time. He added in the perfect amount of humour and empathy.
9. Britt Robertson
Also gives a delightfully relatable performance of a teenager falling in love in The First Time. She's a bit more hardened than her co-star and serves as a kind of a straight-man to her douchebag boyfriend.
10. Chase Williamson
In a first time film performance, Williamson tackles the lead in the messy, ridiculous horror-comedy John Dies at the End. He does a tremendous job with the hilarious dialogue and with looks of exasperation to allow the audience a semblance of reality.