The Five Best Joseph Gordon-Levitt Performances

2. Mysterious Skin

Gordon-Levitt’s boldest performance by far is Mysterious Skin. A story focused around two boys who were molested in their childhood, Gordon-Levitt completely steals the show here, outshining the rest of the cast in every way possible and delivering a haunting performance that sticks with the audience long after the film is done.

Playing a gay teenage prostitute would be a daunting task for any actor, but Gordon-Levitt seemed completely immersed in his role, going to darker places than most actors would ever consider. He had amazing monologue after amazing monologue and was completely successful in showing the hardened exterior and vulnerable interior of a deeply scarred boy.

Most Impressive Scene: The train ride home and the time in the bathroom after he’s been raped and beaten is the boldest and most haunting bit of the whole film. The way that Gordon-Levitt conveys not only physical pain, but also intense emotional turmoil is marvelous. The build-up of emotion is so great, and so believable, that it’s almost impossible for the audience to not feel his pain.

Click below to see Gordon-Levitt’s best performance.