Honourable Mentions:
JT Leroy (2018)
Stewart portrays both Savannah Knoop, the sister in law to infamous author Laura Albert, and Laura’s male avatar, JT Leroy- who doesn’t actually exist. It’s fascinating watching Stewart play down her naturalness in trying to sound like a cripplingly shy man-child in hiding, but watch her personality explode through at times, before going back to her character's original self who likes pretending to be someone of importance far more than she would care to admit.
Speak (2004)
Stewart’s first film as a high school student sets the table for the roles that would later go on to entrench her Hollywood persona as a teen with a lot of anxieties to figure out. It’s a bummer, being so good at that thing where you get typecast for after for years. She’s great here, as the high school student who is sexually assaulted, and doesn’t know who to turn to to express her self. At least a part of her resume that landed her the Twilight series.
10. Adventureland (2010)
A rare gem in the most challenging phase of Stewart’s career, she brings a sense of youthful revolt to her character, simultaneously leading on young and naive buck Jesse Eisenberg and married soon to be way too old to be working at an amusement park handyman Ryan Reynolds. It’s a good look for her as she portrays someone trying to find romance, but instead is plunged into confused lust and real world consequences.
9. Charlie’s Angels (2019)
In this modern day remake/sequel to the forgettable early 2000’s remakes of the dispensable 1970’s television show, Stewart is anything but as the impish and plucky agent who gives Black Widow a run for her money in terms of making her marks think they’re having their way with her when she’s actually tying them up for the kill. Stewart’s introduction to physicality (and Kate McKinnon in Ghostbusters styled musings) combined with her usual magnetism is tough to take your eyes away from.
8. Cafe Society (2016)
Stewart is excellent as a participant in one of Woody Allen’s ping pong of the heart stories, and Allen’s choice to photograph Stewart exclusively in magic hour hues results in her never looking better. It’s easy to emphasize with the male protagonist (Jesse Eisenberg, in his 3rd appearance with Stewart)’s challenge in getting over her.
7. Lizzie (2018)
While the late 19th century set drama is not very much fun, Stewart’s portrayal of the hardscrabble Irish servant for Lizzie Borden’s now infamous family is quietly searing (with a lovely Irish accent to match). Off to the side of Chloe Sevigny’s vacant stare, there’s a lot going on behind the eyes of Stewart’s desperate, alone, and subservient human.
6. Catch that Kid (2004)
Don’t let the Ocean’s 1 Nickelodeon styled caper vibes fool you- this is what a star looks like when it is preparing to burst supernova. Shockingly head and shoulders above everybody else in the film (apologies to Sam Robards and John Carroll Lynch), Stewart’s barely teenager aged performance evokes shades of glamour and intrigue beyond her years that can’t be faked.
In this true story, Stewart may not sound like the iconic 60’s French New Wave actress Joan Seberg, but she embodies the dream-like and naive qualities of the doomed American who hit it big while living in Paris, before the FBI systematically destroyed her life for supporting the Black Panthers. One of her more iconic and effortlessly graceful roles, it’s a shame the uneven film (and great cast) can’t keep up with her when things get raw.
4. Panic Room (2002)
One of the best child actor performances ever (Stewart turned 10 on the set). In a film featuring 3 Oscar winners (Forest Whitaker, Jodie Foster, and Jared Leto) and a memorable Dwight Yoakim, Stewart is incredible as an adolescent daughter who during a home invasion has to team up with her mother to combat burglars and the threat of a diabetic coma.
3. Personal Shopper (2016)
I’m happy to swap this with #2 below, but either way Stewart is mesmerizing as a Paris based spirit medium who is trying to make contact with her recently deceased twin brother, while she pays the bills as a personal assistant. Stewart’s penchant for naturalistic and casual performance is never better as she travels around Europe for her job, but the scenes of tension involving ghosts, and murder, up the stakes and help us empathize with her.
2. Still Alice (2014)
Longtime favourite of mine Julianne Moore won her Oscar for her role as a professor/mom who slowly succumbs to early onset Alzheimer’s Disease- and at times is eclipsed by Stewart, as one of her daughters. Stewart seems to gather momentum as the film goes on, and by the film’s final scene it feels like a torch is passed from the formidable Moore to Stewart.
1. Clouds of Sils Marie (2014)
Stewart’s best performance came seemingly out of nowhere, and announced that she was done with trying to fit in with the Hollywood system and ill fits with directors and projects that didn’t cater to her strengths. Stewart more than holds her own as the subordinate to Juliette Binoche’s aging actress character, and the movie feels mountainously empty when Stewart is not in the frame. A riveting start to the triumphant mid point of her career.
