92. Jason Isaacs (Peter Pan)

92. I remember very vividly the moment I saw this movie announced, I proclaimed, "I am going to fall in love with this movie. This is going to be one of my favorite films of 2003." I stuck by it, even when the rather shoddy trailers came out, because I knew deep down, that the story of Peter Pan was destined to translate flawlessly to the silver screen. And, lo and behold, it was every bit as magical as I imagined. This is that hallowed film which becomes better and better and better with every viewing. It is already among my favorites of all time. How can one not adore it? Sumpter and Hurd Wood turn in two incredibly unsung child actor performances, one shimmering bravado and the other ladylike adventurer. The sets seem plucked from outside of a dream-literally, the hazy, sometimes outlandish designs are like a nighttime landscape. The veins of wickedness, the wry sense of fantasy, the storybook twists. If the world had any justice, P.J. Hogan would be in charge of that rumored Dakota Fanning version of Alice in Wonderland.

Of course, when it comes to Peter Pan, you can't have the tale without Captain Hook, and Jason Isaacs, in the performance of a lifetime, bites into this role with gusto I'd never imagined. I still have trouble believing that the Academy could nominate such routine performances as Alec Baldwin in 2003, and yet somehow ignore the likes of this genuine gem. Isaacs is of course wicked, but he also delves into the envious nature of Hook-how he longs to be one with Pan & Wendy, and when he can't, he must go all through Neverland, trying to rid the world of things that he can't reach. His pirate is truly swashbuckling-evil but funny, clever but stupid-he's a mix of conundrums, and Isaacs balances them marvelously.

I think the best way to celebrate Isaacs would be to partake of three recent children's classics that, for the large part, weren't paid nearly enough heed: Matilda, Peter Pan, and Lemony Snickett. Each has a magical wickedness that I adore, each has a scrumptious set of villainry, and children that aren't cookie cutouts (I'm talking to you, Pevensie children that aren't named Lucy).