The leading role as the titular downtrodden folk singer in the Coen brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis" was a turning point for Oscar Isaac. Aided by two of the most talented directors of their generation, Isaac gave a star-making performance that was equal parts soulful, abrasive, bitter, pitiable, dangerous, and gut-wrenching. His willingness to put himself so far out of the boundaries of likability and face all of Llewyn's darkest depths as a character head-on, without ever making a fuss about it, had critics and film buffs instantly in love, with the movie earning a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
As if the plaudits and awards he won for "Inside Llewyn Davis" weren't enough (via IMDb), the following year saw him gain even more recognition by way of a partnership with another acclaimed auteur. Playing protagonist Abel Morales in J.C. Chandor's period crime drama "A Most Violent Year," Isaac won a prestigious National Board of Review award for Best Actor.
He could have taken a breather after this success, but instead, he added two more incredible roles to his resumé, seemingly on a quest to become America's most exciting actor in the shortest possible timespan. In early 2015, he gave a standout supporting performance in Alex Garland's sci-fi thriller "Ex Machina" that must be seen to be believed, once again winning multiple critics' awards for his trouble (via IMDb). Later that same year, he anchored the ultra-dense David Simon drama of HBO's "Show Me a Hero" like it was nothing — but this time, the Emmys inexplicably snubbed him.
