Although mostly known for high-concept stories and precise visual storytelling, Denis Villeneuve is also great at drawing strong performances out of his casts. Whether he's orchestrating tense, intimate dramas or grand-scale sci-fi epics, the director has a gift for creating spaces where performers can fully embody their roles.

His films meld the cerebral with the emotional , and that balance allows actors to reach extraordinary heights; sometimes through restraint, other times through explosiveness. Plus, Villeneuve's sensitivity ensures they’re never lost beneath spectacle.

10 Josh Brolin

'Sicario' (2015)

Image via Lionsgate

"We're expanding the scope of the investigation a bit." Josh Brolin delivers a menacing but restrained performance in Sicario as CIA operative Mat

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