What characters turned in the best performances in Birds of Prey? Light Spoilers ahead.
After Wonder Woman and Aquaman proved that DC Comics has stepped away from being depressingly dark, it was time for Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) to keep that momentum going. Not only did it keep said momentum, but it may also be the most fun you’ll have at a movie this year.
From the opening animatic to the post credit scene (yes, there is one), the movie keeps you enthralled. The action was entertaining and the story flowed in a different, but smooth, way. And then you have the characters.
All of the actors bought into their roles and played them well.
We know Margot Robbie is an exceptional actor, as we’ve seen her blow crowds away in multiple movies like I, Tonya and The Wolf of Wall Street. However, people do have off days and bad performances. It happens to everyone (maybe except Leonardo DiCaprio). All we can hope is that she continues to deliver like we know she can. The same can be said for Rosie Perez. She’s been dazzling audiences since she appeared as Tina in the 1989 classic Do the Right Thing. And these are just two of the main characters in Birds of Prey. But which of these characters were the best of the best?
7. Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain
There are going to be some people who aren’t happy with how Cassandra Cain was altered for the film. In the comics, she’s a skilled fighter who barely talks. She’s so skilled that even Batman admits he would have issues fighting her, especially since she’s more than capable of killing her opponents. In Birds of Prey, Cassandra Cain is *not* a fighter, definitely a talker, a skilled pickpocket, and a keen observer. These are all skills she’ll need if she’s going to survive, especially around Harley Quinn.
She makes this list because of the way she adapted to the people around her. Once she and Harley linked up, she had to adapt to her new life quickly. When Cassandra had to hide, she was doing it while being surrounded by violence. In the midst of the chaos, she had a bunch of really slick moments. The first time we saw her smoothly pickpocket someone is a firm example. And then there’s the ending (which won’t be spoiled here). But that was just another day for her. If Warner Bros. and the DCEU go forward with her character (and they should), it will be nice to see how she grows. Will she be a fighter in another movie? Is she a fighter but just doesn’t like what it does to her? We’ll have to wait and see.
6. Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Helena Bertinelli/Huntress
It’s shocking to see how good of a job the creative team did telling the Huntress’ backstory. Her origin was done quickly, but they made certain to highlight the important parts, particularly why she became the Huntress. For those of you who know why she became Huntress in the DC Comics Rebirth, you’ll appreciate everything that was done. Other than her origin, Huntress is a take-no-prisoners bad-@$$. She had to be. She’s one of the more deadly characters in the Bat-family and one of the few members who are more than willing to kill someone. Batman may not like this about her, but he trusts her anyway.
Huntress didn’t get a lot of screen time in Birds of Prey. However, all of her time was used wisely. She came in stealthy, did what she had to do, and left just as fast. And when it came time for the final battle, the creative team did a great job showing off her skill in a hectic setting
Mary Elizabeth Winstead did a great job capturing Huntress. She may have had fewer lines than her co-stars, but her facial expressions said exactly how Huntress felt at any moment. This was especially true whenever she came off as slightly naive or annoyed, and Winstead should be commended for that.
5. Chris Messina as Victor Zsasz
It was exciting seeing a lesser-known character like Zsasz in Birds of Prey. He’s one of the more deplorable characters in any genre. His origin may have been slightly changed, but the major parts were still there, with main one being that Zsasz is despicable. He loves killing people on a level no one should be able to understand; to the point that he enjoys cutting himself every time he kills someone. Zsasz’s obsession goes so deep that he knows which scars go with each kill. He saves specific spots for more “important” or “memorable” kills. Chris Messina had to convey that sick, depraved nature and did it better than expected.
Victor Zsasz was perfect. He was a villain that was loyal to his boss, Roman Sionis (Black Mask). He never questioned Sionis and even held back his murderous impulses when he needed to. There was a moment in the movie where Zsasz failed Roman and lied about the situation. Not because he was trying to betray him, but because he didn’t want to disappoint him.
It would have been nice for him to have had a better send-off. Nevertheless, he served his purpose. Zsasz was a character that was almost impossible to like, but you appreciated everything he did. It’s always refreshing to see villains you can’t relate to, especially since Zsasz is one of the worst.
4. Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Dinah Lance/Black Canary
It was always going to be interesting to see how Black Canary would be portrayed in Birds of Prey. Would this Dinah Lance be as good of a fighter as she was in the comics? Well, the answer is: Oh, yeah! The first time she gets into a scuffle, she singlehandedly takes out a bunch of goons making them look like fools in the process. Dinah was so impressive during the fight that Roman Sionis made her his new driver. Dinah didn’t like it, but it got her closer to Roman. That closeness made Renee Montoya’s job easier.
It was disappointing that we didn’t get many Canary Screams, but the big one was worth the wait. Sometimes a power like that can be more effective if it’s only seen once. Plus, she was amazing without it. Not only was Dinah sarcastic and passive-aggressive, but she could also back up all of the trash she talked. Whoever played Black Canary had to be all of that and more, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell proved to be a great pick for Dinah Lance.
Going forward, Black Canary will be a popular addition to DC Extended Universe. In a short amount of time, we saw a lot of Dinah Lance and her potential. She also has a presence to her and, when she’s on screen, you can’t help but be mesmerized by her.
3. Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya
If there was any doubt that Rosie Perez still has it, those worries should be gone. Not only is she still a fantastic actor, but she can also play an action hero as well. Rosie was charged with playing one of Gotham’s few honorable detectives, Renee Montoya. In this universe, Montoya didn’t get the respect she deserved and was constantly mocked by her peers, despite closing cases and saving lives. The biggest besmirchment may have been from her boss. He took credit for her wins on two separate occasions. Nevertheless, she still did her job.
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Renee Montoya constantly tried to do the right thing and was continuously shut down. Despite that, there were moments where she was flat-out intimidating. Even in those instances, you could tell she was holding back so she wouldn’t scare the weaker people in her unit. Thankfully, she gets an ending that’s worthy of her character.
Renee Montoya was incredible, and Rosie Perez was a solid choice, with her attitude being the first thing you’ll notice. This Montoya has experienced more of Gotham, which meant she knows what the criminals are capable of. You can tell that her spirit was constantly tested by the way she acted. A nice touch that may fly under the radar.
2. Ewan McGregor as Roman Sionis/Black Mask
You may not look at Ewan McGregor and think, “He’s the guy I want playing a ruthless and sadistic crime boss.” Well, after Birds of Prey, we can’t say that anymore. The best way to sum up Ewan McGregor’s performance is to call him a believable monster. Ewan flat-out killed the part of Roman Sionis. He was a guy who wanted it all and was willing to do anything to get it, even if it meant having someone’s face cut off. The way he commanded respect from everyone around him was masterful. You truly believed that the guy who sang in Moulin Rouge! was also someone who would embarrass or kill anyone who laughed while he was upset.
Even though he didn’t wear the classic black mask much, he was still scary. He had this distinct way of looking both smooth and deadly. You could look at him and tell he would have everyone you love killed just because someone gave him the wrong coffee. There’s a scene where he was going to spare someone, which seemed out of character him. Then, Roman ends up having the person killed because of something he finds annoying. That’s the kind of person he is. He’s very much like all of the major criminals in Gotham — intelligent with zero redeemable qualities.
1. Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn
Margot Robbie proved again why she is one of the best performers in the superhero genre. She nailed Harley Quinn from start to finish. In addition to being the central character, she also served as the narrator of the story. Some fans have criticized her voice, but it worked perfectly with the theme of the movie. It could be because most of us are used to hearing Tara Strong’s rendition from the animated projects. Robbie’s acting is still superb as well. She was a near-flawless representation of Harley Quinn as she is in the recent comics. Quinn is very goofy, but she’s no fool. You could see this through the way she outsmarted everyone, from her enemies to her friends. An underappreciated quality is her ability to care. At first, Harley may have been apprehensive about taking Cassandra under her wing but, as time went on, you could see that she was more than happy to have her around.
The big question going into this film was whether or not Robbie’s Harley Quinn could carry a movie and now we know she can. Yes, there were stellar performances from the entire cast, but she was the star and focal point. There was a lot of pressure on Robbie because Harley is such a beloved character, but she handled that pressure and did better than expected. Margot Robbie has a long and bright future ahead of her as Harley Quinn.
What do you think of these rankings? Let us know in the comments below.