Oldman

My playwriting teacher first told me how amazing the film performances of Gary Oldman truly were. She threw in Daniel Day Lewis as his near equal, but looking at both actors in full there is truly only one master. In a film history class the same professor screened Sid and Nancy which not only indulged my punkish craving but fueled the filmmaking craze I was hooked on at the time. Looking back the first film I probably saw from him was The Fifth Element.

Zorg was such a villainous presence to a ten year old, but fifteen years later every scene is hilarious. Dracula remains to this day to be terrifyingly brilliant. Gary brings such an amazing human nature to all his rolls. The final scene of Dracula smooching the chick from Beetlejuice spurs a particular memory of me questing my father, "Why is she kissing that gross old man?" The Professional was the first time I was truly moved consciously by an Oldman performance and it remains my favorite. Although familiar I didn't realize he was the same actor from the other films that I had seen him in. His ability to transform his body contortions as well his accent is brilliant and his performance in True Romance is what got me completely hooked and fully aware of this range. I'm about to watch The Contender, which is one of the last films that I haven't seen in the Oldman film catalogue. Honestly I do not know what to expect from Gary playing a villainous Republican politician. I'm very curious as to why the population as a whole doesn't recognize Gary as the great actor that he is. His chameleon nature and lack of any noticeable facial features, such as his buddy Tim Roth's nose for example, surely allows him to roam the streets and screen with little paparazzi assiduity. As Gary gracefully ages his performances are becoming more internal, in turn showing his endless range as a faker. Whether or not the Academy recognizes Oldman's ability to internalize his emotions in turn leading to a long overdue Oscar is still up in the air. One thing is certain, Oldman is the best working actor in Hollywood and I anticipate every performance with glee.