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| Oldman as Stansfield in LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL |
Last week I was clicking through cable channels when I
spotted one of my favorite movies, LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL, directed by Luc
Besson, with lights out performances by Natalie Portman, Jean Reno, Danny
Aiello, and the remarkably talented, Gary Oldman.
A few months back we spoke about what a wonderful ride Gene
Hackman has had. But after watching Oldman's performance in LEON: THE
PROFESSIONAL, I can't imagine how much fun this actor's having as well.
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| Gary Oldman as Drexl in TRUE ROMANCE |
His filmography reads like a list of some of the best films
ever made on the international stage. We all know about his roles in the Batman
series, and even Harry Potter. But what about the beginning? What about his brilliant
performances in SID AND NANCY, BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, the frightening pimp drug
dealer in TRUE ROMANCE, and his portrayal of Ludwig van Beethoven in IMMORTAL
BELOVED. Talk about range.
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| Gary Oldman as Ludwig van Beethoven |
I can remember watching Oldman play the role of Drexl Spivey
when TRUE ROMANCE first came out. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. I
couldn't take my eyes off Oldman, with his dreadlocks, his scarred face, that
blank eye, and that smoking jacket. Fear and terror oozed out of the actor's
every pore and it was thrilling to watch. Cut that against his portrayal of
Ludwig van, and the unforgettable scene when you realize one of the greatest
musicians who ever lived, maybe the greatest of them all, was deaf.
What would the history of film look like if Gary Oldman
hadn't wanted to perform? What if he hadn't had the guts to walk into his first
audition? Sometimes it's important to raise a hand and say thanks to such a
remarkable talent like Gary Oldman.
Sleep Loose,
Robert
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