Gary Oldman is a versatile actor known for disappearing into his roles and undergoing physical transformations.
My Oscar Book:
His standout performances include Winston Churchill in “Darkest Hour,” George Smiley in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” and Drexl Spivey in “True Romance.”
The actor, who’s 65, made his film debut in 1982, but it wasn’t until the early 1990s that he began to earn widespread acclaim for roles in films like JFK and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Oldman is known for disappearing into his performances, as a Method Actor and as someone who’s taken on characters with notable physical transformations.
Gary Oldman has earned acclaim in blockbuster superhero films, Academy Award-nominated biographical drams, and family-friendly adventure films, bringing prestige and excellence to every project. He’s known for playing numerous villains in his career, from Count Dracula to Egor Korshnukov in Air Force One though he has also played endearing supporting protagonists in The Dark Knight trilogy and Harry Potter films. Gary Oldman is one of the most well-regarded actors of his generation, with a deep filmography to explore.
Léon: The Professional (1994)
Léon: The Professional is filled with emotionally charged performances, with Natalie Portman’s starring role as Mathilda often being the stand-out.
Gary Oldman plays Norman Stansfield, a corrupt and unhinged DEA agent who murders Mathilda’s family. The crime classic contains one of Oldman’s most influential villain roles, as the unhinged, unpredictable type of antagonist wasn’t common in the era. Norman Stansfield was the launch-off point for many modern movie villains.
JFK (1991)
Gary Oldman plays a supporting but integral role in JFK as Lee Harvey Oswald, the real-life figure who’s infamous for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The film is more about conspiracy, prompting viewers to consider various possibilities rather than honing in on Oswald as the singular culprit. Gary Oldman manages to play the character in a way that humanizes him but also doesn’t absolve him of suspicion, forcing the audience to consider his innocence but not completely rule out the possibility of his guilt. Oldman is hauntingly authentic in one of his most complex performances.
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the Harry Potter film, introducing Gary Oldman’s Sirius Black. Alfonso Cuarón’s style helped shift the tone of the wizarding world as the characters grew older and the story became more mature. Oldman brings warmth and vulnerability in his portrayal of the wrongly accused convict, providing Harry with a sense of family he hadn’t experienced yet in the series. His aptitude for playing villain characters helps sell the film’s twist, as he brings a touch of wildness to the role that could feasibly make Sirius Black a believable antagonist.
True Romance (1993)
Directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino, True Romance is an absolute blast. The unconventional love story has everything one would hope for in a Tarantino film, from witty dark humor to violent crime to an engaging ensemble of characters. Gary Oldman is almost unrecognizable as Drexl Spivey, a flamboyant and repulsive pimp. The role serves as a testament to Gary Oldman’s flexibility to morph into drastically different characters and make a memorable impact in a limited time. True Romance may not be Oldman’s most well-known work, but it’s a unique entry to the crime genre that deserves its praise.
The Dark Knight (2008)
The Dark Knight deserves praise for elevating and transcending the superhero genre in a way that hasn’t been repeated to the same degree since. Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker is rightfully celebrated, but Gary Oldman’s contribution in the supporting role of Jim Gordon is essential to anchor the chaos of Christopher Nolan’s Gotham City. Gordon is the incorruptible moral compass of the saga, bringing a sense of grounding in a role, unlike Gary Oldman’s usual performances. Jim Gordon might not be the actor’s most nuanced character, but he’s excellent in the film, even delivering the epic closing monologue.
