I want to write something about an actor who is almost unknown today, yet was the most gifted actor I know of. It seems wrong that people of my generation haven’t heard of him. Hopefully, by writing this short piece, I can help to preserve the memory of his extraordinary talent.
I like that you wrote this tribute to an overlooked and somewhat forgotten actor, whose ability to transform himself in each of those roles ultimately led to his being even less recognised or acknowledged for his innate talent.
One actor that I think is the best this current generation has to offer is Tom Hardy. Because half the time, when questioned, I couldn't tell you what films he's been in. And that's actually a compliment. He inhabits each role he takes on, so completely, that he somehow manages to make himself disappear. I can never remember his name and just before posting this comment, I had to go look it up based on the one single film I could remember him being in: Bronson.
As you yourself noted with regards Michael Bryant, Hardy will have had a lot of help from the make-up, clothing and prosthetics departments that work their magic behind the scenes; but it's more than that. I've probably seen him in about 8 or 9 films (I had to go check his IMDB page to figure that out) and I don't watch a lot of films these days. When I do they're rarely new releases and more likely to be an old vintage flick. And yet I've seen Tom Hardy in a lot of films...whilst not being able to remember him in those roles because he became the character so completely once the cameras started to roll.
It's probably the best compliment I could sincerely give to an actor. The films I've seen him in (and I know he's done a bunch of unserious, brainless films too, but I can't fault the guy for having a strong work ethic and not being a snob about the roles he'll accept) weren't films "Featuring Tom Hardy", they were films where Tom Hardy managed to make himself disappear right before my eyes.
I've no idea what any of his political leanings or religious beliefs are. I know nothing about him other than that quick glimpse at his film credits a few moments ago. I don't want to know anything about him because it's always a bittersweet moment when you find a new artist you really love/enjoy/appreciate, only to discover that they're a crazy leftist nutbag IRL. (I think all of us who sit somewhere on the right have had to learn to separate the artist from the art over the years; If we didn't we'd miss out on a lot of impressive, creative endeavours that had the potential to spark a wee bit of joy in us.)
No, I like the fact that I know almost nothing about the guy, constantly forget his name, and can never remember what films he's been in. Because that is the mark of a truly talented master of his craft. Will he be remembered by the masses, decades down the line? I don't know. But if he isn't, that doesn't mean he wasn't any good. It means he was so good that confounded many people, who also only ever saw the character, not the actor.
I basically recognise almost no actors and barely know any actors names. It is something that doesn't impinge on my consciousness. And yet when I saw that face, I instantly recognised it and thought of numerous characters in different dramas. There was something about him, he could play another bit part villain in just another cops and robbers show, and yet he stood out and I remember him. I can't explain or define it, but a few rare people have that talent, that presence, the sheer acting ability. It's a remarkable thing and worth thinking on.
Acting... Another beautiful kind of talent lost to modernity.
I would put forward Joaquin Phoenix as the closest thing we have to a great actor these days, though to be perfectly honest I am always utterly aware of the fact that I am watching Joaquin Phoenix and not the character he is playing, despite his excellent work in Gladiator, Joker and Napoleon, among lesser known works like The Master. He does play very different people in each of these films; a cowardly and conniving Roman Emperor, a depressed struggling comedian turned homicidal maniac, a famous 19th Century French Emperor and military commander... All extremely different people. But I'm never lost in his performances. He belongs up there with those you mentioned at the beginning, Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine etc. I don't know of any modern-day Michael Bryant's though.
Thanks for sharing these films, I'm watching them now.
I like that you wrote this tribute to an overlooked and somewhat forgotten actor, whose ability to transform himself in each of those roles ultimately led to his being even less recognised or acknowledged for his innate talent.
One actor that I think is the best this current generation has to offer is Tom Hardy. Because half the time, when questioned, I couldn't tell you what films he's been in. And that's actually a compliment. He inhabits each role he takes on, so completely, that he somehow manages to make himself disappear. I can never remember his name and just before posting this comment, I had to go look it up based on the one single film I could remember him being in: Bronson.
As you yourself noted with regards Michael Bryant, Hardy will have had a lot of help from the make-up, clothing and prosthetics departments that work their magic behind the scenes; but it's more than that. I've probably seen him in about 8 or 9 films (I had to go check his IMDB page to figure that out) and I don't watch a lot of films these days. When I do they're rarely new releases and more likely to be an old vintage flick. And yet I've seen Tom Hardy in a lot of films...whilst not being able to remember him in those roles because he became the character so completely once the cameras started to roll.
It's probably the best compliment I could sincerely give to an actor. The films I've seen him in (and I know he's done a bunch of unserious, brainless films too, but I can't fault the guy for having a strong work ethic and not being a snob about the roles he'll accept) weren't films "Featuring Tom Hardy", they were films where Tom Hardy managed to make himself disappear right before my eyes.
I've no idea what any of his political leanings or religious beliefs are. I know nothing about him other than that quick glimpse at his film credits a few moments ago. I don't want to know anything about him because it's always a bittersweet moment when you find a new artist you really love/enjoy/appreciate, only to discover that they're a crazy leftist nutbag IRL. (I think all of us who sit somewhere on the right have had to learn to separate the artist from the art over the years; If we didn't we'd miss out on a lot of impressive, creative endeavours that had the potential to spark a wee bit of joy in us.)
No, I like the fact that I know almost nothing about the guy, constantly forget his name, and can never remember what films he's been in. Because that is the mark of a truly talented master of his craft. Will he be remembered by the masses, decades down the line? I don't know. But if he isn't, that doesn't mean he wasn't any good. It means he was so good that confounded many people, who also only ever saw the character, not the actor.
Just my tuppence, lol.
Bex
A fine homage to a remarkable and underappreciated actor.
Acting: an elaborate form of lying. Actors are not real people.
I basically recognise almost no actors and barely know any actors names. It is something that doesn't impinge on my consciousness. And yet when I saw that face, I instantly recognised it and thought of numerous characters in different dramas. There was something about him, he could play another bit part villain in just another cops and robbers show, and yet he stood out and I remember him. I can't explain or define it, but a few rare people have that talent, that presence, the sheer acting ability. It's a remarkable thing and worth thinking on.
Acting... Another beautiful kind of talent lost to modernity.
I would put forward Joaquin Phoenix as the closest thing we have to a great actor these days, though to be perfectly honest I am always utterly aware of the fact that I am watching Joaquin Phoenix and not the character he is playing, despite his excellent work in Gladiator, Joker and Napoleon, among lesser known works like The Master. He does play very different people in each of these films; a cowardly and conniving Roman Emperor, a depressed struggling comedian turned homicidal maniac, a famous 19th Century French Emperor and military commander... All extremely different people. But I'm never lost in his performances. He belongs up there with those you mentioned at the beginning, Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine etc. I don't know of any modern-day Michael Bryant's though.
Excellent article, Colin.