This past weekend, I took my weekly trip to the movies to see Lawless, the absolutely fantastic story of the Bondurant brothers starring Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman, and Jessica Chastain. The entire cast was perfectly casted, allowing this movie to become one of my favorites of the year. As my friend and I were discussing the movie, however, we both agreed on one thing whole-heartedly: Tom Hardy is a beast! With so many stars in one movie, it's easy for one to get lost occasionally, but sometimes, one rises above the rest, and in Lawless, that one is Hardy. This realization caused two questions to arise in my mind: how good is he and and how good can he be?
My first encounter with Hardy was in Christopher Nolan's masterpiece, Inception. Taking a back seat, obviously, to the great Leonardo DiCaprio, Hardy plays Eames, a dream forger that can change into anyone he desires inside the dream (if you're confused, just go watch Inception). With a cast around him including DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Ellen Page, Hardy steals the scenes his in. Leaving Inception, I began to get the feeling that that guy could be legit one day.
The biggest test, however, to how good an actor truly is is their follow-up film to their breakout role. For me, that follow-up role for Hardy was in 2011's Warrior, where he plays wrestler Tommy Conlon. Described as this genereation's Rocky, Warrior tells the story of two brothers, Hardy and Joel Edgerton playing Brendan Conlon, who are set on a collision course to the title match while also trying to reconnect with their alcoholic father, an Oscar nominated role played by Nick Nolte. These three actors where in top form in this film, giving Hardy his great follow-up he needed.
Where would go after these two? It was time for Hardy to break into a new genre: romantic comedy in the form of This Means War, starring Hardy, Chris Pine, and Reese Witherspoon. While most weren't a huge fan of the film, although I was, it was refreshing to see an actor of Hardy's caliber break the molds that people created for him and try something new.
But no doubt about, Hardy's young career reached a peak in this past summer's blockbuster, The Dark Knight Rises. After Christopher Nolan's unprecedented popular film, The Dark Knight, where Heath Ledger brilliantly portrayed The Joker and set a mile high bar for any villian who dares follow him, the pressure was on to not only make this movie great, but also create a villian for Batman that's worthy to follow Ledger. Nolan chooses Bane, the masked terrorist of Gotham City who would find much delight to see the city destroyed. Nolan calls on Hardy to fill the role, and Hardy more than delievers. I believe that Hardy delievered so much so that his portrayal of Bane should be as praised as much Ledger's Joker. Why not? Both were absolutely despicable and both actors brought a fresh take to a character that we've all seen before. A standard had now been set for Hardy.
The follow-up to a film like The Dark Knight Rises doesn't have to be great, but it's got to be pretty good. Lawless ended up being great with Hardy shining. I don't think it will, but I think this film is more than deserving of the Academy Awards' attention.
Next, we'll see Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road, bringing back a character that Mel Gibson popularized.
Hardy's career is just getting started. He's only 35 years old, and the sky is not even the limit for him! Before too long, I fully anticipate Hardy's name being called on Oscar Sunday. He's got the charisma of a Tom Cruise. The naturaly ability of a Tom Hanks. And the superstar qualities of a Denzel Washington. The last time I checked, those three are studs! Why can't Hardy do the same. So to answer the questions from earlier:
1) How good is he?
Tom Hardy is legit, my friends. One of the finest actors in the business.
2) How good can he be?
Watch out....we could be looking at Hollywood's next greatest actor....
He is for real.
No comments:
Post a Comment