This weekend saw the release of The
Drop in UK cinemas, a Brooklyn based crime thriller that stars Tom Hardy
& is penned by Dennis Lehane. It’s certainly not a bad film, but neither is
it a very good one. Lehane’s narrative plods along at a pace that always burns
slow but rarely bright, and Hardy seems to be subdued for the most part. What
it does have in its favor though, apart from the eminently atmospheric setting,
is a superb turn from James Gandolfini. Being the final film he completed
before his untimely death last year, this is your last chance to see the genius
of Gandolfini on the big screen; now that’s an offer you can’t refuse!
Upon leaving my screening at the weekend, I was once more found myself
I awe of Gandolfini’s incredible acting abilities, and dejected at the idea
that I would no longer be able to experience his range in the cinema again.
Thankfully, despite only having a relatively short screen career, Gandolfini
has left behind an enormous body of work to be reveled in for eternity. And
here, as a final goodbye to the late, great Gandolfini, I have listed the five
cinematic performances of his that I will always carry close to my heart.
1: as Albert in Enough Said
For many, James Gandolfini was,
and will continue to be, the contemporary embodiment of the archetypal
gangster, which is perhaps why his nuanced performance in the superbly subtle Enough
Said felt so special to all those who were fans. Here Gandolfini exuded the
charm of a gentle giant that bathed this subversive rom-com in eternal warmth.
Displaying a regularly unseen shy & sensitive demeanor, Gandolfini’s Albert
was worlds away from
the aggressive gangster characters the actor was typecast as for much of his
career, and there’s a sheer joy in seeing such a different side to this
prolific performer.
2: as Virgil in True Romance
Playing the vicious & violent Virgil wasn’t Gandolfini’s first
screen role, but it was the one that made his name. It’s the complete
antithesis of Albert; here Gandolfini radiates a menacing aura from the moment
here appears on the screen. When we first find him waiting for Patricia
Arquette in her motel room, a shotgun on his hand and The Shirelles playing on
the stereo, the sense of dread it immediately evokes is almost unbearable. But
it does nothing to cushion the impact of just how ferocious Virgil becomes as
he proceeds to beat and batter Arquette’s Alabama to within an inch of her
life. From this truly terrifying tour de force of acting, the modern mobster
was born.
3: as Lt. Gen. George
Millar in In The Loop
Guided by the assured hand of director of Armando Iannucci,
Gandolfini here delivers a perfect illustration of his acting range. His
performance as Lt. Gen. George Millar is laced with a simmering wit, but
throughout his persona bubbles with aggression. The scene that perfectly encapsulates
this, of course, is Millar’s confrontation with Peter Capaldi’s scheming &
sweary Scot Malcolm Tucker. It’s a short conversation that’s full of memorable
moments, but the talents of Gandolfini are epitomised in the final shot, as
Millar becomes overcome with confusion at being told by Tucker to never call
him “fucking English again”.
4: as Carol in Where The Wild Things Are
It may not be a physical performance, but that doesn’t stop
Gandolfini from being a commanding screen presence in Spike Jonze’s adaptation
of Maurice Sendak’s beloved childhood novel.
It’s a gorgeous use of his vocal tones, which compounds aggression with
emotion. And through it Gandolfini superbly manages to convey Carol’s distinguishably
impulsive & imaginative characteristics, fuelling the film’s wildly
inventive personality.
5: as Mickey in Killing Them Softly
Given how well known he was for playing Tony Soprano for so many
years, it’s not much of a surprise to find him inhabiting many other gangster
roles in the later part of his career. Mickey is arguably the most substantial
and certainly the most effective of the bunch. Gandolfini is a bold & bitter presence
as a hit man who let the greed of his formative years get to his head, and now
finds himself wallowing in a pool of self-pity. Flexing his more muted acting
muscles, it’s a role that’s far removed from Tony Soprano.
So there we have it, my top five cinematic
performances by James Gandolfini. But which ones have I left out, which ones do
you believe deserve to be on this list, and are there any I have included that
you don’t agree with? As ever, leave your remarks in the comments section. And
then be sure to check out my full review of The
Drop over on the Culturefly website!
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