Gary Oldman: Best Movies

The film chameleon’s greatest moments

By Josh WinningApr 11th 2011
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Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

The Role: Sirius Black

Why It’s The Best: Though Oldman’s the first to admit that he took the part of Harry Potter’s shamed godfather Sirius Black in order to pay the bills, there’s no denying that he’s perfect casting, bringing an edge to the series of book adaps that had been absent before his entrance.

Iconic Moment: Free from Azkaban but now a hunted man, Sirius bids Harry an emotional goodbye before flying off on the back of hippogriff Buckbeak.

Gary Says: “I’m playing him as a bad guy and then you make that twist. It’s a bit like playing Shakespeare. Shakespeare doesn’t really write subtext, you play the subtext. You do it all in the line, I’ve not embellished it with a whole lot of psychology.

“It’s a certain technique to playing it, a certain style. I appear, you think I’m the bad guy and through the course of the scene you realise, ‘Oh, he’s not that.’

“But when you see me, I have an energy and intensity and the audience, not being familiar with the book, would still think that I‘m actually after Harry Potter and that I’m presumably in cahoots with Voldemort. I guess what I am saying is you play him as a good guy but he has been wrongfully accused and imprisoned.”

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Comments

    • clearwriter

      Apr 11th 2011, 10:37

      Lee Harvey Oswald? Come on. Before True Romance, surely JFK should have been on here.

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    • ebrown2112

      Apr 11th 2011, 13:02

      I'd put JFK, Prick Up Your Ears, and The Contender on the list before Dracula, Romeo is Bleeding, and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead. And the best performance in Dracula was by Tom Waits.

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    • ebrown2112

      Apr 11th 2011, 13:02

      I'd put JFK, Prick Up Your Ears, and The Contender on the list before Dracula, Romeo is Bleeding, and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead. And the best performance in Dracula was by Tom Waits.

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    • DanielMcA

      Apr 11th 2011, 14:06

      Josh, I know that, to a certain extent, you are playing devil's advocate in these pieces - proffering limited or contrary information or opinion in order to stimulate response and debate, but comethefukon. A piece on Gary Oldman's best performances without The Contender? That's pretty friggin' weak. What next, a piece on Orson Welles' best work but leave out Kane?

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    • Hadouken76

      Apr 11th 2011, 16:59

      Surely his greatest moment was writing and directing Nil by Mouth, but since we are talking about acting it doesnt count...pity.

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    • Heafja38

      Apr 11th 2011, 20:30

      Surely his awesome performance in State Of Grace should of got a mention.

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    • Gav83

      Apr 12th 2011, 4:54

      @Heafja38: yep I agree. State Of Grace should definitely be on here. I read a quote from Oldman somewhere once that said his performance in State of Grace was the one he was most proud of.

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    • dario

      Apr 12th 2011, 11:07

      What´s with The Contender?

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    • FBTZootCatchy

      Nov 1st 2011, 19:55

      "Oldman delivers the whole thing in Russian, no less." IT WAS ROMANIAN, NOT RUSSIAN, you fool! In fact it was modern Romanian imitating medieval English syntax.

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