Not necessarily the best, but Oldman himself was very fond of Bexy in Alan Clarke’s The Firm, the entirety of which is on YouTube: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=02IBELR2Rpc
In fact, the opening scene is an absolute masterclass in intuitive acting (from the way Oldman walks up to the house to his entirely spontaneous monkey impersonation as he leaves).
Of course, when I say “fond of Bexy”, I mean “appreciative of the dramatic challenges involved in playing such a vile excuse for a human being”, as it’s hard to imagine anyone could actually be fond of him as such. I know he’s married, but there’s no love lost there. Incidentally, that’s his real-life wife in the part, and they divorced not long afterwards, which adds a certain frisson.
This may sound weird but my favorite part of his was as Stansfield in Leon; The Professional his quirks really set his character apart from other villains especially his love of music.
Ah, I love Oldman. That’s tough.. thought he made a great Dracula. Really cracks me up as Drexl in True Romance. Meantime..
But, yeah, he’s great even in trash.
I’m not an Oliver Stone fan but Gary Oldman soooo resembled Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK it was uncanny. I also loved his character in Leon.
Hands down — Lee Harvey in JFK. Subtle, yet he nails the Oswald persona, at least as I imagine him be based on what I’ve read (which is quite a lot).
Everytime he appears, is my favorite.
I can’t honestly think of one single time he was less-than fantastic in any role.
my favorite would have to be “rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead”, my favorite moment being his monologue about the first time you realize you don’t go on forever.
A great question. I referred to imdb to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything, and I can safely say I agree with Karl; I always think of Stansfield in Leon first when I think of Gary Oldman.
Oswald is my favorite, too. I was dumbstruck, as well, by his role in a stinker called Criminal Law, in which (as did Sellers as the president in Dr. Strangelove) Oldman so credibly played an American that I had to remind myself it was he.
I should see more Gary Oldman. The only thing I’ve seen him in is Harry Potter and TDK, but honestly, he seems best as himself.
Leon, hands down my favorite.
can’t say favorite, but he was brilliant in Leon.
His line “Get Everyone”… everyone?… “EVERYONE” in Leon was amazing. I remember the clip they showed in slow motion for commercial breaks on TV was that scene… made me laugh every time.
Also, are there any NON great Oldman roles? Oswald, Sid Vicious, Dracula…. he’s played such diverse people… and throw in Drexl from True Romance, he’s always blown me away.
Gary Oldman was great in “ROMEO IS BLEEDING” as a corrupt, philandering cop who fell for a notorious assassin. Also his role in “THE FIRM” comes to mind s one of his memorable roles among many.
I think Immortal Beloved is my favorite. I’ve always thought it was a pretty underrated movie.
SID VICIOUS
His role as Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
in the Fifth Element was good. He did a great job as Jackie Flannery in State of Grace.
His role as Director on Nil By Mouth. The best thing he’s done in his career.
I lived for several years in that part of London. The verisimilitude Oldman achieves is palpable.
(I’m not detracting from his acting work just celebrating a role I’d like to see him inhabit more.)
His role in “State of Grace”. Good movie with a great cast.
Undoubtedly, Drexl in True Romance.
For me it’s a toss up b/w Sid & Nancy and State of Grace
Sid Vicious.
I was very moved by his performance as emmet foley in chattahooche… he does make you get into the character’s suffering and despair
because of comments on this thread, i just ordered and will watch “leon the professional” for the first time!
has anyone mentioned how awesome gary is in “prick up your ears”?
sid vicious, drexl, oswald, dracula, the cop in the professional. and from when he was on TV’s Friends as the actor opposite Joey who kept spitting on him. everything he does is great.
Oswald in JFK
Fifth Element
For me it would be in Romeo is bleeding by Peter Medak as the romantic rotten cop or in State of Grace by Phil Joanou as the crazy and dangerous but sympathetic Irish mobster and even though he does not play in it let’s not forget his hard and intense movie as a director Nil by mouth about his hard youth in UK with the also amazing Ray Winstone;
For me it would be in Romeo is bleeding by Peter Medak as the romantic rotten cop or in State of Grace by Phil Joanou as the crazy and dangerous but sympathetic Irish mobster and even though he does not play in it let’s not forget his hard and intense movie as a director Nil by mouth about his hard youth in UK with the also amazing Ray Winstone;
Adam Lee
I just got done watching Sid & Nancy for the first time, and WOW. Everything this guy does is gold!
That’ll be my answer.