Starting his career as a stage actor, Gary Oldman has been able to put himself up there with some of the most exceptional senior actors of his generation.
The Oscar-winning actor has displayed extremely versatile characters, two of the most memorable ones being Sirius Black in the Harry Potter franchise and a righteous detective James Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
But, in a conversation with Rotten Tomatoes almost a decade ago, he threw the spotlight on the films that he had the highest regard for. He didn’t walk anywhere near the territory of his own films for that matter.
Gary Oldman Isn’t Particularly A Fan Of His Own Films
Gary Oldman, 65, has often been asked about his feelings for the films he has appeared in over the years. One such instance where his words truly stood out was his interview with Playboy magazine.
“Most of my work, I would just stomp into the ground and start over again,” Oldman admitted.
He didn’t just stop there. The Darkest Hour (2017) actor recalled his time working alongside veteran actor Bruce Willis in The Fifth Element (1997) and said, “I can’t bear it.”
His views on his most notable works in Harry Potter and Batman franchises were even more shocking. “It was work,” he put it plainly.
Gary Oldman Heaped Praises For This ‘70s Storyteller
Picking his favorite films, or rather the top 5 for the Rotten Tomatoes interview, he couldn’t wait to talk about how majestic Francis Ford Coppola’s vision was.
Starting with Apocalypse Now (1979) starring Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen, he spoke about Coppola’s original storytelling caliber.
“Well, three Coppola movies. The list changes, but I always hold the three Coppola movies. Apocalypse Now — the sheer grandeur of it and the originality of it.”
Next up, he mentioned Coppola’s masterful work in 1974’s The Conversation starring Gene Hackman and Harrison Ford.
“I love Gene Hackman in The Conversation. I love that internal man who’s just, you know, very closed down.”
When it’s Coppola, one just can’t skip his exploits with The Godfather trilogy. Oldman spoke highly about the sequel which came out in 1974.
“With these three, he’s a great storyteller. The Godfather Part II, I just think it’s a master class in acting, production design, directing, lighting, and composition. I think that if you were a film student, you’ve got — the way he tells the story, it’s masterful storytelling. And it never ever seems to disappoint.”
In an interview with The Times late last year, Gary Oldman talked about retirement at 80. Playing Harry S. Truman in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, he just proved that there’s a lot left in him.
Oppenheimer was released worldwide on July 21 and is currently in cinemas.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
