Gary Oldman’s seven best film roles

Very few actors can disappear into a role completely like Gary Oldman. The phenomenal British thespian brings something different to every part he plays, and unlike some big names he’s unafraid to totally mask his appearance to build the character.

Add in that he’s a wonder with accents and body language, and you have one of the most intriguing (and in my opinion, underrated) screen presences of this generation. Because of this versatility, he’s taken on a huge range of parts in movies of every genre. Even when the film he’s in isn’t exactly high quality, Gary Oldman always gives it his all, and is always a blast to watch.

Here are some of the best roles the talented Mr. Oldman has played:

Jim Gordon – The Dark Knight Trilogy

In my opinion, bar none Oldman’s best role is that of eventual Commissioner Gordon in the Dark Knight trilogy. Christopher Nolan’s interpretation of Batman revolutionized the comic book genre by grounding the Dark Knight firmly within reality. This required a strong set of supporting characters to Christian Bale’s Batman, arguably none of which is more important to nail than Jim Gordon.

Fortunately for everyone, Gary Oldman is pitch perfect through all three movies. He plays Batman’s ally as a man desperate for a glimmer of hope for his city, one who’s willing to go against everything he’s learned about the right way to do things in order to make a positive change. Oldman’s Gordon is tired of the status quo and we believe that he can trust and be trusted by the Dark Knight. 

Sirius Black – Harry Potter

Another hugely important supporting character for a struggling hero, Oldman’s Sirius is deeply haunted but genuinely wants to be a positive influence on his godson. Sirius changes quite a bit through the three movies in which he appears, and Oldman portrays every aspect of the character with equal ease.

In Prisoner of Azkaban, Black is a looming threat, someone whose sanity is in question (to say the least). As Harry’s saga continues, Sirius slowly grows more and more into the role of father figure, though he never fully lets go of his wild side. Oldman’s performance shows every bit of that transformation. 

George Smiley – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

George Smiley, the retired spy brought back into action to uncover a mole within British Intelligence, is the role that finally brought Gary Oldman the Oscar nomination he desperately deserved. Smiley is an incredibly reserved character, so Oldman has to do a lot with body language and subtle facial expressions to define who the man is, and it’s wonderful to watch. The movie itself presents a phenomenal mystery with layer after layer, with Smiley’s stoicism and quiet determination conveyed with the slightest of movements. Oldman really gives a clinic on “less is more,” and it couldn’t be more compelling to witness.

Mason Verger – Hannibal

Now, Hannibal isn’t that great a movie, especially when compared with its predecessor, Silence of the Lambs (which is one of my favorite movies of all time). The chemistry between Julianne Moore and Anthony Hopkins is so much less dynamic than it was when Jodie Foster played Clarice, and the overall plot is much less interesting. However, Oldman’s vengeance-seeking pig weaponizer, Mason Verger, is a bright spot. Oldman is basically unrecognizable underneath layers of makeup, playing a man using all his considerable means to get back at Hannibal Lecter, who was responsible for disfiguring him years before.

Zorg – The Fifth Element

Alright, I’m admitting a serious guilty pleasure here. Calling The Fifth Element “good” is giving it way too much credit, but if it’s on TBS on a boring Sunday, I’m putting it on in the background and enjoying the ridiculousness. And a huge helping of the film’s absurdity comes from Oldman’s oddly Southern-sounding chrome-headed villain Zorg. This movie is goofy from beginning to end, and while it’s certainly nothing more than a paycheck for Oldman, he certainly seems to be having fun, hamming it up to the best of his ability.

Dracula – Dracula

Another very mediocre movie made watchable by a really fun Gary Oldman performance. Oldman is again almost unrecognizable, this time in full old man pointy-headed Count Dracula makeup. While it’s desperately trying to be a serious, dark tale, the movie itself comes off as heavy-handed and frequently hokey thanks to some very overdone performances. After all, even acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola can’t make Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder better actors. But Oldman is again having a great time as the king of the vampires, and watching him bite into necks (and chew his fair share of scenery while he’s at it) makes Dracula worth a watch.

Lee Harvey Oswald – JFK

Oldman’s part as Kennedy’s assassin isn’t huge in Oliver Stone’s JFK, but he plays the skittish Communist sympathizer very well. This is another example where Oldman completely embodies his character – he alters the way he carries himself, the timbre of his voice, and other small mannerisms to bring Lee Harvey Oswald to life. There’s minimal makeup involved here, but Oldman disappears so well into the role that it’s hard to tell it’s him at times. He clearly took his cues from existing footage and audio of Oswald, a lot of which is recreated with actors throughout the film. Oldman’s skill as a chameleon is once again on display here