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| Gary Oldman: five best moments | Gary Oldman: five best moments |
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| To mark Gary Oldman's appearance in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, here's our selection of some of the actor's finest screen roles to date – but what are we missing? | |
| Let us know your favourite Oldman performances in the thread below. | |
| Sid and Nancy | Sid and Nancy |
| Director Alex Cox gave Oldman his first major film role in this 1986 biopic of Sex Pistol bassist Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, the girlfriend he was accused of murdering. Oldman initially turned down the role in favour of theatre work, but was convinced to change his mind and put in an intense, memorable performance. | Director Alex Cox gave Oldman his first major film role in this 1986 biopic of Sex Pistol bassist Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, the girlfriend he was accused of murdering. Oldman initially turned down the role in favour of theatre work, but was convinced to change his mind and put in an intense, memorable performance. |
| Bram Stoker's Dracula | Bram Stoker's Dracula |
| Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film aimed for a respectful adaptation of the source novel, with Oldman playing a more complex and sympathetic Count Dracula than audiences were used to. Critics weren't unanimously won over, but most agreed that Oldman was excellent. | Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 film aimed for a respectful adaptation of the source novel, with Oldman playing a more complex and sympathetic Count Dracula than audiences were used to. Critics weren't unanimously won over, but most agreed that Oldman was excellent. |
| Léon: The Professional | Léon: The Professional |
| Throughout the 90s Oldman was cast in a number of villanous roles – as the pimp Drexl in True Romance, as Russian terrorist Egor Korshunov in Air Force One – and as Norman Stansfield in Léon, a pill-popping, drug-dealing, murderous cop, and an all-round nasty piece of work. | Throughout the 90s Oldman was cast in a number of villanous roles – as the pimp Drexl in True Romance, as Russian terrorist Egor Korshunov in Air Force One – and as Norman Stansfield in Léon, a pill-popping, drug-dealing, murderous cop, and an all-round nasty piece of work. |
| The Fifth Element | The Fifth Element |
| Director Luc Besson followed up Léon with this very different sci-fi extravaganza, but kept Oldman on as his preferred antagonist. He plays Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, a gleefully OTT villain with a broad Texan accent and one of the worst hair-dos ever committed to film. | Director Luc Besson followed up Léon with this very different sci-fi extravaganza, but kept Oldman on as his preferred antagonist. He plays Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg, a gleefully OTT villain with a broad Texan accent and one of the worst hair-dos ever committed to film. |
| Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy |
| And finally, this 2011 adaptation of John Le Carré's novel, for which Oldman picked up best actor nominations in the the Oscars and Baftas. Peter Bradshaw, reviewing the film, said: "I found it more gripping and involving than any crash-bang action | And finally, this 2011 adaptation of John Le Carré's novel, for which Oldman picked up best actor nominations in the the Oscars and Baftas. Peter Bradshaw, reviewing the film, said: "I found it more gripping and involving than any crash-bang action |
| picture, and it is anchored by Gary Oldman's tragic mandarin, a | picture, and it is anchored by Gary Oldman's tragic mandarin, a |
| variation on Alec Guinness which transfers the emphasis away from George | variation on Alec Guinness which transfers the emphasis away from George |
| Smiley's wounded feelings to his cool capacity for unconcern in the | Smiley's wounded feelings to his cool capacity for unconcern in the |
| face of violence, a hint of a daredevil past, and a schoolmasterly scorn for his victim's | face of violence, a hint of a daredevil past, and a schoolmasterly scorn for his victim's |
| weakness and disloyalty. What a treat this film is." | weakness and disloyalty. What a treat this film is." |