Gary Oldman: Best Performances

5. True Romance

Effectively a two-scene wonder in a film populated with them, Oldman's turn as wannabe-black pimp Drexl Spivey is quite possibly my favourite part of a great ensemble, whose main meat of his performance comes in my favourite scene in the film. In terms of Oldman just disappearing into a role, this is probably the best example of it as even without that much in the way of makeup, he transforms himself into this pseudo-Jamican crook with a penchant for casual callousness, he grinds each word out with a brilliant 'gangsta' accent and coarse delivery that just fits the character perfectly, and is equal parts ridiculously funny and ridiculously scary. In less than 10 minutes he makes such a great impact on the audience.

4. State of Grace

In a not particularly outstanding film, Oldman dominates the screen with a barnstorming turn as yet another criminal lowlife, but this time with significantly more screentime, focus and interestingly, a sympathetic bent. The unpredicatable Jackie Flannery is so many different things piled up into one--friend, adversary, maniac, heart of the film--in conception, that any lesser performance would have made it all go so, so very wrong. Thankfully Oldman is more than up to the task in creating this fireball of emotions from his whole manner and posture as the feisty Irish American criminal from Hell's Kitchen, and goes even further than just plain pitch-perfect mannerisms with the strong emotional undercurrent he gives to the character's passionate anger and loyalty to his gang that's oh so sympathetic.

3. Sid and Nancy

A brilliant example of a performance in which the character conception is just so darn subtle it can take a while to appreciate the brilliance of this performance. Oldman's depiction of Sid Vicious is so subtle in how he develops all the character's mannerisms, tics and the way he goes about his musical endeavours. He has absolutely fantastic chemistry and anti-chemistry with co-star Chloe Webb as Nancy Spungen, and maintains the brilliant characterisation of Sid Vicious while he goes through the stages of his life, ups and downs, and reflecting each key moment in every aspect of his performance, physical, vocal and building up to an absolutely scintillating and oddly heartbreaking finale. A great, great performance.

2. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

I give some extended thoughts here (http://actorvsactor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/head-to-head-tinker-tailor-soldier-spy_24.html), but safe to say that Oldman's incredibly subtle turn as George Smiley is a masterclass in understated acting, with not a single moment wasted in his performance to give a sense of who this enigmatic spy is and what the mission he's on is affecting him.

1. Leon: The Professional

'Leon' is an excellent action thriller because it subverts the genre in so many distinct ways. The central relationship between Jean Reno and Natalie Portman of course, but also Gary Oldman's grandstanding turn as the pure pill-popping evil of Norman Stansfield. Oldman's performance is hammy that's for sure, but it sure is scrumptious, succulent ham. Oldman gives this role his all, making the corrupt cop into an eccentric, terrifying, hilarious and self-hating fella who you just LOVE to hate. I have no qualms in calling this my favourite Gary Oldman performance because it is not only downright entertaining and chilling, it's also probably the most difficult challenge he's had in his whole career as this form of HAM can so, so easily go to the wrong side. You can't take your eyes off him whenever he's onscreen.

10. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
9. The Dark Knight
8. Prick Up Your Ears
7. Bram Stoker's Dracula
6. JFK