Gary Oldman - 65: five of his best roles

In November 2022, Gary Allman admitted in an interview with the Sunday Times that he was ready to end his love affair with cinema. "I had an enviable career, but careers are disappearing and I have other interests besides acting," he said. "I'm turning 65 next year, around the corner of 70. I don't want to be active when I'm 80. I would be very happy and flattered and privileged to walk away as Jackson Lamb - and then hang up," Oldman continued, making a reference to his character in the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses (since 2022).

Oldman's lengthy career has been made so largely by his choice of roles. He can be the main character in an independent film or play a supporting character in a big-budget blockbuster. He is a chameleon who can freely move back and forth between the images of the hero and the villain. If we really see the end of this remarkable career anytime soon, then in this review, we'll take a look at the special roles that fans of the British actor will never forget.

Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

This role is probably the most popular and most highly regarded, thanks to the many fans of the "Potter" series. Movies Warner Bros. Wizard Boy were huge hits in the early 2000s, and a third dive featuring Oldman's newly introduced character, Sirius Black, was a box office success by its title alone. The role for the actor was risky, because millions of potential viewers in the process of reading D. Rowling's novels had a clear idea of what the hero should be like. But Oldman took the liberty of using the material in the way that the fans expected, but in his own distinctive way. In this character-driven film, Black became Harry's godfather. And his character, as a good man, but covered in darkness, was ideal ground for an actor with such a wide range as Oldman's. Sirius has appeared in other Harry Potter films, but in the third he was the center of attention.

James Gordon in The Dark Knight trilogy (2005-2012)

Just like in the case of the world of Harry Potter, the actor entered deeply into the world of Batman. There have been many reincarnations of Jim Gordon in movies, cartoons and comics over the years, but Oldman's version has become the most memorable. It has no villainous element. The actor shows Gordon as a serious man, one who believes in the best and intends to fight for him, even when it turns out to help the avenger. He was the perfect assistant for the Dark Knight Christian Bale. His "death" in The Dark Knight was a tragedy for many, but when he reappeared to arrest the Joker, it became one of the franchise's most popular moments. In a world of chaos, Oldman's character has for once become not its cause, but a stoic center that does not allow everything to fall apart.

George Smiley in the movie "Spy Get Out!" (2011)

The American Film Academy ignored Oldman's accomplishments for decades, but finally, after years of audience hype, he received his first nomination for this spy thriller set during the Cold War. Based on the John le Carré novel, Oldman helmed a cast of heavyweights such as Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy and played George Smiley, a British intelligence agent who came out of retirement to catch a Soviet double agent. It was a difficult role, but Oldman made it his own, without regard to past roles. He proved that he became not only one of the best Hollywood actors, but also one of the best leading actors.

Winston Churchill in "Dark Times" (2017)

Oldman received a second Oscar nomination and eventual Best Actor statuette for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. The film follows the Prime Minister in the spring of 1940, during the early days of World War II. Of course, one cannot fail to mention the enchanting work of the make-up artists who made Oldman look so much like Churchill, but his performance in this role goes beyond the skillful make-up. The actor shows the politician with a three-dimensional personality, and not the flat and heroic character that everyone is used to, while not even trying to imitate his facial expressions. As a result, the audience sees not a weak hero, but a real person.

Herman Mankiewicz in the movie "Mank" (2020)

Once again, Oldman received an Oscar nomination, his third in a row, for portraying a real person. Many people know who Winston Churchill was, but here is what Herman Mankiewicz or “Mank” did for humanity, only a few will answer. Oldman provides a multifaceted portrayal of a screenwriter whose life begins to fall apart under the influence of addiction. But this film is not about psychological degradation, it is about perseverance. Oldman's character, Herman Mankiewicz, wrote the screenplay for Citizen Kane, but faced the brutality of Hollywood and was forced to save it. David Fincher's "Munk" is an insightful look at the dark side of filmmaking and a character that may not be very sympathetic, but thanks to Oldman's performance, it makes the viewer take his side.