As a film enthusiast with over two decades of viewing under my belt, I must say that David Harbour has had quite an interesting journey in Hollywood. From his humble beginnings to his breakout role as Jim Hopper on Stranger Things, he’s managed to carve out a niche for himself in the industry.
The popular Netflix series “Stranger Things” continues to shatter viewing records. Set in the ’80s, it focuses on the inhabitants of the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, primarily a band of endearing kids, headed by a girl with extraordinary psychokinetic abilities. However, their lives take an unexpected twist when Hawkins is infiltrated by the enigmatic Upside Down, a menacing parallel universe lying adjacent to ours. The much-anticipated fifth and concluding season of this show is expected to air in 2025.
In 2016, when “Stranger Things” first aired, Winona Ryder was the most recognized cast member from the ’90s. However, since then, the series has catapulted several of its actors to stardom, including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, and Joe Keery. Among these rising stars, David Harbour, portraying Jim Hopper, chief of Hawkins Police Department, stands out as one of the show’s breakout talents. And his achievements and recognition are truly well-deserved.
Hey there fellow movie enthusiasts! I thought it would be fun to share a list of ten flicks where you might not have recognized yours truly, David Harbour, before the hit series “Stranger Things.” Here we go:
10
‘Every Day’ (2010)
Each day unfolds as a comedy revolving around a disenchanted screenwriter navigating the complexities of an alluring new love affair while balancing his existing family ties. This film boasts two esteemed actors, Liev Schreiber and Helen Hunt, with rising stars Ezra Miller (who later faced a tumultuous career due to scandals and legal issues) and David Harbour also making notable appearances before they gained wider recognition.
In the film “Every Day,” Harbor played a minor character named Brian, who collaborated with Schreiber’s character. This movie was one of the selections for the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival, but it received generally negative reviews from critics.
9
‘Awake’ (2007)
Awake
David Harbour, who was not yet well-known then, played the role of Dracula at a costume party. However, it’s important to note that he wasn’t actually portraying Dracula in any official capacity. Yet, his appearance as Dracula adds relevance to this piece, considering the upcoming release of the movie ‘Nosferatu’, another vampire-themed production.
8
‘State of Play’ (2009)
In my exploration, I delve into the gripping tale of “State of Play,” a political thriller that draws inspiration from the 2003 British television series bearing the same name. As a diligent investigator, I unravel the enigmatic death of a congressional aide, a case that seems to implicate his former college companion. In this captivating narrative, I work alongside an illustrious cast, which includes Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Jason Bateman, Robin Wright, and Jeff Daniels.
David Harbour plays a relatively unnamed character in the movie, appearing merely as ‘PointCorp Insider’. This mysterious figure serves as a confidential informant to Russell Crowe’s character during his investigations.
7
‘Snitch’ (2013)
Following the true-life events of an undercover DEA informant, the movie Snitch tells the story of a father who assumes this role to help his distant son, falsely implicated in a drug deal. This film falls into the category of action-packed thrillers and features Dwayne Johnson as its lead actor. Alongside Johnson, notable actors such as Susan Sarandon, Jon Bernthal, Benjamin Bratt, and Michael Kenneth Williams also appear in Snitch.
In a supporting part, David Harbour is depicted as Jay Price in the movie “Snitch.” Despite its poor performance at the cinema, this film surprisingly became a popular streamed title on Netflix last year, making it into Netflix’s Top 10.
6
‘Parkland’ (2013)
The film titled “Parkland” narrates the tumultuous events that unfolded post-assassination of President John Kennedy, as he is taken to Parkland Hospital for emergency care. It features Zac Efron portraying the doctor who attended to the President, Paul Giamatti in the role of the civilian who captured the iconic Zapruder footage, and Jeremy Strong as Lee Harvey Oswald, the notorious assassin of JFK.
David Harbour portrays James Gordon Shanklin, the genuine FBI agent and lawyer who assisted in probing John F. Kennedy’s assassination, in the movie titled “Parkland”. Although it deviates from historical truth at times, this film offers an intriguing perspective on the significant events that unfolded on that fateful day.
5
‘The Green Hornet’ (2011)
As a devoted cinephile looking back on the superhero genre’s rich history, I must admit that 2011’s “The Green Hornet” isn’t among my favorites. Contrary to the legendary 1930s character it’s based on, this live-action adaptation unfortunately misses the mark. The story revolves around a masked vigilante known as the Green Hornet, who teams up with his sidekick to combat crime and Russian gangsters.
In this movie, Frank Scanlon, portrayed by Harbour, is a corrupt district attorney who pays off city officials and collaborates with the Russian mafia. Although the film didn’t flop, it also failed to garner critical or financial acclaim, which put an end to any plans for a follow-up. There have been rumors of a remake, but there hasn’t been any recent news on its development in several years.
4
‘Black Mass’ (2015)
The movie titled “Black Mass” narrates the life and criminal activities of notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger, portrayed by Johnny Depp. It boasts an impressive cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, Jesse Plemons, Peter Sarsgaard, and Dakota Johnson. In this film, David Harbour takes on the role of FBI agent John Morris who, in reality, was an accomplice to Bulger. As the story progresses, the character of Morris, becoming increasingly paranoid, reveals the FBI’s ties to organized crime through The Boston Globe newspaper, a move that ultimately leads to the dismantling of Bulger’s criminal empire.
As a dedicated cinephile, I must confess that the buzz surrounding “Black Mass” was palpable, particularly regarding Johnny Depp’s acting prowess. However, as time has passed, it seems to have faded into the annals of the overcrowded gangster film genre, often overlooked.
3
‘Revolutionary Road’ (2008)
You may be familiar with thought-provoking films that you don’t watch frequently due to their emotional intensity. A movie fitting this description is “Revolutionary Road,” directed by renowned filmmaker Sam Mendes. This romantic drama brings together the leading actors from “Titanic” – Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. However, unlike their characters in “Titanic,” the couple portrayed by DiCaprio (Frank Wheeler) and Winslet (April Wheeler), are seemingly ideal suburban partners who find themselves trapped in a monotonous, unsatisfying marriage filled with bitter quarrels, discarded aspirations, and infidelities.
David Harbour landed one of his most significant roles prior to Stranger Things in Revolutionary Road, where he portrayed Shep Campbell, a neighbor and friend of the Wheeler family. At a certain point, April shares her discontent with life with Shep, leading them into an affair. This affair reveals that the Wheelers aren’t the only suburban couple harboring hidden troubles and intricate marital issues.
2
‘Quantum of Solace’ (2008)
Following the nerve-wracking finale of Casino Royale, fans couldn’t wait for Daniel Craig to reprise his role as James Bond. He did so in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, where Bond set out on a vengeful mission to track down the shadowy criminal group responsible for killing the woman he cared deeply about.
In this movie, David Harbour portrays Gregg Beam, the head of the CIA’s South American division and a colleague of Felix Leiter, played by Jeffrey Wright. The film “Quantum of Solace” was a box office hit, earning $586 million globally. However, it received mixed reviews, which may be why you don’t recall seeing Harbour in this particular movie.
1
‘Brokeback Mountain’ (2005)
Nestled in the American West between 1963 and 1983, the poignant tale of “Brokeback Mountain” unfolds, portraying a deeply intricate romance between two cowboys, skillfully embodied by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
In his early career, David Harbour appeared in just his third movie – the critically-acclaimed and commercially successful “Brokeback Mountain.” He portrayed Randall Malone, a character who engaged in a romantic relationship with Gyllenhaal’s cowboy. This film, released in 2008, stirred controversy due to its focus on homosexuality. Remarkably, it overcame this obstacle and was widely praised by critics, as well as becoming a box office hit. To this day, “Brokeback Mountain” is still considered a cinematic masterpiece, approaching the 20-year mark since its premiere.
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2024-12-20 02:32