As a seasoned film critic with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing Anthony Hopkins evolve into one of Hollywood’s most captivating actors. His ability to embody complex characters and deliver performances that leave audiences in awe is nothing short of remarkable.
Anthony Hopkins, a renowned and deserving actor from Wales, boasts an impressive collection of accolades including two Academy Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards. His portfolio is further enhanced with numerous nominations. Even in less-than-stellar productions like “Transformers: The Last Knight,” his acting ability manages to captivate audiences.
He puts his entire energy into every acting role, including “Transformers: The Last Knight.” Despite his extensive filmography, some of his finest performances have been overlooked or forgotten over the years. Here are a few hidden gems featuring Anthony Hopkins that deserve more recognition.
10 Magic (1978)
Around the same period, Hopkins acted brilliantly in the TV movie “The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case.” Meanwhile, in the film “Magic” directed by Richard Attenborough, Hopkins portrayed a disturbed ventriloquist, and lent his voice to the ominous puppet named Fats.
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In a masterful display of storytelling, Hopkins skillfully portrays the complexities of his characters in “Magic.” The shy and determined nature of Charles “Corky” Withers is juxtaposed with the rough and violent side of Fats. However, these contrasting personas are intrinsically connected within one character, leaving the audience to ponder the struggle and tension that Hopkins so effectively conveys. It’s a delicate balance that Corky must juggle, and we can’t help but empathize with his internal turmoil.
9 The Bounty (1984)
The movie “The Bounty” recounts the unfortunate journey of the HMS “Bounty.” Originally meant to gather breadfruit trees, this ship is seized by the commander’s trusted friend instead. In this adaptation, William Bligh, portrayed by Errol Morris, assumes the role of the commanding officer, while Mel Gibson brings Fletcher Christian, the mutineer and former friend, to life.
Hopkins vs. Gibson
Although Gibson’s acting in “The Bounty” can be somewhat lackluster at times, Hopkins delivers one of his finest performances in this film. He skillfully portrays both strength and despair, preventing the movie from becoming a tedious experience. Notably, esteemed actors like Laurence Olivier, Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neeson, and Bernard Hill from “The Lord of the Rings” add significant depth to the production with their exceptional talents.
8 The Edge (1997)
In “The Edge,” Hopkins portrays billionaire Charles Morse, who harbors suspicions about photographer Robert Green (Alec Baldwin) allegedly having an affair with his wife. To put these suspicions to rest, they embark on a plane journey to select a model for Morse’s wife’s photoshoot. Unfortunately, their aircraft crashes. Later, Morse’s assistant is hurt, and his spilled blood draws the attention of a massive Kodiak bear.
Hopkins vs. Bart the Bear
Over time, Morse’s doubts about Green and his spouse are confirmed, yet the troublesome bear remains a significant threat. For their own survival, these two must work together. However, if they manage to outlive the bear, they may still struggle to get along with one another.
7 The Mask of Zorro (1998)
Originally imagined as a Tom Cruise film, The Mask of Zorro ultimately cast Antonio Banderas in the lead role instead. This decision proved beneficial as his electric chemistry with Catherine Zeta-Jones and heartwarming relationship with Hopkins’ character, Don Diego de la Vega, added depth to this Martin Campbell production (following the success of GoldenEye). The expertly executed fight scenes further solidified this action classic as a crowd-pleaser.
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Although The Mask of Zorro wasn’t overlooked entirely, as it raked in $250.3 million globally versus a production cost of $95 million. However, it failed to initiate a successful franchise as anticipated. This was evident with the release of The Legend of Zorro, which came seven years later and had a smaller budget of $65 million. Unfortunately, it wasn’t financially rewarding nor did it deliver the same level of enjoyment as The Mask of Zorro.
6 Meet Joe Black (1998)
Martin Brest’s film “Meet Joe Black” presents Hopkins as billionaire businessman Bill Parrish. He learns from Death, portrayed by Brad Pitt, that his life is nearing its end. Yet Death proposes an intriguing proposition: Parrish can add some time to his existence by acting as Death’s companion. The enigmatic figure yearns to understand human experiences, particularly the emotion of love, and Bill reluctantly consents.
Pure Sunday Afternoon Melodrama, in the Best Way Possible
Over the course of events, the personification of Death, whom Bill referred to as “Joe Black” to maintain the deception, develops romantic feelings for his daughter Susan (Claire Forlani). This affection is returned quickly, as Susan had only met Death in disguise at a coffee shop just a few days prior. Unfortunately, after their encounter at the coffee shop, this man – who was later identified as Death – was hit by multiple cars.
5 Red Dragon (2002)
In the style of Ridley Scott’s “Hannibal,” which is the third Hannibal Lecter film in chronological order but was released a year prior, “Red Dragon” presents a chilling portrayal of a horror antagonist developing feelings of affection.
In Brett Ratner’s thriller “Red Dragon,” Lecter does not display the sexual attraction towards Clarice Starling as portrayed in Scott’s lengthy 2001 film “Hannibal.” Instead, their relationship is different from what was shown in “The Silence of the Lambs.” And speaking of “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Red Dragon” is an acceptable continuation to this legendary 1991 movie. This assessment is more complimentary than it seems given the extraordinary caliber of that earlier film.
Certainly Better Than Hannibal (The Movie, Not the Show)
As a longtime fan of Anthony Hopkins’ acting prowess, I’ve always been intrigued by his affinity for the character of Hannibal Lecter. It comes as no surprise then, that he reprised the role not once, but twice in different adaptations of Thomas Harris’ novel “Red Dragon.” However, it seems strange to me that despite Hopkins’ strong portrayal, the performances of Ralph Fiennes as Francis Dolarhyde and Emily Watson as Reba McClane leave a more lasting impression.
4 Fracture (2007)
In a lighthearted yet engaging legal tale, “Fracture” offers Hopkins an enjoyable role as Ted Crawford, a wealthy Irish inventor of aeronautical technology. An unexpected event unfolds when he shoots his wife at home, but instead of fleeing, he casually waits for the police to arrive. Among them is Detective Nunally, who has been secretly involved in an affair with Crawford’s spouse.
Early Gosling Meets Seasoned Hopkins
In this scenario, Ryan Gosling joins the story as William Beachum, a highly driven district attorney who is overconfident about winning the case. However, he soon realizes that Crawford may not only be manipulating the situation but could also be intelligent enough to escape charges for attempted murder and complete his mission. This sets up a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse with the stakes being an innocent person’s life.
3 Beowulf (2007)
Among Robert Zemeckis’ unconventional and spooky motion-capture films, “Beowulf” (2007) has held up best. The film’s casting was particularly effective, with standout performances from stars like Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, John Malkovich, Angelina Jolie, Robin Wright, Brendan Gleeson, and Crispin Glover. Notably, Winstone shined as the title hero, Glover brought chilling intensity to Grendel, and Jolie captivated as Grendel’s Mother.
What a Cast
In a lively portrayal, Hopkins relishes the complex character of King Hrothgar in the production, where Hrothgar engages Beowulf to eliminate the monster Grendel, who turns out to be his own son. Admittedly, Hopkins declared limited knowledge of the source material prior to filming. However, such lack of prior understanding is not discernible from Hopkins’ impressive performance. Reminiscent of his role as Odin, Hopkins excels in any part imbued with classical elements, be it traditional or slightly mystical.
2 The Wolfman (2010)
Prior to helming “Captain America: The First Avenger” the year before, Joe Johnston handled another genre project in the form of “The Wolfman” (2010). However, while the Marvel Cinematic Universe entry received a moderate reception and is now regarded as one of its standout films, “The Wolfman” underperformed and has since faded into obscurity. Nevertheless, it did clinch an Academy Award for Best Makeup.
A Troubled Production That Could Have Been Worse
Although there are some problems with the pacing and an unsatisfying showdown between Benecio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins as the Wolfmen, Johnston’s films have redeeming qualities. One notable strength is Emily Blunt’s captivating performances as the widow of Ben Talbot, whose death initiates the storyline.
Additionally, the set design is impressive. Moreover, a terrifying scene unfolds when Del Toro’s character, Lawrence, is restrained on a table for examination. In accordance with his ominous prediction of “I will eliminate every single one of you!”, this sequence delivers a chilling and gruesome outcome.
1 Noah (2014)
As a lifelong student of religious texts and a film enthusiast, I’ve long been fascinated by the retellings of ancient stories through modern cinematic lenses. Darren Aronofsky’s take on Noah’s Ark was never going to align with my expectations of biblical accuracy. Having grown up in a traditional Christian household, I’d formed a deep connection with the original narrative and its teachings.
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Methuselah, portrayed by Hopkins, acts as a wise mentor to Noah in the initial portion of the story. Although Methuselah is the only family member of Noah’s who doesn’t embark on the ark, Hopkins skillfully makes him a significant presence through captivating scenes, much like Ray Winstone who dominates the third act.
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2024-07-21 23:32