Few great actors can truly adapt to any character; Many are good at playing villains and many are excellent at playing the protagonist, but few can combine both categories. However, Hawke explained that he believes the hallmark of a great actor is the ability to do both, saying: “The greats can play offense and defense, and most people can’t. Jack NicholsonGene Hackman and Denzel manage to be equally convincing as protagonist and antagonist.”

Nicholson, of course, is one of the most celebrated actors of all time, rising to fame as the Hollywood studio system began to crumble and forging a new path with the new auteurs of the time, working with Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, Roman Polanski, Michelangelo Antonioni and Dennis Hopper. He expertly blur this line in the glowbeing someone we feel sorry for and terrified of, swinging to new levels of unhinged madness as his character becomes plagued by the desire to murder his own family inside the abandoned hotel. However, he can also tug at your heartstrings as he plays a deeply selfish character, finding a way to make us feel for the character in Five easy pieces through his own self-hatred and fear of failure.

Denzel Washington has done something similar in his career. Through his performances in films such as training day, The tragedy of Macbeth, and Malcolm Xexplores the unspoken aspects of its characters in an imposing but subtle way. he knows when to plunge into the darkness and when to return to the light, finding a perfect balance between the two.

Gene Hackmanmeanwhile, it is perhaps best known for The conversation, The French connectionand Bonnie and Clyde. His worn-out yet emotionally revealing personality makes him the ultimate movie star. He is disturbing as the villain in 1978. Ordinance film while intensely sad and tense in The conversation.

The legacy of these actors continues to resonate with artists today, with many actors citing them as key influences on their work due to their bravery and dedication to their craft. I’m sure many would also praise Hawke for similar reasons, despite his self-deprecating language about his work, with performances in Before dawn and First renovated tWhich has greatly moved people around the world and I can’t imagine a world without it.

Related topics