MovieChat Forums > Tom Hardy Discussion > Hardy's best performance?

Hardy's best performance?

posted 9 years ago by jmcdon28
26 replies | jump to latest

So, Tom Hardy is one of those actors who was hardly a blip on the radar one year and then became a massive star the next. People keep saying how he is one of the best actors working today and in the leagues of De Niro and such. As of now, I am unable to see it. Don't get me wrong, he is a really great actor. I just don't get a lot of the hype surrounding him, but I've only seen his biggest movies [Mad Max, Dark Knight Rises, Inception, The Revenant, (and that movie with Reese Witherspoon and Chris Pine)].

Is there a movie/performance out there that I missed where it shows how super incredible he is?

I'm not being rude, just curious and willing to be educated on his brilliance.

[–] lawrenceglickman 8 years ago

The film that puts him with the greats is "The Drop" also starring James Gandolfini. Why? because I grew up in NJ and while the scenes could be anywhere in the East and about small city mafia activities anywhere I was in a perfect position to smell one drop of phony imitation, having lived that story and grew up in that neighborhood. Tom's understated performance was eerie in his ability to become Bob the typical small city ex hood trying to go straight but caught in a web of his past and his attraction for a local blue collar Jersey girl and a stray dog. It's easy to get attention with roles that have non stop action and visual tricks, but this performance complimented by the great Gandolfini, reminded me of Jack Nicholson's "About Schmidt" the kind of performance that brings the character to life without a single false note. I was even sorry it when it ended and while I know its never going to happen I'd love to see what the character Bob Saginowski would do next.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 8 years ago

Eames

[–] akanesa (19) 7 years ago

I had the same impression you have. I didn't really get what was all that buzz about this guy but I saw Lawless yesterday and yes, he's very good and now I'm looking forward to see more of his work (will tale the advice people is giving you here).

[–] looper007 (1158) 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] looper007 (1158) 5 years ago

He's got so many. He's not called one of the best actors of his generation for nothing.

Bronson
Stuart A Life Backwards
Warrior
Lawless
Locke
The Drop
Legend
Peaky Blinders
Taboo
The Dark Knight Rises
The Revenant
Mad Max Fury Road
Inception

For me his three greatest performances are in Bronson, Legend and Locke, three totally different roles but both amazing. Locke is just him for 90's minutes driving talking to people on a phone. But it's so gripping that you totally get stuck into it and that's thanks to Hardy.Legend, he gives two excellent performances as the Kray Twins. Bronson is his break out role and probably the one he's remembered for. He was awesome in The Revenant. Also his Bane in Dark Knight Rises has aged brilliantly really.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77353) 5 years ago

He's very good in everything but he was in beast mode in Bronson
That performance was so rugged and real I suspect people were injured during the filming of the violent scenes!
Eric Bana was similarly excellent playing a real life violent criminal in Chopper (00)

These two could make a great double feature at your nearest retro theater

[–] looper007 (1158) 5 years ago

Definitely agree Yonkers, amazing to think Bronson was only made for like 2 million as it looks like a more expensive film. I think the difference with Hardy and Bana, is that Hardy lived up to the potential set by his performance in Bronson. I don't think Bana has come close to his role in Chopper or has made a film as good imo. He's had a solid film career but has he had a performance as good as Chopper since, I don't think he has.

But agree they'd make a great double bill. Which one do you think is the better film Yonkers?

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77353) 5 years ago

I liked Bronson better...that was a great 'violent lunatic' performance

[–] looper007 (1158) 5 years ago

It's a tough call for me, I agree that Bronson probably get's the nod. I just love the soundtrack, the gritty feel and Hardy's performance. Chopper is fantastic but I think it loses it's way a bit in the third act.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

i've enjoyed many of his films, loved several, but i think his greatest moments are:

bronson
locke
warrior

warrior in particular is a first-tier male weepie. exciting & brutal at times, but also genuinely moving, particularly in its final moments. i think it's one of the very best sports movies ever made, & one that deserves a much, much wider audience.

[–] looper007 (1158) 5 years ago

Warrior is the guy's version of a chick flick in way. I agree I think it's the Rocky of this generation. The ending of the film doesn't have you tearing up I don't know what will.

Locke is definitely one of his greatest performances, even in some ways I'd put it before his role in Bronson. It's a tougher role to play in way. Plus acting for 90 minutes with him been the only actor on screen and holding their attention for the whole time is tough to do and he did it.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

i agree - i think you could probably slot locke as the greatest of his performances, for the exact reason you give: it's just him, and the movie stands on his ability for the entire running time.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Locke was an impressive performance. Few actors could hold your attention while driving around talking on the phone for two hours but Tom nailed it.