Philip Seymour Hoffman: Five films to remember him by
The world was rocked yesterday (February 2) by the announcement that actor Philip Seymour Hoffman had passed away at the age of 46. Universally respected by actors, filmmakers, critics and fans throughout the world, Hoffman was a true heavyweight in modern day Hollywood and will remembered with great affection. To pay tribute, we've put together a list of five performances that showcase what a fantastic career has just been cruelly cut short:
Capote
The most obvious and the performance for which he was most richly rewarded, with no less than 20 awards for Best Actor in that year, including the Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA.
Playing eccentric American author Truman Capote during the period of his life when he researched and wrote his defining work In Cold Blood, Hoffman truly gets under the skin of the controversial writer, carrying off his mannerisms, distinctive speech impediment and lizard-like demeanour with incredible poise and accuracy. A truly remarkable performance.
Magnolia
Hoffman enjoyed a truly special relationship with director Paul Thomas Anderson, appearing in five of Anderson's six films, including Boogie Nights, Punch-Drunk Love and his debut Hard Eight. In this complex, intricate story about characters whose lives suddenly become intertwined, Hoffman plays off-kilter nurse Phil Parma, a standout performance in a film filled with outstanding turns from the likes of Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore and William H. Macy. A real classic.
Almost Famous
Showing another side of Hoffman's remarkable range, his portrayal of iconic rock journalist Lester Bangs will always bring a smile to faces. Laconic, full of bile and hilarious barbs, Hoffman plays the notoriously grouchy journalist with a great levity and charm in this much-loved coming of story about a struggling young writer who finds himself on tour with an out of control rock band.
Mission: Impossible III
Hoffman will rightly be remembered as a true heavyweight of acting and a man who took on some incredibly demanding roles, but it's also worth remembering that he delivered some top notch turns into more typical, Hollywood popcorn fare. His turn as Owen Davian in the third instalment of the Tom Cruise-led franchise remains truly menacing and extremely unsettling.
The Master
Hoffman's last starring role, again he teamed up with Paul Thomas Anderson to create this beautiful period piece about a cult leader of a religious movement known as 'The Cause' and his attempted conversion of lost soul Freddie Quell, played by Joaquin Phoenix.
Hoffman's performance is beautifully nuanced, retaining the perfect balance of charming salesman and unhinged fanatic with real fury and spite boiling underneath the surface. Another reminder of the incredible range of his acting abilities.
