Gary Oldman

I'd like to talk about Gary Oldman in "Slow Horses." We just watched the third season. I'd love to say I recommend it, but it's not as good as what came before. Or I'm burning out on mediocrity. But one thing is for sure, Oldman is unbelievably good, fantastic, great. Yes, the role is over the top, kinda like Jamie Lee Curtis in the Christmas episode of "Beef," but you don't see Oldman acting at all, he's become the character, unlike the lauded Meryl Streep, who I see in all of her roles, as in I can't stop seeing Meryl, no matter who she is playing.

Oldman gained notoriety in the U.S. via his appearance in the indie "Sid & Nancy," but then gradually moved towards the mainstream without sacrificing his renegade reputation. Oldman has always been seen as somewhat dangerous, not someone who fades into the woodwork, but cuts a distinct identity. And in "Slow Horses"...

He's overweight, got stringy hair, wears rumpled clothing, has an odor, and doesn't give a f*ck. These people used to be our heroes. And in truth they still are. We want those who play against type, who cannot be compromised, who will not sell out. This is the rock star paradigm. You don't want to get in bed with the Fortune 500 company, you want to criticize it, laugh at it if you pay attention to it whatsoever. You are not concerned with society's judgment of you, you're going your own way. And awards and chart achievements are irrelevant, you're just doing what you want to, being who you are. And therefore we're envious of you, bond ourselves to you, because deep down inside this is who we want to be too.

And as a result, Jackson Lamb, i.e. Gary Oldman, gains respect, draws people to him. They might judge him negatively, but they never discount him. Lamb always hews to his inner tuning fork. He always seems to be one step ahead, but he doesn't need to tell anybody so. And he has contempt for just about everybody and everything, he's above it all. Oldman is a hero, iconic, what we used to feature in the alternative universe of the alienated, when that was the goal, to be yourself as opposed to becoming a billionaire and lording it over us.

"Slow Horses" is not much of a commitment. Well, there are now three seasons, but it's not a big chew. Season 3 is comprised of six episodes all under an hour. But you must watch the series to see Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb.

He looks like he hasn't showered in weeks. He's the opposite of the vain icons we see in the news and even in social media. He's not putting his best foot forward, he's just being himself. And he's not demanding attention. And he eats, seemingly unlike anybody in Hollywood. And he's got the belly to show for it, and it's not a prosthetic. Oldman has thrown vanity to the wind and instead or repelling us, he's positively magnetic.

And one thing is for sure, I could never play this role, and neither could you. This requires studying. Training. Everybody thinks they can be in pictures, and in many cases they are. If you're famous enough, or good-looking enough, you can get a role. You might even win an award. But don't think you're an actor. Just like if you win a Grammy you shouldn't think you're a musician, although some are. Acting is a skill. That takes time to develop. And when we see excellence, we're wowed.

I don't understand the nearly ten dollar a month Apple TV+. There's just not enough on it. We bought a month just to see this last season of "Slow Horses" and I can't say I've found anything else that's floated my boat, that I haven't seen previously.

But having said that, I do recommend that you spend your money just to see Gary Oldman in "Slow Horses." Yes, he'll seem cartoonish, but you'll ultimately realize he's not two-dimensional. And he never breaks character, never winks at the audience, you have to accept him on his own terms. And he's cynical and knows those at the top are not usually to be respected, that they're venal and flawed. And that the game cannot be understood by most people, even though they believe otherwise. Experience delivers wisdom, not that anybody respects wisdom, never mind age, they're too busy sticking the knife into others to get ahead.

Oldman is not chewing the scenery in "Slow Horses," and he's not in every scene but you can't wait for him to come back. If you haven't watched him in this series already, you need to know. I can't think of a performance this year which has stuck with me to this degree. That is not based on makeup, but the actor inhabiting the role. This is it. This is what makes stars our heroes. When you do it right, you don't have to beg for attention. You own the camera without trying, we can't take our eyes off you. And very few are this good. We're overwhelmed with dross. But when you're better than the rest we know it, we're thrilled by it, it makes us tingle, makes life worth living.

I can't say that I want to hang out with Jackson Lamb, but I can watch him all day long. Unlike seemingly everybody else with a name these days he's not constantly in our face, and therefore we want more, much more.

This is how you do it.

Kudos.


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