Peter Sarsgaard's Stellar 2015
Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 3:30PM
Murtada here. Peter Sarsgaard was lost for a few years. Either in films that no one saw (Green Lantern, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh), that no one noticed him in (Blue Jasmine, An Education) or that were instantly forgotten (Knight and Day, Lovelace). Some feared he would never deliver on the searing promise he showed in 2003’s Shattered Glass. But 2015 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for him, with not one, not two but three incredible performances in Pawn Sacrifice, Black Mass and Experimenter.
More on the performances........
Pawn Sacrifice is the story of American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer (played by Tobey Maguire) who succumbs to paranoia during the 1972 World Chess Championships. Sarsgaard is William Lombardy, a chess grandmaster and Catholic priest who was also Fischer’s guardian and coach. It’s the quintessential supporting part; the quiet caretaker of the showier lead performance. Sarsgaard grounds the film with a warmth and skepticism that keeps the viewer interested. Pity the movie has such a low profile.
In Black Mass he lends a different kind of support. A big flashy performance with lots of tics that stays on the periphery of the narrative while jolting the movie to life. He comes in ready to steal his few scenes in a dazzling display of fear, elation and frenzy. By the end of the film, one realizes that Sarsgaard was the most memorable in a film full of analogous characters.
Then we come to his best of the year and finally a lead role. Experimenter is Michael Almereyda’s quasi biopic of psychologist Stanley Milgram who is famous for his 1961 behavior experiments that tested ordinary humans willingness to obey authority. Almereyda is not interested in a straightforward biopic but rather in matching Milgram’s radical methods with a conceptually inventive structure of his own. In his portrayal of Milgram, Sarsgaard matches that inventiveness with a droll, adroit performance. He talks to the camera, comments on the action and even sings while still building a credible character out of this larger than life person. It's the kind of unpredictable performance that an adventurous critics group might get behind in their year end awards. The Gothams already did, your move NYFCC.
If that happens, Sarsgaard’s profile will rise even more. But awards or not, his future oeuvre looks promising. He’s the villain alongside Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt in the latest remake of The Magnificent Seven. And recently announced, he will play Robert Kennedy to Natalie Portman’s Jackie, in Pablo Larrain’s (No, the upcoming The Club) chronicle of the four days following JFK’s assassination.
Which of Sarsgaard's 2015 movies is your favorite?
Reader Comments (18)
Loved him in Black Mass,that 03 snub still stings.
He was great in Black Mass. I know it's little more than a cameo, but I would definitely nominate him for Best Supporting Actor. Every second he was on camera counted.
He was SO GOOD in Black Mass. If he had one or two more scenes, and that film landed a little more with critics, an Oscar nom would not have been out of the question.
I have loved this actor in everything I have ever seen him in ... and have been quite upset about his lack of recognition in all ways...
One of my favorite movies ( and I cannot for the life of me remember the name of it ) Maybe someone can help me with it... it was a number of years ago... he played a journalist and I think it based on a true story... that really tells you a lot!!!!!! He was the main star.
I'm all for a Sarsgaard comeback! His strong of performances from 03-05 (Shattered Glass, Kinsey, Jarhead) should have netted him 3 consecutive Oscar noms, and I wouldn't have argued with him winning for all three!
@Andrew
Shattered Glass was the movie I could not remember... thank you
and I agree about the Oscar nods
I know people stopped paying attention to The Killing after the awfulness that was the not ending of season 1 but for those wanting to see some spectacular work by Sarsgaard his arc in the shows third season was stellar and really brought some greatness out of the show even if it would quickly fall back into a terrible ending for the show. His performance really made the arc work and if anyone ever has the time see him be so good.
Sarsgaard just has something about him that if I were to compare to somebody is like what Ralph Fiennes has. Even when they are playing the most charming of characters there is always an inner strangeness to them no matter what they do. Fiennes may have corrected that with Budapest but I feel Sarsgaard could easily deliver a performance that revelatory if given the chance. I hope the best for him and of course his wife Gyllenhaal who like him is underrated to a point where I'm glad they have each other cause they've got to know how talented they are.
Huge Sarsgaard fan. I agree that he was excellent in The Killing.
And though Lovelace was seen by few, it's a really strong role for him and possibly the best dramatic work Amanda Seyfried has ever done. The film is much more interesting structurally than it's been given credit for.
Sarsgaard...SNL...Gays in Space...I have to seek this out on YouTube again.
I'm so happy to see this post and the comments! I didn't think that people in general had appreciated his gonzo performance in Black Mass. I thought he was so great - twitchy and panicked and smug and creepy and detestable and pitiable ALL in just a few moments on screen.
I mentioned his supporting work in another thread here recently, so I'm glad to see this post and to hear about Experimenter. Hope I can see it soon.
He was superb in Lovelace.
I noticed Sarsgaard in "An Education." He nailed his role as the charming conman/thief/serial cheater.
One of my favorite actors and constantly underrated. I'm glad to read he's so good in these roles, I'm looking forward to watching those films just for him.
I thought Peter Sarsgaard was winning in An Education and suitably creepy or menacing in Boys Don't Cry and Lovelace. I noticed and didn't forget those performances (and am not alone in that).
Have we all forgotten "The Slap," NBC's awfully-titled one-season wonder this past spring? The show itself was wonderfully realized and intimate, focusing so much more on character than plot. Sarsgaard was excellent as the unsatisfied husband striking up a romance with the family babysitter. The cast was all-around phenomenal, but Sarsgaard was an excellent anchor for the ensemble.
I noticed him in An Education, too! He's very good at playing characters with a slightly skeezy or menacing vibe beneath an urbane veneer. Sounds like his roles this year have expanded beyond that type - I haven't seen them, though I wanted/want to see the one about Bobby Fischer despite being mostly indifferent towards Tobey Maguire.
Yes Sarsgaard was the best part about Black Mass.