I don't have much interest in movie stars but I love actors, and within the first few days of the new year, we lost a good one. This thin, bony-cheeked native of Cheshire, England was a character actor of the highest order, always contributing something thoughtful, unique and entertaining to any project lucky enough to have him on board. He could play broad and eccentric, or quiet and subtle. He could be frail and vulnerable or a figure of menace. A consummate professional, diligently plying his craft and building a substantial career in a field, as often as not, defined by image and ego.
In his thirty five year career he worked with such directors as Ridley Scott, Terence Davies, Michael Mann, David Fincher, Jim Sheridan, Brian Singer, Baz Luhrman, Steven Spielberg and most recently Ben Affleck and Christopher Nolan. Despite a very visible presence on British television, it's fair to say that his international breakthrough performance was opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in 1993's "In the Name of the Father", for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. The best way to pay tribute to an artist is to celebrate the work so here are some of my favourites from amongst his many performances.
"Montague Tigg" in the 1994 BBC adaptation Of "Martin Chuzzlewitt". A splendid Dickensian rogue played with all the theatrical gusto he could muster
"Sgt. Obadiah Hakeswill" from the ITV adaptations of Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe" novels. A thoroughly evil villain, guilty of every crime or sadistic perversion imaginable. It's to Postlethwaite's great credit that he manages to find some dark humour in the character. The performance is a little on the broad side, all gravelly voice and facial tics, but it's a lot of fun to watch.
"Kobayashi" in "The Usual Suspects". The less said about the character the better, but as the mouthpiece of legendary underworld boogyman Kaiser Soze, Postlethwait was able to suggest profound menace with just a look or gesture. Also that accent was brilliant, whatever the hell it was supposed to be!
"Giuseppe Conlon" in "In the Name of the Father". Daniel Day-Lewis gave his usual powerful performance in this true story of "The Guilford Four" and their wrongful conviction for terrorism, but Postlethwite was the heart of the film. As the father of Day-Lewis' Gerry Conlon, he is quiet, dignified and heroically decent in the face of outrageous injustice. A great performance.
"Fergus "Fergi" Colm" in "The Town". Not a large role but a pivotal one. In just a couple of scenes he manges to let us know everything we need to about this character. He looks frail but he's not to be messed with.
"Danny" in "Brassed Off". My personal favourite of his performances. As the leader of a small town brass band he's again, the heart of the film. There's something indomitable about his stubbornness and commitment to the music, and how moving at the end when he finally decides what's really important to the life of his town. If you haven't seen it I can't recommend it enough.
Needless to say, this is hardly a summation of this man's career. The beauty of a great character actor is that whenever he or she shows up in a film or TV show we always recognize them and are glad to see them, like an old friend who you weren't necessarily expecting but are happy to welcome. Pete Postlethwaite earned his success, his acclaim and of course, his welcome.
Excellent post on a very fine actor. When I would see a cast list for a movie and his name was in it, I would say "Well that's probably worth checking out." There are very few current actors that I could say the same thing.
ReplyDeletenow I'll have to see "Brassed Off."