Happy Birthday Tom Hardy!

The Essential 

Tom Hardy Collection

In honor of Tom Hardy's 39th Birthday, I've decided to open up with a terrific list of performances that signify the abilities of one of modern day cinemas great thespians and whom many have primed/championed as a successor to the crown held by none other than Marlon Brando.

Tom Hardy has been one of my favourite actors ever since he came into the limelight with his stellar show stealing turn in Christopher Nolan's Inception. He has since gone on to star in many terrific blockbusters, art house and independent fare as well as Oscar stalwarts.

It's always hard to truly peg what is Tom Hardy's finest performance as he constantly evolves and impresses in works of a myriad genre and theme.

So here's to Tom Hardy!

But first some honourable mentions;

Black Hawk Down/Band of Brothers: Both war film and television show saw Hardy in small roles in films that featured a ton of up and coming actors. Nothing to write home about, but these are the roles that one can say; "Hey I'd seen Tom Hardy before I knew Tom Hardy."

Star Trek: Nemesis: Yes, Hardy was a part of Star Trek. The much maligned final film in the New Generation canon saw Hardy play an evil clone of Captain John Luc Picard [Patrick Stewart] in a role that is raw and frankly boring...but it's a good look see into where everyone got their starts.

Layer Cake/RockNRolla: As Clarkie and Handsome Bob in two supporting roles in frankly similar films [after all directed by Matthew Vaughn and Guy Ritchie], Hardy proved to be an entertaining addition to the ensemble and gave audiences as well as filmmakers the first signs of a potential top class actor.

Now here goes...

Stuart: A life backwards, Dir. David Attwood

Before there was Inception, there was Bronson and before there was Bronson, there was this.

The relatively unknown TV Movie may not have brought big eyeballs to the career of Tom Hardy and his co-star Benedict Cumberbatch, but looking back it's a marvellous and intricately developed performance where Hardy as Stuart unravels the reasons for who he is in a drama set as a reverse mystery puzzle box [hence the title].

Unseen and barely unheard of, however the film managed to get Tom Hardy nominated for a BAFTA Nomination.

Bronson, Dir. Nicolas Winding Refn

While Inception may have been Hardy's coming out party, it is Bronson that proved what a master actor the world is to witness. The as usual off-kilter Refn film saw the actor play the notorious British criminal Michael Gordon Peterson AKA Charles Bronson.

Being a Refn movie, the narrative is fairly not so straightforward instead having a surreal sort of construct; the film allows to peer into the deranged mind of Bronson and witness a film that is equal part horror and comedy as it is stern drama.

Bronson is seen duking it out with guards in prison, naked. He has moments of complete madness but the best is how Hardy brings to life the complex mind of the man is one man stage shows directed at the viewer. With them Hardy revels in a showing that exaggerated to the tee and exciting all the way.

This was the film for movie buffs and cult fans to discover a new favourite who was on the border of hitting the stratosphere.

Inception, Dir. Christopher Nolan

With Inception, Tom Hardy made it. In a film starring a host of terrific actors led by Leonardo DiCaprio, it was Hardy who proved to be a sensational spot light magnet as his wry comedic chops and cool guy attitude wowed the audience.

His chemistry with Joseph Gordon Levitt was interesting, allowing Hardy the right board to play with and hit some notes of energy in a film clearly not lacking any. His performance shown what Hardy was capable of and despite Marion Cotillard proving to be the top dog, he left a stirring impression. Not easy to do with such a terrific cast.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Dir. Tomas Alfredson

On the verge of stardom, Tom Hardy played a small but terrific supporting role in the underrated Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

This is the first time he would perform opposite none other than one his greatest idols and the man he had clearly noted as the greatest actor of all time; Gary Oldman. It was a performance layered with great emotional depth that would become a signature of Hardy's going forward.

The actor would be known to play gruff characters with a soft heart, here produced an individual who's very much silent but moved by an opposing spy and tragically fails to the bureaucracy of "the Circus". It's a short but effective performance in a hot streak that in his most well know role to date. [The Dark Knight Rises, and yes I know the streak was broken with This Means War but I refuse to acknowledge it!]

Warrior, Dir. Gavin O'Connor

While Bane and Max will be known as Hardy's most famous roles, no one is more popular that Tommy Riordan; his tough as nails, soft hearted [the Tom Hardy archetype] former soldier seeking redemption and fighting for his "brother" in an MMA Octagon.

As Tommy, Hardy proves to be one hell of a bad ass with a character who pummels his way into the famous sport and dominates. Positioned in a sports movie as the tough top guy, Hardy naturally would sink in as the villain in this underdog tale; if this were a cliché sports film.

However Hardy's character is much more and the actor behind it delivers in spades, he shoulders a heavy burden through out that is only revealed in the final half hour. By then Hardy has won you over but completely rocked you as well. His unselfish pursuit and his burgeoning chemistry with pretty much everyone specifically Nick Nolte is the cherry on a cake filled with great detail that make his performance rock solid.

His first major scene up against brother Joel Edgerton is a highlight for the way Hardy sinks into the body language and expression of a man who feels betrayed and hurt, every moment speaks of a hardened soldier hiding a young man just reaching for family.

This is the film that can make grown men cry and no one wears absolute masculinity mixed with true depth of emotionality better than Hardy. One of my all time favourites.

The Dark Knight Rises, Dir. Christopher Nolan

Here we are, the one that made him a global star.

Sure, Tom Hardy would always fall under the tragic shadow of Heath Ledger's mind blowing performance as the Joker.

Yet overlooking all that and a somewhat iffy voice modulation and accent, Hardy's performance is a testament to the strength of the actor as well as the importance of what one can do with acting's most obvious tool; expression.

Voice and dialogue delivery are the primary weapon of an actor to convey their character and what they particularly feel as while cinema is a visual medium; when it comes to performance audiences focus instantly must fall on dialogue, especially in a world where most audience are looking to or have to be spoon fed everything.

One forgets because of the subconscious nature of how audience reacts to film, that expression are just as important.  It becomes both a hindrance and advantage thus that Hardy must constantly use his eyes to speak a terrifying picture.

His speech on the Dent Act during the Gotham siege is a signifying moment of an actor fully aware of the theatrical nature of the film in question but also reigned to a villain who is on the throes of victory; in what is revealed to be an emotional crusade tied to the woman he loves.

In retrospect, every little tick the actor brings out plays to the characters internal workmanship as a man confident of his abilities only because it his love that drives him.

Many may rue Bane's position as nothing more than a lackey [though that is an incorrect definition], they do not see once again to the meaningful heart at the centre of a strong villain that could have easily slipped into the pantomime.

Lawless, Dir. John Hillcoat

A pre-cursor to his fairly silent turn as Max in Fury Road. In Lawless, Tom Hardy portrays the eldest of the Bondurant brothers; Forrest, three men who run an illegal moonshine business in 1930's Virginia during the prohibition.

As Forrest, Hardy is a fairly subdued and silent character with spurts of violence sprinkled in. He is a legend [pun intended] in the county as a hard man, harder to take down. However not for once do we believe that this statement is false or that the humble looking eldest believes the hype; until a comedic scene in the hospital where he boasts of his recovery from a throat slitting only to be told of by his actual saviour, the equally beaten down Maggie [Jessica Chastain]. It's comedic but it's a highlight of the kind of unselfish and truly masculine characters only Hardy can portray.

Through the film Hardy while adept at the fight is a bumbling mess in love with Maggie. He rarely speaks as a character rather mostly employing grunts, however each one signifies a certain emotion that clicks right in with the space of the situation.

To simplify; Hardy need not speak, just gruffly exhale to make you believe his character. That's the prowess of a top class actor!

Locke, Dir. Steven Knight

Most probably Hardy's finest performance, at least as a leading man.

In a film that is nearly ninety minutes; Hardy might not be the only voice we hear, but he is definitely the only one we see on screen. Mind you this is a film where he is neither in space nor lost at sea; just one man driving the car from Birmingham to London.

As the plot slowly reveals itself during the journey and the film sets itself on becoming an interesting character study of a man haunted by abandonment, Hardy sucks you in with his innate charisma and peels back layers of a performance for the ages.

As much as credit can go to the sharp writing and the smart direction, the film rests on the shoulders of a game and peak form Hardy who never releases the vice like grip of brilliance he has on the viewers. Every calculated word, action or moment of expressive silence that Hardy releases merges to form the ultimate showing that signifies those that say it do not lie; Hardy is one of the best of our generation.

The Drop, Dir. Michael R. Roskam

In Roskam's English debut film, Tom Hardy reverses the usual gruff with a golden heart archetype to play a character of measured wonder.

As Bob, Hardy is a soft spoken but not altogether meek bar tender in the mean sides of Brooklyn. A chance encounter with an abused dog brings to fore his aww inducing sweet heart and soon terrific chemistry with Noomi Rapace. Bob's child like naivety and honest innocence hides a much more strange and questionable persona, it's this reversal in a second watch that makes Hardy's performance very intriguing as the actor is constantly hinting at Bob's tortured psyche but also playing a game of one upmanship with his audiences.

In a year that saw Hardy at his top with Locke, The Drop might have flew under the radar but it's another film that shows how eclectic yet terrific Hardy can be given any character. Helps also that his accent is pitch perfect.

Mad Max: Fury Road, Dir. George Miller

Taking over a role that was made iconic by Mel Gibson and made Mel iconic itself; Tom Hardy is a stunningly unselfish performer as he steps out the way and lets his co-stars particularly Charlize Theron shine despite the title credit.

In a film that required heavy duty commitment [just read about the shoot and you'll know], Hardy brought a lot to the titular character. He perfected his use of small wordless reactions from earlier into giving the shining Hardy performance of gruff with a golden heart.

Yet more than that here is an actor who knows when to take control of a scene and when to let go, the exact unique property of the true outsider that has made Max such an iconic character for the ages. His chemistry with Charlize and the rest of the girls is top class as are the little gestures of detail that just make the action blockbuster that much richer.

Legend, Dir. Brian Helgeland

Many people failed to understand the gist of Helgeland's accounting of the dangerous London gangsters; the Kray twins, and with it Tom Hardy's supposedly over the top performance.

Sure the film has its issues on a core writing level, but for a film title Legend; subtlety and a fact giving indictment of the criminal twins was not to be expected. It's like being an Indian where in we grew up with the legendary spectres of cool gangsters such as Dawood Ibrahim or a suave killer like Charles Sobhraj. Sure these were murderous heinous men but they also came in with a built aura that highlighted their celebrity as much as it did our very own dark bestial human natures. 

Legend is the same thing, a picture formed to highlight the probable childhood enigmas and local superstars that were the Kray Twin gangsters twinkling in the eyes of a young Helgeland. Signs of this being; the worm's eye view poster positioning the two Tom Hardy characters as towering figures as well as of course, the title itself.

So being as that is the case, Hardy brought a whole lot of flavour to the very different twins with performances that highlighted their differences brilliantly. Hardy plays off himself sensationally, especially in key fight scenes.

This is a Tom Hardy show through and through and he doesn't fail to entertain with a performance that will hopefully grow in stature as it is revisited years later.

The Revenant, Dir. Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu

It's a testament to how far Tom Hardy has come, that despite missing in most posters; he shares top billing with his co-star and far bigger superstar Leonardo DiCaprio.

In fact if it weren't for DiCaprio's coaxing, we may never have seen Hardy sign on to the picture that would eventually give him his first and hopefully not last; deserving Oscar nomination.

While DiCaprio definitely deserved to win the award [though it can be questioned if it was for the right film], Hardy [and I say this without the utmost bias] was the true highlight of Inarritu's magnum opus. A performance that saw Hardy undeniably sink into his role and propelled from physical changes; saw him shed the tag Hardy to become the wily and manic John Fitzgerald.

Hardy's voice to his expressive eyes to his frenzied body language in a way is a symbolic convergence of Hardy's greatest without being a rehash performance or relying on histrionics, rather coming together to form a character of a distinct nature and shine upon the audience of the adverse effects of toxic greed and more that is had on humanity and the repercussions it can cause. Hardy is the centre of the thematic beauty of Revenant; which speaks of humanity and its degradation and destruction of our world and civilization.

Hardy represents this to the absolute with another iconic performance.

As I wrap up, I am in conflict as to what Tom Hardy film to watch now. I'm excited to want to hold a whole run of his terrific turns. Tom Hardy is truly indeed one of the greatest of all time and he refuses to slow down;

Next up is his bit part in thriller musical London Road, it will be fun to see him sing. There is also the Nolan opus Dunkirk where in Hardy has an unspecified role in the WW2 film. He is also set to produce [along with his father] and star in Steven Knight's British mini series Taboo.

So here's to one of the greats of our generation and one of my favourite actors of all time;

Happy Birthday, Tom Hardy!

Nuff Said,

Aneesh Raikundalia