Gary Oldman: An American Cinematheque Retrospective

ABOUT THE SERIES:

The American Cinematheque is thrilled to welcome actor Gary Oldman in person for a retrospective almost as wide-ranging as he is. With near supernatural acting abilities, one might wonder what the secret is to Gary Oldman’s outrageous success. In fact, the secret is that there is no secret, just a lot of hard work. No matter how many times he plays the villain, Oldman is nothing short of a Hollywood hero, not only for his sheer talent, but for his unwavering dedication to the craft.

Starting out as a stage actor for some of the most prestigious theatre companies in the U.K., if not the world, Oldman made the natural leap from stage to screen with films like ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, where Oldman proves his comedic chops are on par with his dramatic ones. This lack of pretension and unique ability to tap into any character’s humanity often make Oldman seem like the only choice for some of Hollywood’s most daunting roles, such as Winston Churchill in DARKEST HOUR. But whether he’s portraying a historical figure like screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz in MANK or a mythical monster like Dracula in BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA, Oldman somehow manages to make his characters feel realer than real. Fans of the Oscar-nominated leading man now have the privilege of seeing Oldman in his first leading role in a TV series as Jackson Lamb, a skilled intelligence officer turned miserable boss of MI5 rejects, in the thriller-comedy SLOW HORSES, for which the “sheep in wolf’s clothing” will attend in person for a Q&A. Join the American Cinematheque as we welcome Gary Oldman and verify for ourselves that he is, indeed, a mere mortal, albeit a supremely gifted one.