Did he piss off the CIA with this roll? Just a SUSPICIOUS thought. He is gone too soon.
The best actor award should have gone to Hoffman. He is among greats here, and STILL is the compelling story teller. Reminded me of Richard Burton in Spy That Came in From The Cold. Great directing. March 10th 2015
I absolutely agree with this and felt that the role was his best the first time I saw it. Finally, it was a film with Hoffman acting apparently how Hoffman was in real life, but the acting involved in playing basically one's self--my God, was it great. The ending was prophetic in a real-life way: that stationary shot of him getting out and just walking away.
shareI thought he was absolutely brilliant in this.
He almost brought more to the role when he wasn't speaking at all. Throw in the excellent script, and it was just stellar.
It brought to mind that old quote about music. To paraphrase:
"Sometimes the spaces between them, are more important than the notes themselves".
I'm sure I got that wrong, but I hope it makes sense. :)
He looks like crap though... You can tell he was using throughout the film, unfortunately. Always impressive of course but if you asked me, he was booting a gram a day.
shareHow can you tell this? I re-watched the movie for the third time last night. If you're a smoker, in your forties (or as overweight as Hoffman was in this film)...sluggishness of Gunther's extent is explained.
What I can't understand is how someone in physical shape as bad as Hoffman's disciplined himself for what must have been a grueling shooting schedule. He seems as much a victim of cigarettes and overweight as of heroin.
I also watched this last night, as well as 'The Master'... I was in a PSH mood, he's definitely one of my favorite actors. I say this not to talk smack... Its just something I noticed.
First, look at his eyes. No clarity. Very much the look of someone using. Second, when he was in those last days, his weight got worse. Some think that Heroin users get skinny, well, not if you're a Multi-Millionaire. You aren't broke, you still eat. Plus, he was also drinking again. Third, even the sound of his voice sounded distant. This was great for the role, it hid the bad moments of his German Accent. He did well overall... But some words were harder to hide...
I mean, I know the signs. I was a User for a Decade, he definitely showed all of those signs. It didn't HURT his performance. On the contrary, as bad of a drug as it is, it can help people creatively. Hence all the musicians, artists and actors that have gotten stuck. Some say he started using again during 'The Master' and I could see that being the case (Although its said he had his first drink at its Wrap Party)... But if you compare him between films, in just that short amount of time, he just looked MUCH worse.
Very sad to hear The Master, which I could not sit through five minutes of, affected him that way. Still is the best actor of is generation. Will be for some time to come.
Glad you're over this poison. It's so goddamn sad.
Thanks. It wasn't easy...
Crazy to think a PSH fan doesn't love 'The Master' which is to many, his finest achievement in Cinema... But that is all taste of course. Give it another chance!
I enjoyed Hoffman's acting in this movie although I am not normally a fan of his. Here he portrayed the correct mix of weariness and cynicism with a remainder of zeal for his job and a belief in doing 'the right thing (making the world a safer place) despite the ambiguity of the situation.
I also feel his character did not insult the CIA by stating he ultimately wanted to make the world a safer place seeing it more as a gesture of respect to her because he had seemed in agreement when she made that statement earlier. He looked unhealthy (and probably truly as), but this also fits Gunther's character and unhealthy lifestyle.
Yup, he was brilliant !!!
(SSDD)
This little role is what I think was Hoffman's best work, or at least is my favorite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOPB9c4t0Ok