Cinemaos 12 Best characters from Willem Dafoe, according to Rolling Stonecelebrando 70 years of Willem Dafoe, Rolling Stone Brazil has prepared a selection of his 12 most iconic and unforgettable writing characters

This July 22, the actor Willem Dafoe (Poor creatures) celebrates its 70 years of life and a brilliant film trajectory with various iconic characters. Considered one of the most versatile and prolific actors of its generation, Dafoe Over the decades, he built a filmography full of striking characters.

Even in the face of so many memorable roles, the Rolling Stone Brazil He decided to highlight the 12 that best represent the diversity and strength of his performance, ranked in order of importance – it was an ungrateful and difficult task, but the list you can check below:

12th – Davis – The Loveless (1981)

In its early career, Willem Dafoe It already showed signs of talent that would consolidate over the decades. In The Lovelessa cult drama that takes place in the 1950s, he plays Davis, a rebel biker who, along with his group, reaches a small southern city. The character is marked by a dark, unsettling and loaded aura of a youthful and anarchic energy that challenges the local order. Despite being a relatively silent role and contained in terms of dialogue, Dafoe It uses its physical presence and body expression to convey tension and mystery, giving life to an emblematic character that anticipates the complexity of the roles that would mark his career. This early action highlighted his ability to interpret marginal and intense figures, characteristics that would make him an indispensable actor in author and alternative cinema.

11th – X – Power Enigma (1998)

In Power Enigmaa Thriller Noir directed by Abel Ferrara – with whom Dafoe He worked countless times – the actor plays X, one of the protagonists of a plot involved in corporate espionage and betrayal. Next to Christopher Walken (Secure me if you are able to), Dafoe He builds a silent, calculating and loyal character to his boss, but also wrapped in an aura of mystery and moral ambiguity. As a henchman, he plays a key role in the plot, acting with a combination of brutality and subtlety, reflecting the tensions of the dark environment in which he is inserted. The interpretation of Dafoe It brings depth to this role, showing its ability to bring multifaceted figures to life, whose loyalty and motivations are not always clear.

10th – The Therapist – Antichrist (2009)

It can be controversial, but its role in Anti -Christianthe It had to be on the list! In the controversial film Lars Von Trier (Melancholy), Willem Dafoe Interprets a therapist who tries to help a couple in mourning. His delicate and contained acting contrasts with the disturbing atmosphere of the work, highlighting his talent for deep and complex psychological dramas. The subtle delivery of Dafoe It is fundamental to maintain the balance between realism and surrealism that permeate the feature.

9th – Sergeant Elias Grodin – Platoon (1986)

Like the idealistic and fair Sergeant Elias, Willem Dafoe It brings humanity and courage amid the chaos of the Vietnam War, in which it is considered one of the great war films of all time. In Platoon, Dafoe built one of the great anti-heroes of cinema. His intense and emotional performance, especially in the final jungle fight scene, was worth the Oscar nomination for best supporting actor and consolidated his reputation as an actor capable of conveying depth and empathy even in extreme and violent environments.

8th – Max Schreck – The shadow of the vampire (2000)

Playing actor Max Schreck, who would supposedly be a real vampire, Willem Dafoe was again nominated for the Oscar for best supporting actor thanks to a disturbing and almost hypnotic performance in The shadow of the vampire. The movie plays with fear and myth, mixing real facts with fiction, and Dafoe Creates a frightening and fascinating character whose presence dominates the screen. His ability to convey both grotesque and enigmatic make this one of the most striking roles of his career.

7th – Agent Alan Ward – Mississippi on fire (1988)

In this drama based on real facts about racism and civil rights, Willem Dafoe FBI agent Alan Ward, determined to resolve a brutal crime in the southern United States. His firm and fair interpretation highlights his commitment to characters who fight for justice. Even acting next to the giant and homesick Gene Hackman (Superman – The Movie), Dafoe can shine in Mississipi in Flamesdelivering a memorable performance that balances authority and humanity.

6th – JG Jopling – The Grande Hotel Budapest (2014)

In The Grande Hotel Budapest, in the unique style of WES ANDERSON (The Phoenician Scheme), Willem Dafoe Interprets the relentless villain and caricature JG Jopling. Your character adds black tension and humor to the plot, acting as a threatening and at the same time almost comical force. The performance of Dafoestylized and full of nuances, stands out as one of the highlights of this eccentric comedy, showing its talent to balance the absurdity and intensity.

5th – Vincent Van Gogh – In the Portal of Eternity (2018)

Here, Willem Dafoe It delivers one of the most sensitive and deep performances of his career by playing the painter Vincent Van Gogh in his last years of life. In In the Portal of Eternity, Dafoe It brings a vulnerable intensity that humanizes the artistic icon, showing its anguish, passions and creative torments. The exciting and nuance interpretation earned him his first – and hitherto unique – an Oscar nomination for best actor, although the golden bald, unfortunately, went to Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody).

4th – Bobby Peru – Wild heart (1990)

In Wild heartdirected by David Lynch (Twin Peaks), Willem Dafoe He plays the disturbing and unpredictable Bobby Peru, a villain loaded with tension and threat. Its performance combines a threatening presence with almost hypnotic hypnosis, making the character memorable and terrifying. The dark chemistry between Dafoe and Laura Dern (Blue velvet), who lives the protagonist, creates moments of high tension, especially in the scenes where Bobby demonstrates his volatile and dangerous nature. This role is a proof of the domain of Dafoe in complex and psychologically unstable characters.

3rd – Jesus Christ – The last temptation of Christ (1988)

In the controversial and controversial The last temptation of Christdirected by Martin Scorsese (The Irish), Willem Dafoe gives a deeply human interpretation of Jesus Christ. His character faces doubts, temptations and internal conflicts, offering a multifaceted view that explores both divine and human dimensions. The vulnerability of acting required total delivery, making this one of the most memorable and debated performances of the career of Dafoemarked by scenes that show fragility and force coexisting in the same character.

2nd – Thomas Wake – The lighthouse (2019)

As the authoritarian and enigmatic lighthouseiro Thomas Wake, Willem Dafoe Deliver a disturbing performance in The lighthousefrom Robert Eggers (Nosferatu), alongside Robert Pattinson (Batman). Set in a claustrophobic and surreal scenario, Dafoe It builds an imposing figure that dominates the narrative with its almost hypnotic presence. His monologue loaded with emotion and strength is one of the most memorable moments of the film, contributing decisively to the dense and disturbing mood that permeates the feature.

1st – Norman Osborn / Green Goblin – Spider-Man (2002)

First place could not be otherwise: in Spider-Man, Willem Dafoe gave life to the iconic villain Duende Verde, in the adaptation directed by Sam Raimi (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness). Its performance combines a mesmerizing mixture of charm and madness, delivering an energy antagonist, threatening and deeply complex. Dafoe He created one of the most memorable figures in superhero cinema. To this day, its performance remains among the best of the villains of its kind.

Also read:The 10 best films of the 21st century, according to Robert Eggers

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