10 Actors Who Reclaimed Some Dignity In 2017
3. Willem Dafoe
Where It All Went Wrong: The Headhunter's Calling, Dog Eat Dog, My Hindu Friend
The Redeeming Movie(s): The Florida Project, Murder on the Orient Express
Willem Dafoe, once regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation, has been throwing out any old rubbish over the last few years. The man renowned for fantastic performances in films such as Platoon, The Last Temptation of Christ, and, yes, Spider-Man, could be glimpsed in throwaway crap like The Headhunter's Calling, Dog Eat Dog, and My Hindu Friend. What in God's name are these movies?
Then 2017 drops in and Dafoe casually offers up what could be the best and most interesting performance of his entire career. How's that for reclaiming your dignity after you've starred opposite Matt Damon in (gulp!) The Great Wall?
This performance can be glimpsed in Sean Baker's wonderful, Oscar-worthy comedy/drama The Florida Project, which features Dafoe as the manager of a crummy hotel in the named state. It's an incredibly understated turn that manages to be mesmerising without being showy; an actor working at the top of his game in the most natural way. His character, Bobby, feels like a real human being with strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, you just can't help but love the guy.
Follow that with roles in What Happened to Monday, Murder on the Orient Express, and Justice League, and it's been one hell of a year for Dafoe. He's back, baby!