Bowie keeps the theatricality close to his chest playing the idiosyncratic genius Nikola Tesla in Christopher Nolans movie about obsession, misdirection and the suspension of disbelief. Subtle and unobtrusive in his scenes with Hugh Jackman and Andy Serkis, allowing the former to carry the weight of the drama and the latter to lighten the tone with droll one-liners, he imbues his Tesla with a preoccupied gravitas that, after the fact, seems perfect. This, after all, is a man constantly thinking, constantly inventing new ways of doing new things, the closest thing to a true magician that exists in the film. Nolan has confirmed that this was precisely the reason that Bowie was cast in the movie:
"I was looking for someone the audience would instantly believe was capable of extraordinary things, and it felt like any movie star in that role would be distracting. David Bowie has this amazing charisma that made him exactly right for it
He goes on to say that Bowie initially refused the role, but that he couldnt think of anyone else who could pull it off, and actually took the step of calling him to persuade him personally. The scene in which Tesla tries to gently persuade Angier out of doing what hes doing, recognising a fellow obsessive when he sees one, is a beautiful piece of understated acting, his regret in the face of Angiers adamancy a tangible thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88_6SQKuTHk
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
