Gary Oldman's 10 Greatest Movie Performances - Ranked

An ensemble piece with a star studded cast, it was Tommy Lee Jones as conspirator Clay Shaw who was singled out for praise in Oliver Stone’s bold historical drama, JFK. Special praise, however, should equally be bestowed upon Gary Oldman, who has perhaps the trickiest role in the film and does a remarkable, complex job with it in his brief time on screen.

Oldman has played a lot of real life scoundrels, but Lee Harvey Oswald is one of the most notorious figures in his rogues’ gallery. The official line, of course, is that he singlehandedly assassinated President Kennedy - but, as is his wont, Stone isn’t so sure.

Over three hours we see various theories on the Dallas incident. Oswald appears only in flashback, and Oldman is tasked with playing the figure from a multitude of perspectives: willing conspirator, faded idealist, family man, patsy.

Oldman, who bears a passing resemblance to Oswald, is squirrely and suspicious in the part, but strangely sympathetic, too. It’s a tough challenge he takes on, and in short order he builds a real man out of Oswald, so often reduced to a single deed.