Mark Hamill: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked
3. Griff - The Big Red One
Sam Fullers powerful anti-war film follows a squad of American soldiers during WW2. Hamill plays the token I don't want to kill soldier thats been done to death, but he brings something special to the role that really helps sell it. Instead of being whiny and preachy about his beliefs like the way most war films would handle the character Griff locks up his feelings inside himself. The performance is quiet for the most part, with Hamill expressing the characters sense of horror with looks inside of words. Of course the moment comes when he has to kill, but its far from heroic; he finds a German soldier hiding inside a concentration camp oven, and Griff proceeds to empty his rifle into him with a chilling look of insanity look on his face. The Big Red One was Hamills first attempt to break away from his Star Wars typecasting, and its a shame he didnt get more chances to show what he could do; based on the evidence here, he was capable of so much more.
