Starring opposite equally legendary British actor Anthony Hopkins, Hoskins played the reserved Hoover, always keeping his cards close to his chest and stealing every scene he appears in. Making Hannibal Lecter himself uncomfortable on screen is a challenge in itself, but Hoskins plays it effortlessly, adding another outstanding turn to his already illustrious resume. The scene that particularly stands out is when Nixon meets Hoover at a race course to discuss what will happen in the future. No matter how excitable Nixon gets, Hoover replies in a cool, calm and collected manner, asserting that "things stay as they are." Commanding the respect of one of the most notorious presidents of the United States in history, Hoover is able to hold the scene and hold power over Nixon, and in Hoskins' hands, the commanding presence is perfectly pitched. Hoskins, along with the rest of the cast, was nominated for the Screen Actors' Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in this criminally underrated biopic but was snubbed at the Academy Awards in favour of the more famous Anthony Hopkins. Despite the snub, this remains a crucial role in his career.
