Terry Gilliam's Orwellian, dystopian classic Brazil featured towering performances from well-respected actors like Jonathan Pryce and Robert De Niro but Hoskins' turn as heating engineer Spoor stood out as one of the funniest and most sinister performances in any of Gilliam's films. It proved that even in a supporting role, Hoskins' presence on screen could steal the limelight in any scene he appeared in. With a wide-eyed stare and creepy grin, Hoskins dominates the few scenes in which he appears in Brazil, paying a threatening visit to Jonathan Pryce's protagonist Sam Lowry's home to fix his heating. Showcasing some fantastic physical comedy involving a spanner and a dim-witted henchman, Spoor steals the scene from the grasp of Robert De Niro, which is no mean feat at all. When an actor can make a short scene involving fixing a broken boiler, it says a lot about the calibre of his performance. Being able to mix serious and comedic acting in one scene, Hoskins' turn in Brazil is one of his best.
