5 Great Gabriel Byrne Performances
Ahead of Gabriel Byrne Onscreen, we look at some of the best performances from, yes, Gabriel Byrne
The genius of this show is that it pits Byrne into wonderful two handers with a host of different actors. It's a testament to the skill of the man who he can deftly control and work these scenes almost as if he was his character, Paul, drawing beautiful moments from the subjects but without making it all about him. Even though it is. And when he get's someone really exceptional to play against, the show really comes alive. Working with a great actress like Alison Pill, as in this scene, Byrne's quiet understatedness really shines.
In a film of so many amazing performances, Byrne shines bright as Dean Keaton, former crook come good. Or has he? Byrne's performance oozes mystery and not a little bit of charm. He plays the character as a man with his back against the wall and a whole bunch of cards up his sleeve. And like the cops, we suspect that he is the infamous Keyser Soze. Even Byrne himself thought that he was Keyser Soze, only discovering at the premiere that he wasn't, much to his reported chagrin. It does little to undermine his performance. The film begins with his apparent death scene, cool as a cucumber.
Probably the best performance he's given in an Irish film. Playing the tortured father of two young runaways in this enchanted tale, Byrne really commandeers the entire film wirth his quiet intensity and despair. But ever the generous actor, he always makes sure that his performance is about the kids. This scene shows him at his best, fighting to keep onto his kids. This will be screened during the Kilkenny Arts Festival so it's a great opportunity to see one of the best Irish movies of the past 20 years.
Little seen on release, this Australian adaptation of the Raymond Carver tale marked Byrne's best onscreen performance since The Usual Suspects. Giving a complex, haunting and ambigous performance, Byrne plays one of a group of fishermen who, on discovering the body of an Aboriginal woman on a trip, decide to not report it until the trip is done. Guilted by his human error and frailties, Byrne gives on of his most complex performances, definitely his best in the last decade.
Not the best quality version so I apologise. But if you haven't seen this film, don't watch the clip and watch it in the big screen in Set Theatre on August 7th. Conflicted mob hitman Tom Regan is without doubt Byrne's best performance. In arguably the Coen Brother's best film. And this is the best scene. In fact, it's one of the most iconic scenes in all of cinema, often popping up in 'best' reels. An amazingly tight, tense scene and Byrne's wonderful performance, as usual, gives nothing away when it doesn't need to. 'Look into your heart!' Indeed.
Gabriel Byrne Onscreen takes place on Saturday 7th August in Set Theatre, John Street.
Your Comments (1)
Fantastic collection you’ve got lined up! It’s not easy to chose five things that give a really accurate over-view of Byrne’s work, because he’s just so eclectic, but it looks like you’ve selected some real crackers here.
Is it the first or the second season of In Treatment you are showing? The clip you feature is from the second season.
Laura Cousins at 14:56 on 28 July 2010