Gary Oldman Hates His Performance in This Punk Criminal Drama (For All the Wrong Reasons)
The actor is being way too critical of himself here, trust us.
Biopics are being made now like never before, but in the midst of all of them, there's one raw, gritty gem from 1986 that stands apart from the polished crowd. Sid & Nancy is a haunting dive into punk rock's most tragic love story, and it features a performance that its star, surprisingly, can't stand.
Gary Oldman, one of Hollywood's most versatile actors, took on the role Sid Vicious for a £35,000 paycheck. The irony is that he wasn't even a fan of punk music and had serious reservations about the script. Yet, like many young actors hungry for their big break, he saw an opportunity and grabbed it. What he couldn't have known was that this role would help launch his career.
The film initially stumbled at the box office, but it has since earned its status as a true classic.
And yes, Oldman's supposedly "terrible" performance is nothing less than excellent.
Sid & Nancy (1986): A Tragic Biopic
The film doesn't sugarcoat its portrayal of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen's destructive romance. It follows their story from the Sex Pistols' American tour to their tragic end at the Chelsea Hotel.
The movie takes creative liberties (as most biopics do, by the way), yet it captures the raw energy and chaos of the couple. John Lydon (Johnny Rotten), the Sex Pistols' frontman, dismissed the film as "the Peter Pan version" of events.
Some scenes are undeniably difficult to watch, but Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb deliver performances so intense and intimate that you can't look away.
Yet, later, in his interview for Playboy (via E!News), Oldman revealed: "I don't like myself in the movie, no. Frankly, I didn't want to make it in the first place. I was talked into it at the time. I don't think I played Sid Vicious very well."
The Performance Oldman Can't Stand (But Fans Love)
Speaking of performances, to become Sid Vicious, Oldman didn't just act, we can say that he fully transformed himself in order to become Sid Vicious. He survived on a diet of steamed fish and melon to achieve Vicious's appearance. The dedication went so far that he ended up in the hospital, malnourished from the extreme weight loss.
That's the kind of commitment that makes great performances, even if the actor himself can't see it. Now, we already know what he feels about it, but what do fans say?
Well, to be frank, fans tell a different story.
Redditor, soulsofthetime, reasonably pointed out:
"Gary was in his thirties playing a 20-21 year old. If that doesn’t say how good an actor he is to convincingly play that, I just don’t know what is."
The transformation was indeed remarkable, Oldman captured not just Sid's youth, but his vulnerability and unpredictability.
Another Redditor, gunsguenther, shared a sentiment that many can relate to: "I know this movie word for word. I loved him as Sid. Its how my love for Gary started."
We guess that the roles actors are most critical of become the very performances that inspire generations of fans.
If you're curious to experience Oldman's performance for yourself, you're in luck. This punk rock tragedy is currently streaming for free on Plex. This movie truly gives you a glimpse into one of rock's most notorious couples.