In Character: Woody Harrelson

I should open by relenting that I don’t necessarily consider Woody Harrelson a character actor, per se. But no matter, in looking over his entire body of work, I was rather surprised to see how much of it is laced with utter perfection. He’s delivered countless exceptional performances, yet I rarely call him one of my favorite actors. Maybe that’ll now change.

Five Essential Roles

White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

Billy Hoyle

There are a handful Harrelson performances that could, perhaps, epitomize Harrelson’s range as an actor better than his work in White Men Can’t Jump, but I simply can’t turn my back on Billy Ho.

A white dude trying to make good on a hustle by conning (mostly) black men in pick-up games of basketball, Billy Hoyle represents what is, by far, my favorite Harrelson performance. Harrelson delivers it all here: whether he’s verbally going round for round with other players, or dishing out the genuine dramatics that often accompany a very serious gambling addict, or, most notably, making it clear that he is a rather talented ball player, Harrelson’s work in this film is what makes the picture so endlessly entertaining. I never grow tired of it.

Indecent Proposal (1993)

David Murphy

David and Diane (Demi Moore) are two high school sweethearts deep in the throes of love but financially broke. Soon, they are approached by billionaire John Gage (Robert Redford) who proposes that if he can spend one night with Diane, he will pay the happily married couple one million dollars. No strings attached.

Simple concept for a movie, and, with the help of the three mentioned actors, and Adrian Lyne’s sincere direction, it is executed mesmerizingly.

And while the set up is fun, it is after the night in question that Harrelson (and Moore, for that matter) is really given his moment to shine. His David is man so marred with desperation and insecurity, that it becomes physical uncomfortable to watch his downfall. With this performance, Harrelson introduced himself as a serious player. He stepped away from the playfulness of Cheers and White Men Can’t Jump and asserted himself as a dramatic powerhouse.

Natural Born Killers (1994)

Mickey Knox

Using the skill that was asserted with Indecent Proposal, Harrelson completely capitalized on his newfound respect by going all in – playing as crazed and fucked up a movie character as modern cinema can recall.

Mickey Knox is a man lost. He kills, rapes, steals – anything to… what? Keep from being bored? Fight the system? Who the hell knows, but damn if Mickey and his equally depraved wife, Mallory, don’t have a blast doing it.

Like all of Oliver Stone’s best films, Natural Born Killers is inarguably polarizing. You love it or hate it. But if you’re willing to roll with the film (as I am), then it is impossible to not appreciate Harrelson’s work here with the upmost regard. He pushes Mickey beyond hyperbole, yet somehow it works perfectly in the world that Stone creates. A flawlessly manic achievement in screen acting.

The Messenger (2009)

Captain Tony Stone

When I initially reviewed Oren Moverman’s poignant indie film, The Messenger, I said that lead actor Ben Foster’s performance was a quiet storm of emotion. And, to further the analogy, if Foster’s work as a troubled Iraq War hero is a storm, then Harrelson’s work as Foster’s commanding officer is a hurricane.

Stone has the task of telling people that their loved ones have died in duty. A tough gig, one that Stone represses with fleeting notions of sobriety and acceptance. Captain Stone is a man equipped with remarkable compassion turned volcanic rage. Also in my review, I stated, “Capitan Stone is a man so far removed from his inner turmoil, that it’s actually uncomfortable to watch at times.”

Seems as though Harrelson has a knack for making us squirm.

Rampart (2011)

Officer Dave Brown

Reteaming with Moverman for this crooked cop romp, I should start by saying that Rampart is not a good film. At least in my mind. It is bogged down with excessive, pointless plot details, and tiny character quirks that result in nothing but annoyance. Had the film been one-tenth as accomplished as Harrelson’s performance, then the actor would’ve been a serious contender for the Best Actor Oscar. But, alas, Harrelson’s work suffered, which is a goddamn shame.

So, in pushing the negativity toward the film aside, there actually is a thrilling, and haunting, performance begging to be given acclaim. Watching Dave Brown spin wildly out of control is one of the finest feats Harrelson has ever delivered. The film is worthy for him alone, which is honestly saying quite a lot.

The Best of the Best

The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

Larry Flynt

Larry Flynt was (and, well, still is) a complicated dude. Instead of describing him here, and sharing my personal opinions about him (which would be positive), I’ll simply say that it is impossible to deny the impact he had over first amendment rights in America. Sure, he went about it a tad crudely, but he mixed things up when no one else would. The man’s impact remains ever evolving, period.

Now, to portray such a flamboyant radical, there’s really only one option for success: do so wholeheartedly, without looking back. And that is precisely what Harrelson does here. He conveys the real life evolution of Larry Flynt with complete honesty and conviction (the film’s director, Miloš Forman, is to thank for this as well). We almost shouldn’t believe in his work here (it’s that over the top) but somehow, Harrelson pulls it off.

To put it another way: I was privy to a screening of this film last November, which was immediately accompanied by a Q&A with Flynt himself. When the moderator asked Flynt what he thought of Harrelson’s performance, Flynt responded by saying: “Woody played me better than I played myself.”

Yep, that’s goddamn right.

Other Notable Roles

In A Scanner Darkly

Cheers (1985-1993)
The Cowboy Way (1994)

Kingpin (1996)

Wag the Dog (1997)

Palmetto (1998)

The Thin Red Line (1998)

Edtv (1999)

Play it to the Bone (1999)

She Hate Me (2004)

North Country (2005)

A Prairie Home Companion (2006)

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

No Country for Old Men (2007)

The Walker (2007)

Transsiberian (2008)

Zombieland (2009)

Friends with Benefits (2011)

Game Change (2012)


Previous installments of In Character include:
Steve Buscemi
John Cazale
Patricia Clarkson
Cliff Curtis
Jeff Daniels
Viola Davis
Michael Clarke Duncan
Chiwetel Ejiofor
William Fichtner

Brendan Gleeson
Bruce Greenwood
Philip Baker Hall
John Hawkes
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Richard Jenkins
Erland Josephson
Elias Koteas
Heath Ledger
William H. Macy
Christopher McDonald
David Morse
Emily Mortimer
Gary Oldman
Guy Pearce
Kevin Pollak
Joe Pantoliano
John C. Reilly
Sam Rockwell
Campbell Scott
Michael Shannon
David Strathairn
Danny Trejo
Stanley Tucci
Shea Whigham
Ray Winstone
Jeffrey Wright