In Character: Hope Davis

One of the best ways to judge an actor’s talent is to watch them in a really bad movie. If they can outshine the material and deliver a solid performance in an otherwise lame film, then they are well on their way to having something special. I’ve seen Hope Davis in a number of films and TV shows, some of which are, sadly, quite bad. Yet I’ve never seen anything less than a stellar Hope Davis performance. Known primary as a darling of American independent films, Davis’ talent is as solid as a rock, no matter the content she’s given.

Five Essential Roles

Next Stop Wonderland (1998)

Erin Castleton

As a relationship-challenged nurse living in Boston, Erin Castleton has let her unlucky dealings with love turn her into a bitter old dame. Which is a shame, given that she has many decades to go before being old.

Upon watching Next Stop Wonderland, I couldn’t help but compare it to the fantastic French delight, Amélie. Both lead characters are longing for love, desperate to find it by any means possible. Thing is, Erin Castleton is the antithesis of Amélie Poulain. Instead of hoping to find love through kindness, Erin spends her day angry at the world. Angry at her mother, her ex boyfriend, her awful dates, and, most importantly, angry at herself. Don’t get me wrong, Next Stop Wonderland isn’t a bummer of a film. Instead, it’s a mostly pessimistic take on fate, which, somehow, Davis manages to make wildly enjoyable.

About Schmidt (2002)

Jeannie Schmidt

My favorite thing about Davis’ work in About Schmidt is that she’s not afraid to be a bitch. Jeannie is a simple woman of simple tastes. Having recently lost her mother, Jeannie is forced to deal with her annoying but loveable dad, and her kind but aloof fiancé, all while planning her wedding. Jeannie’s brief and intense outbursts make for some of the most honest moments in the film. Whether she’s screaming at her husband-to-be out of frustration, or kindly telling her father to stay as far away for as long as possible, Jeannie is a woman easily rattled, and I absolutely love her.

The Secret Lives of Dentists (2002)

Dana Hurst

Early in the criminally underseen indie gem, The Secret Lives of Dentists, David Hurst (a perfect Campbell Scott) catches his wife, Dana in the all-too-comfortable embrace of another man. Instead of saying anything, David conceals what he knows, and, like a boxer waiting to throw one final punch, waits for the perfect time to knock Dana out with her infidelity. The Secret Lives of Dentists is a domestic dramedy that perfectly encapsulates the frustrations of marriage. The believability of Scott and Davis as a couple makes me wish they made (many) more films together.

American Splendor (2003)

Joyce Brabner

How does one exactly love Harvey Pekar? He’s unkempt, direct, aloof, he’s… Pekar. It certainly couldn’t have been easy for Joyce Brabner to choose Pekar as her life partner, but damn if Davis doesn’t bring Joyce to life with effortless, awkward charm. And with countless priceless lines like: “I guess I have a lot of borderline health disorders that limit me politically when it comes to eating,” what’s not to love?

Joyce is the perfect person for Harvey. Their salt and vinegar attraction has an instant cinematic appeal that’s a joy to watch.

In Treatment (2009)

Mia

In Treatment was a perfect showcase for the best that television has to offer. Incredible, stage play-like writing, tight direction, and, of course, flawless acting. Everyone who graced the frames of this show delivered a solid performance, of which Hope Davis is certainly no exception.

In Season 2, renowned therapist Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne, never better) treated Mia for the second time in his career. When he saw her 20 years ago, he helped guide her through several life-changing decisions. Today, Mia blames Paul for those decisions, and cites him as the main reason why she’s so unhappy. Davis only had seven episodes to flesh Mia out, but my God, what a quietly vengeful woman she turned out to be.

The Best of the Best

Proof (2005)

Claire

Claire is the daughter who got away. She was able to escape her brilliant but insane father (Anthony Hopkins), leaving her younger sister, Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow) to care for him alone. But Claire wasn’t running just to avoid her duty as a daughter. She’s far more complex than that. She ran because she knew she never shared the scholastic intellect that Catherine did with their father. She left because she wanted a life elsewhere. She wanted to be free and proud and in control.

When we first meet Claire, she has flown in from New York City for her father’s funeral, and she’s doing five things at once. Talking on the phone, arranging the funeral, planning her wedding, catching her limo, grabbing her luggage, and so on. Claire is the type of weak creature who so desperately gives the impression that she has it all together, but so obviously does not.

In addition, Hope Davis and Gwyneth Paltrow actually act how sisters really act, which is becoming all too rare in films. Their banter, spite and acceptance are all remarkably accurate. They may be polar opposites, but the bond of sisterhood trumps all. By the time I saw Proof, I was already very aware of Hope Davis’ skill. Claire put her range over the top for me, in the best possible way.

Other Notable Roles

In The Weather Man

Flatliners (1990)
The Daytrippers (1996)

The Impostors (1998)

Arlington Road (1999)

Mumford (1999)

Deadline (2000-2001)

Hearts in Atlantis (2001)

The Matador (2005)

The Weather Man (2005)

Infamous (2006)

The Hoax (2006)

Six Degrees (2006-2007)

The Nines (2007)

Charlie Bartlett (2007)

Synecdoche, New York (2008)

The Special Relationship (2010)

Mildred Pierce (2011)

Disconnect (2012)

The Newsroom (2012-2013)