Hugh Grant Was Born to Play the Villain

As a seasoned moviegoer with decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that Hugh Grant‘s transformation into a masterful villain in “Heretic” is nothing short of mesmerizing. It’s as if we’ve been watching the same man all these years, yet he’s somehow morphed into an entirely new character, one who skillfully blends the familiar with the sinister.

In response to a question about my shift towards playing villains, I, Hugh Grant, described this phase as a sort of ‘unconventional’ period in my career. Aging and changes in appearance have made it challenging for me to land leading roles anymore. “I’m quite fascinated by evil, violence, and the macabre,” I shared during a Q&A session after the Toronto International Film Festival screening of Heretic, where I portrayed Mr. Reed, an enigmatic character with intriguing views on religion, possibly holding two Mormon sister missionaries captive in his ominous old house. As I recently celebrated my 64th birthday, someone from the audience wished me a happy birthday.

In recent years, Grant has delivered remarkable performances, often portraying morally ambiguous characters such as those seen in “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” “The Undoing,” and “Paddington II.” However, his performance in “Heretic” stands out distinctly. This role, while embodying many of Grant’s signature quirks and behaviors that made him a star in films like “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Notting Hill,” is a far cry from the charming roles he once played. With his hair now gone, wrinkles deepening, and voice becoming gravelly, the character he portrays feels tainted by his past. By the end of the film, it’s difficult to envision anyone else in this role, which seems to engage with Grant’s earlier career. It even leaves one wondering, “Perhaps Hugh Grant has always been a villain at heart?

As a film enthusiast, I must admit that it’s an intriguing query, not just because of his charming performances in earlier films, but also due to the disarming aura they exuded. Yes, those were acting roles – some exceptional ones indeed – yet, Hugh Grant seemed to have a knack for choosing the perfect mix of gestures that left us captivated.

The movie primarily focuses on three main characters: Reed, Sister Barnes (portrayed by Sophie Thatcher), and Sister Paxton (Chloe East). These are the two young Mormon missionaries who knocked on Reed’s door during a storm because he had previously shown interest in their faith. Reed welcomes them inside. They mention that they can’t enter unless another woman is present, to which Reed assures them that his wife is about to appear and she’s currently baking a pie. Additionally, Reed’s friendly demeanor could have been reminiscent of romantic comedies and lighter films in the past, drawing these young women towards him.

In the film, the two naive characters step inside, and before long, they find themselves immersed in a contentious discussion on faith led by Reed. This isn’t just a conversation, though; it’s more like a lecture. Reed, who is well-versed in religious studies and appears to know significantly more about Mormonism than the two girls do, shares his extensive thoughts on faith. The movie’s standout scene showcases this, with Reed delving into the historical aspects of monotheistic religions, intertwining discussions about the evolution of the board game “Monopoly” and instances of pop-song plagiarism throughout his discourse.

In this film section, it’s clear that Grant thrives on having numerous lines to deliver, as seen in the Q&A where he admitted that quiet moments make him uneasy because of self-consciousness. Interestingly, in the movie “Heretic,” Grant appears incredibly natural and free from artifice once the plot thickens. His charming performances in romantic comedies were relatable due to the ongoing self-doubt of his characters. However, unlike those characters, Mr. Reed, despite his casual mannerisms and hesitations, doesn’t seem to harbor any self-doubt at all. What makes him chilling is how effortlessly he settles into his character, a comfort that eventually becomes truly unsettling.

When Grant mentions that the opportunities have run dry, he’s speaking the truth. Even acclaimed actors like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro have faced difficulties in their later years, securing roles that truly showcase their abilities. (Before De Niro rekindled his collaboration with Martin Scorsese, his career was teetering on becoming a joke.) Grant encountered a doubly difficult situation because the genre he was most recognized for, studio romantic comedies, essentially vanished from the big screen. With age, so did the type of films he made, and not just because they stopped being financially successful, but also because viewers might have grown more skeptical about love, or at least the kind of love those movies portrayed as genuine.

In the movie “Heretic,” Hugh Grant’s performance stands out as more than just a captivating role, it necessitates a touch of his unique charm to portray effectively. Despite the film being a horror production, during the initial act, we find ourselves subtly wishing that Mr. Reed is an acceptable character, that his wife truly is baking blueberry pie in the next room, and that his interest in Mormonism is genuine – all part of a strange, amusing misconception soon to be resolved. However, the reality is that contemporary cinema leans more towards productions like “Heretic,” rather than light-hearted films such as “Notting Hill” or “About a Boy.

2024-09-10 20:54

Hugh Grant Was Born to Play the Villain

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