Josh Hartnett Has Always Been Great at Playing the Villain

As a longtime admirer of Josh Hartnett‘s captivating performances, I must say that his portrayal of Cooper in “Trap” is nothing short of mesmerizing. This film serves as a testament to Hartnett’s versatility and range, showcasing not only his ability to switch between personalities but also his knack for playing characters with a hint of darkness lurking beneath their surface.

Spoilers follow for the M. Night Shyamalan film Trap, which opened in theaters on August 2.

Josh Hartnett’s face has an intriguing smirk. With narrow eyes, a straight brow, and hair often falling over his forehead, it’s perfect for conveying amusement and contempt. In the movie “Trap,” Hartnett portrays Cooper, a serial killer who keeps his true self hidden – from his family, the police chasing him, and even the pop star he opposes. Yet, when he smiles at the struggle to capture him, a hint of pleasure slips through. Cooper thrives on deception, and that smirk is his most honest revelation.

In a casual, everyday setting at a concert with his 12-year-old daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue), the suburban dad portrayed by Hartnett, appears as an ordinary, appealing man. However, he’s secretly preoccupied with finding ways to evade the police. He maintains just enough interaction with people to make them feel acknowledged, but not so much that they grow suspicious of him. Hartnett’s talent for switching between characters is what drives the intense tension in the movie Trap, and his performance is so fluid that you never know how he will behave next, whether as Cooper or his murderous character, “the Butcher.” Both Hartnett and Trap’s writer-director M. Night Shyamalan seem to understand that there has always been a hint of darkness in Hartnett’s appeal. His eyes can shift from gentle and puppy-like to menacing and smug with surprising ease, making Trap an exciting watch because it lets Hartnett fully embrace his inner freak.

Hartnett has excelled in various roles, such as the heroic sheriff defending an Alaskan town from vampires in “30 Days of Night”, the romantic lead in “40 Days and 40 Nights”, and the outsider facing bizarre situations like an alien invasion in a high school in “The Faculty”. He’s competent in these roles, proving to be a capable leading man. However, when given the opportunity to use his soft voice and lanky frame for more subtle, cunning, and deceitful characters – those who have been hurt by the world and seek to spread their misfortune to avoid loneliness – that’s when Hartnett truly shines. This is best observed in roles where he portrays such characters.

In “Penny Dreadful,” Hartnett portrayed an enchanting, reckless, older-than-his years marksman who was secretly a werewolf, with a brief romantic encounter with Dorian Gray. This series is quite captivating. However, some of his most impactful performances veer into villainy. He was the heartbreaker in “The Virgin Suicides,” the one who poisoned a friendship by spreading rumors about his best friend’s girlfriend, and the smooth-talking assassin in “Sin City.” In “Black Mirror’s” episode “Beyond the Sea,” he played an all-American astronaut who murdered his colleague’s wife and son when they refused his advances. Many of these roles required Hartnett to charm people, earn their trust, only to betray them later, lending a chilling sinister undertone to his charisma.

However, the role of “Trap” allows Hartnett to deliver one of his most complex and versatile portrayals as a villain. He employs every inch of his physicality for this characterization – standing tall, slowing down his speech, maintaining intense stares. Unlike a typical explosion, he simmers with intensity; he’s calm and calculated, suggesting a man who is meticulously planning his next move and biding his time to execute it.

As a devoted movie buff, I find M. Night Shyamalan’s intricate portrayal of Cooper in the film fascinating. He skillfully presents multiple iterations of Cooper tailored to each scenario he encounters. It isn’t until Shyamalan begins to bisect Hartnett’s face and push him towards the edge of the frame, splitting him down the middle, that these various Coopers become more distinct.

During the movie, Shyamalan emphasizes Hartnett’s character, Cooper, by focusing on various aspects of his body and facial expressions, zooming in to highlight every detail. The climactic scene, where a handcuffed Cooper is being transported to jail, showcases the complexity of Cooper’s character more than any other moment. Prior to this, it appeared as if Cooper had resigned himself to his fate; Hartnett portrays him as subdued and remorseful, with his shoulders slumped and his head bowed as he attends to his daughter’s overturned bike on their front lawn. At this moment, Cooper is contemplating his past and future, considering all that he has done and lost. However, when Cooper is confined within the vehicle, a tire spoke emerges from his sleeve. Shyamalan maintains focus on Hartnett’s face as he manipulates the spoke to free himself from the handcuffs, demonstrating determination and eventual triumph. He smirks at how effortless this was. After separating his hands, Cooper repositions himself, signaling a resurgence of his character, and Hartnett uncovers another layer of the character to portray. By attempting to imprison Cooper, the film _Trap_ actually allows Hartnett to fully embody the villain he has always been capable of playing.

2024-08-08 00:54

Josh Hartnett Has Always Been Great at Playing the Villain

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