2. “The Hour of the Wolf” (1968)
During his younger years, it would seem odd that the incredibly handsome von Sydow would be often relegated to such draining and painful performances. But few actors had control of such unique facial contours like von Sydow, and in “The Hour of the Wolf,” one of Bergman’s underrated works, the actor shows the mind of an artist deteriorating bit by bit. Playing a painter plagued by demons, possibly real, possibly imagined, von Sydow never overplays his visions—he let’s Bergman do the heavy lifting. Most actors might play up the crazy antics, but von Sydow understands the power of the close-up. Even the smallest gestures register the paranoia in this haunting parable, making the conclusion all the more devastating.
3. “The Exorcist” (1973)
It almost seems like a comic stroke of genius for William Freidkin to cast von Sydow as Father Merrin, the man who is tasked with saving innocent Regan from the demon that has possessed her. But in this iconic horror classic, von Sydow brings a mode of intense and solemn confidence to the role that is almost opposite his performance in “The Seventh Seal.” Merrin only appears in the last third of the film, and his final fate is certainly a strange affair worth discussing, but von Sydow’s conviction to the strength of this man, his belief in the Almighty, are what make that reveal so shocking. If this man can’t stop the devil, who can?
Von Sydow is also quite good in "Flight of the Eagle" (1983)
If one really thinks about it picking The Exorcist was not such an obvious choice. So thank you for this. People tend to forget that Von Sydow was 44 years old back then and yet he is amazingly convincing as a weary old man. Thanks to Dick Smith's make-up yes, but also because he's a great actor.
I love the Hour of the Wolf addition, although I think Shame was the greater performance that year. Also surprised you left out Pelle the Conqueror – I assumed that'd be on the list for sure. Honorable Mentions to Hamsun, Flight of the Eagle, and The Emigrants.
Great you included "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". Fantastic, touching performance but I thought you might overlook it due to the brevity.
He was only in a couple of scenes, but von Sydow was hilarious in "Hannah and Her Sisters"
"If Jesus came back and saw what's going on in his name, he'd never stop throwing up"
No "Flash Gordon" = FAIL. Period.
Pelle The Conqueor????
He was great in Beginners. Oh wait..!
He is my favourite actor. So glad you included his performance in "The Diving Bell…". So many of his performances could be included here. My personal favourite of his is in Bergman's "Shame". He plays an everyman civilian caught up in a war he does not understand. His struggle between fear and cowardice is powerful and painful, with his most striking moments (alongside his equal in Liv Ullman) performed without dialogue, using only expression.
It's a crime that, like Peter O'Toole, Max has never won an Oscar. He should have won for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. In a film that I found to be remarkably unsentimental about a devastating illness, Max carried the emotional weight of the entire film in the phone call scene.
how about "the greatest story ever told" i could not stop crying
What I believe is extremely sad is not seeing any credit given to the most important part as the lead actor for the greatest story ever told! After his part in that film nothing nothing could come close in meaning or performance.
He\’s also one of the rare actors who\’s played God (actually Christ in "The Greatest Story Ever Told") and the Devil (in "Needful Things") onscreen.
Max is a fantastic actor and no more brilliant in Pelle the conqueror . I\’ve always thought Max Von Sydow was one of the most highly rated European actors of his day. A MASTER of his craft. Good life to him.