4. “Three Days of the Condor” (1975)
Like many European stars in the 1970s, Max von Sydow took a number of villainous roles in American thrillers. But von Sydow elevates the archetype of the silent foreign assassin in Sydney Pollack’s classic about an agent (Robert Redford) being hunted by perhaps his own government. Covering his face in thick-framed glasses, von Sydow marks his character Joubert with an intense, silently threatening presence that no doubt had an influence on Javier Bardem’s turn in “No Country for Old Men.” But what truly makes his performance magical is the casualness of his final monologue—as he explains to Redford’s character about the quickly changing agendas in his line of business, von Sydow makes the specifics of the exposition simply mundane. This isn’t murder; it’s business.
5. “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (2007)
Say what you will of Julian Schnabel’s life-celebrating work of visual expression, but von Sydow’s two-scene performance makes a strong mark on the picture. Playing the father of Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric), who wrote his memoir with only the aid of his blinking eye after a massive stroke, von Sydow captures two brutal emotions in two very different scenes. In the first, we watch as Bauby gives his father a shave, their banter casual but somewhat dismissive. In the latter, we watch as von Sydow speaks to his now locked-in son over the phone, who cannot say a word back. Saying goodbye to a child might seem like a cloying moment for any actor to go over the top, but von Sydow builds the scene around his character attempting to retain dignity in this moment, to stay strong for his son. But how can one do that? When he breaks down into tears finally, we do as well.
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.