My Favourite Tom Hardy Performances
It turns out that every movie I've seen with Tom Hardy has something in common. No matter where I land on the movie, I am intrigued by what Tom did. In that sense, this is really just a list of movies I've seen with Tom Hardy in them and I wanted to have a snappier title. Let's get started.
Role/Film:
Shinzon/Star Trek: Nemiss (2002)
What I liked:
I saw this movie with my family for New Years Eve, we were in the theater as 2003 began. That's a fond memory I suppose. Realistically I spent the whole time trying to remember if I knew Tom Hardy from anything since I didn't know him when I first saw this movie. That must mean he did a good job. I'm not willing to re-watch this movie.
What I didn't like:
Is this the one where Data dies or nah? I don't remember much about this movie other than I think Tom was playing Picard's clone baby? I don't care for this film on the whole and it's not actively bad I just found it boring.
Role/Film:
Clarkie/Layer Cake (2004)
What I liked:
I saw this movie because I heard it was amazing. I don't like it. I kept hearing it was good and decided to rewatch it at some point and then I realized the cast was on fleek! Seriously, Tom Hardy is just the tip of the "Sally Hawkins needs to be in everything" iceberg of this cast. What little time on screen I remember Tom Hardy having was interesting to watch. He's just one of those actors who is always making sure he's making the most of what he has to do.
What I didn't like:
Tom Hardy isn't in it enough for me to like this movie. The whole movie just comes off as a waste of talent for me. I'm clearly missing something considering Matthew Vaughn is all sorts of fun to watch.
Role/Film:
Handsome Bob/RocknRolla (2008)
What I liked:
This is definitely in my top 3 Tom Hardy performances. While I went in hoping my mom would enjoy watching her two favourites: Idris Elba & Gerard Butler go to work; I found two new actors to look out for. It's safe to say Tom Hardy worked out better than Toby Kebbell (without the mo cap), but I think they're great in this film.
What I didn't like:
I have no complaints about this movie or Tom's performance.
Role/Film:
Michael "Charles Bronson" Peterson/Bronson (2008)
What I liked:
This is the movie I imagine Tom Hardy wants everyone to see so they can see that he can ACT! If this guy has a bigger range than what is shown in this film that's just scary. You're going to get nuance, physicality, comedy, drama... a bit of horror. It's all there on display.
What I didn't like:
This movie can get a bit artsy to the point of jarring, thus making it hard to suspend belief. You better hope that you're digging Tom early on or this movie can be difficult to watch.
Role/Film:
Eames/Inception (2010)
What I liked:
Another performance that has to be in the top 3. I love everything to do with the low key beef between Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in this movie and just think this is Tom Hardy at his coolest. It would appear that he's having fun in an amazing movie. What's not to like? I get into all the fan theories and the truth about this movie HERE.
What I didn't like:
Once again, I have nothing bad to say about this film or performance. Chris Nolan + Tom Hardy = 1/1 (let's hope they can recreate that magic)!
Role/Film:
Ricki Tarr/Tinker Tailor Solider Spy (2011)
What I liked:
I liked everyone in this movie. This is an amazing collection of English talentin this cast. I need to re-watch this film but I remember Tom trying to chose love and finding out there's no room for that in the spy world.
What I didn't like:
I have talked about this movie HERE. To reiterate: this movie was too "stiff upperlip" for me. I couldn't get into it. Maybe now that I'm older and hopefully wiser, I can appreciate this film more.
Role/Film:
Tommy Conlon/Warrior (2011)
What I liked:
I didn't want to like this movie coming out of a movie that I still maintain is superior, The Fighter, but this cast just won me over. This is a solid movie, and I was rooting for Tom Hardy the whole time. I don't care if it was clear I put my money on the wrong horse!
What I didn't like:
I still wish Tommy beat his big brother and I'm still not into MMA.
Role/Film:
Tuck/This Means War (2012)
What I liked:
It's good to see Tom try something a bit lighter? A bit more mainstream?
What I didn't like:
Yikes, we found something Tom does not excel at. Romantic Comedy, is not the move for Tom. It's not his fault, who wouldn't want to be in a Will Smith produced film with Pauline's favourite actor and the future Steve Trevor? The problem is that I didn't buy the conflict at all. The two guys just didn't seem distinct enough for me to believe Reese wouldn't just pick one and stick with it.
Role/Film:
Forrest Bondurant/Lawless (2012)
What I liked:
Tom Hardy will live forever is my main takeaway from this film and I'm alright with that. I think this was a well rounded cast and solid story so that definitely overpowers any feelings of being cheated out of a full blown Tom Hardy performance.
What I didn't like:
Why did they waste having the amazing Gary Oldman, doe?
Role/Film:
Bane/The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
What I liked:
Despite what I think about this movie as a Batman fan and overall, the performances in this movie are above reproach. Tom Hardy is no exception. I'm not upset that he got shot and died, or that he was working for Talia all along. That doesn't take away from everything in the movie that precedes those events. If you can't get down with this plan, then enjoy his accent! I do just that HERE. This is a top 5 Tom Hardy performance for me.
What I didn't like:
I wrote about my distaste for this film HERE. Chris Nolan + Tom Hardy = 1.5/2 (great performance, stupid movie).
Role/Film:
Ivan Locke/Locke (2013)
What I liked:
Another top 3 performance from Tom Hardy. I might just be a sucker for the "just one actor on screen" genre. I haven't seen Cast Away but I'll get there. Gravity is a conditional entry in that genre but Buried definitely tickles my fancy. Tom just pulls off being the only one on screen. I find everything about this movie captivating including the behind the scenes issues.
What I didn't like:
Well if you're not a Tom Hardy fan. Which is to say a fan of an intense actor who likes to mix every accent ever into all of his performances a fraction of a sentence at a time, then you might want to miss this movie which is a shame.
Role/Film:
Bob/The Drop (2014)
What I liked:
Boy howdy is that turn at the end worth the somewhat meandering pace of this film! Tom was doing some questionable stuff with his accent but that's just to be expected with him at this point. Hang in there with him and I promise you'll get chills when he tells a certain story at the end of the movie.
What I didn't like:
You still have to get through a fairly slow moving movie with the addition of wondering if Noomi and Tom are immigrants or not before you get to the amazing end. It's also sad seeing James Gandolfini knowing he won't be getting any new performances.
Role/Film:
Max Rockantansky/Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
What I liked:
This movie is insane in the best way. Tom Hardy matches the intensity perfectly. He's not the hero of the movie. I'm assuming that's how things usual go in Mad Max movies? I only wanted to see this movie based on Tom, Charlize, and the trailer but I'm so glad I went to see it in D-Box no less! This movie is why it's still worth going out to see movies in the theater. Essentially one long chase, this movie doesn't leave much to pick apart and just hits you over the head with amazingly staged set pieces and two strong lead performances and some zany villains.
What I didn't like:
I've got nothing bad to say about this movie. I wish Tom was a bit more consistent about his accent, but then it wouldn't be Tom really would it?
Alright, go on, enjoy Tom doing a Wu Tang dubsmash... you deserve it!
-YG