A Filmmaker's Guide to the Best Performances: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Biography

Born in Fairport, New York and the son of professional workers, Philip Seymour Hoffman is probably one of the greatest actors of the late 20th and early 21st century. Severely underrated, a lot of his work includes very metaphysical roles and complex characters with a history of mental illness and/or disability and/or have serious challenges to their lifestyle making the undertaking of the task at hand increasingly difficult. When it comes down to it, Philip Seymour Hoffman's privateness about his lifestyle helped him to build a fascinating career filled with a credible resume and unfortunately, a crippling drug addiction that remained secret for a very, very long time.

The reason why Philip Seymour Hoffman is considered such a great actor isn't only because of his very private personal life and it isn't just because he played the most difficult of roles. It is also because of the fact that his pieces are so memorable when you watch them because they are performed so perfectly that you don't even realise he's acting. It is very hyper-realistic and something that other actors are always striving to achieve. Personally, I would put Philip Seymour Hoffman alongside actors like Al Pacino and Marlon Brando, and just beneath the god of acting that is Daniel Day-Lewis. I think PSH is severely underrated and under-appreciated. His acting talent is really phenomenal.

His work ethic has been described as one of the best aspects of his character, being one of his most in-demand traits. He has been also described as a method actor that likes to 'bring out the worst in (his) characters'. There is something undeniably human about the characters that he plays and the way he portrays them. They are always hurt by something, there's always something standing in their way that, to other characters, would make them look lazy. But the character themselves proves the other characters wrong in their attempt to carry out their dream, sometimes it can also fail spectacularly. It is just that human.

In reality, Philip Seymour Hoffman knows that nothing is ever Hollywood Perfect and nothing ever has a happy ending. In humanity, there is no such thing as a happy ending. We all have to endure this horrid state of life only to experience pain of death at the end. Philip Seymour Hoffman fleshes out this idea and apples it to his characters, searching for their deep inner-emotions because he knows that its not the purpose that is important, it is the emotion and the state of being. Not everyone has a purpose, or even a sense of purpose.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead on the 2nd of February, 2014, in his Manhattan apartment by his friend - David Bar Katz. He was only 46 years' old and when there was a search conducted upon the apartment, there were a number of hard drugs found. Three days after his death, his funeral was held and Broadway dimmed its lights during the candlelight vigil held in his honour - he was probably the greatest lose to Hollywood since the deaths of Heath Ledger and Michael Jackson.

What really touched me is that to this day, Hollywood hasn't forgotten him. If anyone remembers the 2018 Oscars, Sam Rockwell dedicated his Best Supporting Actor Academy Award to Philip Seymour Hoffman. I found that very nice indeed. As one of the most versatile actors to come out of America, Philip Seymour Hoffman hasn't been forgotten even as we approach mourning the sixth year without him. And if I have to make sure of it myself, he will not be forgotten.

Main Article

As a regular actor of the director Paul Thomas Anderson, Philip Seymour Hoffman was a versatile, intense, hard-working man who was deep and emotional in every single one of his roles - no matter whether he was the main character, a supporting character of even a bit part. He gave everything his all and it paid off in the end because even at the age of 46, he had amassed a following of quite a few people including a large, extensive resume which proved to be very impressive. Let's take a look at his ten greatest performances, shall we?

The Ten Greatest Performances Given By Philip Seymour Hoffman

10. Dean in "Punch-Drunk Love" (2002)

9. Owen in "Mission: Impossible III" (2006)

8. Mitch Roman in "Patch Adams" (1998)

7. Brandt in "The Big Lebowski" (1998)

6. Freddie in "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999)

5. Phil in "Magnolia" (1999)

4. Freddy in "Red Dragon" (2002)

3. Lancaster in "The Master" (2012)

2. Caden Cotard in "Synecdoche, New York" (2008)

1. Truman Capote in "Capote" (2005)