Riz Ahmed went to extremes for Sound of Metal. Here are other films where outrageous dedication paid off.
To portray a newly deaf rocker in the wonderful Sound of Metal, Riz Ahmed had to become fluent in sign language, to the point where he could even improvise with hearing-impaired co-stars.
He also learned to play the drums – and absolutely nails a punk metal track in its entirety for the film’s commanding opening concert set-piece.
All this for a small indie that almost went under just days before rolling.
As we look forward to Ahmed’s bid for Best Actor at this month’s Oscars, here are three other films I recommend where an actor’s extreme efforts truly elevate the viewing experience:
The Dieter / He got ripped for Batman and piled on the pounds to play Dick Cheney, but for THE MACHINIST (2004) Christian Bale underwent perhaps the most shocking and dangerous transformation in cinema. Thanks to a diet of mostly coffee and cigarettes, the method actor dropped to a skeletal 120lbs to embody insomniac Trevor Reznick. Through his tortured confusion we are gripped by the paranoia and mystery until the gut-punch denouement in this massively underrated thriller. Rotten Tomatoes 77%
The Dancer / While Bale’s efforts were seen more as an oddity, Natalie Portman’s blood, sweat and broken toenails for BLACK SWAN (2010) led to Oscar glory. There is some controversy as to how much dancing on the film was done by a double. But without doubt Portman’s mentally and physically punishing training regime, to try to match what ballerinas dedicate a lifetime to perfect, can be seen on the screen across her entire intense, anguished performance. She sets the tone for this wild and haunting film. RT 85%
The Driver / To inhabit the iconic Travis Bickle in TAXI DRIVER (1976), Robert De Niro literally went the extra mile… working nightly shifts as a New York cabbie. Despite having just won an Oscar, legend tells he was recognized only once – by a shocked passenger who mused out loud about the extreme ups and downs of Hollywood. De Niro has admitted that story may not be true, but let’s say it is. The film is rather good too, you may have heard of it. RT 96% | Showtime