Legendary Oscar-winner Robert Duvall Dies
Robert Duvall has passed away at age 95 and leaves a brilliant series of first-rate performances behind in some of the best and most important films of all-time.
He was a truly magnificent screen presence who left his stamp on pretty much every role he ever took on. Robert Duvall was one of the most accomplished actors of his generation and it is sad to report the actor died this past Sunday. He was prominently featured in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather from the early 1970’s and its first sequel, but he actually won the Oscar for Best Actor for his dramatic role in the brilliant, memorable and small 1983 film, Tender Mercies. There wasn’t anything Duvall couldn’t do. What he accomplished on-screen with some of the most memorable film roles in cinematic history under his belt was a true gift to the world.
Duvall was nominated for several Academy Awards over the course of his career. He was nominated for his work in The Godfather and he was at his most intense in the brilliant 1997 independent film, The Apostle, which garnered him recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the category of Best Actor against the likes of Jack Nicholson (As Good as It Gets) and Peter Fonda (Ulee’s Gold). Nicholson ultimately won the Oscar that year, but, today, The Apostle feels like the stronger film.
Robert Duvall was well-known for making bigger than life films such as Apocalypse Now while also maintaining his artistic integrity by taking on smaller, less showy parts in films like 1996’s wonderful, Sling Blade. To call Duvall a master of his craft would be a gross understatement considering the quality of his work throughout the decades in which he worked in Hollywood. Films like 1998’s A Civil Action and 2014’s The Judge showed that Duvall was just at home being a dependable character actor as he was playing leading roles in complex films like Tender Mercies and The Apostle.
In hits like Tom Cruise’s summer movie from the early 1990’s, Days of Thunder, Duvall found his footing in parts that made him a central supporting movie star as he stood behind Hollywood actors such as John Travolta (A Civil Action) and Robert Downey Jr. (The Judge) in two later dramatic movies that both earned him Oscar nominations.
Robert Duvall was a movie star like no other. His presence on-screen was deeply felt by movie-goers who watched his greatest films like The Godfather and The Apostle. Whether his character was admirable, eccentric, normal or less than honorable, Duvall frequently rose up to the task of making his performances feel like the work of a master thespian. In 2003’s Open Range, Duvall also showed the power of being able to turn a mediocre movie into something passable and highly watchable. A basic Kevin Costner movie on the surface, Open Range, did a lot for the latter part of Duvall’s career and was one of his very best turns.
Though Duvall appeared in easy-to-define masterpieces like The Godfather Part II, he played his role wonderfully in the Western, Open Range, too, as stated. Bobby Duvall got to really sink his teeth into many of the smaller parts he took on. As a neglectful dad in Sling Blade, Duvall stole the spotlight for a small amount of time in a movie which offered audiences heavy drama in large quantities. Duvall would have won another Oscar for Best Actor for The Apostle, but Jack Nicholson put up a fight against Duvall in the category and later addressed Duvall briefly in his speech at the Oscars. Viewers will love Duvall’s movies if they’ve yet to discover him. I decided to re-watch The Apostle today. His turn shone bright there as it did in just about any of his meatiest and memorable roles.
Robert Duvall didn’t play games in terms of the work he did in the movies. He had an edgy side to him which made smaller roles in films like Sling Blade seem just as important to his success as the larger ones. Bobby Duvall was a true actor’s actor and his fearless choice of roles was proof that Duvall could go all the way in so many different parts he decided to take on. Talk about a true master of his craft, Duvall’s work could be on the same path as greats like Dustin Hoffman to being called legendary. Maybe, he’s just a dramatic film actor that changed audiences’ lives forever through the stellar work he leaves behind or, perhaps, he was something much more than that. Duvall didn’t disappoint viewers time and time again in any of the prestige projects he took on. He was a true master of the acting game.
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