best film: Two polar opposite films dominate both this category for Ralph Fiennes – and the best performance category below. On one hand, Fiennes plays Amon Goeth, commandant of the Kraków concentration camp in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993). Far to the other side in genre and tone – and over two decades later – Fiennes would find another once in a lifetime role as M. Gustave, the concierge of The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) in Wes Anderson’s colorful, symmetrical world.
from Schindler’s List in 1993 – this was Ralph Fiennes’ coming out party – a haunting portrayal. Fiennes’ monster – an angel of death – Amon Goeth belongs on the all-time list of movie villain performances along with Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lector and Robert Mitchum’s dueling work in Cape Fear and Night of the Hunter.
best performance: The Grand Budapest Hotel edges out his work in Schindler’s List – but they are both excellent options and there is no wrong answer between the two. The Grand Budapest is a dominant comedic lead performance in a visually spectacular auteur driven masterpiece – this achievement is incredibly rare. Fiennes is just in total command – exacting, funny, the dictation, the body language, the walk – it is all so accomplished.
Fiennes in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel – certainly a prime candidate for the best performance in a Wes Anderson film – one of the most important auteurs in the world of cinema since 1996.
stylistic innovations/traits: Ralph Fiennes’ third overall performances in his film career is the scene stealing personification of horror in Spielberg’s 1993 film. Quiz Show in 1994 is a nearly 180 degree turn and a solid entry to back that breakthrough up and show off some versatility. Of course, The English Patient came along not long after in 1996 and gave Fiennes a second high quality performances in one of the year’s best films. There are often little quiet stretches in his career since, but every few years there is a Spider, In Bruges, Deathly Hallows – maybe even 2022’s The Menu belongs here in that second or third tier, that acts as reminder of Fiennes’ abilities. He is unhinged in A Bigger Splash – so verbal – he never shuts up. Yet if one looks back, Fiennes can turn around and put together a disturbing portrayal like Spider with David Cronenberg where he hardly talks at all – just mumbles and facial tics. This, combined with the samples above from his best two films and performances, is acting range. Fiennes can clearly play villains (Schindler, In Bruges, and Harry Potter), bastards (Coriolanus, A Bigger Splash), and complex (also a bit bastardly), ultimately sympathetic figures (Quiz Show, The English Patient, Constant Gardener). Fiennes is the consummate pro – and this list is not about forecasting the future, but with three archiveable films in the 2020s (giving him a very respectable twenty (20) archiveable films overall) and his skill level – he shows no signs of slowing down.
Fiennes in the now underrated best picture Oscar winner from 1996 – The English Patient
directors worked with: Kathryn Bigelow (2), Peter Greenaway (1), Steven Spielberg (1), Anthony Minghella (1), David Cronenberg (1), Fernando Meirelles (1), Sam Mendes (1), Wes Anderson (1), Luca Guadagnino (1), The Coen Brothers (1)
Fiennes in David Cronenberg’s 2002 effort Spider (a low key sublime film in the oeuvre of both Fiennes and Cronenberg). Spider is so far removed from Fiennes character in 2015’s A Bigger Splash, Harry Hawkes – it is hard to believe it is the same actor
top five performances:
- The Grand Budapest Hotel
- Schindler’s List
- The English Patient
- Spider
- A Bigger Splash
archiveable films
| 1993- The Baby of Macon |
| 1993- Schindler’s List |
| 1994- Quiz Show |
| 1995- Strange Days |
| 1996- The English Patient |
| 1999- The End of the Affair |
| 2002- Spider |
| 2005- The Constant Gardener |
| 2008- In Bruges |
| 2008- The Hurt Locker |
| 2008- The Reader |
| 2011- Coriolanus |
| 2011- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 |
| 2012- Skyfall |
| 2014- The Grand Budapest Hotel |
| 2015- A Bigger Splash |
| 2016- Hail, Caesar! |
| 2021- The Dig |
| 2021- No Time to Die |
| 2022- The Menu |
@Drake – did you manage to see The Bone Temple yet?
@Harry- Yes, I caught it earlier this year- very impressive.
@Drake – Really happy to hear that, I’ve seen it four times now. Do you see where I’m coming from with it being a top 5 performance for Fiennes?
His brother Joseph was a pretty big name himself in the late 1990’s and 2000’s with films like Shakespeare in Love and Enemy at the Gates.
I was doing a Ralph Fiennes run (kind of obsessed with him currently lmao). @Drake Have you caught The Forgiven (2021)? I have to say it is kind of underrated. The movie meanders but has some fantastic compositions imho
By John Michael McDonagh, brother of Martin! I think you do have some other films of his in archives
@Řueben – very underrated film and director. He works with Eyes Wide Shut DP Larry Smith often.
@Ŕueben- I have seen The Forgiven— I try to catch everything from Ralph Fiennes I can
The Bone Temple is a huge boost for Fienne’s resume. Closer to his work in The Grand Budapest Hotel where he’s having a lot of fun rather than a more serious role. After sleeping on it I’m sure it belongs in his top 5.
He takes so many risks that I can’t imagine a less confident actor pulling off and doesn’t slip.
@Harry – thank you for sharing- top 5 is very high praise- excited for it
@Drake – did you manage to see it in theatres?
@Harry- I have not- haven’t made it to the theater as nearly as often as I’d like. I wanted to see this and Marty Supreme and am afraid I won’t make it to either.
Well my expectations are a little high with what you think about Fiennes performance, hopefully I can see it soon
@Malith- DDL the boxer role is in line with bill the bucher and plainview. I don’t Fiennes can be as raw as DDL.
I think of Fiennes as Dirk Bogard and if he’s Bogard then DDL is as if brando and Bogard had a baby. DDL has the sophistication of Bogard but also the rawness, sheer chaotic energy of Brando. Fiennes is more like Bogard or anthony hopkins. Fiennes’ strengths are more about control.
“I think of Fiennes as Dirk Bogard and if he’s Bogard then DDL is as if brando and Bogard had a baby. DDL has the sophistication of Bogard but also the rawness, sheer chaotic energy of Brando. Fiennes is more like Bogard or anthony hopkins. Fiennes’ strengths are more about control.”
This is a wild swing. Haha. I see Bogarde in non of them. And I’m being honest. The only similarity is all of them are British. The most similar one would be who can play a diva the best way. And I’m not sure this quality stands out in either DDL, Fiennes or Hopkins. Brando maybe. But he is of a different nationality.
@M*A*S*H-The Boxer is mostly an internal(and physical) performance. I won’t really associate rawness with that.
@Drake- can you see Fiennes as Herman Mank in Mank?
Although it’s an American role but I think of it because of its theatricality and dependency on dialogue dilevery. Also the witty comedic element of the role seems a fit so does his intellectual side. I think Fiennes can also play drunk very well.
Do you think that the specific charm required here would be a stretch for Fiennes’ British grand Budapest type humor.
@M*A*S*H-Can you see Fiennes as Lincoln in Spielberg’s Lincoln? Fiennes and later era DDL after The Boxer are basically interchangeable imo.
@Drake- I cannot see that. And even if he did play Lincoln , he’d be quite a lot different from DDL. Also DDL is closer in looks to Lincoln. But I think Fiennes would be a better choice than Liam Neeson. But even Neeson looks more like the role.
And i disagree that DDL and Fiennes are interchangeable post The Boxer. One role of DDL’s that Fiennes missed out on is certainly Reynolds woodcock in phantom thread. This role is kinda tailor made for Fiennes. British upper class, monomania, intricacy and a complicated romance.
DDL and Fiennes both have certain elegance even when they are playing raw or untamed but hey are quite different. DDL can be more rawer , intense, Fiennes is more intricate and controlled. I don’t think Fiennes can play Bill the butcher or Daniel plainview. I think DDL cannot do grand Budapest role.
In pre the boxer era I think Fiennes can thrive in DDL’s roles in a room with a view and the age of innocence.
“I don’t think Fiennes can play Bill the butcher or Daniel plainview.”
Why not? He has played evil many, many times. Are we really counting Voldemort as British upper class? I haven’t seen Fiennes in a sensitive(weak) role much. So I’d say Phantom Thread is the toughest for him.
@Drake- i don’t think Fiennes can be as explosive as DDL. Fiennes can internalize the evil (like in Schindler’s list) but the shear magnitude of DDL’s externalized fury, evil and rawness as these two characters would be less with Fiennes.
As for woodcock, Fiennes can play meticulous, monomania and overall refined energy of the character very well (grand Budapest, hail Caesar) but then also the complicated romantic lead (as seen in english patient and end of the affair). Fiennes would levitate here.
@M*A*S*H-I don’t know. You make a good point. But then again roles like There Will Be Blood is hard to come by. I think Fiennes can play evil very well and I think he can do a good job in later DDL roles if DDL wasn’t available. But DDL is a master of accents. So not sure how Fiennes’ accent work would come off outside Phantom Thread. I think Gary Oldman is another one of this generation. I would say I have never seen these three give a bad performance. So hard to say where their weakness is given the variety of roles they have played.
@M*A*S*H. and @Malith- enjoying this discussion here- great work- both of you
@M*A*S*H-Personally I don’t find Fiennes conventionally attractive. He is more in the Joaquin Phoenix lineage but yes with regal elegance. So I’m not sure about him in either A Room with a View or The Age of Innocence. Imo, the roles line up with them when they gets older and DDL ditches his good looks. Fiennes could probably play The Boxer for sure because being conventionally attractive is not really a requirement there.
@M*A*S*H- I am not Drake but just want to say that I love this casting choice, although I am not sure Fiennes has the multilingual skills required for Hans Landa, but when it comes to portraying a villainous characters, Fiennes is as good as any actor has ever been.
@Alt Mash- I love hearing from you.
Fiennes has played in both Italian and French. Idk about his German but I think he learned Russian to play a role. So he kinda has shown knack for linguistic dexterity.
Also I’m not recasting Hans Landa, it’s just a fun idea to play with so I didn’t necessarily think about this.
@Drake- can Fiennes play the two Christoph Waltz roles inglorious bastards and django unchained?
He can play whimsy, charm, theatrical flamboyance politeness, exactness of diction very well.
For Hans Landa he can combine the menace of Amon Goeth and whimsical nature of Gustave.
So can he? Or he’d make Hans Landa a little more intense and a little less mischievous than Waltz’s portrayal, shifting the tone?
@M*A*S*H- Yes, and I think your last sentence is spot on as well
@Drake and @Alt Mash- do you think that if not Waltz, then Fiennes was the most perfect choice for these two roles out of all the actors active in 2009 and 12?
I think Fiennes would be a little different but equally good. It’s hard to forget that in Grand Budapest he loses his intensity and plays whimsy, the sense of play and pure comedy in a role which is heightened (certainly not realism) just like both Landa and Shultz.
I think DiCaprio was one of the first people considered for the role of Hans Landa. Considering the way Waltz played him, DiCaprio’s casting seems unfit. Fiennes would walk on the same path that Waltz did.
@Drake- thinking about it, his recent role in Conclave is sort of a cousin to George Smiley in Tinker tailor soilder spy. But yk the tone and atmosphere of Conclave is in great conversation with Tinker tailor soilder spy.
Both films are written by the same writer Peter Straughan (didn’t knew this until now). Both films would make a great double feature.
@Malith- I additionally prefer Harris as Dumbeldore. It is a shame he passed away.
@Malith- I also prefer Harris as Dumbeldore. It is a shame he passed away.
@nick connolly-Harris certainly brought a warmth to the role I never got from Gambon. But this I think is Gambon’s big break and his claim to fame. So I’m happy for him. He is great in Cook, the Thief, his Wife and Her Love but not many has seen that film and Gambon hasn’t got any award attention for other roles either. So this is quite big for him playing a beloved character in a beloved franchise.
@M*A*S*H-I haven’t seen Sutherland’s old performances sadly. I think Gambon is a much darker Dumbledore than Harris was. But quite perfect for what Cuaron was going for in Prisoner of Azkaban. The difference is like McKellen & Christopher Lee in Lord of the Rings.
@Malith- love this!
@Drake- a lot of people will agree with me on category #1 and #3 but category #2 shouldn’t be slept upon either. In 2000 i can easily see Fiennes as a warrior/king with virtue, romantic lead, he’d also be quite regal just like Ian Mckellen in the same film.
I wouldn’t have considered Eastern Promises if haven’t seen Red Dragon. He’s physically imposing there (covered in tattoos as well.)
I have a question.
Fieness can easily match if not outmatch the level of both Mortensen and Colin Firth but DDL and Oldman are method actors, more stronger shape shifters than Fiennes.
So even though Phantom Thread and George smiley won’t require as big of a transformation (as say Lincoln or Churchill) but still can Fieness match thier level on Raymond and Smiley?
I think he can just wanna know your view.
@M*A*S*H- hyper masculine and warrior is a bit of a stretch
@Drake- have you seen The Return by Umberto Pasolini with Fiennes and Binoche. It’s a fine demonstration of Fiennes’ masculine portrayal. He also built a great physique for that. Hand to hand combat in that.
I don’t think either Aragorn or Nikolai are hypermasculine (masculine- yes). There’s tenderness as well.
What do you think about my second question? Method acting of DDL and Oldman and if cast, can Fiennes match their level as Raymond and Smiley respectively?
@M*A*S*H- I have not yet on The Return. I’ve seen most of what Fiennes has been doing for over 30 years now- including more action/physical roles like Coriolanus. For the second question- I think Fiennes would crush in DDL’s role in Phantom Thread or as Smiley – the Oldman role
@Drake- I’m not questioning your knowledge here. It was not my intention to imply that you are missing onto to something. The reason I consider your insight so highly is that you have much more knowledge of cinema and actors/acting than I do.
Also now that I think about it, Aragorn is more suited than Nikolai I’d say. Because Nikolai requires more steely coolness and physical menace. Aragorn on the other hand is more verbal, with a Henry V type speech as well.
I think playing a king or prince would be easy for him.
@M*A*S*H-Did you ever think about the look needed to play Aragorn? I never got a romantic lead vibe from Fiennes. And he doesn’t really have that look imo.
@Malith- if you’re concerned about the look, then look no further than an image of Fiennes from Strange Days. He’s also kinda idk more energetic there (atleast distant from his usual cerebral portrayals). He might have been one of the best looking people in 90s and early 2000s. And has played romantic leads many times, most traditional being The English Patient.
I’ve recently seen The Return and he’s in action mode there.
Aragorn is also a British character with lots of speeches and a regalness about him too.
I was wrong about Nikolai and The Road earlier but I think he’ll a pitch perfect Aragorn if given the opportunity.
Also what do you think about my other picks? I’d love to know.
@M*A*S*H-Fiennes is a great actor of course and I haven’t seen a bad performance from him but I don’t really see him as a romantic action hero. How about DDL for Aragorn? I think it would have been more suited 5 years ago but he still has played this type of role successfully in The Last of the Mohicans. I haven’t seen Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy but Fiennes can do a very good job in The Phantom Thread DDL role I feel like.
@Malith- have you seen Strange Days directed by kathryn bigelow?
Fiennes absolutely CAN play a romantic action hero.
And yes, DDL can be a fantastic Aragorn as well.
@Malith- also what do you think of Fiennes playing the lead roles in A Single Man and The King’s speech. I think he’ll be fantastic.
@M*A*S*H-Agree to disagree. But imo, Fiennes doesn’t have the classical action romantic hero look. I haven’t seen the two Colin Firth films or Strange Days yet. I’m a big fan of Viggo btw. Very talented actor.
I think Richard Harris would have been perfect in the Ian McKellen role in The Lord of the Rings. And McKellen in the Harris roles in Gladiator and Harry Potter.
@Malith- yes! Michael Gambon as well. And how about Donald Sutherland?
@Drake- I’ve selected few roles that I think would be excellent for Ralph Fiennes (or well within his range). I’ll really appreciate your insight on what will be absolutely perfect and what won’t work.
Also I don’t want to recast any of these roles.
I’ll categorise them based on Fiennes’ skillset.
1. High class, meticulous (generally monomaniacal), intelligent and highly intricate
A) Raymond woodcock in phantom thread
B) Smiley in Tinker tailor soilder spy 2011
C) Sigmund Freud in a dangerous method
2. Masculine, rugged, imposing (heroic or morally ambiguous- doesn’t matter)
A) aragorn in LOTR
B) Nikolai in Eastern promises
C) Man in The Road 2009
3. Vulnerable, emotionally intelligent, regal, internally troubled
A) George in a single man
B) king George in the king’s speech
I personally think Fiennes would knock each one of them out of park.
@M*A*S*H- really like the category descriptions. I see him best in that #1 group- but I tend to agree with you overall.
His recent resurgence has surprised me. And looks like finally another Oscar nomination for Conclave. I thought he would quiet down after that period since Hail Cesar but he’s been on a roll since 2021(No Time to Die, The Dig, The Menu, Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More, Conclave). I think The Forgiven is very interesting too.
@Anderson- he’s consistently doing theatre as well without a break. I love his career. He’s constantly doing something and even if every film of his is not a masterpiece but he’s excellent in every single thing he does- I don’t think there’s a bad Ralph Fiennes performance. And every film of his atleast watchable.
Really excited for Conclave.
Has anyone seen Conclave (2024)?
@James – Yes it’s a brilliantly directed and acted film, my second favourite Robert Harris adaptation next to The Ghost Writer.
The cast is superb except for Stanley Tucci (not an overall talented actor). I think this nicely rounds out Fienne’s top 5 performances.
The decor and mise en scene reminded me of Visconiti at times, it’s a beautifully set film full of intrigue and twists. I thought it was a big step up for Berger and now I’m very excited for his next moves.
@Harry- high praise- exciting. Visconti? Wow
@Harry – What is your grade for the film? I have it as a HR/MS (leaning towards MS). So far, I’ve only had two MPs this year : Dune Part Two (MP) and Ripley (MS/MP). I’m excited for Th Brutalist though.
@Alex – The same grade as you. Dune and Ripley are also my only MPs this year so far. Only other MS or higher film I have seen is The Substance.
@Drake, two questions here
Who’s a better M, Fiennes or Dench? And
Where’d you rank his work in Skyfall in his filmography and in the film in general (considering he’s a more skilled actor than Craig, Dench and Bardem)?
@M*A*S*H- So far the answer is Dench, Fiennes’ does not have an achievement yet on par with Dench’s in Skyfall. I think Fiennes’ work in Skyfall might be outside the top ten in his own filmography
Can Fiennes play Larry Gopnik in A Serious Man?
@M*A*S*H- I’m not saying he can’t- but I do not think of Fiennes here
I get it. I think Fight Club is a bad idea as well.
There’s a meekness and idiosyncrasy in Stulbarg’s portrayal and look.
Fiennes talent lies in gentleman-ly sophistication, not goofiness (More like DDL). There’s a kind of discipline in Fiennes’ dilevery and acting style. DDL definitely feels like a suitable comparison. Fiennes has played sophisticated villians and Grand Budapest is a highly sophisticated comedy. Diction is also Fiennes’ strength.
What about James Bond or Johnny in Naked. Can you see this? Considering Fiennes is British as well.
@M*A*S*H- Love the DDL comparison- both can do monomaniacal very well. Johnny is just so shaggy dog in Naked- tougher for me to see. Let me think about Bond. I see him more as a great Bond villain (funny we are talking about this as both Bond and a villain as he obviously already has a role here as M).
But that’s a physical description of Jhonny. Actors wear wigs and fake moustache all the time. (Ian McKellen wore a prosthetic nose to look like a wizard). Fiennes would have the accent, dilevery, funny intensity, villainy etc as Jhonny.
As for M, he’s perfect. He’s great at playing villians as well. But he’s also tall, handsome, sophisticated, well built, charming and funny. He can also play aloofness Or coldness (Schindler’s list) as well as extreme volatility (say In Bruges).
@M*A*S*H- It is more than a physical description for sure. I don’t think David Thewlis did any of those things (wigs, fake moustache or nose prosthetic). I’m not saying he can’t do it, but Fiennes has a lot of meticulous characters and affluence in his filmography. Not a lot of Johnny.
“Fiennes is the consummate pro”
His range is absolutely baffling.
Can he play,
1. James Bond British suave and sophistication. (I think he’s pro at this particularly)
2. Working class unrefined Mike Leigh / Naked / David Thewlis like role
3. Repressed men say Stulbarg in A Serious Man Or Ed Norton in Fight Club or something.
@Ywen – Great catch here- thank you- fixed
His range is more impressive than I thought but man he really does specialize as Villains. I know @Drake does not have in archives but Red Dragon (2002) is another strong Villain performance. It really is too bad and no offense to Brett Ratner but I really wish they got a better director with the crazy talent that film had; Ralph Fiennes, Ed Norton, Anthony Hopkins, Harvey Keitel, PSH, and Emily Watson.
Villains
Schindler’s List – Amon Goeth
Harry Potters – Tom Marvolo Riddle aka “He Who Must Not Be Named”
In Bruges – Harry Waters
Red Dragon – Francis Dolarhyde
Fienes is excellent in John McDonagh’s 2021 film “The Forgiven” also shot by Larry Smith, I think that film is overlooked and very strong.
I like how you don’t name “He Who Must Not Be Named”, anywhere on this entire page.