There is no doubt Andrew Garfield is already one of the top young actors in Hollywood. With over a decade in the business (his first credit was in 2005), he caught everyone’s attention in the critically acclaimed The Social Network playing Eduardo Savarin, the often forgotten co-creator of Facebook. That lead to him getting the role of Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man reboot movies.
Garfield’s resume isn’t as lengthy as some of his peers, but he sure has had some memorable performances. Garfield is already garnering major praise for his work in Hacksaw Ridge (in theaters Nov. 4), where he plays Desmond T. Doss, an army medic that became a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism in WWII and it’s not unlikely to think he’ll deliver yet another stunning performance in Silence later in the year. However, for those of you still playing catch up on the actor, here are Andrew Garfield’s top five movie roles up until now.
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
The one that put him on the map, Garfield stole the show with his portrayal of the little known Eduardo Savarin, who was a co-founder of Facebook that ended up with little to none of the rewards. Garfield made you notice him in the role with his effortless charisma and self-effacing grin. He was the character you felt most for, someone that got the raw end of the deal despite his hard work and friendship with Mark. Both likable and relatable he was the heart of the film and it was the first time Garfield got exposure in a widely-seen film and he couldn’t have picked a better movie and time for him to showcase his acting chops. It’s no easy feat to steal the scene from Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake, who also had outstanding performances in the movie, yet he managed it with ease.
NEVER LET ME GO
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Also released with The Social Network in 2010, Never Let Me Go is set in dystopian England, in a boarding school where kids attend until they come into adulthood, where a bleak reality awaits. Garfield performs alongside Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan in this depressing romantic drama. His character is involved in a love triangle with Mulligan and Knightley, and it’s fascinating to see their passionate performances but it’s his internal duality that garnered the most praise. On the outset he was a sensitive, soft-spoken soul but that facade buried a still scared and emotionally volatile young man. Garfield’s range in this film is astounding and it’s one of his last indies before he went chasing after the blockbusters. Watch the scene below and tell me with a straight face it doesn’t just gut you.
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THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
If Garfield wasn’t a household name after The Social Network, he certainly became one when he took on the role of Peter Parker in the Spider-Man reboot. To date, Garfield is still easily the best Peter Parker we’ve seen yet (juries out on the Spider-Man persona). He nailed the charming, nerdy underdog and goofy persona of Peter Parker while also believably embodying the courageous nature of a hero. His chemistry with Emma Stone added another dimension to the film, allowing the film to be both a relationship drama as well as a superhero epic. Unfortunately, the film wasn’t the success that everyone hoped it would be, but certainly not due to Garfield, who was the major bright spot in The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Garfield lost the role of Spider-Man unceremoniously, which is a shame, because who else would have loved to see his back and forth with Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man?
99 HOMES
Somehow this movie fell under the radar, but Garfield was electric playing alongside Michael Shannon in this riveting and heart breaking drama. Garfield plays a young father who turns to the dark side to help support his Mom and small child while the housing market crumbles. It’s unlike how you’ve seen Garfield in any other film as his characters boyish charm (that we’ve come to associate with the actor) is a cover up for something potentially much more ruthless. He goes to another level against Shannon, delivering one of his most mature performances to date. At times you don’t know if you should root for him or hate him, and that’s due to his character turn and outstanding work in the film. Not only is Garfield on top of his game, but the movie is outstanding and full of suspense and intrigue. This was Garfield’s most dynamic performance, until this next movie….
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HACKSAW RIDGE
Garfield plays a real life WWII soldier, Desmond T. Doss, who became famous for being the first soldier to go to battle without using any weapons in the upcoming film Hacksaw Ridge. Doss saved many American lives in the Battle of Okinawa and Garfield carries the film on his shoulders (no pun intended), even among an outstanding cast that includes Vince Vaughn, Hugo Weaving and Sam Worthington. Garfield is courageous and heroic in his portrayal of Doss, nailing his purity and genuine essence. This film could easily be a Best Picture nominee, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Garfield also received consideration for an Oscar.
Garfield just keeps getting better. His unfortunate Spider-Man outcome might have been a blessing, since he seemed to delve back into doing meaningful films with rich characters where he can turn out powerful performances. The sky is the limit for Garfield at this point.
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