“What? Who is this random person we’re talking about? Never heard of him!”
is what you would be saying if we lived in a parallel world where we weren’t all besotted by the high cheeks, blue eyes and sultry-voiced actor. You simply haven’t been paying attention (you see, but do not observe) if you become glazed over by the name Benedict Cumberbatch. He is possibly the hottest product in Hollywood – or, indeed, the globe – spreading his bouts of talent around and wrapping audiences around his perfectly poised little finger. Appearing in television shows, stage productions, voice-overs and films, there’s no denying that this man, who has immortalised his stance in entertainment history by conveying roles such as Sherlock Holmes, Star Trek’s Khan and this week’s phenomenal The Imitation Game, is one of the most incredible actors in the Universe right now.
So if you, like so many of us are doing at the moment, are high-tailing through his (extremely extensive, by the way) back catalogue, here’s some movies that you may have missed (but should completely go watch now).
He’s in it for about five minutes, but those glorious moments are so hilarious and so bizarre when his stubbled face crops up, especially now, it’s a blinkering surprise. That being said, the film itself is pure gold – a truly remarkable British satire film that doesn’t suffer from the banal sex jokes or missing the entire point of satire. Following four different terrorists as they plan an attack, the movie not only stabs at extremists but makes light of our fear ingeniously, pokes at press and political agendas, without patronizing us or attacking the audience. Cumberbatch plays a hostage negotiator who is rather dim wittered when using terminology to coax the idiotic (or shall we shall, most idiotic) Waj into blowing himself up.
About a year ago, this is movie was used to convince a very controversial view that CumberWumbers was stiff and dull in his roles. That person now is the biggest Cumberbatch fan in the world (and no, I’ll never let you live it down). Starring as James, the film follows four friends on one last hurrah as one of them (James) is dying. Balancing the poignant tone with the jovial elements of a British road trip, Third Star highlights the importance of friends and the dichotomy over your own illness. Cumberbatch shines (pun intended) here as James, able to absorb and engage us in the tragedy without making it overtly sentimental. Striking and poetic, his role here is outstanding.
Whilst everyone is looking towards Eddie Redmayne in the upcoming Theory of Everything film, exactly 10 years ago, made-fo-television movie Hawking saw Cumberbatch in the role of brilliant titular scientist Stephen. As he takes him through the University life and to the debilitating motor neuron disease that would hinder his body usage. At merely 28, Cumberbatch strived to encompass all of Hawking’s life. Nuanced, he embodied the intellect, the fun and the way the MNS stripped him away from his own body. Certainly, for me at least, it grabbed your attention to a young actor who would later dominate the world.
So this stage adaptation may have only been released last year, but it didn’t draw in an overtly huge audience – at least not this side of the pond. Nevertheless, this movie is a must see because it draws you into the matriarchal beast Violet played by Meryl Streep. The film centres on a family whose father goes missing and is wound up dead. However, drawing many members together causes tension that spews from Violet’s mother especially against her daughters. Though his role is small, playing the tender if a bit naïve Little Charles, Cumberbatch and his co-cast excel in this visceral and darkly comic drama.
A lot of people often allude Cumberbatch to playing complete geniuses with brains pulsating with huge intellect and hearts the size of peas. So when you read that he played a University Challenge contestant alongside James McAvoy in the aptly named Starter For 10, you’ll be forgiven that yet again Cumberbatch filled the shoes of an egghead. Except Patrick Watts is such an insipid idiot that regardless of how many questions he can ask about, I don’t know, Galileo, he will always be viewed as a bit of a prat. Stealing every scene here, Cumberbatch proves that he needs to be in more comedic roles because he is excellent here. The fight scene is particularly hilarious.