Jeremy Irons - Reversal of Fortune

My latest addition of Best Actor Oscar Winners

Year: 1990
Actor: Jeremy Irons
Movie: Reversal of Fortune
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Role: Claus von Bulow

Other Nominees:
Robert DeNiro - Awakenings
Gerard Depardieu - Cyrano de Bergerac
Kevin Costner - Dances With Wolves
Richard Harris - The Field


I always approach Courtroom Dramas with some trepidation, a genre that usually follows a strict formula and rarely delivers on suspense or even compelling character to root for or against. Thankfully while Reversal of Fortune isn't much more compelling than most movies in the genre, Jeremy Irons' performance allows the movie to succeed.

Irons character Claus von Bulow is a character we never quite understand, he is part of an elite class and he does well to hides behind his quiet eccentricity. To his lawyer and the lawyer's students he is odd and somewhat disconnected, he is part of an aristocracy they don't understand. It's difficult to tell when Claus is being honest, and he rarely gives insight into his character. Irons play this perfectly by not allowing the audience to understand his character but to wrap in some mystery, while also playing up his elitism and his disconcerting attitude. The film's success hinges on us not knowing the truth regarding Claus's wife's death, and Irons does a wonderful job of keeping that hidden. Iron's performance doesn't rely on the histrionics, scene-chewing or deep insight that we associate with some of the great performances and lacks any one scene that one might point towards as brilliant. However, with Iron's mannerisms (the way he smokes his cigarettes and even the way he slips on his robe and slippers) and the mystery he wraps his character around makes this as one of the shining and more underrated performances of the 90's.

By the way it was a travesty Robert DeNiro was overlooked for his performance in Goodfellas.

Other Wins and Nominations:
Best Actor: Boston Film Critics
Best Actor: Chicago Film Critics
Best Foreign Actor: David di Donatello
Best Actor Drama: Golden Globes
Best Actor: Kansas City Film Critics
Best Actor: Los Angeles Film Critics
Best Actor: National Society of Film Critics