He may not look like your typical 'movie star', black hair, standing at 6' 3" tall, , with the acting chops behind it. But maybe that's why we've fallen so hard for Adam Driver, I mean look at what he can deliver with one look.
But in all seriousness this Julliard trained, 2-time Academy Award nominee has delivered incredible performances in some quality cinema. It seemed only right to focus on some of these great films, now streaming for free at SBS On Demand.
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
Written and directed by Terry Gilliam, it is a miracle this film made it to screen. Gilliam started working on his passion project in 1989 and started production (with an entirely different cast) in 2000. After production halted and it took 17 years before production began again. Adam Driver took on the role of Toby, (previously played by Johnny Depp) an advertising executive who returns to where he shot his student film about Don Quixote years ago. Javier (Jonathan Pryce), who starred in Toby's film as Don Quixote, now believes he is the famous character and Toby is his trusted squire, Sancho Panza. "the guy I’ve been looking for all these years.” Agreed Terry.
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Frances Ha
Adam Driver may not be the lead in this film but that's no excuse to skip it. Directed by Noah Baumbach, who co-wrote the film with the film's lead, Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha is a beautiful black and white film about the endearing Frances (27), a dancer living in NYC who is, like so many of us, just a bit unsure about life. It is a modern comic fable that explores New York, friendship, class, ambition, failure, and redemption. "He's very sexy... It's the way he carries himself. He's very brooding in this way that anyone who saw My So-Called Life never got over; he's got some Jordan Catalano in him."
Frances Ha is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Paterson
Paterson was written and directed by Jim Jarmusch and sees Adam Driver play a bus driver who is also a poet. The film follows one week in the life of bus driver Paterson, who lives in Paterson, New Jersey with his wife Laura (Golshifteh Farahani) and their English bulldog Marvin (who is basically his nemesis). And while he may follow a similar pattern day after day, Paterson notices the intricacies of life and uses it for his poetry. His poetry is drawn from himself, his bus passengers and bar patrons, it's simple but extraordinary.
Paterson is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Tracks
Based on the true story of 27 year old Robyn Davidson (Mia Wasikowska) who in 1977 set off on a 2700km trek across Australia from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean, with only her loyal dog Diggity and 4 unpredictable camels to assist her. Robyn was at times joined by Rick Smolan (Adam Driver), a charismatic photographer who was assigned to document her incredible journey for National Geographic. The journey took Robyn 9 months to complete, she was labelled as an eccentric and to this day she is vague as to why she did it, except that she yearned for meaning in the middle of nowhere (honestly same, Robyn). Mia Wasikowska perfectly brings that single mindedness and strength to the role and it's no wonder that while capturing her journey, Rick fell in love with this enigmatic and bold woman. This Australian film directed by John Curran is riveting, inspiring and beautifully captures the Australian landscape.
Tracks is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
Silence
Last but certainly not least on our list is epic tale about two Jesuit Portuguese priests (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who are sent to Japan in search of their mentor (Liam Neeson) who has disappeared and feared to have committed apostasy. After working with Driver on the film "One of the best, if not the best, actors of his generation.” High praise indeed! Silence was Scorsese's passion project and clocks in at a 2 hour and 41 minute running time and features an intense and moving performance from Driver
Silence is now streaming at SBS On Demand.
