Willem Dafoe is undoubtedly one of the most adored and versatile actors currently working in Hollywood today, to which his performance in Robert Eggers' The Northman, released in April 2022, is a testament. Recent starring turns in both Spider-Man: No Way Home and Nightmare Alley, both released in December 2021, were also indicative of Dafoe's ability in taking on challenging roles in movies that are both crowd-pleasing and independently-minded.
Surprisingly for some in the Reddit community, Dafoe's contribution to cinema over the decades has not yielded a major acting award from the Academy. But there is no doubting his appeal and many of the films he has starred in have garnered classic status over the years, and this has been in large part thanks to Dafoe's performances.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Arguably Dafoe's most mainstream performance was in 2021's record-breaking Spider-Man: No Way Home. Reprising the role of Green Goblin, which he had previously played in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, Dafoe was typically frightening and was the movie's most arresting villain.
Reddit users were unsurprisingly enamored with Dafoe's performance as Green Goblin and Redditor King_Tamino has waxed effusively about the portrayal, saying "straight-up nightmare stuff. He goes from an innocent, homeless, scared, confused guy to a maniac beating you through 20 floors in a second."
Last Temptation Of Christ (1988)
Martin Scorcese's lavishly constructed period movie about the final days of Jesus Christ, Last Temptation Of Christ, was somewhat of a misunderstood film at the time of release and caused opprobrium amongst many on the Christian right. At its center was a solemn and impassioned performance from Willem Dafoe.
Some Redditors believe that one of the reasons Dafoe did not win a major award for his portrayal of Christ in the film was due to the controversy surrounding it, with Redditor Rottimer saying the movie was "super controversial at the time it came out and I wouldn't be surprised that, plus some of the other independent work he's done has kept award groups from recognizing some of his great acting."
The Florida Project (2017)
Willem Dafoe is admired universally for his versatility and ability in taking on a range of roles, from hero to villain, as well as characters with morally ambiguous arcs. In Sean Baker's The Florida Project, audiences got a glimpse of Dafoe's sensitive side as the actor played Bobby, who underneath a veneer of toughness, possessed a heart of gold.
Many Redditors believe Dafoe's performance in The Florida Project was deserving of greater recognition from the Academy Awards. Unfortunately for Dafoe, his portrayal of Bobby went under the radar of many an award ceremony, and Reddit user LukeITAT is disappointed he did not at least "get a BAFTA for The Florida Project. They're usually a little less suspect to Hollywood shenanigans."
The Lighthouse (2019)
Starring opposite Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe evinced every inch of his trademark menace in Robert Eggers' modern-day classic, The Lighthouse. Dafoe's portrayal of maniacal lighthouse keeper Thomas Wake received an avalanche of praise from critics and it is widely considered among his finest performances on film to date.
Reddit users are quick to highlight The Lighthouse as one of Dafoe's standout roles and think that it was unfortunate not to beat Brad Pitt to the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2019 (Pitt won for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood). One Redditor argues "I thought Dafoe's performance in The Lighthouse eclipsed Pitt's performance in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, (...) Dafoe in The Lighthouse, for me, was exceptional."
Shadow Of The Vampire (2000)
Robert Eggers has long been mooted to adapt F.W. Murnau's famous vampire masterpiece Nosferatu, and fans have excitedly pined for Dafoe to attach himself to the project in some capacity. Dafoe, however, has already played the great vampire, Count Orlock, made famous by Murnau, in the 2000 metafictional horror Shadow Of The Vampire.
Dafoe's portrayal of Max Schreck, who played Orlock in Murnau's original movie, was a terrifyingly genius casting by director E. Elias Merhige, and Redditors have cited the movie as one of Dafoe's most underappreciated roles. Reddit user mike-foley emphatically states "Shadow of the Vampire was SO good."
Platoon (1986)
Willem Dafoe's performance as Sergeant Elias in Oliver Stone's bold and brutal Vietnam War epic Platoon was a standout in a film that alongside Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, and Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter, attempted to portray the horrors of war from an anti-patriotic stance.
In the film, Sergeant Elias is the antithesis of the morally bankrupt Sergeant Barnes (played by Tom Berenger) and Elias's tragic end has been cast as the foremost image of one of the most famous film posters ever produced. Redditors are quick to mention Platoon as one of Dafoe's most unforgettable performances, with Redditor RampDog1 saying "A lot of great roles, I think Sergeant Elias in Platoon was his best."
Wild At Heart (1990)
When one searches for an eccentric match made in heaven, then look no further than the pairing of David Lynch and Willem Dafoe. Lynch's Cannes Palme d'Or winning movie Wild At Heart divided many critics, but Dafoe's portrayal of Bobby Peru was one of the most ludic, menacing, and memorable performances of his career.
Redditors are in awe of Dafoe's performances in Wild At Heart, and Redditor Bobbyperu1 is still haunted by the scene the actor shares with Laura Dern, saying "the whole audience was holding its breath, terrified of him, as it kept ramping up. Then his line and everyone was just freaked out. People were nervously giggling and cringing at the same time. He was something else in that role."
Antichrist (2009)
Lars Von Trier's controversial 2009 psychological horror Antichrist was vintage Willem Dafoe-fare. In the movie, Dafoe is cast as a nameless psychiatrist who is tasked with saving his marriage after the tragic death of his son. The movie is a shocking and unflinching experience that most definitely does not warrant repeat viewings, but is a stone-cold classic all the same.
Redditors who have dared to watch the movie are still reeling from its chilling artistry and in particular, Dafoe's performance, which encapsulated all the tortured angst that is redolent of the film's iconoclastic director. Redditor vdubmechanic says unequivocally of the role, "his performance in Antichrist was legendary."
The Boondock Saints (1999)
Troy Duffy's 1999 vigilante crime thriller The Boondock Saints presented Willem Dafoe with another opportunity to flex his eccentric acting muscles to the limit. The movie is a peculiar film that was a critical flop at the time of release but has nevertheless garnered a cult following over the years, with some comparing Duffy's work to that of Quentin Tarantino and Haromy Korine.
Many Redditors still harbor a great amount of affection towards The Boondock Saints, and in particular, Dafoe's performance in the movie. Redditor tylercreatesworlds examines the minutia of one scene in particular as a brilliant example of Dafoe's acting capabilities, saying "he fires a shot at one of the mob guys, then the camera does a little close up on his face, his lip quivers, just the expression on his face showed fear and confidence, it was unforgettable."
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)
Wes Anderson is a discerning director when it comes to casting his films, and he uses many of the same actors time after time. Willem Dafoe is one of these actors, and in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, he plays one of the movie's most beloved characters, Klaus Daimler.
Redditors consistently cite Dafoe's portrayal of Klaus as one of his most memorable roles, with Redditor pointfivepointfive impressed by his ability to deliver a nuanced performance, saying "I loved how he played Klaus. I know he's done other amazing roles, but I'm so impressed at how funny he is in that role with such subdued acting."