Recently, several popular television shows have centered around stories about everyday people finding themselves involved with criminal enterprises. This subgenre-of-sorts was popularized by Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul, and audiences have found it fascinating to watch relatable characters deal with the criminal underworld.
One of these shows is Ozark, starring Jason Bateman as the patriarch of the Byrde family, Marty. As a family man who also helps a drug cartel with their money-laundering schemes, Bateman's performance as Marty Byrde has been met with wide critical acclaim for a multitude of reasons.
Bateman Uses His Innate Likability In Interesting Ways
Though Marty Byrde is involved with some sordid ordeals and commits some reprehensible actions, Bateman brings a strong sense of likability to the role. Even if viewers are disgusted by some of the things that Marty does and find themselves critical of his decisions, Marty is still a character that viewers want to see succeed in the end.
This is due in large part to Bateman's performance in the role. Utilizing his natural screen presence, Bateman portrays Marty as a darker version of Michael Bluth, his character in Arrested Development - a normal guy that gets involved in situations that are out of his control.
Marty Is An Interesting Character
Marty is a family man who must scheme his way out of the trouble that he has gotten involved in. While some people would crumble under this pressure, Marty uses his smarts to get them out of situations through unpredictable means.
Similar to Walter White, Marty is a character who is often smarter than those around him. While his solutions don't always work out in his favor, his unorthodox methods and his strong character growth make him an interesting protagonist for audiences to follow.
Bateman Has Great Chemistry With Laura Linney
When Marty tells his wife Wendy about all of the money laundering that he is involved with, they start working together to escape from the situation that their family is now in. As they get deeper and deeper, their family life starts to unravel and their marriage is tested.
Bateman's chemistry with Laura Linney helps establish a deep emotional core for the show, ensuring that viewers want the Byrdes to successfully rid themselves of the danger they're in while keeping the family intact.
Bateman's Typical Mannerisms Feel Natural
As one of the most recognizable actors working in Hollywood today, many viewers have pointed out specific characteristics that are consistent across all of Jason Bateman's performances. These include similar line deliveries, tics, and even personalities.
Though Marty does share many of the same characteristics as other Bateman characters like Michael Bluth, they feel more realistic and natural in Ozark than they have before. They really sell the idea that Marty is an everyday guy trapped in a bad situation.
Bateman Handles Marty's Kidnapping Like A Pro
One of the most memorable sequences in Ozark season 3 comes when Marty is kidnapped by the Navarro cartel. Imprisoned in a dirty cell, Marty is tortured relentlessly by the leader of the cartel before eventually being set free.
One of the darkest moments of an already pitch-black season, this episode-long kidnapping dives deep into Marty's core motivations as to why he's involved with the cartel. Bateman's performance gives viewers a raw and unfiltered look at a beaten-down man who is forced to reconcile with some of his past actions.
Ozark Allows Bateman To Showcase His Acting Range
Though Marty is a very stoic and sometimes cold-blooded character, there are occasional moments when he lets his emotions run wild. On the flip side, there are also moments where Marty clearly wants to express his true inner feelings, but knows that it wouldn't be wise to do this.
Bateman excels in both of these types of moments when they happen throughout the show - something that is very difficult for actors to do. As Marty, Bateman shows his considerable amount of emotional range, something that is not often apparent in his other roles.
Many Episodes Are Directed By Bateman
Bateman has taken over the lion's share of directing duties throughout the first three seasons of Ozark, having directed 10 of the show's 30 episodes. In addition, many of them are considered to be among Ozark's best episodes ever, such as "Sugarwood" and "Civil Union".
His directorial credits show that he is heavily involved with the show and has a deep reverence for and understanding of the story that the showrunners are trying to tell. Many of his strongest acting moments come in episodes that he directed, showing that he knows the exact performance that the show needs.
Marty's Duplicity Is Fascinating
Having to keep a low profile in order to successfully launder the cartel's money, Marty establishes financial relationships that are based on lies. As the situation starts to get worse for the Byrdes, Marty has to figure out how to keep it under control while continuing to launder money through various businesses.
As one of the major focuses of the show, Marty's efforts to conceal the money laundering efforts to the various businesses that he is involved with are always fascinating to watch, with Bateman playing many of these encounters with a mixture of desperation and faux collected-ness.
Marty's Chemistry With Other Supporting Characters
In addition to his relationship with his wife, Marty must also manage relationships with other power players that occasionally have ulterior motives, such as Ruth Langmore and Helen Pierce. While Helen is seen by Marty as an enforcer-type, he sees Ruth as somewhat of his protege.
Bateman does an excellent job selling his connection with these other characters. While business comes first in his relationships, Bateman's performance shows that he does care for Ruth's wellbeing on a base level. On the flip side, Bateman also sells how intimidated Marty is by Helen.
Bateman Has A Willingness To Strip Off His Light, Family Friendly Image
Marty Byrde is a character with some very dark and disturbing sides to his personality. Though he seems like a normal person, he's not afraid to go to extremes in order to get what he wants and protect his family.
Typically remembered for his performances in light-hearted comedies, Bateman is given the chance to explore his dramatic side in this role and show his acting shops. This is established early on in Ozark's pilot, with a somewhat graphic sex scene and a scene in which he is forced to watch an office full of his colleagues all be executed.