Recently during a conversation between Tom Holland and Benedict Cumberbatch for Netflix Film Club, Tom shared his views on Cumberbatch’s performance in ‘The Power of the Dog’. Tom and Benedict have known each other for a long time. They both have shared the screen in Marvel Cinematic Universe and their performances together were also quite appreciated in the latest spider-man franchise.
Benedict Cumberbatch starring ‘The Power of the Dog’ had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2021, where its director, Jane Campion, won the Silver Lion for Best Direction. The movie received positive reviews from multiple rating sites. By Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 95% based on 300 reviews, with an average rating of 8.40/10.
Both the actions of the star cast and the direction of Campion were highly praised along with screenplay and cinematography.
According to the reports, Cumberbatch had spent periods of approximately six days without taking a bath to stay in character. In an interview with Esquire, it was also revealed that the actor gave himself nicotine poisoning from smoking so many cigarettes during the duration of filming.
Tom’s views on the film and character were similar to a lot of people’s. He said, “The film is so shocking and it’s so gut-wrenching and the intricacies of your character — I’ve never seen a character arc quite like it.”
For the movie, Cumberbatch utilized a certain amount of method acting when portraying the rancher, Phil Burbank. This type of role was quite different from his general performances.
Tom further added, “Because I know you so well, I think I come from a very privileged standpoint where, when I meet you at the beginning of the film, I’m like, ‘Whoa, that’s not the Benedict that I know. What on earth is going on here?'”
It was found that even Jesse Plemons was ‘pissed’ off by Benedict’s method of acting. Plemons’ statement said, “There was one time he got under my skin. He was like, ‘Hey, big boy.’ It wasn’t ‘fatso.’ I feel like a few people in life have been like, ‘Hey, big boy,’ and I was like, ‘God Dammit. What the fuck.'”
Tom’s views matched the viewers and this was shared by Cumberbatch himself. He described his character as ‘repugnant’ and said that some of his fans couldn’t watch all of the films and called his character awful.
He said, “I then get the reaction of people that they go back to it, maybe a second time through, or even like you, start off in this position of being repelled and then lean in and see him as what he is really, which is a tragic figure.”
Irrespective of these reviews, the movie had done quite well among his fans. His method of acting received many compliments. Cumberbatch along with co-stars, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee are up for acting awards at the 2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will take place on February 27.
