Philip Seymour Hoffman turns in a stunning turn in the otherwise average 'God's Pocket'.
When Philip Seymour Hoffman died in February, he had just completed starring roles in two films and accompanied them to their world premieres at Sundance. The first of these to open to the public is God's Pocket, which hits UK cinemas this weekend (it had a limited release in America in May). He plays a frazzled man indulging in a small-time heist to pay for his stepson's funeral. Directed by actor John Slattery and costarring Christina Hendricks and John Turturro, the film has had a warm reception from critics.
Philip Seymour Hoffman [L] in 'God's Pocket'
And now the second Sundance film, A Most Wanted Man, is gathering talk about a possible posthumous Oscar nomination for Hoffman, who delivers a remarkably textured performance as a German spy trying to diffuse a tragedy involving a possible Chechen terrorist. The film opened in America last week and arrives in Britain next month.
Of course, Hoffman never gave a bad performance. Even in less-artistic projects like Twister, Red Dragon and Along Came Polly, his presence is riveting. And his great performances are too many to list, from his breakout role opposite Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman to Boogie Nights, Happiness, Doubt, The Master and his Oscar-winning turn in Capote.
More: read our review of 'God's Pocket'
And there are still two more films to come: before his untimely death, Hoffman had already completed most of his scenes for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. Part 1 opens this November, with Part 2 coming in November 2015.
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