Oscar Isaac Defends His Most Criticised Film Role

Oscar Isaac has long been recognised as one of the most versatile actors of his generation, with his breakout turn in Inside Llewyn Davis cementing his reputation for subtle, layered performances. Despite dedicating a considerable chunk of his career to the Star Wars sequels, Isaac has consistently sought out more intimate, director-led projects, collaborating with the likes of Paul Schrader on The Card Counter, George Clooney on Suburbicon, and forging a creative partnership with Alex Garland through Ex Machina and Annihilation.

Given this trajectory, it seemed only natural that Isaac would be drawn to work with Dan Fogelman, a writer and producer celebrated for his television successes such as This Is Us and Galavant. Fogelman’s film, Life Itself, promised a return to the kind of ensemble-driven character drama that has become increasingly rare, boasting a cast that included Olivia Cooke, Samuel L Jackson, Olivia Wilde, Mandy Patinkin, Annette Bening, and Antonio Banderas, alongside several rising stars.

Critical Backlash and Personal Struggles

Despite its promising premise and impressive ensemble, Life Itself was met with a wave of negative reviews following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018. Even the harshest critics, however, tended to single out Isaac’s performance as a highlight. The consensus appeared to be that Fogelman’s strengths lay in television rather than cinema. Reflecting on the reaction, Isaac admitted to Indiewire that he was taken aback by the intensity of the criticism:

“I was surprised that there seemed to be a full-on critical narrative to it,”

he remarked.

“It’s some of the better work that I’ve done.”

Many viewers found the film’s emotional beats unconvincing, yet Isaac’s portrayal of a man grappling with profound sorrow was widely acknowledged as affecting. This authenticity was, in part, a result of Isaac’s own circumstances at the time, as he was mourning the recent loss of his mother. He explained,

“I’m really proud of the places that I went and being able to sustain it, really dealing in a personal way with grief. It was insane that I even decided to do that, considering what I was in the middle of during that moment of my life.”

Aftermath and Moving Forward

While many films debuting at Toronto hope to generate awards buzz, Life Itself quickly faded from public view and ultimately struggled at the box office. For Isaac, the experience was surely disappointing, especially given the emotional toll the role had taken. Nevertheless, the setback did not hinder his career trajectory.

Isaac has since garnered some of the strongest reviews of his career for his nuanced turn as Victor in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. He is also set to appear in the much-talked-about second series of the Netflix anthology Beef, ensuring his continued presence at the forefront of the industry.