William Hurt made intelligence and vulnerability persuasive in leading men, then brought weight to smaller parts. We value his stillness and concentration, though his seriousness could sometimes look like hard work.
Fi1m perspective
Hurt's stillness could make us keep watching even when a film gave him little to do. In Dark City (1998), his Inspector Frank Bumstead has enough weight to make us want to know him better, but the writing scarcely allows it. Alex Proyas gives the oppressive city more attention than the people who inhabit it. Hurt brings interest to a restricted part without making it seem fully drawn. We recommend the film for its visual invention, though it leaves a useful actor with too little room.
His early leading roles offered more scope for the intelligence and vulnerability that made him distinctive. Altered States (1980) was his film debut; Body Heat (1981) established him as a leading man. Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) put his ability to make a complicated, vulnerable person convincing to good use. He also made three films with director Lawrence Kasdan.
The move towards supporting roles in the 1990s and 2000s put more emphasis on what he could do with limited time. A History of Violence (2005) is the clear example of a brief appearance making a strong impression. Not every choice served him: the uneven Michael (1996) belongs among the caveats. Nor was the seriousness always helpful; at times the effort could become too apparent. We prefer the quieter work, where his concentration gives us something to watch without making us think about the preparation behind it.
That is why we hesitate to treat Dark City simply as a lesser Hurt performance. We felt frustrated because his presence made us curious about Bumstead, and the thin writing did not satisfy that curiosity. Jennifer Connelly's Emma Murdoch is similarly restricted, while the setting remains persuasive enough to carry the film. See it for the atmosphere, but begin with the earlier leading roles if Hurt is the reason for choosing.
Biography
William Hurt was an American actor. He studied at Tufts University and trained at the Juilliard School. His screen debut was in Altered States (1980).
Hurt won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985). He received Academy Award nominations for Children of a Lesser God (1986), Broadcast News (1987) and A History of Violence (2005). His credits include Dark City (1998) as Inspector Frank Bumstead and the role of Thaddeus Ross in several Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
