With a career spanning over 30 years, Sam Rockwell has established himself as an actor who can disappear into any role. The size of the part never matters, because Rockwell makes five minutes on screen so memorable that it feels like he’s the lead star of the movie.
Possessing an effortless charm that adds layers to his dramatic roles and likability to his comedic turns, Rockwell is the actor who elevates any part that he chooses to play. Whether it was as an out-of-control convict in The Green Mile, or as the President of the United States in Vice, Rockwell steals every scene he’s in. The following films showcase Rockwell’s skills and serve as a reminder that he’s one of the most exciting actors working today.
In The Best of Enemies, Rockwell plays C.P. Ellis, the president of the Ku Klux Klan in 1970s Durham, North Carolina. When the local black school burns down, community organizer Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson) and C.P. are forced to work together to establish a peaceful transition into desegregation. Although the two first find it impossible to coexist, they begin to connect, leading to C.P. questioning his values.
Rockwell is no stranger to playing characters with deplorable beliefs, but at least in The Best of Enemies his character is allowed a redemptive journey. Based on the book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by Osha Gray Davidson, the film sheds light on a lesser-known true story about the lessons learned through desegregation. The Best of Enemies will hit familiar notes of other like-minded movies, but feels fresh based on the strength of the performances from Rockwell and Henson, who work off of one another’s energy in both moments of anger and understanding.
Rockwell took the highest office when he appeared as President George W. Bush in the Adam McKay satire, Vice. Following the life and controversies of former Vice President Dick Cheney, (Christian Bale) Vice is a comedy of the darkest nature with biting political commentary. The biographical depiction of Cheney shows his rise to power within the White House, made possible by Bush’s invitation to be his running mate.
Rockwell might not be the obvious choice to play President Bush, but with the aid of only a little makeup, he transforms into the former Commander in Chief. The film’s core focus is on former Vice President Cheney, but that didn’t prevent Rockwell from catching critics’ attention with his affable portrayal of Bush. Vice would go on to receive multiple Academy Award nominations, including a Best Supporting Actor nod for Rockwell.
Christian Bale stars as Dick Cheney in a biographical drama that examines the quiet and steadfast influence of one of the most powerful Vice Presidents in American history. The narrative reveals Cheney’s strategic dominance in Washington D.C., showing his pivotal role in shaping national and international policies.
Earlier in his career, Rockwell played a part in another controversial politician’s career in the Ron Howard-directed Frost/Nixon. The film, an adaptation of the stage play of the same name by Peter Morgan, tells the story of a series of taped one-on-one interviews between British journalist David Frost (Michael Sheen) and disgraced president Richard Nixon (Frank Langella).
While the film is primarily carried on the strength of Langella and Sheen’s performances in their title roles, Rockwell received strong critical praise for his supporting performance as the strong-willed Jim Reston Jr. As an investigator who assists Frost in his preparation for the interviews, Rockwell brings a ferocious intensity as a professor with passionate feelings about Nixon’s administration and the crimes he feels the former President wasn’t held accountable for. Frost/Nixon gave Rockwell a chance to shine in a large production, and he didn’t waste the opportunity.
Frost/Nixon is a historical drama directed by Ron Howard, focusing on the infamous interviews between British television host David Frost and former U.S. President Richard Nixon. The film explores the intense behind-the-scenes negotiations and the eventual on-air confrontation that sought to address the Watergate scandal. Michael Sheen stars as Frost, with Frank Langella portraying Nixon in a gripping tale of political accountability and journalistic integrity.
The offbeat satirical comedy Jojo Rabbit follows a 10-year-old boy, Johannes “Jojo” Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), who is a loyal member of a Hitler Youth group during the collapse of the Nazi forces. The lonely Jojo spends his time playing with his imaginary friend Hitler (Taika Waititi) and his mother Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), who harbors secret resentment toward the Nazi party. As Jojo tries to prove himself to the local armed forces, he discovers Rosie is hiding a young woman, Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie), from the Nazis.
Rockwell is incredibly funny as the apathetic leader of the Nazi youth, Captain Klenzendorf. Rockwell’s embodiment of a soldier disillusioned with both the war and the side he’s fighting on is somehow as nuanced in its sorrow as it is broad in its comedy. Klenzendorf isn’t in much of Jojo Rabbit, but as is usually the case with Rockwell, the time he’s on-screen is electric. His affection for Jojo leads to a few emotionally heartbreaking scenes as Klenzendorf makes his last moments ones to protect his young friend.
One of Rockwell’s earliest roles that drew acclaim was his performance in the indie drama Lawn Dogs. The gated community of Camelot Gardens may look pristine from the outside, but the disaffected families that live in its suburban grounds are far from happy. When a member of the community, ten-year-old Devon (Mischa Barton), befriends a groundskeeper, Trent (Rockwell), their innocent friendship sends the wrong message to the wrong people.
Lawn Dogs gave Rockwell one of his first larger roles, and he delivers an understated performance in his interactions with the persistent attempts at friendship by the young Devon. The film approaches scenes within Camelot Gardens in a dreamlike presentation that carries an undertone of menace for every interaction Devon has. The surreal structure of Lawn Dogs might not be for everyone, but fans of Rockwell who haven’t seen it should make the time.
A coming-of-age story gives Rockwell one of his most charming roles in the dramedy The Way, Way Back. The film follows Duncan (Liam James), a 14-year-old boy who is forced into a summer vacation with his mother Pam (Toni Collette) and her volatile boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell). With his mother wrapped up in her relationship, Duncan explores their vacation spot and meets Owen (Rockwell), a man who works at the local water park. The two develop a bond, and Owen offers him a summer job to help at the park.
Rockwell channels his best Bill Murray in Meatballs while providing mentorship to a boy he can tell needs a friend. Rockwell’s relaxed charisma is on full display for every scene in The Way, Way Back, and his natural comic timing makes it surprising that he didn’t do more traditional comedies. Everyone in the cast does a great job in this rewatchable gem, but Rockwell will be the reason viewers come back to The Way, Way Back for a second or third watch.
The Way, Way Back is a coming-of-age drama directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. The film follows 14-year-old Duncan, played by Liam James, as he navigates a difficult summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and the boyfriend’s daughter. Finding solace working at a local water park, Duncan forms an unexpected bond with the park’s manager, portrayed by Sam Rockwell.
One of the movies Rockwell fans commonly point to as their favorite is the slow-burn sci-fi drama Moon. Sam Bell (Rockwell) is close to finishing up his three-year contract as the sole operator of a space station, but he begins to suspect his situation may be more dire than he assumed. As Sam pulls on the thread of his own existence, he finds that what he knew to be the truth was all an elaborate lie.
Without including any spoilers for Moon, the film is a wholly original mystery that continues to develop with satisfying reveals. A movie starring one person can be daunting to watch, but Rockwell is compelling throughout the runtime, and the film doesn’t lag thanks to his performance. Even if viewers guess some of the plot twists in advance, it doesn’t take away from Sam’s emotional fallout from the discoveries.
Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet’s power problems.
The lonely last stop before execution is the setting for the supernatural drama The Green Mile. Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) oversees the normally mundane death row in a 1930s prison, but that all changes with the arrival of a kind and gentle inmate named John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan). Coffey was convicted of the brutal murder of two young girls, but the crime doesn’t match the sweet-natured disposition of the man awaiting execution. As Paul learns the truth behind the crimes, he’ll find his life forever changed.
Even though he has a small role in The Green Mile, Rockwell commands the screen for every second as the wild and feral prisoner William “Wild Bill” Wharton. Wild Bill is the polar opposite of Coffey, continually disruptive and violent without any remorse for the crimes that landed him on death row. Even though Rockwell exudes charm naturally, he brings none to one of his most chaotic characters.
A tale set on death row, where gentle giant John Coffey possesses the mysterious power to heal people’s ailments. When the lead guard, Paul Edgecombe, recognizes John’s gift, he tries to help stave off the condemned man’s execution.
An underrated classic that doesn’t get the attention it deserves, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind was an early opportunity to show what Rockwell looked like as a leading man. Based on the autobiography of the same name, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind tells the life story of game show producer Chuck Barris (Rockwell). According to Barris, he allegedly worked as a spy and government assassin while creating some of television’s most popular shows, like The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game.
The part of Chuck Barris made its way around Hollywood with multiple names attached, but it was when George Clooney took over as director that he lobbied for Rockwell to play the eccentric producer. Although the studio was skeptical of casting the then-unknown Rockwell, he would eventually secure the part of Barris and receive critical acclaim for his dynamic and energetic portrayal. This is an absolute must-watch for any fans of Rockwell.
An adaptation of the cult memoir of game show impresario Chuck Barris (Sam Rockwell), in which he purports to have been a C.I.A. hitman.
A grieving mother will not be ignored in the award-winning drama, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The film follows Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand), a frustrated and heartbroken mother to a daughter who was raped and murdered by an unknown assailant. Fed up with the ineptitude of the local police, Mildred posts messages about her daughter’s case on billboards near town to demand attention. As the presence of the billboards brings negative attention to her, she relentlessly pursues the truth.
As one of the police officers opposing Mildred’s billboard, Jason Dixon is one of Rockwell’s crowning achievements. As the movie goes on, the boorish exterior of Dixon is continually pulled away in small pieces, revealing a man who is struggling to hide his own pain and disappointment until he has no choice but to look within. Rockwell’s role as the violent and stubborn Officer Dixon would win him his first and only (so far) Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
A mother personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughter’s murder when they fail to catch the culprit.
