Register  |   Log In  |  
Sign up to our weekly newsletter    
Search   
Empire Magazine and iPad
Follow Me on Pinterest
Empire
Trending On Empire
Get six issues of Empire for £15
A Day In The Life Of The BBFC
Empire's Soundtrack Celebration
90 Years Of Warner Bros.
Your chance to win a Blu-ray every day!
Subscribe Now For Only £15
Get six issues of the magazine today
Feature
Philip Seymour Hoffman: A Viewer’s Guide
Our guide to the Oscar-winner’s greatest big screen moments

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Back 3 of 7 Next
Philip Seymour Hoffman: A Viewer’s Guide |

ESSENTIAL VIEWING: Happiness (1998)

A match in a misery-off for Synecdoche, New York’s playwright Caden, Happiness’s baleful sex pest is yet another example of Hoffman’s ballsy choices. And it’s worth remembering that these also include kissing Mark Wahlberg (Boogie Nights), fronting up to speeding trucks (Mission: Impossible III), cross-dressing (Flawless), and reading the script for The Invention Of Lying. There’s barely a glimmer of hope and optimism in Todd Solondz’s coal-black comedy, a perfect storm of gloom that fits Hoffman’s put-upon persona like a glove. No other actor could deliver lines like “Can I smell your panties?” and “I’m gonna fuck you so hard, you’ll be coming out of your ears” with this level of seedy panache.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Back
3 of 7
Next

Have Your Say
Register or login now to let us know what you think.

Your Comments

1 Big Lebowski and State & Maine?
OK, only 7 movies so some must be left out but....!! More

Posted by Heidionline on Tuesday November 13, 2012, 16:31

2 amazing actor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGOYZY-ne-0 More

Posted by bill the butcher on Tuesday November 6, 2012, 04:22

3 you forgot LOVE LIZA
his amazing work in LOVE LIZA More

Posted by bill the butcher on Tuesday November 6, 2012, 04:20

4 The Talented Mr Hoffman
The Boat That Rocked wasn't that bad. It was certainly a lot better than Love, Actually and one of Richard Curtis's better creations. And no mention of The Talented Mr Ripley? Surely a classic supporting performance. Boogie Nights: how could it be left out? More

Posted by stilli666 on Monday November 5, 2012, 17:12

5 SNY
on 1st place Synecdoche, New York More

Posted by bereski on Monday November 5, 2012, 11:09

6
What about Synedoche New York?!?! More

Posted by ukedge87 on Saturday November 3, 2012, 09:59

7 And what about.....
Idea of March or Almost Famous? More

Posted by Mark Daws on Friday November 2, 2012, 14:01

8 Hmmm
Surprised not to see Boogie Nights and Punch Drunk love get mentions but I guess that is just a bit of favouritism on my part. Good list though. More

Posted by guysalisbury on Friday November 2, 2012, 13:14

9 RE:
ter is the third time Hoffman has worked with Paul Thomas Anderson, a five-film partnership that kicked off when his cameo, I've read this a few times now. Pretty sure I'm not drunk and it just doesn't make sense. More

Posted by matty_b on Thursday November 1, 2012, 23:14

10
Charlie Wilson's War didn't get him a Best Actor nomination, it was supporting. There's been several mistakes in articles recently. More

Posted by Marcus Brody on Thursday November 1, 2012, 21:28

11 Synecdoche NY? Talented Mr Ripley? The as-of-yet-unmade-DarkKnightRises-sequel-where-he-plays-Penguin-OR-the-Riddler?
? More

Posted by veedlemonster on Thursday November 1, 2012, 21:08

12 I DID NOT WANT TO HAVE TO BRING IT UP (AGAIN!)
... But, Empire, Brian Cox last week now Mr. Hoffman and still no 25th Hour - it's fantastic! Other than that, great choices. More

Posted by bergkamp on Thursday November 1, 2012, 18:04


CURRENT HIGHLIGHTS
David S. Goyer And Zack Snyder On Man Of Steel Secrets
Spoiler warning: The writer and director spill some super-sized beans...

Rila Fukushima On The Wolverine
The film's Yukio on working with Jackman and working as a hitman...

The Empire Podcast: Joss Whedon Special
Much ado about Avengers 2...

Full Q&A: Steven Spielberg And George Lucas On Hollywood's Future
'We're in a mess but of the chaos will come some amazing things'

Man Of Steel Interviews: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Zack Snyder, Michael Shannon & Antje Traue
The cast and director of the Superman reboot spill the beans...

Exclusive: Empire Meets Dan Stevens
The Summer In February star talks celebrity Downton fans and things he's rubbish at...

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Trailer Breakdown
What happens when the chat hits the fan?

Subscribe to Empire iPad edition
Get the Empire iPad edition today

Subscribe and save up to 44% on annual digital subscription

Print & digital packages
Buy single issues

Subscribe to Empire magazine
Subscribe to Empire magazine today

Get six issues of Empire for £15 and save up to 37%

All subscription offers

Empire Print & Digital Subscriptions
Get both the magazine and iPad edition in one amazing offer! Subscribe now
Steven Spielberg iPad App
Hollywood's most beloved director in this unique iPad special. Download now
Empire iPad Edition
The world's biggest movie magazine available on iPad Download now
Home  |  News  |  Blogs  |  Reviews  |  Future Films  |  Features  |  Interviews  |  Images  |  Competitions  |  Forum  |  iPad  |  Podcast  |  Magazine Contact Us  |  Empire FAQ  |  Subscribe To Empire  |  Register
© Bauer Consumer Media  |  Terms And Conditions  |  Our Data Promise To You  |  Bauer Entertainment Network
Bauer Consumer Media. Company number 1176085 (England). Registered Office: 21 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DY