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“Not my cup of tea”: the 1997 movie Gary Oldman starred in but “wouldn’t go to see”
Gary Oldman’s 1997 career showed the contrast between commercial film work and personal artistic projects. He starred in The Fifth Element and Air Force One, both major box-office successes, while also writing, directing and producing the acclaimed Nil by Mouth, which reflected his deeper creative ambitions.
Oldman said Air Force One was “conveyor belt, multiplex, popcorn stuff” and not a film he would choose to watch, although he accepted the role to help finance projects such as Nil by Mouth. Despite appearing in two of 1997’s ten biggest hits, he regarded them primarily as well-paid jobs; ironically, nearly 30 years later, he has still not made a second feature as director.
In short
- Oldman viewed Air Force One as a commercial job rather than artistic work.
- He used blockbuster roles to help fund Nil by Mouth.
- A second directorial film has still not materialised.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Taking commercial roles can be a practical way for an actor to earn a living and secure the resources or freedom to pursue more personal work. Oldman’s approach also reflects a reasonable distinction between a job he performed professionally and the kind of film he most wanted to make or watch.
The case against
A performer’s work can have artistic and cultural value even when it is designed for a broad audience, so describing a major commercial film mainly as a means to fund other projects may seem to undervalue its own craft and audience. There is also a fair question about whether accepting such roles meaningfully advanced Oldman’s ambitions, given that he has not since directed another feature.
Explained simply
Gary Oldman is a British actor who has worked in both large studio films and smaller, more personal projects. In 1997, he appeared in the science-fiction adventure The Fifth Element and the action thriller Air Force One, while also making his first feature film as a writer and director, Nil by Mouth.
Air Force One was a commercial production, while Nil by Mouth drew on subjects closer to Oldman’s own creative interests. He described the former as entertainment he would not choose to watch, but said the paid acting work helped fund projects such as the latter.