Sunday Best: Top 5 Max Von Sydow Performances

A few days ago, we lost Max Von Sydow.  Most actors would kill to have a career as illustrious, if not, as long as his.  He has been a staple in movies for decades with such a distinctive presence that he would leave his mark in everything that he did.

That isn't to diminish his ability to disappear into a role with an incredible range.  It takes a special actor who can go from Jesus Christ to Ming the Merciless without losing a beat.  And he could play anything and everything in between.  His filmography is so extensive that I have only seen a fraction of the films he has made.

So in honor of this late, great actor, here are the top 5 performances of his career (that I have seen).

5.  Vigo in Ghostbusters 2



Until very recently, I was unaware of the fact that Von Sydow voiced the main villain of this film.  Looking back, it seems so obvious.  The voice of Vigo the Carpathian was powerful intense, with the a haunted and hungry tone.  It probably would have been much better to have Sydow play the entire part, not just the voice.

4. Dr. Paul Novotny in Dreamscape

I had forgotten that it was Von Sydow who had played the mentor to Dennis Quaid's hero in Dreamscape.  That is not an insult, but rather a compliment as to how much Von Sydow disappeared into that role.  He played the role of Quaid's conscience, but Von Sydow eschewed all of the normal trappings of his performance, allowing himself to appear smaller than he normally was.  He was an academic who got in over his head.  Some actors can only play larger-than-life people, but Von Sydow could show us his more human side whenever he wanted.


3.  The Lodger in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Readers of this blog know that I detest this film.  But I have to give Sydow credit for turning in a great performance that earned him an Oscar nomination.  What gives his work here that extra kick is that his character doesn't have any lines.  He has to communicate everything non-verbally.  Despite this, Von Sydow gives his character a rich emotional life, so much so that he completely outshines the main stars of the movie. 

2.  Fr. Merren in The Exorcist

What I appreciated the most about Von Sydow's performance here is that it is power and weakness at the same time.  Fr. Merren shows complete conviction that he is on the side of right, but there is a constant sense that he is fighting with forces far beyond his own power.  The strength of the performance lies in the truth of it.  As a priest, he must believe not in his own power but in the power of Christ over Satan.  And that belief is constantly challenged by the outrageous displays of the Devil.  For me, you can see it the most when Reagan is levitating and he repeatedly chants "The power of Christ compels you!"  You can see how feeble he feels on his own to contend with such powers.  But he does not give up nor does he give in.  He continues to chant these words, summoning all of his conviction that even though he is weak, Christ is stronger than all evils.


1.  Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon

For me, this is a performance for the ages.  This Is how you chew scenery without looking hammy.  This is how you convey power and menace, even while have a twinkle in the eye.  His voice was perfect to convey the absolute, irredeemable evil before our heroes.  And he knew that power does not have to be forceful.  Notice how chillingly casual he is when he tells a king in his court to fall on his sword.  He almost whispers it.  It isn't a demand, but a trivial request from an evil tyrant.

And even though he plays Ming as purely evil, it does not mean that he is without texture.  In the scene when he has a face-to-face confrontation with Flash in the floating palace, you can see once again the genius of Von Sydow's performance.  Ming is, maybe for the first time, terrified of Flash.  But he will never show it.  So instead, he is filled with gracious smiles and compliments.  You can see how he is hiding behind this veneer.  It comes full circle in his last scene when we truly see the fear in his eyes before the hero.

One of the greatest movie villains of all time.

Rest in Peace, Max Von Sydow