Michael Fassbender is one of the rare actors who can convey so much by doing so little. His minimal facial expressions and eye movements have the power to say so much about the character he is playing in a film. He has done it in films like Hunger, Shame,12 Years a Slave, and Alien: Covenant. His approach to roles is simply unique and it shows on screen.
He recently starred as a stoic and methodical assassin in David Fincher’s The Killer. While many fans praised his calculative and cold portrayal of the titular assassin, a fascinating detail revealed by the cinematographer of the film further shows the brilliance of Fassbender and how seriously he takes his work.
Also read: “I am super addicted”: Critical Addiction Forced X-Men Star Michael Fassbender into Leaving Acting
Michael Fassbender Didn’t Blink Even Once in The Killer
Michael Fassbender starred as a calculative and methodical assassin in David Fincher’s latest film The Killer. The film which showed the repercussions of a hit job gone awry impressed fans who praised Fassbender’s nuanced and subtle portrayal of the titular assassin.
Now the cinematographer of the film Erik Messerschmidt has revealed a fascinating detail that further shows how brilliant Fassbender is as an actor. Fassbender is known to take his roles very seriously and is always ready to do whatever it takes to perfect the role he is given.
Messerschmidt revealed that Fassbender did not blink even once on camera throughout the entire film. He said (via IGN)
“Michael’s eyes betray a lot. He can hold a lot of conflicting things in his mind and his eyes allow you access to it. The focus puller highlighted something remarkable: the actor didn’t blink on camera for the entire shoot.”
As far as method acting goes, this one is incredibly amazing and admirable, much to the level of what an actor like Christian Bale does for his roles. Fassbender really went all out in playing the troubled assassin who is conflicted between being a cold-blooded killer and a caring husband, which was the point of the whole film. Fassbender plays it wonderfully with the constant flow of The Smiths’ songs being the cherry on top.
Michael Fassbender Was ‘Salivating’ To Do A Film Like The Killer
Michael Fassbender has been delving into the big-budget blockbusters like the X-Men, and Assassin’s Creed for the past few years. He wanted to return to a more character-driven and intense filmmaking which he did earlier in his career. When David Fincher’s The Killer came his way, he immediately jumped on the opportunity as it was the kind of role that he had been waiting to do.
In an interview with Empire magazine, Fassbender talked about how he was ‘salivating’ to play the kind of character that he plays in The Killer where he got to get into the skin of the character and his mindset. He said,
“This is the type of film I was salivating to do. There’s suspense and intrigue. A slow drip. I love that kind of movie. There’s just trying to understand the mind of a sociopath. I try and put together a lifespan, to where the character is now. What I loved about the comics is there was a lot to pull from.”
The film which was recently released on Netflix on November 10 received praise from audiences and critics. Fassbender’s performance was universally well received and Fincher’s return to his roots also added to the enjoyment of the film. Fassbender had another release this month which was Taika Waititi’s sports comedy film Next Goal Wins, which was not as well-received as The Killer.
