by Sabina Jameson
His life story will make a nice biography film one day. He organised plays in his backyard when he was only four, he was a rebellious child and got expelled from school, he was in a ska punk band that opened for Green Day, graduated from Juilliard, and went from minor casting to A-list celebrity all before he hit 35. Is it too obvious we’re Oscar Isaac fans?
He’s likely one of the few actors who can pull off extremely diverse roles. In our opinion, The Card Counter was probably one of the best displays of his talent. It is a brilliant delivery of a former military interrogator turned professional punter. Oscar embodies the character’s obsessive self-control, while simultaneously revealing the simmering emotions that lurk beneath the surface as the film progresses. Oscar balances the character’s collected demeanour with moments of vulnerability, helping the audience to empathise with Tell’s demons. Thanks to Oscar’s performance, The Card Counter is not one of those casino movies which would make you go to SpinFever and play a round of Blackjack in a black tuxedo. It is a slow-burning noir thriller, and definitely not for everyone’s taste. And that’s why we love him so much. Oscar transcends the role. He is the film.
The Man, The Charisma
His passion for acting is contagious. It might be one of the reasons he’s so charismatic on and off the screen. Being into arts from his earliest childhood, Isaac’s enthusiasm for acting is evident in his performances. This makes us, the viewers, more invested in his work. But he is also undeniably talented. A skilled performer, Oscar is not only a good actor but also a musician, which he more than proved in Inside Llewyn Davis. Combining that with good looks, expressive facial features and confident body language, Oscar brings a magnetic screen presence we just can’t resist. Many people who had an opportunity to work with Oscar are reporting his incredible down-to-earth attitude and approachable demeanour, which helps in connecting with him on a more personal level. Both his colleagues and fans appreciate and recognise this authenticity. On top of it all, there is a natural ability to express a wide range of emotions, which adds depth to his personality. It’s hard to define charisma, but Oscar Isaac might be a good textbook example. We don’t have to understand it, we can simply enjoy it. Oh, and when we thought we couldn’t love him more, we heard his British accent in Disney’s Moon Knight. Adorable!
From an Immigrant Child to a Celebrity, Isaac Understands the Struggles
Oscar was involved in several humanitarian projects which you may or may not know about. His indifference to celebrity status is likely the reason why many good things about him go under the radar. If we learned something in all these years, it’s the press doesn’t like “ordinary” celebs. That’s what makes him even more interesting if you ask us!
Observing Human Rights Day was probably his most recognisable humanitarian project so far. The whole thing happened following The Promise, a film about the Armenian genocide. Many actors, including himself, recorded a PSA and encouraged viewers to support the cause. It was refreshing seeing him involved.
As an immigrant child, Oscar tried hard to avoid being cast in stereotypical “Latino” roles. You know, the whole Latino gangster stuff. Even though his family was probably not a typical immigrant family and had more luck due to his father being a medical doctor, moving to another country is never easy. It certainly helped Oscar shape his tough side, and make him work harder. That is part of his beautiful persona.
