Tony Gilroy, returning to feature directing for the first time since 2012's 'The Bourne Legacy,' has cast Pedro Pascal in a role that allows the actor to explore profound emotional territory. In 'Behemoth!,' Pascal portrays Alex Serian, a former child prodigy from a family of Los Angeles studio musicians. After two decades on tour, Alex returns home to score Hollywood films, and it's in this setting that Pascal delivers what critics are calling one of his finest cinematic performances.
Pascal's rise to global fame has largely been through television, with iconic roles in 'Game of Thrones,' 'Narcos,' 'The Mandalorian,' and 'The Last of Us.' While these series cemented his status as a beloved screen presence, 'Behemoth!' is being hailed as the first time a director has truly built a film around the silent power of Pascal's facial expressions and subtle gestures. This dramatic showcase follows other recent film roles in projects like Pedro Almodóvar’s 'Strange Way of Life,' Celine Song’s 'Materialists,' and Ari Aster’s 'Eddington,' which have offered him more latitude, but 'Behemoth!' makes his dramatic capabilities undeniable.
Gilroy's narrative structure for 'Behemoth!' cleverly uses flashbacks, triggered by Alex's attempts to score new films. Each piece of music transports him back to the people and circumstances that led him to flee his past. Pascal masterfully conveys these unspoken memories through looks, pauses, and shifts in posture, echoing the quiet strength seen in performances like Jude Law's in 'Cold Mountain.' The film delves into themes of love and entitlement, exploring the internal battles Alex faces, particularly concerning his father (Hank Azaria) and brother (Will Arnett).
Beyond Pascal's captivating lead, 'Behemoth!' also features a standout performance from Olivia Wilde as Alex's ex, a character described as channeling the obsessive intensity of Cameron Diaz in 'Vanilla Sky.' Wilde's portrayal adds another layer of complexity to the film's emotional landscape.
A unique aspect of 'Behemoth!' is its innovative musical framework. Gilroy enlisted nine different composers, including Oscar-winners Michael Giacchino and Alan Silvestri, and multiple nominee James Newton Howard, each tasked with scoring a different fictional film within the movie. This eclectic soundtrack mirrors Alex's fragmented memories, moving across various eras and genres. However, this collaborative approach presents an interesting challenge for the upcoming awards season; while the Academy recently adjusted rules to allow up to three composers to share an Original Score Oscar, nine still don't fit, potentially forcing them to enter as a 'group' for a single statuette.
The film's premiere during Hispanic Heritage Month has added another layer of significance to Pascal's performance. For Latino audiences who have followed his career, this role represents a long-awaited opportunity for a Latino actor to contend for a Best Actor Oscar. Historically, only one Latino actor, José Ferrer for 'Cyrano de Bergerac' 75 years ago, has won in that category. Pascal's potential nomination, alongside other possible Latino contenders like John Leguizamo for Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey,' marks a notable moment for representation in Hollywood. 'Behemoth!' is set to open to wider audiences on December 4.