There is no doubt that Robert Downey Jr. is one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors of all time. His comeback has been one that has left everyone speechless. And riding high on his first Oscar win for ‘Oppenheimer’, Downey Jr has delivered another spectacular performance in ‘The Sympathizer’.
Park Chan-wook’s ‘The Sympathizer’ is the adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer prize-winning novel. And the series has received only good words from the critics. But Robert Downey Jr stole the show performing different characters in the series.
Related: ‘The Sympathizer’: Biggest Differences Between The Novel And The Show
Robert Downey Jr. Plays Four Characters In The Miniseries
Yes, you read that right. The ‘Iron Man’ star has outdone himself this time with four characters in ‘The Sympathizer’. With the help of makeup and prosthetics, Downey Jr played four characters that include Claude, the Captain’s CIA contact, a professor, a congressman and a auteur.
Director Park Chan-wook had previously thought about casting different actors in the roles but he stuck to using Robert Downey Jr as the portrayal of the American, patriarchal white male archetype. Park said, “Despite having different jobs and characteristics, they are all sharing one body.” He adds, “Essentially, they’re representing America as a whole.” And so he relied on Downey’s magic to play four roles in one series.
The mini series is a satire on the Vietnamese war and all of Downey’s characters use Vietnamese people for their own gain in different ways. Their twisted ways of profiting off the people is either through the war, the government or even through Hollywood.
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More About ‘The Sympathizer’
Based on a Pulitzer prize-winning novel, ‘The Sympathizer’ is a political satire on the Vietnamese war. It premiered on HBO on 14 April, 2024. The story follows a certain Captain, a North Vietnam plant in the South Vietnam army. However, when the war comes to an end, he is forced to flee to the States with his general.
As Captain starts to live within a community of South Vietnamese refugees, he is torn between his original loyalties and his new life. The Captain continues to secretly spy on the community and report back to the Viet Cong. But this might cost him a lot.
The cast of the miniseries includes Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr, Toan Le, Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen, Vy Le, Ky Duyen and many more. The series has been critically acclaimed and received pretty stellar reviews as well.
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