Gene Hackman was an actor beyond compare. He was, simply put, one-of-a-kind, with a unique personality and acting style, who can be placed alongside his other great contemporaries, such as Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, and Jack Nicholson.
Hackman's protagonist "Popeye" Doyle is, just like other iconic characters directed by William Friedkin, doesn't have any relatable qualities. But despite his flaws, the character's dogged pursuit of the main antagonist makes him worthy of appreciation.
Francis Ford Coppola's thriller has Hackman playing a surveillance expert who listens to something that he is not supposed to hear — or is it something imaginary? The actor's convincing portrayal of a sleep-deprived, paranoid man is one of his best.
This is the kind of drama that makes you, at times, question who to root for. But Tony Scott's film gives you the answer to that question in the film's climax. Hackman and co-star Denzel Washington perfectly complement each other in a dynamite thriller.
One of the films that demonstrated Hackman's ability to be hilarious too. As the movie producer looking for his next big break, Hackman gets some of the film's best scenes alongside John Travolta, Dennis Farina, and Delroy Lindo, among others.
A classic example of a film with all the lead actors giving their best. Hackman delivered one of his most menacing bad guys in this intense revisionist Western directed by, and starring, Clint Eastwood, along with Morgan Freeman.
Alan Parker's film has Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe playing tough-as-nails FBI agents tasked to investigate the murders of three civil rights activists. Hackman's portrayal of the unorthodox, no-nonsense, and fearless FBI agent is one of the film's highlights.
Sure, his portrayal of Lex Luthor may not exactly be called a 'realistic' performance but Hackman's interpretation of the character fits the mood of the Richard Donner movie like a T, just like Jack Nicholson's Joker in Tim Burton's 'The Batman'.
David Mamet's script found the right actors in the form of Hackman, Sam Rockwell, and others who can 'sing' his lines really well. Hackman, for example, gives us one of his most unpredictable characters who is trying to avoid getting conned by several characters.