The action icon has a lesser-known history of subtle roles in small movies like the new The Samaritan.
After all, in the past few years, Jackson has done little on-screen besides sporting the distinctive eye patch of Nick Fury, leader of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Marvel superhero universe's secret government agency. The 63-year-old has played Fury five times in mammoth hits such as The Avengers and Thor, and there are still four movies left in his nine-picture contract with Marvel. Amid the blockbuster hubbub, though, it's easy to forget that Jackson has been a critical darling. One of the best actors around, he's an accomplished performer who has amassed an impressive oeuvre of thoughtful performances in movies far from the mainstream. Beyond Nick Fury and Snakes on a Plane lies a serious, studied professional who's as adept at buttoning up and subduing things in an indie feature as he is at going bombastic and over the top in a Hollywood hit.
Opening in limited theatrical release today and available nationwide on demand, The Samaritan, starring Jackson, is the first movie in ages to demonstrate the full range of his skills. A glum, character-driven film noir, it offers a vision of the actor that's far removed from the domineering
His Samaritan character, named Foley, is newly released from prison after serving a 25-year stint for murder. "Nothing changes unless you make a change," the ex-con says, and the movie chronicles his efforts to carve out a new life for himself in freedom, while the forces of his past seek to turn him back to a life of crime.
The movie is an exercise in muted miserablism that offers a chance to experience Jackson playing an individual beset by sadness and regret, instead of volcanic anger or supreme confidence. Foley is among the most vulnerable and affecting parts he's been handed, a man who can't always find the words that need to be said, and who doesn't know exactly how to handle every obstacle thrown his way.
Beyond Nick Fury and the Star Wars prequels' Mace Windu, in honor of Jackson's sterling work in The Samaritan, it's worth taking a look at the actor's parallel career as indie film star:
Gator Purify in Jungle Fever (1991)
Jackson first garnered serious attention for his vibrant take on Gator, protagonist Flipper's (Wesley Snipes) crack-addicted brother in Spike Lee's drama about interracial relationships. He's a powerful disruptive force in the movie, driven to terrible, self-destructive behavior by his need for the drug. The actor, who struggled with drug addiction himself, is utterly authentic in the role. Enthused by Jackson's magnetic performance, the Cannes Film Festival awarded him its first supporting actor award, and he was on his way to full-on stardom.
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