Few actors are as beloved outside the industry as they are revered within it. Gene Hackman was one of those actors. He was adored by fans for his deft relatability and admired by peers for his impeccable instinct. Sadly, Hackman passed away in February at the age of 95. Collaborator and contemporary Clint Eastwood says simply, “There was no finer actor than Gene.”
Born in California but raised in Illinois, Hackman was about as unpretentious as any marquee entertainer could be. He was the anonymous movie star. But he was also a working man’s actor. An actor that, according to filmmaker Mike Nichols, “always brought just enough of a different part of the real Gene to each role he played.” And the roles that Gene played are some of the most iconic of all time.
Hackman garnered a total of five Academy Award nominations during his tenure, winning twice. He took home best actor in 1972 for his gritty portrayal of narcotics detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection. 20 years later, he netted best supporting honors as Sheriff “Little” Bill Daggett in Eastwood’s western masterpiece Unforgiven. The latter victory makes Hackman one of only six men to win Oscars for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.
After first coming to prominence in 1968 with the groundbreaking picture Bonnie and Clyde, Gene remained in demand until his retirement in 2004. His incredible catalog includes blockbuster films such as Superman, The Poseidon Adventure, and Get Shorty. It also consists of taut dramas like The Conversation, Night Moves, and Crimson Tide. Alternatively, his work in Young Frankenstein, The Birdcage and The Royal Tenenbaums are comedic perfection. And then there’s Hoosiers—arguably one of the greatest underdog sports films ever made.
When asked what made Hackman such a special actor, co-star Nathan Lane replied, “You couldn’t catch him acting.” Lane is right. Gene was America’s everyman thespian, seemingly comprised entirely of organic nuance. He leaves behind rich legacy bursting with diverse and dynamic performances. But in a career spanning nearly 80 pictures, not all of Hackman’s work receives the recognition it deserves. Here are 10 movies that have been overlooked or underrated in the career of the late, great Gene Hackman.
Underrated Films of Gene Hackman
Cisco Pike (1971)
This counterculture cult classic recounts a burned-out Los Angelas musician who must comply with the nefarious bidding of a shady lawman. As Detective Leo Holland, Hackman is both unscrupulous and affable. It is a menacing performance, especially for a man who had a natural aversion to violence. Though the film lost money, Cisco Pike is usually remembered for being the acting debut of country music phenomenon Kris Kristofferson. As Cisco, Kris is a convincing leading man whereas Gene’s character can only be described as a walking contradiction, party truth and partly fiction.
Scarecrow (1973)
This picture features two of America’s greatest actors yet is relatively unknown. Scarecrow stars Gene alongside Al Pacino, both at the height of their fame. Pacino was fresh off his first turn as Michael Corleone while Hackman was one year removed from his first Oscar win. It is a beautiful pairing with Al’s serene approach contrasting Gene’s magnetic volatility. The stark dramedy follows two drifters forging their way across the country as adventure and obstacles ensue. Unfortunately, this film encountered obstacles in attracting audiences and flopped at the box office. Years later, Hackman called this movie, “Probably my favorite film to work on.”
Bite the Bullet (1975)
Hackman seemed sincere in the saddle and looked at home on the range. The Western felt natural for him. This movie is by no means a cowboy classic, but it is good frontier fun. Set in the year 1906, Bite the Bullet revolves around a winner-take-all horse race spanning a ridiculous 700 miles. Gene effortlessly embodies a seasoned vaquero who, along with his old Army buddy (James Coburn), decides to enter the race strictly for the prize money. During the arduous trek, the participants discover they are competing for more than just the finish line.
Under Fire (1983)
Set against a South American coup, Under Fire focuses on three top-notch newshounds and their precarious love triangle. Gene stars as foreign news correspondent Alex Grazier, an exceptional but dispirited journalist who is fed up covering war from the front lines. But when the call of a good story proves too great, he has no choice but to reenter the fray. Hackman’s performance is subtle but forceful, meshing nicely with co-stars Nick Nolte and Joanna Cassidy. The film itself was inspired by the 1979 Nicaraguan Revolution. The characters are fictional, but the political upheaval feels authentic.
No Way Out (1987)
As far as late Cold War thrillers are concerned, they don’t get much better than this one. No Way Out stars Kevin Costner as an American Naval Intelligence officer who serves under the U.S. Secretary of Defense, played by Hackman. When Costner’s socialite girlfriend turns up dead, complications soon arise amid a tangled web of espionage, infidelity, and murder. This film sustains a tangible tension as Gene and Kevin work beautifully off each other. In a 2017 interview Costner stated, “Gene was the best actor that I’ve ever worked with.”
Bat*21 (1988)
Adapted from the book of the same name, Bat*21 tells the real-life story of Lt. Colonel Iceal Hambleton who was shot down and subsequently rescued behind enemy lines during the Vietnam war. Gene plays the wounded U.S. Air Force navigator, surviving for over 11 days in the war-torn jungle. His performance exudes the courage and humanity seldom seen in combat films. Unfortunately, this movie gets overshadowed by several higher profile pictures about the Vietnam conflict also released in the late 1980s. These include Platoon, Good Morning, Vietnam, Full Metal Jacket, and Born on the Fourth of July.
The Package (1989)
Continuing the Cold War theme, The Package is a governmental thriller featuring fun twists and turns. Evoking his own military experience, Gene stars as Green Beret Master Sergeant Johnny Gallagher. As a ceasefire between America and the Soviet Union looms, Gallagher is tasked with escorting a GI troublemaker stateside. When Hackman’s character loses his prisoner in an ambush, he soon discovers that he is caught in the middle of something well above his pay grade. This is an entertaining movie, but it gets overlooked. Possibly because it was Gene’s follow-up release to his powerful performance in Mississippi Burning.
Narrow Margin (1990)
In this reimagining of the 1952 film noir The Narrow Margin, Hackman plays Los Angelas Deputy District Attorney Robert Caulfield. It is his job to persuade a witness in hiding, played by Anne Archer, to testify against a crime boss back in L.A. When the operation goes terribly wrong, the retrieval mission turns into one of survival for the desperate pair who are trapped aboard a commercial passenger train with two hit men. But like Gene, his character is a former Marine, giving the doomed duo a fighting chance. Narrow Margin offers a white-knuckle ride, but it lacked mass appeal. “For whatever reason, it didn’t catch on,” said Hackman.
Company Business (1991)
In the world of covert spy craft, who better to lead the charge than an ex-CIA man and a disgraced KGB mole. Gene and Russian ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov fill those two roles quite admirably, if not convincingly. Company Business is not a political satire, but it seldom takes itself too seriously. The plot focuses on a failed prisoner exchange leading to Hackman and Baryshnikov gallivanting around Europe, staying one step ahead of two governments. It is an awkward buddy action flick, but the pair are endearing and enjoyable. However, Gene’s next performance would greatly overshadow this one. Unforgiven was released 11 months later.
Heist (2001)
The unscrupulous underworld never sounded so profanely poetic. This clever caper picture, written and directed by David Mamet stars Hackman as a veteran thief who wants to quit the game and retire. However, the mobster who finances him has other ideas. Forced to do one last job, the thief must not only execute a brilliant robbery, he must also elude the inevitable treachery of his benefactor. The risks are great, but so is the payoff. With a great supporting cast that includes Sam Rockwell, Delroy Lindo, and Danny DeVito, Heist captures Gene at the end of his career but still at the top of his game.
Wrapping Up
Director Arthur Penn once remarked that, “American movies have always had certain kinds of self-styled actors who shouldn’t be stars but are. And Gene is in the company of Bogart, Tracy, and Cagney.” Gene Hackman never set out to be a movie star, but his talent demanded the spotlight. His career was truly one of the most remarkable in the history of American film. And though not all of Hackman’s movies performed as great as expected, he seldom turned in anything but a great performance.
