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Character: Anton Chigurh An Oscar winning role and considered one of the most chilling villains to ever grace the silver screen, the character of Anton Chigurh is the main antagonist of the Coen brothers' No Country For Old Men. A psychopathic killer for hire who is very, VERY good at his job, Bardem's menacing portrait of the deranged killer was considered nothing short of unnerving. Armed with his signature weapon of a captive bolt pistol, a bowl cut hairstyle, and brutal efficiency, Chigurh quietly disposes of his victims, creating carnage and calamity wherever he goes. He kills for money. He kills for fun. He kills at the flip of a coin. Anton Chigurh is the definition of chaotic evil. In Chigurh, Bardem crafted one of the most terrifying cinematic personas in film. Bardem admits that when he was first approached to play Chigurh, he found the character repugnant. Did I like the guy when I read the screenplay? No, not at all. But then, when I read the novel [by Cormac McCarthy], I understood much better the philosophy behind the whole thing, and this idea about Chigurh and his 'principles.' So I saw that, in his own way, this is a complex guy. That helped me get a handle on him. Bardem's depiction of Chigurh was lauded by psychiatrists, psychologists, and doctors in the mental health field as themost realistic film depiction of a psychopath in the Journal of Forensic Sciences. Does He Sport A Tragic Haircut?: Yes Actors: Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald Released: 2007 Directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
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2 Dune: Part II Character: Stilgar of Sietch Tabr In Dune: Part II, Javier Bardem returns as Stilgar of Sietch Tabr, the leader of the Fremen. This time around, he helps Paul (Timothée Chalamet) adapt to the Fremen way of life as he hides from the Harkonnens on Arrakis. As Stilgar trains the young man, he suspects that the boy is the Lisan al Gaib of the Fremen people, the prophesized leader who will bring them a new era of growth, green, and peace. In that knowledge, he develops a humble reverence when he talks with Paul, and at times, adds levity and humor to the highly dramatic, uber-serious sci-fi epic. Bardem's devotion to his people but his willingness to crumble like a fanboy at the mere sight of Paul brings some hilarity to the formidable saga, allowing the actor to stand out among his peers. He also becomes more of a parental figure for Paul, who has lost everything by Dune: Part II thanks to the Harkonnens and the betrayal of the Emperor, and has rebuilt his entire life with the Fremen people. But for Stilgar, it isn't about helping Paul, but about creating a figure of hope for the his people. At least, that is how Bardem sees it. It’s a nice relationship between a man who wants him to be and wishes him to be the person he’s supposed to be. He’s also taken by religious fanaticism. He understands that [Paul] might be the one, then he sees him with different eyes, eyes blinded by faith, by the faith of him being the one that will help us get freed, and then you lose the perspective of the real person in front of you. Does He Sport A Tragic Haircut?: No Actors: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin Released: 2024 Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
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3 Skyfall Character: Raoul Silva Often considered one of 007's best villains in the entire franchise, Skyfall villain Raoul Silva is a far cry from the money-grubbing, missile launching Bond-battling goons of yesteryear. Javier Bardem injects a sympathy into the monster, whose tragic backstory doesn't forgive his horrific crimes, but allows the audiences to understand the vendetta he holds so passionately for the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, M (Judi Dench). Years ago, when Silva was an agent working with MI6, M had to sacrifice him in exchange for six agents held by the Chinese government. Silva was taken prisoner and attempted to take his own life via cyanide implant in his molar, but the attempt failed and disfigured him horribly. He survived the experience and sought revenge, becoming a criminal mastermind and amassing a fortune with the skills he learned as an agent. Silva collapsed economies, rigged elections, and destroyed governments, but all of it was just a means to get to M. Rarely does a Bond villain exhibit that level of personal vendetta, but for Silva, who dedicated his life to becoming a spy only to be betrayed and mutilated by the person he trusted most, he was destroyed by M's actions. In turn, he dedicated his life to returning the favor. For Bardem, the chance to star in a James Bond film was more than an acting gig. It was an honor. When [Dame Judi Dench] opens her mouth and looks you in the eyes, you’re like, ‘Wow! This is a big deal.’ You feel a force of nature against your chest… And I looked at them both and forgot the lines. There was a silence and Sam [Mendes, the director] said, ‘Cut, what’s wrong?’ And I said, ‘I’m sorry, man, I just realised I’m in a James Bond movie and M and James Bond are looking at me.’ Does He Sport A Tragic Haircut?: Yes Actors: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris Released: 2012 Directed by: Sam Mendes
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4 Collateral Character: Felix Reyes-Torrena While Tom Cruise's Vincent might be the big bad of Michael Mann's Collateral, Javier Bardem's Felix Reyes-Torrena is the reason for all the bloodshed in the film. Silver fox Vincent is a hitman, pure and simple. In an effort to complete his job, he forces cab driver Max Durocher (Jamie Foxx) to drive him around Los Angeles completing his “tasks,” but during the course of the night, Vincent loses his instructions. The duo are forced to confront drug lord Felix to get the names of the final two targets. But Felix, no longer trusting of the situation, has the duo followed by his goons, who later attempt to take their lives. Though appearing briefly in the film, Bardem creates in imposing figures in Felix, a man of great power in a big city who can command at will who is allowed to live and die. It is because of him that almost every event in the film takes place. He commands Vincent, he set the kill list, and put forth the events at the end of the film that set up Max as the hero. At the time, Collateral was one of Bardem's first Hollywood movies, and it was a memorable experience for the actor. The Collateral thing was what I call an act of curiosity. Michael Mann asked me to go there, it's a cameo, and it was a way for me to see the inside of a so-called Hollywood, high budget kind of movie. It's fine, but it's the same as playing in a normal Spanish movie. They say 'action', they say 'cut', and you have to be ready. There are more people with microphones all around, you know? Does He Sport A Tragic Haircut?: No Actors: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Berg Released: 2004 Directed by: Michael Mann
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5 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Character: Captain Salazar Waterlogged and covered in rotting, floating flesh, Captain Salazar is a terror. He haunts the sea with his ghost crew, seeking revenge on Captain Jack Sparrow in The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. In life he was just as horrifying, albeit for different reasons. Known as “El Matador Del Mar” ("the Butcher of the Sea") when he was alive, Salazar was a savage pirate hunter and a highly respected officer of the Spanish Royal Navy who commanded the Silent Mary. However, after a battle of wits with a young Captain Sparrow at the Devil's Triangle cost the proud Captain Salazar his ship, his crew, and his life, a supernatural event resurrected Salazar as a vengeful ghost, which only made the captain far, far worse. In life, Salazar was a man whose obsession with hunting pirates led him to his own demise, allowing his hubris to cause him to slip up when it came to catching Captain Sparrow. As a ghost, his rage became his dominant emotion, attacking everything and everyone, not just pirates. Salazar becomes consumed with the idea of revenge and becoming human again, to the point that he turns on his own crew. Because of this change in demeanor, Javier Bardem was able to play the character several ways: Now it was a matter of what’s the story and what can I bring to the character, and when they gave it to me, I thought it was this great thing about one same character played in two ways: 1. He’s alive and it’s all about pride and it’s all about honor and 2. When he’s dead, it’s all about betrayal and pain and revenge. I liked it. It has some powerful moments. Does He Sport A Tragic Haircut?: Yes. What is left is pretty tragic. Actors: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario Released: 2017 Directed by: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
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6 Perdita Durango Character: Romeo Dolorosa One of Javier Bardem's strangest and most compelling roles to date is in the spiritual sequel to David Lynch's Wild at Heart, Perdita Durango, based on a novel by Barry Gifford. Directed by visionary Spanish filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia, the crime-horror film follows Perdita (Rosie Perez) as she gets mixed up with Bardem's Romeo Dolorosa, a low-level con artist with a top-tier mullet. A bank robber, drug dealer, part-time Santeria shaman with a debt out to loan sharks, Dolorosa is in the midst of smuggling fetuses to Las Vegas to turn into beauty products when he woos Perdita. Partnering with Perdita brings out the worse in Dolorosa, as the two decide to kidnap tourists to use as sacrifices in Dolorosa's religious ceremonies. Soon, the duo are chased by law enforcement and the mob, forced to embark on a murdering spree in an effort to escape. In the role of Romeo Dolorosa, Bardem is a loose cannon. Completely ruled by his Id, Dolorosa is driven by his urges and needs with little thought beyond the moment. He loves Perdita, but it is a depraved love story about two hellspawn raising hell on Earth with little regard for human life. As Dolorosa, Bardem exudes savage sexuality and unhinged fury in every action. He's clearly unbalanced and destructive, but is so charismatic in the role it is difficult to look away, as the audience is left to ponder what heinous act he will do next. Does He Sport A Tragic Haircut?: Yes Actors: Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem, Harley Cross, Aimee Graham, James Gandolfini Released: 1997 Directed by: Alex de la Iglesia
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