Robert Downey Jr. claims that ‘Oppenheimer’ is « the best film » he’s ever starred in, but is that right? What about the 1987 drama ‘Less Than Zero’ based on Bret Easton Ellis’s 1985 novel of the same name?
Few actors can say that their best movie is the very one that put them on the map, but for Robert Downey Jr., that was exactly the case.
However, now, over 50 years into his career, the actor claims that his latest movie is the “best movie” he’s ever been in. Is he just riding high on the starry premiere of his latest work, or is he correct in his estimation? In short: what’s better, Oppenheimer or Less Than Zero?
Let’s rewind! In 1987, Downey Jr. starred in Less Than Zero, directed by Marek Kanievska and inspired by Bret Easton Ellis’s 1985 novel of the same name. The movie premiered to mixed reception given its gritty and drug-laced portrayal of rich teenagers in Beverly Hills.
But if the movie was released nowadays, there’s no doubt it would be a smash hit. Collider even recently deemed it the ’80s counterpart to the award-winning television series Euphoria.
More importantly, liked it or not, critics and movie-watchers have long agreed that Downey Jr. gave a memorable performance as teenage drug addict Julian Wells.
Not only was the movie a starting point for Downey Jr.’s career, but it also gave way to an incredible and deeply affecting performance that has stood the test of time. So, let’s get into it. Is Less Than Zero the best Robert Downey Jr. movie of all time?
During the London premiere of Oppenheimer, in which Downey Jr. stars as naval officer Lewis Strauss, the actor said, “This is the best film I’ve ever been in.” A rather bold statement from a guy who recently claimed that Dolittle and The Shaggy Dog were the “most important” movies he’s made in the last 25 years.
Critics seem to agree in their early reviews. Darren Mooney wrote on Twitter that Oppenheimer is “maybe the best Downey has ever been in a film.” And since Twitter is a cesspool of conflicting opinions, the statement opened the door to other thoughts on the matter with many naming Chaplin, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Zodiac as popular counterarguments.
Now, I will not argue with Downey Jr. about his filmography. If he feels as though Oppenheimer is the best movie he’s ever been in then I’m happy for him. Given that he actually stars in the movie and is the center of the current conversation, his vague statement can point to a lot of things.
