“Wolverine” Hugh Jackman turns 52: what were the highlights of his career

“Wolverine” Hugh Jackman turns 52 today

Hugh Jackman is one of the most talented and famous actors of the last twenty years thanks to his unexpected arrival in Hollywood, which earned him popularity

Hugh Jackman is one of the most verbose and charismatic actors in Hollywood and through his work he has shown that his ability to reinvent himself is limitless. Today, October 12, Hugh Jackman turns 52. A date that, curiously, he shares with big stars: the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti, the rock pioneer Gene Vincent and the singer John Denver.

From singing, riding horses, freehand boxing with robots or slaying his enemies with his metal claws, the actor born in Sydney in 1968 has become one of the talents that make up the Olympus of Hollywood stars. Jackman began his career in musical theater, but the movie industry brought him far greater rewards. Owner of a solid career, he can still surprise us when he is about to reach another exceptional performance.

Hugh was a boy who dreamed of being an actor ever since he felt drawn to the character Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th . It aroused a deep interest in theater and acting. Although it sounds incredible, he is a journalist by profession . Still, he didn’t seem to mind risking a fresh start: studying and devoting himself to acting full-time. From Wolverine and Logan to Jean Valjean, the list of his most remembered films.

Giants of Steel (2011)

Charlie Kenton ( Hugh Jackman ), a former boxer, who struggles to succeed in the world of robotic boxing. In the middle of his professional return, he learns that Max’s mother, his son, has passed away, so he decides to assume the role of a responsible and great dad. They find a dysfunctional robot in a junkyard and work with their son to fix it. And as a former boxer, he trains the robot in the art of fighting and, together with his son, the three of them take down many opponents to move up in the ranks.

Mixing elements of classic sports drama with science fiction, this film takes place in an alternate future where robots have replaced humans in the boxing industry and robotic boxing is considered a popular sport. But, beyond the robotic neo-concept, this plot takes a more filial approach between father and son. Hugh defined this film as a memory of his childhood with film references such as Rocky, Champions and Winners.

Kate and Leopold (2001)

Taken from the imagination, this film challenges the Russian filmmaker, Andrei Tarkovski , when narrative alterations succeed in sculpting time. Leopold ( Hugh Jackman ), a handsome, bachelor Duke of Albany from the 19th century, does not believe in love because he belongs to a cold-blooded dynasty. While Kate McKay ( Meg Ryan ) is a senior advertising executive, who lives the modern world of the twentieth century in New York. What they both do not know is that a small situation will make their times coincide. For them, a timeless romance will change their lives.

Although the criticism was a bit harsh on Meg Ryan in acting capacity in a romantic film, it seems that Hugh was given the opportunity to develop as a prolific actor who masters his abilities in any fictional genre.

Les miserables (2012)

The acclaimed film earned him his first and only nomination – for now – at the Oscars. This film directed by Tom Hooper , which carries some Broadway-style overtones, is inspired by a 1980 musical. However, the plot revolves around one of the most important literary works, Les Miserables de Víctor Hugo (1862). The period drama portrays a France during the French Revolution, where alleviating hunger, poverty and social differences were one of the most difficult problems to eradicate in the 19th century.

Among the star-studded cast featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest names including Anne Hatheway, Russel Crowe and Helena Bonham Carter , Hugh Jackman plays the lead, Jean Valjean, a prisoner-turned-philanthropist who takes in Cossette ( Amanda Seyfried ), the daughter of an acquaintance. Although he missed the Oscar, Jackman had more luck at the Golden Globes.

The critics were surprised to see “the delivery and charisma of Hugh Jackman on the screens” who was able to make musical performances of high registers. Not surprisingly, singing some melismas in arias (opera) brings with it a bodily effort that requires preparation. For what Hugh confessed, in 2012, that his experience in musical theaters opened the doors to this role.

The prestige (2006)

A Hugh Jackman film in which he shares the set with Christian Bale and the film’s director, Christian Nolan . This is where a narrative acrobatics arises, in which the turns are completely unexpected for the viewer. Jackman’s participation was perfectly matched to this duo of protagonists. Critics, in his defense, perceived that the missing magic that this film carried with him, Hugh was able to recover it little by little.

After a tragic accident, two stage magicians in 1890 London clash to create the ultimate illusion while sacrificing everything they have to outwit the other. The intense rivalry between the two will overcome several imminent dangers that took over the plot, including hoaxes and supremely competitive shows. A very cerebral movie to be magic, but it is absolutely worth it, just because it is Hugh as the protagonist.

Prisoners (2013)

An infuriating, yet eye-catching thriller that put all of Hugh Jackman’s acting skills to the test, but this violent counterpoint helps to find the perfect balance between stealth and a touch of violence. It is a film in which Hugh stars in which they leave science fiction as a pretext only to address how the human being works within the limits of capacities.

That’s when Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman), while a man of faith and a carpenter, realizes that in his hands he has a great responsibility to assume: his 6-year-old daughter and a friend are kidnapped. As any human being would react, he seeks police help in the midst of a desperate attempt to rescue them. But when authorities release the suspect, Keller loses hope. He himself will decide to rescue them on his own by following several clues.

Eddie the Eagle (2016)

Directed by Dexter Fletcher , it is a film that is based on simple pleasures to fulfill its mission, following to the letter the biographical-sports and inspirational film model. However, the film knows the value of Taron Egerton as an aspiring Olympic competitor and knows the starring value of an older and tired Hugh Jackman such as his coach.

The charm that made Jackman a movie star has turned to sweet vinegar in this movie – he’s the exact kind of inspiring sports coach you’d want me to give you a pep talk before the big game (or, in this case, the big game). great ski jump), mainly because his praise is unsweetened. If you impress him, you have really done something right.

Inspired by English athlete Michael Edwards (better known as ” Eddie the Eagle” ), the first person to represent Great Britain in ski jumping at the Winter Olympics since 1929. Kingsman star Taron Egerton plays Eddie , headline in this biopic, while Hugh Jackman is in the role of Bronson Peary, Eddie’s coach and mentor.

Bad education (2019)

Surprisingly, it is the most critically acclaimed role in his career. This, even taking into account the X-Men movies , including Logan, which has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics recognized Jackman’s performance and charm in stepping out of the Wolverine persona and capable of stepping into a superb character. Who is hungry for much more power through their office. Hugh plays Frank Tassone, a superintendent who, with the help of an accomplice, steals a total of $ 11 million from the school district he was in charge of.

Bad Education is another biopic in which Hugh Jackman stars. It is about the remembered 2004 Roslyn Union Free School District scandal , one of the largest cases of embezzlement in a public institution in the history of the United States. This HBO crime drama is a retelling of that event.

Logan (2017)

Last but not least, one of the most highly rated superhero movies by fans and critics is on the list: Logan . It swept (and with good reasons) the movie billboards with 617 million dollars in collections . Incidentally, she managed to be nominated for an Oscar. However, for the audience it was a bittersweet farewell to Hugh Jackman as the Wolverine. He ended the 17 years of acting in the most satisfactory way possible.

While still packed with action and spectacle, the film is a much more robust and emotional take on the genre that embodies the neo-Western elements of Wolverine and adds a relevant level of political commentary. The critics also highlighted the chemistry between father and daughter with Dafne Keen ( Laura Kenney ), the Spanish-British actress who revolutionized the screens. Undoubtedly, that pair showed a narrative benevolence to benefit from the farewell of Jackman as Wolverine.

And yet the beginning of Logan makes it very clear that we are about to see a new side to this fallen hero, a new kind of comic book movie, and an emotionally resonant performance by Jackman, who has never seemed more shattered on the inside and out. outside. On the other hand, it seems that full time would not be considered, but Hugh is willing to participate in possible cameos in upcoming productions of X-Men franchises.