CELEBRATING THE AVENGERS: Robert Downey Jr.

ROBERT DOWNEY JR., born April 4, 1965 in Manhattan, New York, the son of writer, director and filmographer Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey (née Elsie Ann Ford). He's famous for his portray of the highly charismatic superhero playboy Tony Stark AKA Iron Man and one of the most well-paid actors in the world. At first, he was considered a huge promise in the acting branch but the actor's drug-related problems escalated from 1996 to 2001, which led to arrests, rehab and incarcerations (he got fired from Ally McBeal TV series in 1997). After emerging clean and sober again around 2003, he was decided to rebuild his career.

So... Just like I mentioned in a previous poster, let's celebrate 10 years of MCU and the massive worldwide success of Avengers: Infinity War by having a look at its main cast members careers and major acting achievements. The third "victim" is Robert Downey Jr., the man who's the ambassador of Marvel Cinematic Universe, just alongside Kevin Feige.

Here's a small study on Robert Downey Jr.'s rich career in 5 cinematic moments:

• LESS THAN ZERO (1987)

The performance that defined Robert Downey Jr. as one of the most promising actors of his career. And while the movie itself got mixed to not-so-enthusiastic reviews from critics, Downey Jr. was highlighted as the movie's emotional center. As David Denby (The New Yorker magazine) wrote at the time - "In many ways, Less than Zero is a cynical, manipulative job. Yet, the movie has something great in it, something that could legitimately move teenagers (or anyone else): Robert Downey Jr. as the disintegrating Julian, a performance in which beautiful exuberance gives way horrifying to a sudden, startled sadness". A dramatic performance that got no award recognition but it worked as an acting showcase for a 22 years old Robert Downey Jr. 

• CHAPLIN (1992)

It is said that Chaplin's director was so confident in Robert Downey Jr. performance as Charlie Chaplin that he had no problem to include real footage of the iconic actor at the end of the movie. In fact, Chaplin features what is considered Downey Jr.'s best performance of his career so far! From the accent to the mannerisms, the actor absorved what best defined Chaplin and lived the character in a way that elevated this plain biopic. In fact, the movie lived thanks to Downey Jr.'s acting turn and the AMPAS recognized his bravura effort - and the actors received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, after a Golden Globe for Best Actor - Drama nomination and a BAFTA Award win for Best Actor in a Leading Role, which estabilishes him as one of the most serious and talented actors working in Hollywood.

• KISS KISS, BANG BANG (2005)

The year of 2005 was a year of "Robert Downey Jr. momentum" and it was a year that paved the upcoming success of 2008. In 2005, Robert Downey Jr. was among the all-star cast of George Clooney's Good Night, and Good Luck, a movie that got nominated for 6 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but it was Shane Black's Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang that elevate Downey Jr.'s name that year. Considered by many as an underrated movie at the time, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang enjoyed a warm reception from critics but it performed bad at the box-office, earning back its budget only. No matter what, it was the movie that put the actor back on track and it catched Jon Favreau's eye - who would cast Robert in Iron Man later.

• CAREER COMEBACK - IRON MAN (2008), TROPIC THUNDER (2008) AND SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009)

Some people say, Robert Downey Jr.'ssaince started in David Fincher's Zodiac (2007), but it is clear Downey Jr. was The Hit Actor of 2008! Some people were skeptical about Jon Favreau's Iron Man, but those people were wrong: the first movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a huge critical and box-office hit and Robert Downey Jr. received the best reviews of his career in years! A performance that could only live thanks to his charisma, Tony Stark's part seemed (and it keeps) destined to the actor. In that same year, Robert Downey Jr. played an Australian method actor (five-time Academy Award winner) who had a controversial "pigmentation alteration" surgery to darken his skin for his portrayal of a black character, Staff Sergeant Lincoln Osiris - the movie was Tropic Thunder, a comedy about the making of a movie, and it earned Robert Downey Jr. his second Academy Award nomination, this time in the Best Supporting Actor category. And when things seemed to go "just perfect", Downey Jr. stars in another smashing success: an adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, which earned $524M at the box-office against a $90M budget, it got two Academy Award nominations and it earned a Golden Globe win for Robert Downey Jr. in the Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical category - and, once again, there was Oscar talk around another of his performances, but he ended-up with no third nom.

• MCU's HIGHLIGHT - AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)

While his most celebrated turns as Tony Stark are featured in Iron Man (2008) and Iron Man 3 (2013), I must consider his turn in Avengers: Infinity War as his most impressive one because he manages to be the main figure on-screen (and as you know, Infinity War's all-star cast is "over-populated"). Only a truly charismatic actor would be able to be THE leading man of MCU's latest epic, proving he's a true movie star! Of course a Star-focused screenplay helps, but truth is Robert is able to handle it.