On July 6, 2022, James Caan died and the world lost an actor whose presence on screen was not only memorable, but interesting, at-times frightening, intimidating, powerful, and sensitive - a combination that not all can achieve.
In addition, James Caan was fortunate enough to have a career that any actor would be envious of, lasting seven decades. He was successful early thanks to his roles in Brian's Song and The Godfather, the latter of which granted him the power of choice. He turned down leading roles in The French Connection, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Kramer vs. Kramer.
As many reflective pieces have noted since his passing, his choice of roles was unique as well. He never shied away from breaking against expectations. He had plenty of roles in comedies and musicals as well. Caan told CBS News that “the fun of being an actor is being someone else for three months.”
One thing is certain, James Caan gave performances worth remembering for generations to come.
6 Rollerball (1975)
While the film itself may not be as memorable to younger audiences, it received mostly positive reviews, and offered a take on a future in which corporate overlords carried more weight and power than any government could. Set in 2018 (which was 43 years into the future at the time), the game of Rollerball is a violent gladiator-esque sport that sees James Caan’s character of Jonathan E. as the aging legend. Caan’s performance, like many of his others, relies on his facial cues and reactions to tell the story. A standout scene during the Tokyo game is a great example. For minutes on screen, Caan doesn’t say a word, but his face and actions say it all. The film feels aged today, but Caan’s performance was well-received, and let’s face it, Caan showed more athleticism and excitement on a pair of rollerskates than most could.
5 Thief (1981)
Michael’s Mann’s directorial debut, Thief, gets lost in the shuffle of his incredible filmography. It’s a remarkable film, as is Caan’s performance in it. Robert Ebert gave Caan, and the entire cast, a glowing review. “Every important performance in this movie successfully creates a plausible person, instead of the stock-company supporting characters we might have expected.” Mann fans love Thief, and it is a neo-noir that holds up well still. It established elements that would be replicated later in Mann’s crowning achievement, Heat. Caan’s performance had so many pieces of his previous work, but showcased his charisma, and his now-classic tough-guy persona. His memorable monologue in a coffee shop was Caan’s favorite on-screen performance of his career.
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4 Elf (2003)
Caan had shown range for decades, including some comedic roles in films like Silent Movie, Honeymoon in Vegas, and Mickey Blue Eyes. But, Elf presented Caan with an opportunity unlike any other so far - a comedic children’s movie. Elf has since become a holiday staple, an annual viewing event for millions of people. Caan’s performance in it is fantastic. He is a workaholic, somewhat absent father, and all-around grumbly person - but he isn’t a bad guy; he's simply flawed, with mixed-up priorities. It gives him the chance for growth, showing a range of his personality, and playing the straight guy to Will Ferrell’s comedic Buddy. He’s a loving father who, when given the chance, makes the right choices and embraces his Christmas spirit.
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3 Brian’s Song (1970)
Many have argued that this is the greatest TV movie of all time. It was a groundbreaking story at the time, challenging conceptions of black and white friendship, and made grown men cry. It also launched his career into another stage of fame. Telling the true story of Brian Piccolo, a halfback for the Chicago Bears, who died at 26 from a rare form a cancer; it was a nuanced and important performance by Caan. Audiences were captivated by his, and co-star Billy Dee Williams performances, and 36 million people watched it. Since 1970, Caan was approached by people telling them how much they loved this movie, and how much it made them cry. It tells a lot about how effective Caan was, and how well received the movie was.
2 Misery (1990)
Stephen King’s book Misery is one of his best, and most acclaimed. A look into the challenges he felt as a writer; it was as introspective, as it was frightening for readers. The adaptation, starring Caan as novelist Paul Sheldon, finds him rescued from a car accident, and subsequently held captive by his savior, Annie Wilkes. Wilkes, an obsessive fan (and serial killer), played by Kathy Bates (who won an Oscar for this role), is a terrifying counterpart to the trapped Sheldon. Caan is stirring in this movie, and he does a good job at having to play counterbalance to the unbalance of Annie.
When Annie loses her temper over her criticism of Sheldon’s cursing in his new novel, Caan barely speaks, smiling weakly, but you can see in his eyes the fear and panic knowing he’s in deep trouble. It’s a slow burn of a movie with enough hints of his minor manipulations to appease Annie, to keep his life safe and figure out how to escape. It’s an extremely physical performance, and again, relied heavily on Caan’s ability to transform his emotions through his face.
1 The Godfather (1972)
It’s hard to beat what is arguably the greatest movie ever made, and one of the greatest stories ever told on screen. Caan is most remembered for his role as Sonny Corleone, and who can argue with it? Each member of the Corleone family fits an archetype, and Sonny was the violent and hotheaded leader of them. Eager to please his father, eager to lead the family business, and eager to kill just about anyone, Sonny was never destined to succeed. Caan earned his only Academy Award nomination for this film, and he played each scene so memorably that his anger jumped off the screen. There was no calculation to his motives and actions; it was all emotion - he was all in. Caan expertly portrayed this rash character, through improvised examples like attacking the photographer at the wedding and tossing cash at his feet. As the world pays tribute to Caan and his legacy, it is this role, and this film in particular that will be tied to him forever.