Jason Schwartzman is a very accomplished actor who has had a long and successful career. He first came on the scene after his brilliant comedic performance in Wes Anderson's Rushmore. Schwartzman is known for his comedic performances, but he can also handle drama. He has worked with several prominent directors, and he also has some very exciting projects coming up including Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis. At the same time, Schwartzman is a very accomplished musician. He has released songs under his own project, Coconut Records and was the drummer in the band, Phantom Planet.
Schwartzman was born into Hollywood royalty, being a member of the Coppola family. His career started with Rushmore and a guest spot on the acclaimed series, Freaks and Geeks. Schwartzman proved his talents as an actor, and he has worked steadily since. He is known for working with Anderson, appearing in several of his films. At the same time, he has worked on successful television series including Bored to Death and Fargo. Since he is known for his unique humor, let's dive into his best comedic performances, ranked.
6 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
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Although Schwartzman has a supporting role in Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, he is an absolute scene-stealer. He plays Gideon "G-Man" Graves, one of Scott Pilgrim's (Michael Cera) enemies, whom he must destroy. Schwartzman brings passion and fury to his role. He creates a character that seems almost animated. At the same time, he has great physicality in his scenes. Schwartzman was the perfect choice for the role. Playing a character that is so over the top and animated is no easy task, but Schwartzman absolutely delivered the goods. At the same time, he proved that he can play an effective villain.
5 Funny People
In Funny People, Schwartzman proved, once again, that he can steal the show in a supporting role. He plays Mark Taylor Jackson, an aspiring actor who lands a major part on a sitcom. He completely embodies the persona of a self-involved actor, and he delivers several great comedic moments. His character gives off the impression that he cares about his fellow actor friends, when in reality, all he really cares about is himself. His performance is very subtle, yet honest and effective. Some of the best scenes of the movie is when we see him acting on his silly sitcom entitled Yo Teach. His chemistry with Jonah Hill and Seth Rogan was top-notch.
4 Bored to Death
Schwartzman gave everything he had in the HBO series Bored to Death. He plays a writer named Jonathan Ames, who works as a private investigator in his spare time. It is a hilarious take on detective stories, and Schwartzman proved that he is perfectly capable of leading a television series. He acted opposite Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis, and their chemistry was fantastic. Schwartzman's acting technique worked perfectly for the series, and Bored to Death received a lot of critical acclaim. The show was almost adapted into a feature film, proving the effectiveness of the story and performances. Unfortunately, the project never came to fruition.
3 The Grand Budapest Hotel
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It is no surprise that Schwartzman landed a supporting role in Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel. The film proved, once again, that Anderson and Schwartzman work brilliantly together. Schwartzman plays M. Jean, who is the concierge at the Grand Budapest in the late-1960s. He is an absolute scene stealer who had great chemistry with the rest of the cast. His character is humorous while also being filled with class and sophistication.
2 The Overnight
The Overnight is a hilarious comedy that follows two very different couples over the course of one wild night. Schwartzman plays Kurt, a very open-minded and strange man, who introduces the other couple, played by Adam Scott and Taylor Schilling, to drugs, sex, and self-expression. What Schwartzman does, which is so brilliant, is that he creates a character with layers and secrets. Throughout the film, you never really know what his intentions are. At the same time, he embodies the persona of a pseudo-intellectual and modern parent.
1 Rushmore
Schwartzman gives an amazing breakthrough performance in Anderson's classic film Rushmore. He plays Max Fischer, an academically challenged student at Rushmore Academy who is obsessed with extracurricular activities. Schwartzman brings so much to his character and is absolutely hilarious from beginning to end. He takes a 15-year-old character and adds sophistication and maturity. His chemistry with Bill Murray and the rest of the cast was absolutely fantastic.