However, Stuart: A Life Backwards was about to illustrate just what a special talent he is as a performer. This 90-minute co-production between the BBC and HBO takes the tragically troubled real-life story of Stuart Shorter and turns it into a sweet, funny and moving drama which gives Hardy the platform to put on a masterclass of character acting.
Though there may be better movies on HBO Max right now, few will bring a smile to your face or a tear to your eye as easily as Stuart: A Life Backwards. The relationship between its title character and his biographer, Alexander Masters, is incredibly touching, and his extraordinary capacity for self-awareness makes the movie a uniquely enthralling portrait.
Two decades on from playing Stuart Shorter, Tom Hardy is widely celebrated as an actor capable of completely transforming himself into whoever he’s playing, both physically and psychologically. We first saw his exceptional range on display in this TV feature film, which should be recognized among the movies that have defined Hardy’s career.
Stuart: A Life Backwards Is A Forgotten Masterpiece On HBO
Stuart: A Life Backwards is an underrated HBO original movie which ought to be regarded as a modern classic of social realism. It draws on the true story of Stuart Shorter’s life as a homeless person and campaigner, who was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and developed borderline personality disorder at a young age.
Alongside Tom Hardy in the title role, Benedict Cumberbatch plays his foil, Alexander Masters, the biographer who wrote the book on which this movie is based. Shorter’s life was a harrowing tale of both sexual and physical abuse, and extreme hardship from start to finish.
Stuart Shorter was born in an abandoned house in Cambridge on September 19, 1968, and died in the nearby village of Waterbeach on July 6, 2002, aged 33, when he was hit by a train. He was survived by his son, known as the Little’Un.
Yet, far from simply a grim, relentless tragic watch, Stuart: A Life Backwards is full of verve and insight. Hardy doesn’t allow us to pity his character without relating to him, or turn away from his more troubling actions. He makes us laugh and cry with Stuart, and celebrate the best of the person he was.
In addition to Hardy’s quite brilliant performance as Shorter, the movie’s handheld camerawork and gently probing dialogue give it the feel of a classic Ken Loach teleplay. HBO should be prouder of this inimitable work of art than they are, as Stuart: A Life Backwards is a must-watch on their streaming platform.
Tom Hardy Gives One Of His Best Performances As Stuart Shorter
In conversations around Tom Hardy’s best TV performances, Stuart: A Life Backwards is too often completely overlooked. But while playing Alfie Solomons in Peaky Blinders and James Delaney in Taboo might have garnered him more attention, neither of these roles were the stretch for Hardy that Stuart Shorter must have been.
The actor’s physical transformation into someone suffering from a debilitating muscular condition that affects everything from his gait to his speech is staggeringly authentic. What’s more, Hardy deftly provides moments of comic relief with his mannerisms while portraying Shorter’s difficulties doing everyday things, and his clever turns of phrase when Shorter is speaking.
He somehow manages to make us laugh with the character, providing some much-needed levity amid this stark depiction of an incredibly hard life. The performance is deftly executed and clearly born out of immense compassion for its subject. As a result, Stuart: A Life Backwards should still be considered the reference point for the full extent of Tom Hardy’s talent.
For fans of the actor, this movie is a must-watch, even though it’s been buried beneath a variety of higher-profile roles since its release. Stuart: A Life Backwards is Tom Hardy at his best, and also gives us an early indication of Benedict Cumberbatch’s rising star.
- Release Date
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September 23, 2007
- Directors
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David Attwood