Rising star Lakeith Stanfield recently starred as “L” in the Netflix adaptation of Manga Death Note. While the film itself was a bit of a mess, with an unsure tone and horrific pacing, Stanfield stood head and shoulders above his co-stars (perhaps with the exception of Willem Dafoe). Stanfield had miniscule parts in both Dope and Get Out. With hardly any dialogue in both of these films, Stanfield is capable of conveying so much. Certain actors, like Keanu Reeves and Clint Eastwood in his earlier work, are masters of silent conveyance. They let their facial expressions and mannerisms act for them. However, these performers tend to struggle when faced with dialogue-heavy scenes. Writers like Aaron Sorkin mix with these talents as well as oil does water. Stanfield, however, has proven that he can rip dialogue off of the page and force an audience to forget that one “Lakeith Stanfield” even exists. He becomes his character.
In 2013, Stanfield had a role in the sub-million-dollar budget indie, Short Term 12. Short Term 12 focuses on a foster care facility that cares for at-risk teens, and dissects the relationship between the caregivers and those being cared for. The film stood out as a gem of modern cinema, being described by critic Ian Freer of Empire as “a miracle of a movie.” And Freer is right. This film is quiet, subdued, and relies on writing and performances over digital effects and big-name talent. That is not to say that the film lacks stars, however. The cast includes Brie Larson (Disney’s upcoming Captain Marvel film), John Gallagher Jr. (The Newsroom), and Rami Malek (Mr. Robot).
This is where our titular talent comes in. Amidst all of this talent, he manages to stand head and shoulders above his co-stars. Not because he has a large role, or a dramatic speech in the film. He shines because he is absolutely authentic. His character, Marcus, is one that without many scenes becomes one of the most well-developed characters in the entire film. Marcus is introduced as a longtime tenant of the foster care system, now just one week away from turning eighteen. This means that in one week, he will be forced to leave his only known home and attempt to integrate into society. This creates a character hiding emotional turmoil and self-doubt behind a façade of toughness and intimidation. As an audience, we understand his pain, long for his well-being, and revel in his accomplishments. All of this, with only a few minutes of total screen time. In this limited role, his quiet performance elicits thunderous emotion. It is one of the absolutely most underrated performances in recent memory.
And while Death Note may have had a middling script and a rushed plotline to boot, Stanfield must not be held accountable for its failure. He is one of the brightest young stars working today. Hollywood, I beg you, do not overlook this man. He is among the next breed of Hollywood Heavyweights.
*Edit* I would be remiss not to mention the now Emmy-winning show Atlanta, starring Lakeith Stanfield, Donald Glover, and Bryan Tyree Henry. It is absolutely unique and utterly watchable, and I would definitely recommend you check it out. Here’s to many more seasons boys!
The Fan Men 