For every big actor, superhero movie fans are counting down the months before they wind up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's ever-expanding stable. Once one makes it into this pop-culture empire, it puts the rest of their oeuvre into an interesting new light.
Moon Knight is here, and while opinions are mixed, Ethan Hawke's performance as Arthur Harrow seems to be one of the stronger elements of the new show. Marvel has caught a lot of heat for its villains over the years, but people seem to like Hawke's spiritual cult leader sorcerer. Hawke has made no secret of the inspiration behind his performance, but earlier roles have seen him portray iconic real-life figures more directly.
The Good Lord Bird premiered in 2020 on Showtime. Created and executive produced by Hawke and novelist Mark Richard, the series was based on James McBride's 2013 novel of the same name. Jason Blum of Blumhouse holds an executive producer credit as well, deviating from his usual output of horror films to help create this historical drama. The series was extremely well-received by most, holding a whopping 98% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes. The series also took home a Primetime Emmy, while Hawke pulled in a Gotham Award and a Satellite Award. While its run was brief, the show made a substantial impact on critics and audiences.
The Good Lord Bird is a slightly dramatized version of the Bleeding Kansas period of the antebellum south. Fictional slave boy Henry Shackleford finds himself swept along by the tides of change far beyond his desire to interact as his world comes down around him, and is dragged into a ragtag band of violent abolitionists who seek to free the slaves by any means necessary. Along the way, he's confused for a girl through a brief misunderstanding that forces him to hide and do what he must in order to seek survival. Henry is just one of the countless men, women, boys, and girls who are brought into the fight for justice by the world-changing crusade of a man named John Brown.
John Brown is one of those historical figures that simply does not get enough recognition in the textbooks. Ethan Hawke evidently sought to rectify that matter with this series, and he does a stellar job. Hawke's performance as the larger-than-life warrior who believed he was compelled by God to free the slaves through a campaign of bloody violence is the centerpiece of the series. He is excellent in the role, lending an underrepresented figure both the mythic power and human fallibility he deserves. There are reasonable concerns with the historical accuracy of the piece, but as a character in a narrative, Hawke's portrayal of John Brown is flawless. Every moment the character takes to the screen, he dominates it, much like the man was said to dominate every conversation. From sitting around the fire to the series many dynamic gun battles, Hawke brings an incredible amount of passion to the role and drags the history to life with spectacle.
The series' timeline takes its audience through most of the key moments of John Brown's journey, including its bitter end. Much of the run is guided towards the fateful 1859 Raid on the Federal Armory at Harper's Ferry. The Pottawatomie Massacre, the battle at Osawatomie, and the long preparation for the final raid are key parts of the series. The show depicts figures like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman just as brilliantly as it does John Brown. Everyone is still human, even as they're astonishingly brave and noble heroes and crucial figures of history. The series is careful to avoid the "one great man" version of history, while still giving the .44 caliber abolitionist his due. Brown is iconic, powerful, and important, but the series is constantly depicting the larger trends and forces that actually enforce change.
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Ethan Hawke is a performer with an enormous catalog, but The Good Lord Bird is an underrated masterwork of his career. There's clearly a ton of passion behind the performance, and the show in general. Historical biopics have mostly trended towards the World War II era, so digging into a realistic take on the western genre, and a less savory era of American history, is unique and interesting. Not enough people saw The Good Lord Bird, but it's the perfect show for anyone fascinated by American history or the Civil War. Whether it's a beautifully executed historical drama or big-budget MCU action, Ethan Hawke brings something special to the performance.
Hawke was drawn to Arthur Harrow because he represented a chance to play some of the most challenging figures of all time. He was drawn to John Brown because he was a historical legend who hasn't gotten all the credit he deserves. Fans will have to wait and see which historical figures and fictional beings he'll bring life to next.