Many things in life are devoid of all sense and logic that goes without saying. Alan Rickman winning both a BAFTA and Emmy but being entirely snubbed of an Oscar nod for his portrayal of Professor Snape fits neatly into that particular category.
You may know him as the psychotic criminal mastermind Hans Gruber in the 1988 action thriller Die Hard or from his Emmy award-winning performance as Grigori Rasputin in the 1996 TV miniseries Rasputin. Still, we all know him as the iconic Severus Snape, the sadistic, charming and unexpectedly heart-breaking wizarding professor in J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter stories.
Mr Rickman, Professor Snape, we salute you.
Rickman stars in all eight Potter films, displaying a performance unseen in a children’s fantasy story adaptation. A fellow of The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and Royal Shakespeare Society, Rickman’s near-perfectly executed character arc introduces us to the scheming and potentially villainous antagonist of the young Potter.
After the tussle with Harry, other students and colleagues around Hogwarts ensue, and their lives collectively end in a symbiotic relationship to defeat tyranny, Snape departs the wizarding world as the soul-wrenching, misunderstood father figure. Shrouded in the beginning as a children’s story and something of lighthearted thrills, this performance turned rather drastically into what might be the crowning jewel of an acting legacy he tragically left behind.
The Oscars don’t reflect the true talent of all film greatness each year, nor could they; the scale of films being made since the turn of the century is too vast for an awards ceremony to acknowledge. However, Rickman gave the Academy precisely what they needed, delivered neatly on a silver platter. His supporting role performance is brilliant, and the scenes he led display a masterclass in character intention, committing to the story and bold performance choices.
His Shakespearean colouring of dialogue in The Philosophers Stone, to the breath-taking display of affection and regret preceding the demise of Snape in The Deathly Hallows Part 2 are just some examples of the work Rickman excelled at with elegance and grace.
Would it be too much to suggest we look differently at the performances attached to films outside the scope of standard Oscar consideration?
Mr Rickman, Professor Snape, if impartiality and abundant nominations were a reality, you may have had the Oscar, keeping the rest of your legacy company. After re-watching a handful of Rickman performances, the world can settle with this one thought. We will never have another like him again.
Originally published at https://yendyscollective.com/professor-snape-alan-rickman/
