Gary Oldman on Basketball: A Laughable Take on Athletes in Movies

Gary Oldman, the acclaimed actor known for his roles in "Dracula," "Air Force One," and "Kung Fu Panda 2," has delivered a laughable and candid video on Imgur about professional athletes crossing over into acting. In the video, Oldman likens his dedication to acting to that of a professional basketball player mastering their craft on the court. He emphasizes that just as he would never join an NBA team simply because of his fame, he wishes athletes would refrain from pursuing acting without proper training.

Oldman's comedic rant is filled with pointed humor, questioning who gave these athletes the idea that they could act. "The director on your Powerade commercial?" he quips, highlighting the stark differences between commercial work and real acting. His passionate plea is clear: "You're not actors! Some of you can't even speak English! You s***!"

The video has sparked a lively discussion among fans. One viewer humorously commented, "One day, you're at work. You go to the break room for a cup of coffee and chat with a coworker on your way there. Suddenly, someone yells 'Cut!' It turns out you were Gary Oldman all along. That's how good of an actor he is." Another highlighted the importance of spelling his name correctly in searches: "When doing a google search nothing is more important than the 'r' in Gary Oldman."

Fans also praised Oldman’s versatility, with one noting, "He’s so fantastic in everything he does. If you haven’t seen Slow Horses yet, check it out." Another comment pointed out, "See how I did that? Classic Gary."

Some users drew parallels to other entertainment crossovers, such as professional wrestlers. One commenter stated, "The only exception I think would be professional wrestlers. They have to do live performances, while getting hit, doing their own stunts, and not break character or forget their lines. They get a bad rap though, because most directors pigeonhole them into 'big, dumb man must protect tiny, smart children' roles, or action movies, but if you let them actually act (John Cena, Bautista), those dudes have chops."

The video has also reminded fans of Oldman's iconic roles, with comments like, "All I see is commissioner Gordon," and "the.best.actor.EVER....and I'll fight you on that."

For those curious about Oldman's role in "Kung Fu Panda 2," one user humorously asked, "Who was he in Kung Fu Panda tho?" The discussion even veered into nostalgic territory with memories of EA's NBA2K15 campaign mode, where real players voiced themselves, leading to some awkward performances.

Overall, Gary Oldman’s comedic take on athletes in movies has not only entertained but also sparked a thoughtful dialogue on the skills required for acting. As one user humorously concluded, "Some day the ball will realize that it was Gary Oldman."