Why 'Behemoth!' Could Be His Breakthrough

Key Points:

• Pedro Pascal stars in "Behemoth!," Tony Gilroy's first feature since 2012, delivering a deeply internalized performance as Alex Serian, a former child prodigy cellist returning to Los Angeles after 20 years.
• The film uses flashbacks triggered by film score cues to explore Alex's past, with Pascal conveying emotion through subtle facial expressions and body language, earning comparisons to Jude Law’s reserved Oscar-nominated role in "Cold Mountain."
• Olivia Wilde co-stars with a compelling performance as Alex's obsessive ex, adding intensity to the film, which also features a unique soundtrack scored by nine renowned composers, highlighting the Los Angeles studio music community.
• "Behemoth!" serves as a tribute to the disappearing scoring community and challenges Academy rules on awarding multiple composers, while addressing themes of love, entitlement, and personal damage through Gilroy’s screenplay.
• The film premiered during Hispanic Heritage Month, marking a significant moment for Latino representation in Oscar contention, with Pascal potentially joining a select group of Latino actors recognized by the Academy, alongside hopefuls like John Leguizamo.