From the up-and-coming crime thriller miniseries "Black Rabbit" to the 2024 holiday thriller hit "The Carry-On" and, of course, the Emmy-winning "Ozark," Jason Bateman has been leaning into dramatic roles lately. Yet, I’ve always associated him with his charming smile and boyish good looks in comedies, whether it’s his brief but hilarious turn in "Up in the Air" or his unmistakable dry wit in "Arrested Development."
That’s why seeing him as Simon in Joel Edgerton’s 2012 psychological thriller "The Gift" was so fascinating. Bateman expertly blends two familiar sides of his persona: his disarming confidence with an unsettling coldness. Written, co-produced, and directed by Edgerton, "The Gift" remains one of my favorites years later, packed with rewatch value.
