Whether he’s web-slinging in the Marvel Cinematic Universe or battling evil inner demons in cherry And Devil all the time, Tom Holland constantly reminds us that he is one of the best young actors in the business. With the release of his latest project Apple TV+ Crowded room in which he also acted as producer, the British star continues to diversify his repertoire and show off his extensive range. However, while Holland has an impressive resume as an outstanding lead actor, Holland’s first feature film role was as 12-year-old Lucas in the 2012 film Impossible still stands out as perhaps his finest work.
Tom Holland’s film debut is based on a true story
Impossible based on the true story of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and focused on the survival of the Bennett family, a representation of the real Belon Alvarez a family that, against all odds, survived a deadly natural disaster. Tom Holland plays Lucas, the eldest of Mary (Naomi Watts) and Henry (Ewan McGregor) three little sons. A family is on their Christmas vacation in Thailand when they get stuck in the devastation of a massive tsunami. Impossible follows their struggle to survive and return to each other after an unimaginable tragedy.
At the beginning of the film, Lucas is a typical surly teenager who is annoyed by his younger brothers’ antics and sulks that his mother won’t let him drink soda. However, Lucas clearly loves his family, and Holland quickly sheds her sullen face to goof off with her brothers and enjoy her vacation. Impossible even allows young Holland to show off his Spider-Man-level gymnastic skills while Lucas merrily rolls around on the beach on Christmas morning.
However, the real hard work comes shortly after the tsunami hits on Boxing Day. Lucas and his brothers play in the resort’s pool surrounded by other kids, turning a pleasant image into a terrifying one as we realize what’s about to happen. As the air around them swells and the wildlife leaves the scene, the hotel guests freeze and the Earth begins to tremble. Lucas calls out to his father in horror as a giant wave approaches and immediately wipes out the entire resort. In one particularly quick but powerful moment, Lucas dives into the pool to avoid the wreckage, and Holland makes us truly believe in his horror as he spins and screams underwater. The idyllic landscape collapses in a matter of seconds, and after a while, Maria and Lucas emerge from the water and struggle to reach each other under the relentless onslaught of waves and debris.
Tom Holland was only 14 years old when he made The Impossible
Watts and Holland showcase some of their most impressive and heartbreaking work to date as mother and son sob in horror and scream at each other, unsure if they will reunite in time. Throughout the rest of ImpossibleHolland continues to hold his own against Watts (even in what is arguably one of Naomi Watts’ finest performances) as he transforms from a normal kid into a man hardened by severe trauma determined to keep his mother alive. Once the locals rescue them and take them to the hospital, Lucas watches as his mother clings to life, completely distraught but still determined to help the other survivors reunite with their families until he is miraculously reunited with his own. Shot of a sobbing Lucas clinging to his younger brothers (Samuel Joslin And Oakley Pendergast) as the music ramps up may be the most emotional scene in the entire film, and Holland’s flood of relief and joy as the day’s trauma washed over him is one of the film’s most powerful moments.
Holland revealed in an interview that filming the tsunami scene was (unsurprisingly) very physically demanding and that acting came naturally at times as he was genuinely afraid and could use his surroundings to influence his performance. Regardless, no one can deny that in struggling to stay afloat and angrily venting his fear on his mother, Holland delivers a level of acting that many adult actors would envy. What makes this even more impressive is that Tom Holland was only 14 years old when Impossible was shot.
The Impossible director liked Holland’s work in Billy Elliot: The Musical.
At the age of 13, already an experienced artist on stage, breaking away from success Billy Elliot: The MusicalHolland was looking for Impossible director J. A. Bayona, who saw an interview with Holland on YouTube and was impressed with the young actor. Bayona traveled to London to meet him and, according to Holland, for 6 or 7 weeks he was in Spain filming the big wave scene in the film. In 2013, Holland told Hollywood Reporter that he struggled to move from stage to screen, having come straight from London’s West End with no experience on camera. While the relationships he built with the cast and crew on Impossible were similar to those he did in the theatre, acting in front of the cameras rather than in front of a live audience was an adaptation for the young star. Apparently, Holland caught on quickly, as his performance won him a Young Artist Award, as well as numerous other awards.
Since his high-profile performance in Impossible, Tom Holland has starred in a variety of projects, from tense dark thrillers to more upbeat Spider-Man films, and always delivers an amazing performance. What was especially important about his first role, however, was that even at such a young age, Holland understood the significance of the story he was telling and knew that he had a responsibility to tell it honestly. Holland’s performance as Lucas in Impossible might put him on the map as a teenage star to watch, but it also showed the teen’s capacity for empathy and humility, which will no doubt continue to serve him as he dedicates himself to more emotionally demanding projects with complex protagonists. Even at the age of 14, Tom Holland has shown us that he already has a full acting toolkit teeming with limitless potential, and we’re happy to report that in his ten years on the big screen, the beloved Brit has clearly not lost his flair.
Source: Collider
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