The Big Picture
- Painkiller on Netflix showcases powerhouse performances from Uzo Aduba, Taylor Kitsch, and Matthew Broderick, demonstrating their unmatched acting skills.
- Matthew Broderick’s portrayal of Richard Sackler, the former President of Purdue Pharma in Painkiller, brings depth and complexity to a polarizing character.
- Director Peter Berg believes that Broderick’s charm and aloofness allowed him to tap into different aspects of himself, resulting in a performance that goes beyond a simple depiction of a villainous character.
Netflix’s latest true-story-based series, Painkiller, is filled with exceptional performances from renowned actors. Uzo Aduba, known for her role in Orange is the New Black, delivers a powerful portrayal of Edie Flowers, an attorney determined to take down Purdue Pharma. Taylor Kitsch, famous for his role in Friday Night Lights, portrays Glen, a mechanic whose life is turned upside down after a life-altering back injury. However, the standout performance comes from Matthew Broderick, who plays Richard Sackler, the ex-President and former board member of Purdue Pharma.
While Broderick is known for his lighter roles in movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Producers, his portrayal of Richard Sackler in Painkiller showcases his depth as an actor. In an interview with Collider, director Peter Berg discussed why Broderick was the perfect choice for the role.
“Unless you’re a stone cold psychopath, you figure out a way of making sense of anything you do and of your behaviors, even if, to anyone on the outside, they’re really bad,” Berg said about Richard Sackler. He explained that Broderick approached the character by dissecting Sackler’s mindset and his belief that he was doing something good. Sackler saw himself as giving people their lives back, even though they became addicted to OxyContin. Berg also mentioned that Broderick’s likability and charm allowed him to portray Sackler as more than just a villain, but as an eccentric character with unique traits.