You probably know William Hurt best for 'Body Heat,' 'Altered States,' 'Syriana' and his appearances in the 'Avengers' series of films, but he also put in a terrific and powerful performance as Luis Molina in 1985's 'Kiss of The Spider Woman.' Although the name might make it seem like another superhero-themed role for Hurt, it's anything but.
The movie sees him play across from screen great Raul Julia in a movie that contains very few other characters. Hurt's character is a transgender woman, serving time for illicit sexual encounters, and an unlikely friendship develops between her and Julia's battle-hardened left-wing revolutionary. The friendship eventually evolves into a romance that can never be, with Hurt beguiling in his role, wholly committed to the character and making an emotional connection with the audience. This is a dark, disturbing and yet somehow inspiring film, which just wouldn't work without the greatness of Hurt's work.