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has become one of the most beloved actors of his generation. He can tackle roles that demand an abundance of personality and action, like Mad Max, to the more reserved and dramatic roles like Locke. Yet, like any actor, Hardy had to start somewhere, not just being given the instant marquee name value he has today; fans should also be thankful he never decided to commit himself to his rapping career.

In a blink-and-you-miss-it performance, Tom Hardy first appeared in the 1999 war movie , which starred . The two would come together years later in 2004's Layer Cake, but we will look at this first meeting of two fantastic actors, and if The Trench is worth watching.

A film exploring the horrors of World War I, , which would result in one million total casualties, and fatalities estimated at over 300,000. The men wait out the period of the impending battle, sharing stories, stories, and drinks. Yet, their resolve is shaken when they capture a German soldier who relays the optimism and health of his forces, a stark difference from the information intelligence had given them. The film culminates in the young soldiers, led by Sgt. Winter (Daniel Craig), heading into the unknown of the battlefield.

The Trench would get a limited theatrical release, largely falling under the radar despite the phenomenal cast, including Daniel Craig, long before he would be tapped to be James Bond, and an early performance from Cillian Murphy. The critical and fan reception was mixed, with one critic calling it "Atmospheric and uneven." On IMDb, it has a middling 5.9/10 from 4.5k viewer ratings. The movie was written and directed by William Boyd. The Trench would be the only film where he would step into the director's chair, although he has over 20 writing credits for film and TV.

Not only is Tom Hardy's appearance in The Trench brief, but he also has no lines and is given nameless credit. . The very brief appearance is not worth watching The Trench if you are there to see Hardy in his first screen appearance, but rather a fun little Easter egg to keep an eye out for.

His breakout performance, and his most underrated one, would come from 2018's Bronson, just shy of 10 years before his first appearance as an unnamed soldier in 1999's The Trench. Since then, Tom Hardy has become one of the most sought-after and recognized actors of his generation, with standout roles such as John Fitzgerald in 2015's The Revenant, for which he was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor, and bringing to life one of the most beloved action heroes in Mad Max: Fury Road.

As mentioned, if you are here because you are a fan of Tom Hardy, there is no reason to watch The Trench other than it is fun trivia and a reason to pay extra close attention to the details of the film to try to spot him. Still, The Trench is worth checking out for wartime action/drama fans. . The movie makes a strong statement, focusing on war's mental toll and horrors and less on the action, though it is not entirely bereft of some great sequences. This is built on phenomenal performances, including Daniel Craig, who gives one of the best of his career as Sgt. Winter, a war-weary leader of the young soldiers.

, with certain elements left out, such as the amount of muck and vermin within the trenches and an unauthentic use of language. The focus on the soldiers' conflicts over the war also led some to find it dull compared to more action-packed wartime movies. Whether the war movie appeals to the viewer will depend on what elements they focus on; don't forget to keep an eye out for future mega-star Tom Hardy if you do decide to watch it.

. You can also watch Tom Hardy at his best in the series MobLand, which is streaming on Paramount+.