True story: All four acting Oscars went to performers who played fictional characters, marking the first time in six years that’s happened. This was helped by “Everything Everywhere All at Once” producing three winners: Best Actress for Michelle Yeoh, Best Supporting Actor for Ke Huy Quan and Best Supporting Actress for Jamie Lee Curtis. And another A24 film, “The Whale” won Best Actor for Brendan Fraser.
The last quartet of Oscar winners who played fake people were Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”), Emma Stone (“La La Land”), Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”) and Viola Davis (“Fences”). Prior to that, you have to go back to the class of 1997, which featured “As Good as It Gets” leads Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt triumphing alongside Kim Basinger (“L.A. Confidential”) and Robin Williams (“Good Will Hunting”).
See Full list of Oscar winners
Playing a real person, especially a very famous real person,...
The last quartet of Oscar winners who played fake people were Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”), Emma Stone (“La La Land”), Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”) and Viola Davis (“Fences”). Prior to that, you have to go back to the class of 1997, which featured “As Good as It Gets” leads Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt triumphing alongside Kim Basinger (“L.A. Confidential”) and Robin Williams (“Good Will Hunting”).
See Full list of Oscar winners
Playing a real person, especially a very famous real person,...
- 3/13/2023
- by Joyce Eng
- Gold Derby
On the JoBlo Movies YouTube channel, we will be posting one full movie every day of the week, giving viewers the chance to watch them entirely free of charge. Today’s Free Movie of the Day is the 2008 comedy The Deal, starring William H. Macy and Meg Ryan. You can watch it over on the YouTube channel linked above, or you can just watch it in the embed at the top of this article.
Based on a novel by Peter Lecourt, The Deal was directed by Steven Schachter, who also wrote the screenplay with Macy. The film has the following synopsis: A down-and-out film producer agrees to make his nephew’s film about 19th century English statesman Benjamin Disraeli, but can only get financing if he casts a well-known action star. Production is halted however, when the lead actor is kidnapped, so the producer hatches a scheme with a struggling...
Based on a novel by Peter Lecourt, The Deal was directed by Steven Schachter, who also wrote the screenplay with Macy. The film has the following synopsis: A down-and-out film producer agrees to make his nephew’s film about 19th century English statesman Benjamin Disraeli, but can only get financing if he casts a well-known action star. Production is halted however, when the lead actor is kidnapped, so the producer hatches a scheme with a struggling...
- 2/24/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
When Daniel Kaluuya won the 2021 Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as Fred Hampton in “Judas and the Black Messiah,” he became the 77th performer to be honored for a portrayal of a real person. There has been at least one such case across the four acting categories in 19 of the last 20 years, with the 2017 quartet being the last to all win for playing fictional characters. This year, there are nine nominees with the potential to continue the trend, including two whose real-life counterparts are still living.
In Oscar history, it is most common for a win of this kind to come in the Best Actor category. In the nine decades since George Arliss prevailed here for playing Benjamin Disraeli in “Disraeli” (1930), 27 more lead male champs have followed, and they now account for 30% of all victories in the category. The six who have triumphed in the last decade alone...
In Oscar history, it is most common for a win of this kind to come in the Best Actor category. In the nine decades since George Arliss prevailed here for playing Benjamin Disraeli in “Disraeli” (1930), 27 more lead male champs have followed, and they now account for 30% of all victories in the category. The six who have triumphed in the last decade alone...
- 3/15/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Sir Antony Sher, the acclaimed UK theater actor who also starred in Shakespeare In Love and Mrs Brown, has died. He was 72.
The Royal Shakespeare Company tweeted earlier Friday that Sher had died of cancer. Sher’s husband Gregory Doran, the RSC’s artistic director, has been taking compassionate leave since September to care for him.
RSC executive director Catherine Mallyon and acting artistic director Erica Whyman hailed Sher’s “hugely celebrated career on stage and screen,” as tributes flooded in for the actor.
“Anthony was deeply loved and hugely admired by so many colleagues,” said Mallyon and Whyman. “He was a groundbreaking role model for many young actors, and it is impossible to comprehend that he is no longer with us. We will ensure friends far and wide have the chance to share tributes and memories in the days to come.”
Sher had a long association with the RSC...
The Royal Shakespeare Company tweeted earlier Friday that Sher had died of cancer. Sher’s husband Gregory Doran, the RSC’s artistic director, has been taking compassionate leave since September to care for him.
RSC executive director Catherine Mallyon and acting artistic director Erica Whyman hailed Sher’s “hugely celebrated career on stage and screen,” as tributes flooded in for the actor.
“Anthony was deeply loved and hugely admired by so many colleagues,” said Mallyon and Whyman. “He was a groundbreaking role model for many young actors, and it is impossible to comprehend that he is no longer with us. We will ensure friends far and wide have the chance to share tributes and memories in the days to come.”
Sher had a long association with the RSC...
- 12/3/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar voters have proven over and over that they love actors who portray historic people. Maybe it’s because they can make easy comparisons. Or maybe it’s because they are often heroic figures. Whatever the reason, it’s been happening since the very beginning. Tour our photo gallery of every single man who has won the Best Actor category at the Academy Awards for playing a true life character.
The very first person to win the illustrious prize for stepping into a real person’s shoes was George Arliss, who portrayed former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in the biopic “Disraeli” (1929). Arliss was only the third Best Actor winner in history, and in those early days of the Oscars, Academy rules allowed performers to be nominated for more than one film in the same category. This allowed the actor to contend for his role as the Raja in “The Green Goddess” as well.
The very first person to win the illustrious prize for stepping into a real person’s shoes was George Arliss, who portrayed former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in the biopic “Disraeli” (1929). Arliss was only the third Best Actor winner in history, and in those early days of the Oscars, Academy rules allowed performers to be nominated for more than one film in the same category. This allowed the actor to contend for his role as the Raja in “The Green Goddess” as well.
- 1/31/2020
- by Zach Laws
- Gold Derby
When it comes to holiday movies that will rip your heart out, rip it into a thousand pieces, then put it back together and somehow leave you with a restored faith in humanity, Love Actually is one of the best. By now, you’re familiar with lots of trivia from the cult classic — yes, the opening scene in the airport features real people; yes, that is actually Olivia Olson belting “All I Want for Christmas Is You” — so we combed every corner of the Internet to find 15 more things you need to know. Read it, re-watch Love Actually for the thousandth time,...
- 12/22/2017
- by Maggie Malach
- PEOPLE.com
Written by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld | Art by Joshua Cassara | Published by Titan Comics
I missed the first issue of this series, so will have to try and read that at some point, but the first thing that struck me about this series was the fact it was being written by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Yes, That Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Turns out the former basketball superstar is also an actor, award winning writer and a Us cultural ambassador…and a writer of comic books featuring Sherlock Holmes more intelligent brother Mycroft. Apparently Kareem is a bit of a Sherlock fan, and has co-wrote a Sherlock prose novel too. Who says comics aren’t educational, I just learnt a whole lot I never knew. But I digress.
To those not up on their Sherlock Holmes background, Mycroft Holmes is Sherlock’s even more intelligent older brother. The two of them have something of a love/ hate relationship,...
I missed the first issue of this series, so will have to try and read that at some point, but the first thing that struck me about this series was the fact it was being written by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Yes, That Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Turns out the former basketball superstar is also an actor, award winning writer and a Us cultural ambassador…and a writer of comic books featuring Sherlock Holmes more intelligent brother Mycroft. Apparently Kareem is a bit of a Sherlock fan, and has co-wrote a Sherlock prose novel too. Who says comics aren’t educational, I just learnt a whole lot I never knew. But I digress.
To those not up on their Sherlock Holmes background, Mycroft Holmes is Sherlock’s even more intelligent older brother. The two of them have something of a love/ hate relationship,...
- 9/30/2016
- by Dean Fuller
- Nerdly
James Ricketson.
.
Australian director, James Ricketson, has written an open letter to If on recent moves by Austrailan screen funding bodies and guilds to address the issue of gender diversity in the screen sector. It follows Australian actor Simone Ball's open letter on the subject of gender equity.
Read Simone's letter here
.
.Screen Australia is considering a radical push for a quota to ensure 50 per cent of the directors of funded films are women..
.- Sydney Morning Herald
.
Would such a quota result in better Australian films?
."It's ridiculous," says Gill Armstrong. "It's been 30 years since Jane Campion and I went through a glass ceiling and I feel there haven't been enough people following us."
Did Gill or Jane (Jocelyn Moorhouse should be on this list) rise to and break through the .glass ceiling. as a result of quotas or because they were talented directors?
A question worthy of discussion,...
.
Australian director, James Ricketson, has written an open letter to If on recent moves by Austrailan screen funding bodies and guilds to address the issue of gender diversity in the screen sector. It follows Australian actor Simone Ball's open letter on the subject of gender equity.
Read Simone's letter here
.
.Screen Australia is considering a radical push for a quota to ensure 50 per cent of the directors of funded films are women..
.- Sydney Morning Herald
.
Would such a quota result in better Australian films?
."It's ridiculous," says Gill Armstrong. "It's been 30 years since Jane Campion and I went through a glass ceiling and I feel there haven't been enough people following us."
Did Gill or Jane (Jocelyn Moorhouse should be on this list) rise to and break through the .glass ceiling. as a result of quotas or because they were talented directors?
A question worthy of discussion,...
- 2/21/2016
- by James Ricketson
- IF.com.au
Emi Films
Sure, everybody’s mother taught them that if you don’t have anything nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all. But where’s the fun in that? Here’s the secret of the universe: mean is always more memorable than nice.
You probably don’t remember every person who has complimented your hair or sense of humour, but you’ll go to your grave still knowing the name of that kid who was a jerk to you when you were in the seventh grade.
Similarly, there aren’t too many people out there cataloging all the times movie characters were kind to each other. Viewers are interested in the outrageously nasty, cruel comments characters make, living vicariously through those fictional people who are able to say the things that everyone wishes they could get away with.
Imagine how great your comebacks would be if you...
Sure, everybody’s mother taught them that if you don’t have anything nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all. But where’s the fun in that? Here’s the secret of the universe: mean is always more memorable than nice.
You probably don’t remember every person who has complimented your hair or sense of humour, but you’ll go to your grave still knowing the name of that kid who was a jerk to you when you were in the seventh grade.
Similarly, there aren’t too many people out there cataloging all the times movie characters were kind to each other. Viewers are interested in the outrageously nasty, cruel comments characters make, living vicariously through those fictional people who are able to say the things that everyone wishes they could get away with.
Imagine how great your comebacks would be if you...
- 2/2/2015
- by Audrey Fox
- Obsessed with Film
Playing real-life people has always been a way to win Oscars. Indeed, the third-ever Best Actor award went to George Arliss for his portrayal of Victorian Pm Benjamin Disraeli in "Disraeli" back in 1929. This year, another Brit, Eddie Redmayne, could be a contender for his performance as famed physicist Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything." -Break- It is never too early to dish the Oscars Join the red-hot debate in our fiery forums right now The fiilm follows the love affair between Hawking and Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones) from the time they meet as students at Cambridge and marry, through his diagnosis with Als at age 21 and in their years together afterwards. James Marsh, who won an Oscar in 2008 for his documentary "Man on Wire" about aerialist Philippe Petit helms, while Anthony McCarten adapted Wilde's memoir "Traveling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen." The ...'...
- 8/6/2014
- Gold Derby
Stage and screen actor who excelled in playing authority figures and appeared in TV shows such as Brookside and Lovejoy
Malcolm Tierney, who has died aged 75 of pulmonary fibrosis, was a reliable and versatile supporting actor for 50 years, familiar to television audiences as the cigar-smoking, bullying villain Tommy McArdle in Brookside, nasty Charlie Gimbert in Lovejoy and smoothie Geoffrey Ellsworth-Smythe in David Nobbs's A Bit of a Do, a Yorkshire small-town comedy chronicle starring David Jason and Gwen Taylor.
Always serious and quietly spoken offstage, with glinting blue eyes and a steady, cruel gaze that served him well as authority figures on screen, Tierney was a working-class Mancunian who became a core member of the Workers' Revolutionary party in the 1970s. He never wavered in his socialist beliefs, even when the Wrp imploded ("That's all in my past now," he said), and always opposed restricted entry to the actors' union,...
Malcolm Tierney, who has died aged 75 of pulmonary fibrosis, was a reliable and versatile supporting actor for 50 years, familiar to television audiences as the cigar-smoking, bullying villain Tommy McArdle in Brookside, nasty Charlie Gimbert in Lovejoy and smoothie Geoffrey Ellsworth-Smythe in David Nobbs's A Bit of a Do, a Yorkshire small-town comedy chronicle starring David Jason and Gwen Taylor.
Always serious and quietly spoken offstage, with glinting blue eyes and a steady, cruel gaze that served him well as authority figures on screen, Tierney was a working-class Mancunian who became a core member of the Workers' Revolutionary party in the 1970s. He never wavered in his socialist beliefs, even when the Wrp imploded ("That's all in my past now," he said), and always opposed restricted entry to the actors' union,...
- 2/22/2014
- by Michael Coveney, Vanessa Redgrave
- The Guardian - Film News
Stars: Aaron Poole, James Gilbert, Ian Anderson, Angela Besharah, Bruce Clayton, Laura de Carteret, Peter Apostolopoulos | Written and Directed by Christopher MacBride
“For you see, the world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined…” – Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister 1874 – 1880
The Conspiracy is directed by Christopher MacBride, who makes his feature film debut behind the camera to tell this tale. The story follows two guys named Aaron (Aaron Poole) and Jim (James Gilbert) who are making a documentary about people who believe in conspiracy theories. It begins as a basic documentary as we follow the shoulder’s of these two filmmakers as they speak with people who believe in these ideas. It is striking, to begin with, by how realistic these opening scenes are where the camera rests on talking heads who are speaking about the topic at hand.
This Canadian made film feels authentic and I love...
“For you see, the world is governed by very different personages from what is imagined…” – Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister 1874 – 1880
The Conspiracy is directed by Christopher MacBride, who makes his feature film debut behind the camera to tell this tale. The story follows two guys named Aaron (Aaron Poole) and Jim (James Gilbert) who are making a documentary about people who believe in conspiracy theories. It begins as a basic documentary as we follow the shoulder’s of these two filmmakers as they speak with people who believe in these ideas. It is striking, to begin with, by how realistic these opening scenes are where the camera rests on talking heads who are speaking about the topic at hand.
This Canadian made film feels authentic and I love...
- 10/4/2013
- by Chris Cummings
- Nerdly
Today sees the DVD and Blu-ray unleashing of Jason Statham in Parker, and the actor’s recent turn in Hummingbird (the Us have the snappier, and more prosaic title of Redemption) has been praised for allowing the actor to do more than his trademark kickery and gunplay.
As the man is unashamedly an action star and doesn’t care who knows it (how many other people could get away with being a character called Lee Christmas while sharing the screen with cinema’s hardest action heroes?) it’s nice to see him stepping outside of the expected.
So here, to celebrate the man, we’ve concocted five films in genres very definitely in the realms of the unexpected. Here are five Jason Statham films we want to see as soon as is possible please.
Film: Chitty Chitty Bang F*(%(ng Bang
Tagline: He’ll get fantasmagorical on your arse.
Genre:...
As the man is unashamedly an action star and doesn’t care who knows it (how many other people could get away with being a character called Lee Christmas while sharing the screen with cinema’s hardest action heroes?) it’s nice to see him stepping outside of the expected.
So here, to celebrate the man, we’ve concocted five films in genres very definitely in the realms of the unexpected. Here are five Jason Statham films we want to see as soon as is possible please.
Film: Chitty Chitty Bang F*(%(ng Bang
Tagline: He’ll get fantasmagorical on your arse.
Genre:...
- 7/8/2013
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Colin Firth has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London. The 51-year-old actor - who won an Oscar in 2011 for his portrayal of King George VI in 'The King's Speech - received the honour yesterday (08.03.12) in recognition of his award-winning career. Speaking ahead of the ceremony in the capital, Colin told the BBC: 'London is my home and I'm hugely touched and honoured by this gesture.' Colin - who has sons Luca and Matteo with wife Livia Giuggioli - joins former recipients author Rudyard Kipling and former prime ministers Benjamin Disraeli and Robert Peel as holders of the privilege. The title is believed to have started in 1237 and used to allow the bearer perks such...
- 3/9/2012
- Monsters and Critics
Colin Firth has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London. The 51-year-old actor - who won an Oscar in 2011 for his portrayal of King George VI in 'The King's Speech - received the honour yesterday (08.03.12) in recognition of his award-winning career. Speaking ahead of the ceremony in the capital, Colin told the BBC: ''London is my home and I'm hugely touched and honoured by this gesture.'' Colin - who has sons Luca and Matteo with wife Livia Giuggioli - joins former recipients author Rudyard Kipling and former prime ministers Benjamin Disraeli and Robert Peel as holders of the privilege. The...
- 3/9/2012
- Virgin Media - Celebrity
Oscar-winning star Colin Firth has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London for his stellar acting career.
The British actor was given the honour at a ceremony in the U.K. capital on Thursday. It traditionally permits the recipient to be drunk and disorderly on the streets of the city without fearing arrest, and to drive sheep over London Bridge - but these privileges are mainly symbolic in modern times.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, The King's Speech star Firth told the BBC, "London is my home and I'm hugely touched and honoured by this gesture."
Previous recipients of the traditional honour include ex-Prime Ministers Benjamin Disraeli and Robert Peel, and writer Rudyard Kipling.
The British actor was given the honour at a ceremony in the U.K. capital on Thursday. It traditionally permits the recipient to be drunk and disorderly on the streets of the city without fearing arrest, and to drive sheep over London Bridge - but these privileges are mainly symbolic in modern times.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, The King's Speech star Firth told the BBC, "London is my home and I'm hugely touched and honoured by this gesture."
Previous recipients of the traditional honour include ex-Prime Ministers Benjamin Disraeli and Robert Peel, and writer Rudyard Kipling.
- 3/8/2012
- WENN
This restrained portrayal of Queen Victoria's relationship with her gallant gillie puts the Victorian gossips to shame
Mrs Brown (1997)
Director: John Madden
Entertainment grade: B
History grade: B+
Queen Victoria was widowed in 1861. Four years after Prince Albert's death, she became attached to her gillie, John Brown.
Taste
John Brown (Billy Connolly) joins Victoria's staff at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, then moves with her to Balmoral in Scotland. The film invents some Upstairs Downstairs drama, but sticks approximately to the facts. The only conspicuous error is that the Balmoral sets are far too tasteful. Balmoral, like Osborne, was bought and decorated by Victoria and Albert as a couple, and its interiors were famously hideous. All the wood was painted dark ginger, fake thistles abounded, and anything that stayed still long enough was covered in violently clashing tartans – including curtains, carpets, furniture, linoleum and small children.
Mrs Brown (1997)
Director: John Madden
Entertainment grade: B
History grade: B+
Queen Victoria was widowed in 1861. Four years after Prince Albert's death, she became attached to her gillie, John Brown.
Taste
John Brown (Billy Connolly) joins Victoria's staff at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, then moves with her to Balmoral in Scotland. The film invents some Upstairs Downstairs drama, but sticks approximately to the facts. The only conspicuous error is that the Balmoral sets are far too tasteful. Balmoral, like Osborne, was bought and decorated by Victoria and Albert as a couple, and its interiors were famously hideous. All the wood was painted dark ginger, fake thistles abounded, and anything that stayed still long enough was covered in violently clashing tartans – including curtains, carpets, furniture, linoleum and small children.
- 12/1/2011
- by Alex von Tunzelmann
- The Guardian - Film News
Dartmoor, War Horse
We here at HeyUGuys are very proud to be British. We love our movie heritage and are so pleased when big Hollywood studios decide that the UK is a place they want to shoot their movie. Some of the most iconic movies of all times have been shot here and looking at this list, the movies keep on coming! We’ve been contacted by VisitEngland who work tirelessly to promote the country and all that it stands for. They’ve compiled this fantastic list of movies that have either just come out, about to come out or that are currently filming in England.
In the list, we get to see Madonna’s W.E., Martin Scorcese’s Hugo, Steven Spielberg’s War Horse and Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows to name but a few and like I say, these have all been filmed right here!
We here at HeyUGuys are very proud to be British. We love our movie heritage and are so pleased when big Hollywood studios decide that the UK is a place they want to shoot their movie. Some of the most iconic movies of all times have been shot here and looking at this list, the movies keep on coming! We’ve been contacted by VisitEngland who work tirelessly to promote the country and all that it stands for. They’ve compiled this fantastic list of movies that have either just come out, about to come out or that are currently filming in England.
In the list, we get to see Madonna’s W.E., Martin Scorcese’s Hugo, Steven Spielberg’s War Horse and Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows to name but a few and like I say, these have all been filmed right here!
- 11/18/2011
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
If William Shakespeare didn't write the plays and sonnets that have beguiled people for generations, then who did?
That's the controversial question at the heart of Roland Emmerich's new thriller Anonymous, which launches in UK cinemas this weekend.
Emmerich (Independence Day, The Patriot, 2012) and writer John Orloff have woven the ultimate literary conspiracy theory into a historical drama set at the court of Queen Elizabeth I.
In a video included below (and in our video channel on the right), the filmmaker presents his case for why he believes Shakespeare didn't create the works attributed to him.
The so-called 'authorship debate' has been around for decades and has attracted an illustrious band of supporters down the years.
Academics, actors and writers - including Benjamin Disraeli, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Orson Welles, Sigmund Freud and Sir John Gielgud - have supported the claim that Shakespeare simply didn't write Shakespeare. Collectively, the doubters are known as anti-Stratfordians.
That's the controversial question at the heart of Roland Emmerich's new thriller Anonymous, which launches in UK cinemas this weekend.
Emmerich (Independence Day, The Patriot, 2012) and writer John Orloff have woven the ultimate literary conspiracy theory into a historical drama set at the court of Queen Elizabeth I.
In a video included below (and in our video channel on the right), the filmmaker presents his case for why he believes Shakespeare didn't create the works attributed to him.
The so-called 'authorship debate' has been around for decades and has attracted an illustrious band of supporters down the years.
Academics, actors and writers - including Benjamin Disraeli, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Orson Welles, Sigmund Freud and Sir John Gielgud - have supported the claim that Shakespeare simply didn't write Shakespeare. Collectively, the doubters are known as anti-Stratfordians.
- 10/31/2011
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
Anonymous has been at it again. Following Primary Colors's version of Clinton comes O: A Presidential Novel. Mark Lawson on the tradition of insider political fiction, from Disraeli to The West Wing. A preview from tomorrow's Guardian Review.
Also in tomorrow's Review: Composer Mark-Anthony Turnage on why Anna Nicole Smith is a true operatic heroine, Andrea Levy on why she wrote Small Island, Stefan Collini in praise of Eric Hobsbawm and Sarah Churchwell on the scandalous Lillian Hellman
A successful political career demands a tradeoff between fame and anonymity. A leader needs to be known – an Obama, Blair or Clinton has the global recognisability of a rock star – but high-level politics also frequently depends on the exercise of secrecy. The unattributable briefing ("a party insider, speaking on condition of anonymity", "a source travelling with the prime minister") is a standard tool of political journalism, offering an early first...
Also in tomorrow's Review: Composer Mark-Anthony Turnage on why Anna Nicole Smith is a true operatic heroine, Andrea Levy on why she wrote Small Island, Stefan Collini in praise of Eric Hobsbawm and Sarah Churchwell on the scandalous Lillian Hellman
A successful political career demands a tradeoff between fame and anonymity. A leader needs to be known – an Obama, Blair or Clinton has the global recognisability of a rock star – but high-level politics also frequently depends on the exercise of secrecy. The unattributable briefing ("a party insider, speaking on condition of anonymity", "a source travelling with the prime minister") is a standard tool of political journalism, offering an early first...
- 1/22/2011
- by Mark Lawson
- The Guardian - Film News
Some comments on my review of the Doctor Who Christmas Special 'A Christmas Carol' got me thinking about how it came to be that everyone's favourite Time Lord can never seem to get any 'action', romantically speaking. It's not been for want of attention or admirers; even back in the William Hartnell days, The Doctor was capable of flirting and even having a matrimonial 'near-miss' in the 1964 Who outing 'The Aztecs', so Matt Smith's Doctor is breaking no new ground in running away from connubial bliss with the 1957 version of Marilyn Monroe in 'A Christmas Carol'.
Can 47 years of sexual tension ever be released without killing the fundamental dynamic of the show? I've come to believe that it probably can't - which, if true, puts the Gallifreyan rogue at least neck-and-neck with Star Trek's Mr. Spock in terms of 'attractive unavailability'.
When the show...
Can 47 years of sexual tension ever be released without killing the fundamental dynamic of the show? I've come to believe that it probably can't - which, if true, puts the Gallifreyan rogue at least neck-and-neck with Star Trek's Mr. Spock in terms of 'attractive unavailability'.
When the show...
- 12/27/2010
- Shadowlocked
London, Aug 12 – Whoopi Goldberg paid a surprise morning visit to Us Pm David Cameron on Wednesday.
Goldberg is currently in London for her stage performance of 1992 comedy ‘Sister Act’.
After making her West End debut on Tuesday (11Aug10), she spent the following day taking in the capital’’s sights.
Cameron obliged and even took the star on a tour, showing her a portrait of one of her favourite political figures, former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
“This is something you dream about when you see it and you hear about 10 Downing. But to go in was quite spectacular. I said,.
Goldberg is currently in London for her stage performance of 1992 comedy ‘Sister Act’.
After making her West End debut on Tuesday (11Aug10), she spent the following day taking in the capital’’s sights.
Cameron obliged and even took the star on a tour, showing her a portrait of one of her favourite political figures, former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
“This is something you dream about when you see it and you hear about 10 Downing. But to go in was quite spectacular. I said,.
- 8/12/2010
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Whoopi Goldberg gave Britain's Prime Minister a surprise on Wednesday, August 11 after unexpectedly showing up at his home for a morning visit. The actress is currently in London to perform in a stage version of her 1992 comedy "Sister Act" and, after making her West End debut on Tuesday, August 10, she spent the following day taking in the capital's sights.
Goldberg then gave U.K. leader David Cameron a shock after showing up at his residence at 10 Downing Street to chat about politics. Cameron obliged and even took the star on a tour, showing her a portrait of one of her favorite political figures, former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
Goldberg tells Sky News, "This is something you dream about when you see it and you hear about 10 Downing. But to go in was quite spectacular. I said, 'Is there anything of Disraeli here?' and he (Cameron) was like, 'Come on!
Goldberg then gave U.K. leader David Cameron a shock after showing up at his residence at 10 Downing Street to chat about politics. Cameron obliged and even took the star on a tour, showing her a portrait of one of her favorite political figures, former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
Goldberg tells Sky News, "This is something you dream about when you see it and you hear about 10 Downing. But to go in was quite spectacular. I said, 'Is there anything of Disraeli here?' and he (Cameron) was like, 'Come on!
- 8/12/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Whoopi Goldberg gave Britain's Prime Minister a surprise on Wednesday after unexpectedly showing up at his home for a morning visit.
The actress is currently in London to perform in a stage version of her 1992 comedy Sister Act and, after making her West End debut on Tuesday, she spent the following day taking in the capital's sights.
Goldberg then gave U.K. leader David Cameron a shock after showing up at his residence at 10 Downing Street to chat about politics.
Cameron obliged and even took the star on a tour, showing her a portrait of one of her favourite political figures, former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
Goldberg tells Sky News, "This is something you dream about when you see it and you hear about 10 Downing. But to go in was quite spectacular. I said, 'Is there anything of Disraeli here?' and he (Cameron) was like, 'Come on!' So I got a tour. It was really great, really nice."...
The actress is currently in London to perform in a stage version of her 1992 comedy Sister Act and, after making her West End debut on Tuesday, she spent the following day taking in the capital's sights.
Goldberg then gave U.K. leader David Cameron a shock after showing up at his residence at 10 Downing Street to chat about politics.
Cameron obliged and even took the star on a tour, showing her a portrait of one of her favourite political figures, former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli.
Goldberg tells Sky News, "This is something you dream about when you see it and you hear about 10 Downing. But to go in was quite spectacular. I said, 'Is there anything of Disraeli here?' and he (Cameron) was like, 'Come on!' So I got a tour. It was really great, really nice."...
- 8/12/2010
- WENN
Okay so I need to just say right here at the top that I didn't hate the Nikki and Paulo episode (Season Three's "Exposé") nearly as much as everyone else did, and in fact I kind of liked it. At the time, I welcomed any break from the turgid, wheel-spinning soap that "Lost" had become before it found its mojo again at the end of that season and got its game back for the final three years. But really, I liked that the episode was a one-off with random characters whose sole purpose was to act in a kind of one-act play with a creepy twist ending. Not every minute of every episode has to connect to the larger mythology, you know? Anyway, I say all that only because those pretty dead people were finally mentioned again on this week's episode, "Dr. Linus," and it looks like someone will finally...
- 3/10/2010
- by Daniel Carlson
The 60th anniversary of Robert Hamer's Ealing classic Kind Hearts and Coronets is the perfect time to get acquainted with the witty, provocative book on which it is based
This week, I spoke at the Film Nite discussion group in London on the 60th anniversary of Robert Hamer's Ealing classic Kind Hearts and Coronets. It was a chance to revisit that old chestnut: is it true that you can only make great films from terrible books, and that conversely, great books always get turned into terrible films?
Kind Hearts and Coronets is the elegant black comedy about a suburban draper's assistant, Louis Mazzini, played by Dennis Price, who by a quirk of fate is distantly in line to a dukedom and sets out to murder every single nobleman and noblewoman ahead of him in the succession so that he can get his hands on the ermine. All the...
This week, I spoke at the Film Nite discussion group in London on the 60th anniversary of Robert Hamer's Ealing classic Kind Hearts and Coronets. It was a chance to revisit that old chestnut: is it true that you can only make great films from terrible books, and that conversely, great books always get turned into terrible films?
Kind Hearts and Coronets is the elegant black comedy about a suburban draper's assistant, Louis Mazzini, played by Dennis Price, who by a quirk of fate is distantly in line to a dukedom and sets out to murder every single nobleman and noblewoman ahead of him in the succession so that he can get his hands on the ermine. All the...
- 11/12/2009
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- Hollywood satires are always an iffy proposition. They can often seem too insular and inbred to capture a general audience. Yet there are classics in the genre, going back to "Singin' in the Rain." And the HBO hit series "Entourage" offers a lot of wickedly funny insider insights. But "The Deal", which had its world premiere here, is a wacky Hollywood satire that never catches fire.
The film began with a novel by Peter Lefcourt, who once toiled in Hollywood himself and has recently become better known as a novelist. But this is one of those outrageous comic tales that probably worked better on the page. When something is translated to the more literal medium of film, it needs a minimal grounding in reality, which this film lacks.
Here's the premise: Charlie Berns (William H. Macy) is a has-been producer on the verge of suicide when his nephew (Jason Ritter) comes knocking on his door with a new script based on the life of Benjamin Disraeli, the long-ago British prime minister. Sounds like a hard sell, but it turns out that Hollywood's top black action star, Bobby Mason (LL Cool J), has recently converted to Judaism and is seeking movies with Jewish themes.
The story of Disraeli might not seem like the easiest fit for Bobby, but Charlie has the idea of revamping and modernizing it. So it turns into "Ben Disraeli, Freedom Fighter", which allows for plenty of mayhem along with Hebrew blessings for the star to deliver while he kicks butt.
On paper, the story might sound amusing, but it is so far-fetched that we never buy into a minute of it. This might have been a lesser problem if the script were wittier, but the laughs are very intermittent, to put it kindly, and so we are left to contemplate the unlikeliness of all the plot developments. The film bears some resemblance to Steve Martin's "Bowfinger", another film about a failed producer trying to get into business with a successful black movie star. But that film, while equally far-fetched, was sidesplittingly funny thanks to splendid writing and acting.
Nothing seems even remotely plausible in "The Deal", which has been adapted by Macy and director Steven Schachter, long-term pals who worked together on several acclaimed television movies. The script's implausibility carries over to the central relationship between Charlie and a savvy studio executive, Deidre Hearn (Meg Ryan).
At first, Deidre is understandably skeptical of Charlie, but when she learns that her studio has been sold to a Canadian company, she gets drunk and jumps into bed with Charlie, a leap that is almost impossible to accept. But even small plot points defy credibility. When a studio suit arrives to shut down the production, Charlie decides to distract him with a hooker. We can accept that she might delay his visit to the set for three hours, but three days?
Macy does bring a lot of energy to his role, and Ryan also gives a shrewd performance when the script doesn't ask her to behave improbably. Most of the supporting players are rather flat, but Elliott Gould has an amusing cameo as Bobby's rabbi, hired as an associate producer on the film.
Much of the film was shot in South Africa, where the film-within-the-film goes to save money. No doubt that was the same reason for the location work on "The Deal". Technical credits are strong. Boxoffice prospects are dim.
THE DEAL
Peace Arch Entertainment
Muse Entertainment
Credits:
Director: Steven Schachter
Screenwriters: William H. Macy, Steven Schachter
Based on the novel by: Peter Lefcourt
Producers: Michael Prupas, Irene Litinsky, Keri Nakamoto
Executive producers: Gary Howsam, Lewin Webb, Jason Bark, Matt Lane
Director of photography: Paul Sarossy
Production designer: Guy Lalande
Music: Jeff Beal
Editors: Matthew Friedman, Susan Maggi
Cast:
Charlie Berns: William H. Macy
Deidre Hearn: Meg Ryan
Bobby Mason: LL Cool J
Lionel Travitz: Jason Ritter
Rabbi Seth Gutterman: Elliott Gould
Fiona Hicks: Fiona Glascott
Levi Rosenwald: Sharon Reginiano
Nigel Bland: John Carson
Grier Clark: David Hunt
Ian Chadwick: Jeremy Crutchley
Running time -- 98 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARK CITY -- Hollywood satires are always an iffy proposition. They can often seem too insular and inbred to capture a general audience. Yet there are classics in the genre, going back to "Singin' in the Rain." And the HBO hit series "Entourage" offers a lot of wickedly funny insider insights. But "The Deal", which had its world premiere here, is a wacky Hollywood satire that never catches fire.
The film began with a novel by Peter Lefcourt, who once toiled in Hollywood himself and has recently become better known as a novelist. But this is one of those outrageous comic tales that probably worked better on the page. When something is translated to the more literal medium of film, it needs a minimal grounding in reality, which this film lacks.
Here's the premise: Charlie Berns (William H. Macy) is a has-been producer on the verge of suicide when his nephew (Jason Ritter) comes knocking on his door with a new script based on the life of Benjamin Disraeli, the long-ago British prime minister. Sounds like a hard sell, but it turns out that Hollywood's top black action star, Bobby Mason (LL Cool J), has recently converted to Judaism and is seeking movies with Jewish themes.
The story of Disraeli might not seem like the easiest fit for Bobby, but Charlie has the idea of revamping and modernizing it. So it turns into "Ben Disraeli, Freedom Fighter", which allows for plenty of mayhem along with Hebrew blessings for the star to deliver while he kicks butt.
On paper, the story might sound amusing, but it is so far-fetched that we never buy into a minute of it. This might have been a lesser problem if the script were wittier, but the laughs are very intermittent, to put it kindly, and so we are left to contemplate the unlikeliness of all the plot developments. The film bears some resemblance to Steve Martin's "Bowfinger", another film about a failed producer trying to get into business with a successful black movie star. But that film, while equally far-fetched, was sidesplittingly funny thanks to splendid writing and acting.
Nothing seems even remotely plausible in "The Deal", which has been adapted by Macy and director Steven Schachter, long-term pals who worked together on several acclaimed television movies. The script's implausibility carries over to the central relationship between Charlie and a savvy studio executive, Deidre Hearn (Meg Ryan).
At first, Deidre is understandably skeptical of Charlie, but when she learns that her studio has been sold to a Canadian company, she gets drunk and jumps into bed with Charlie, a leap that is almost impossible to accept. But even small plot points defy credibility. When a studio suit arrives to shut down the production, Charlie decides to distract him with a hooker. We can accept that she might delay his visit to the set for three hours, but three days?
Macy does bring a lot of energy to his role, and Ryan also gives a shrewd performance when the script doesn't ask her to behave improbably. Most of the supporting players are rather flat, but Elliott Gould has an amusing cameo as Bobby's rabbi, hired as an associate producer on the film.
Much of the film was shot in South Africa, where the film-within-the-film goes to save money. No doubt that was the same reason for the location work on "The Deal". Technical credits are strong. Boxoffice prospects are dim.
THE DEAL
Peace Arch Entertainment
Muse Entertainment
Credits:
Director: Steven Schachter
Screenwriters: William H. Macy, Steven Schachter
Based on the novel by: Peter Lefcourt
Producers: Michael Prupas, Irene Litinsky, Keri Nakamoto
Executive producers: Gary Howsam, Lewin Webb, Jason Bark, Matt Lane
Director of photography: Paul Sarossy
Production designer: Guy Lalande
Music: Jeff Beal
Editors: Matthew Friedman, Susan Maggi
Cast:
Charlie Berns: William H. Macy
Deidre Hearn: Meg Ryan
Bobby Mason: LL Cool J
Lionel Travitz: Jason Ritter
Rabbi Seth Gutterman: Elliott Gould
Fiona Hicks: Fiona Glascott
Levi Rosenwald: Sharon Reginiano
Nigel Bland: John Carson
Grier Clark: David Hunt
Ian Chadwick: Jeremy Crutchley
Running time -- 98 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/25/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Director John Madden's third feature is a satisfying period drama with top-drawer performances by Judi Dench as the recently widowed Queen Victoria and Billy Connolly as the burly Scotsman who restores her spirit.
Picked up for a July domestic release by Miramax, "Mrs. Brown" unspools in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes International Film Festival.
Set primarily in the always invigorating and cinematically potent Scottish Highlands, the English-Irish production is impeccably mounted and boasts many compelling characters, although it falls in the Merchant Ivory category of a hard-sell-to-the-masses historical romancer and has less sexual passion than Madden's 1993 adaptation of Edith Wharton's "Ethan Fromme".
In the same league as "The Lion in Winter", "Mrs. Brown" is dominated by the two leads, with Dench ("GoldenEye") delivering a superb rendering of a complex woman in a highly vulnerable situation. Dubbed the "Widow of Windsor", Queen Victoria, possibly the world's most powerful individual, hid from the public in 1861 after the death of her husband, Albert.
She left the running of the empire to other members of the monarchy and Parliament. After three years of mourning and with the government in turmoil, her private secretary (Geoffrey Palmer) summons Brown, a loyal hunting guide and servant who served Albert and is fiercely loyal to the royal family.
The idea is to cheer up the gloomy, bitter and often cranky queen with an extended stay in Balmoral, where she goes riding and hears plain, often harsh words of truth from blustery, commanding Brown. He eventually becomes her good friend, makes an enemy of the Prince of Wales (David Westhead) and pushes aside Palmer's character.
They fall in love after a fashion, but the duties of the crown beckon. Connolly ("Muppet Treasure Island") is thoroughly convincing as a caring male equal and patriotic subject who has his faults and knows it. The pair together are a delight to watch -- even if the heat generated is indirect, the chemistry is something rare in current cinema.
Antony Sher ("The Young Poisoner's Handbook") is memorable as patient, bemused Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in the Parliament scenes, in which a faction arises bent on dissolving the monarchy unless the queen returns.
He too makes the trip to the cloudy hills and valleys for a crucial encounter with the indomitable Brown, whose pride is mighty and instincts unfailing given the queen's long subsequent reign and historic achievements.
Madden, who also directed 1993's "Golden Gate", and debut screenwriter Jeremy Brock, who wrote Madden's TV feature "The Widowmaker", don't aim too high and keep the pace brisk. One learns a few things and inwardly cheers at the great lines, but most importantly one comes to sympathize with the characters and understand the class and cultural conflicts through the richly rewarding characterizations.
Martin Childs' production design and Richard Greatrex's cinematography are exemplary given the project's low budget, while Deirdre Clancy's costumes and Lisa Westcott's hair and makeup design are major contributions. Stephen Warbeck's score is lush and stirring.
MRS. BROWN
Miramax Films
WGBH, Irish Screen
Director John Madden
Writer Jeremy Brock
Producer Sarah Curtis
Executive producers Douglas Rae,
Andrea Calderwood
Director of photography Richard Greatrex
Production designer Martin Childs
Editor Robin Sales
Costume designer Deirdre Clancy
Music Stephen Warbeck
Casting Michelle Guish
Cast:
Queen Victoria Judi Dench
John Brown Billy Connolly
Henry Ponsonby Geoffrey Palmer
Disraeli Antony Sher
Archie Brown Gerard Butler
Running time -- 105 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
Picked up for a July domestic release by Miramax, "Mrs. Brown" unspools in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes International Film Festival.
Set primarily in the always invigorating and cinematically potent Scottish Highlands, the English-Irish production is impeccably mounted and boasts many compelling characters, although it falls in the Merchant Ivory category of a hard-sell-to-the-masses historical romancer and has less sexual passion than Madden's 1993 adaptation of Edith Wharton's "Ethan Fromme".
In the same league as "The Lion in Winter", "Mrs. Brown" is dominated by the two leads, with Dench ("GoldenEye") delivering a superb rendering of a complex woman in a highly vulnerable situation. Dubbed the "Widow of Windsor", Queen Victoria, possibly the world's most powerful individual, hid from the public in 1861 after the death of her husband, Albert.
She left the running of the empire to other members of the monarchy and Parliament. After three years of mourning and with the government in turmoil, her private secretary (Geoffrey Palmer) summons Brown, a loyal hunting guide and servant who served Albert and is fiercely loyal to the royal family.
The idea is to cheer up the gloomy, bitter and often cranky queen with an extended stay in Balmoral, where she goes riding and hears plain, often harsh words of truth from blustery, commanding Brown. He eventually becomes her good friend, makes an enemy of the Prince of Wales (David Westhead) and pushes aside Palmer's character.
They fall in love after a fashion, but the duties of the crown beckon. Connolly ("Muppet Treasure Island") is thoroughly convincing as a caring male equal and patriotic subject who has his faults and knows it. The pair together are a delight to watch -- even if the heat generated is indirect, the chemistry is something rare in current cinema.
Antony Sher ("The Young Poisoner's Handbook") is memorable as patient, bemused Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in the Parliament scenes, in which a faction arises bent on dissolving the monarchy unless the queen returns.
He too makes the trip to the cloudy hills and valleys for a crucial encounter with the indomitable Brown, whose pride is mighty and instincts unfailing given the queen's long subsequent reign and historic achievements.
Madden, who also directed 1993's "Golden Gate", and debut screenwriter Jeremy Brock, who wrote Madden's TV feature "The Widowmaker", don't aim too high and keep the pace brisk. One learns a few things and inwardly cheers at the great lines, but most importantly one comes to sympathize with the characters and understand the class and cultural conflicts through the richly rewarding characterizations.
Martin Childs' production design and Richard Greatrex's cinematography are exemplary given the project's low budget, while Deirdre Clancy's costumes and Lisa Westcott's hair and makeup design are major contributions. Stephen Warbeck's score is lush and stirring.
MRS. BROWN
Miramax Films
WGBH, Irish Screen
Director John Madden
Writer Jeremy Brock
Producer Sarah Curtis
Executive producers Douglas Rae,
Andrea Calderwood
Director of photography Richard Greatrex
Production designer Martin Childs
Editor Robin Sales
Costume designer Deirdre Clancy
Music Stephen Warbeck
Casting Michelle Guish
Cast:
Queen Victoria Judi Dench
John Brown Billy Connolly
Henry Ponsonby Geoffrey Palmer
Disraeli Antony Sher
Archie Brown Gerard Butler
Running time -- 105 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 5/12/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.