Saturday, February 12, 2022
The New World
- Commentary: Under Construction
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Colin Farrell Cpt. John Smith Q'orianka Kilcher Pocahontas Christopher Plummer Cpt. Christopher Newport Christian Bale John Rolfe August Schellenberg Chief Powhatan Wes Studi Opechancanough David Thewlis Edward Wingfield Yorick van Wageningen Samuel Argall Irene Bedard Pocahontas' Mother John Savage Thomas Savage Ben Chaplin Robinson Jonathan Pryce King James VI & I Ben Mendelsohn Ben Raoul Trujillo Tomocomo Brían F. O'Byrne Lewes Alexandra W. B. Malick Queen Anne Myrton Running Wolf Tockwhogh Will Wallace William Sentry Rulan Tangen Two Moons Jesse Borrego Pepaschicher
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2005
Directed by Terrence Malick.
Labels: §3, ben-mendelsohn, christian-bale, christopher-plummer, Criterion3, jesse-borrego, jonathan-pryce, period6, wes-studi
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Game of Thrones: First through Eighth Seasons
- Commentary: Yeah, I know, what am I doing with only the 5th season? A friend of mine gave it to me when I was complaining about having to wait forever to check it out from the library, and told me not to bother giving it back, she was done with it. "Pass it on," she said. Once I'm done with it I will, on to the library. I know from the length of their hold list on this, of which I was once a part, they could use another copy of it. And, yes, I enjoyed it, but not enough to keep, I don't think. Although I'm not sure. We'll see.
Updated 2/5/18: "By hook, crook" (not really, regarding the "crook") and purchase I now own all seven seasons of this serial, and I'll probably own the eighth, when it's available. I don't have the luxury of watching this show when it debuts on HBO, but I'm hooked, now, much to my surprise. I don't agree with the critics that it's the best television series ever produced (I haven't made my mind up about that, yet), but I do think it's close, certainly many-notes-worthy, and a production to which I know I'll refer many times. Just in case, since I'm noticing that many links to the producers of these movies and tv series often go dead after awhile, here's the Wikipedia link to Game of Thrones.
Updated 1/18/21: As you can see by the title, I now own the entire Game of Thrones series. My favorite seasons are the middle ones, where people are striving to accomplish their goals. I felt I owed it to the series, though, to follow it through to the end, not knowing that the final season would be anticlimactic throughout all six episodes. I'm okay with that, though. Like many others, worldwide, I became addicted, for good reason. The last season competently ended that addiction. Not that I will never watch any of the series, again. I am currently, and slowly, making my way through the series. I'm early into Season 5. Great acting and great storytelling doesn't exist to be abandoned on a shelf.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published August 14, 2016. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Update 6/15/2022: If, like me, you found yourself unpleasantly gob-smacked by the eighth season of this series, you might find this video commentary interesting.
Seasons 1 - 8 Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Peter Dinklage Tyrion Lannister Lena Headey Cercie Lannister Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Jamie Lannister Emilia Clarke Danerys Targaryen Kit Harington Jon Snow Sophie Turner Sansa Stark Maisie Williams Arya Stark Iain Glen Jorah Mormont Alfie Allen/Reek Theon Greyjoy Sean Bean Eddard Stark Michelle Fairley Catelyn Stark Harry Lloyd Viserys Targaryen Isaac Hempstead Wright Brandon Stark Jack Gleeson Joffrey Baratheon Rory McCann Sandor "The Hound" Clegane Aidan Gillen Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish Liam Cunningham Davos Seaworth Stephen Dillane Stannis Baratheon Carice van Houten Melisandre Natalie Dormer Margaery Tyrell Conleth Hill Varys Jerome Flynn Bronn Charles Dance Tywin Lannister John Bradley Samwell Tarly James Cosmo Jeor Mormont Joe Dempsie Gendry Oona Chaplin Talisa Stark Kristofer Hivju Tormund Giantsbane Gwendoline Christie Brienne of Tarth Iwan Rheon Ramsey Snow/Bolton Hannah Murray Gilly Nathalie Emmanuel Missandei Dean-Charles Chapman Tommen Baratheon Tom Wlaschiha Jaqen H'ghar Indira Varma Ellaria Sand Jonathan Pryce The High Sparrow Daniel Portman Podrick Payne Bella Ramsey Lyanna Mormont Pilou Asbæk Euron Greyjoy Anton Lesser Qyburn Gemma Whelan Yara Greyjoy Lino Facioli Robin Arryn Jacob Anderson Grey Worm James Faulkner Randyll Tarly Diana Rigg Olenna Tyrell Keisha Castle-Hughes Obara Sand Joseph Mawle Benjen Stark Kate Dickie Lysa Arryn David Bradley Walter Frey Jim Broadbent Archmaester Ebrose Max von Sydow Three-eyed Raven Julian Glover Grand Maester Pycelle Peter Vaughan Maester Aemon Kristian Nairn Hodor Jason Momoa Khal Drogo Thomas Brodie-Sangster Jojen Reed
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2011-2019
Directed by: Okay, so here's a huge disappointment. Despite having many directors, only one of those directors was a woman and she directed only two episodes in Season 4. Shameful.
Labels: action1, adventure1, drama6, fantasy2, female-director3, indira-varma, jonathan-pryce, max-von-sydow, period2, peter-dinklage, political2, royals, spectacle1, suspense2, tragedy1, TV1, violence2, war1
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
The Age of Innocence
- Commentary: Truth is, I read this novel long, long, long before I saw this movie, which is why I was reluctant to see it. I read the book at a time, being an older teen, when I found the story poignant and troubling. This is no longer true for me. The movie exists for me, now, as an opulent drama of manners, well done by Scorsese, well acted by the entire cast and a great way to spend a rainy (or snowy, which was the weather the last time I watched it) afternoon in a mountain community.
Roger Ebert christened this movie as one of his "Great Movies", as well. In addition, he conducted an interview with Martin Scorsese specifically about this movie and Scorcese's history with it, among other issues highlighted by the movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Daniel Day-Lewis Newland Archer Michelle Pfeiffer Ellen Olenska Winona Ryder May Welland Miriam Margolyes Mrs. Mingott Geraldine Chaplin Mrs. Welland Michael Gough Henry van der Luyden Richard E. Grant Larry Lefferts Mary Beth Hurt Regina Beaufort Robert Sean Leonard Ted Archer Norman Lloyd Mr. Letterblair Alec McCowen Sillerton Jackson Siân Phillips Mrs. Archer Carolyn Farina Janey Archer Jonathan Pryce Rivière Alexis Smith Louisa van der Luyden Joanne Woodward Narrator
Just in case, as always, here's the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 1993
Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Labels: Criterion1, drama3, historical1, joanne-woodward, jonathan-pryce, martin-scorsese, period1, popcorn-and-soda1, romance1, spectacle1
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Evita
- Commentary: This is one of the musicals I watched when I was in deep consideration of La La Land [see my write-up for An American in Paris for a meticulous discussion about my ad hoc study of musicals in order to try to understand, well, something about my niece's, and, frankly, the world's overwhelming veneration of La La Land, which I have not bought and will not be buying, BTW]. Although I was surprised at how thoroughly Evita involved me, I was even more surprised at how many times, over the next few weeks prior to my purchasing it, I was recalling scenes from the movie. Many things about this movie engaged me: The caliber of the actors' performances; the interesting adaptation of this particular musical to film, which almost seemed more appropriate than a theater performance (although, I must confess, I have not seen a theater performance of this movie); the staging; the pathos; the cinematography. I could go on. Suffice it to say, finally, a few weeks ago, after checking it out of the library yet again, strictly for my own pleasure, I decided, yes, I'm adding this movie to my collection. Bravo, everyone involved in this production! Striking and, as one film critic, Zach Conner, put it, "... pretty damn fine ..."!
You will notice that I've labeled this, in addition to other designations, an "oliver-stone" movie. According to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie, Stone's involvement is convoluted, at best, but IMDB lists it as one of his writing credits.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Madonna Eva Perón Antonio Banderas Ché Jonathan Pryce Juan Perón Jimmy Nail Agustín Magaldi Victoria Sus Doña Juana Ibarguren Julian Littman Juancito Duarte Olga Merediz Bianca Duarte Laura Pallas Elisa Duarte Peter Polycarpou Domingo Mercante Andrea Corr Juan's Mistress Alan Parker Tormented Film Director Peter Hughes General Francisco Franco
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1996
Directed by Alan Parker.
Labels: drama4, historical2, jonathan-pryce, musical1, oliver-stone, period2, political2, spectacle1
Friday, March 09, 2007
The Bible Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This set of Old Testament Stories, covering:
Abraham [Directed by Joseph Sargent; Release Date: 1993; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Richard Harris Abraham Barbara Hershey Sarai/Sarah Vittorio Gassman Terah Maximilian Schell Pharaoh Carolina Rosi Hagar Kevin McNally Nahor Gottfried John Eliezer Andrea Prodan Lot
→ richard-harris
David [Directed by Robert Markowitz; Release Date: 1997; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Nathaniel Parker David Jonathan Pryce Saul Leonard Nimoy Samuel Sheryl Lee Bathsheba Ben Daniels Jonathan Maurice Roëves Joab Franco Nero Nathan Gideon Turner Young David
→ jonathan-pryce
Jacob [Directed by Peter Hall; Release Date: 1994; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Matthew Modine Jacob Lara Flynn Boyle Rachel Sean Bean Esau Joss Ackland Isaac Juliet Aubrey Leah Irene Papas Rebeccah Giancarlo Giannini Laban Christoph Waltz Morash
→ matthew-modine
Joseph [Directed by Roger Young; Release Date: 1995; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ben Kingsley Potiphar Lesley Ann Warren Potiphar's Wife Paul Mercurio Joseph Stefano Dionisi Pharoah Michael Attwell Judah Pete Lee Wilson Gad Kelly Miller Tamar Warren Clarke Ednan
Moses [Directed by Roger Young; Release Date: 1995; Wikipedia link]
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ben Kingsley Moses Frank Langella Merneptah Christopher Lee Pharaoh David Suchet Aaron Geraldine McEwan Miriam Enrico Lo Verso Joshua Maurice Roëves Zerack Sônia Braga Zipporah Philip Stone Jethro Anthony Higgins Korah Anton Lesser Eliav Vincent Riotta Midian
Samson & Delilah [Directed by Nicolas Roeg; Release Date: 1996; Wikipedia link]
P.S. The revenge2 movie in this collection is Samson & Delilah, one of the ultimate revenge stories in the Abrahamic bible, in part because it features more than one revenge story. It is as though "God" created Samson to be an instrument of revenge.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Eric Thal Samson Jonathan Rhys Meyers Young Samson Elizabeth Hurley Delilah Dennis Hopper Gen. Tariq Diana Rigg Mara Paul Freeman Manoah Michael Gambon King Hanun Ben Becker Prince Sidqa Alessandro Gassman Amrok Debora Caprioglio Rani Sebastian Knapp Yoram Jale Arıkan Naomi
This is the collection that most captures my interest. Mom considers it a continuation of The Bible Series. My favorites are the stories of Joseph, Abraham and Moses, as it is a delight for me to watch Ben Kingsley and Richard Harris in anything. One of the aspects of both this and The Bible Series that I appreciate is the obvious attempt to authentically capture the time periods. I notice, especially, the tight use of space and the fact that they are somewhat less full of eye candy as, say, the productions of The Ten Commandments and One Night with the King.
Labels: barbara-hershey, ben-kingsley, bible-movies1, jonathan-pryce, leonard-nimoy, matthew-modine, moses, religion1, revenge2, richard-harris
Monday, November 14, 2005
De-lovely
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Pure delight for both Mom and me. One of my favorite aspects of this film is the presentation of each song. These presentations are specfically suited to the song by performer and setting. It seems fitting, since Cole Porter was a popular entertainment song writer. This is a keeper and one we'll watch frequently. Alanis Morissette is one of these performers.
Update 2/7/18: Although I rarely update one of these blurbs to include another link, I'm going to, this time. Roger Ebert wrote a lovely (yes, lovely), meticulous review of this movie which I always remember whenever I think of, or watch, it (yes, I continue to watch it; sometimes, nothing else will do). Check it out in the title to this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Kevin Kline Cole Porter Ashley Judd Linda Lee Porter Jonathan Pryce Angel Gabriel Kevin McNally Gerald Murphy Sandra Nelson Sara Murphy Allan Corduner Monty Woolley Peter Polycarpou Louis B. Mayer Keith Allen Irving Berlin
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Irwin Winkler.
Labels: biography2, historical3, jonathan-pryce, kevin-kline, musical1, shared-favorite
