David Tennant took on one of his darkest roles to date when he played Dennis Nilsen – the notorious “Muswell Hill Murderer” who killed at least 12 young boys and men in North London from 1978 to 1983 – in ITV’s Des.
Tennant was the latest in a long line of actors to dramatise the lives of some of the world’s most prolific murderers – and it’s easy to see why such a part would be appealing. Playing a serial killer allows an actor to show their range and move away from being typecast. For those who’ve gone before them, such roles have been known to make a career, winning Oscars, Golden Globes and Baftas for those who take them on.
However, portraying serial killers obviously comes with its own set of challenges. These are people audiences know well, so do they mimic them word for word or do their own interpretation,...
Tennant was the latest in a long line of actors to dramatise the lives of some of the world’s most prolific murderers – and it’s easy to see why such a part would be appealing. Playing a serial killer allows an actor to show their range and move away from being typecast. For those who’ve gone before them, such roles have been known to make a career, winning Oscars, Golden Globes and Baftas for those who take them on.
However, portraying serial killers obviously comes with its own set of challenges. These are people audiences know well, so do they mimic them word for word or do their own interpretation,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Isobel Lewis and Louis Chilton
- The Independent - Film
This month, David Tennant will take on one of his darkest roles to date. In ITV’s Des, he plays Dennis Nilsen, the notorious “Muswell Hill Murderer” who killed at least 12 young boys and men in North London from 1978 to 1983.
Tennant is the latest in a long line of actors to dramatise the lives of some of the world’s most prolific murderers and it’s easy to see why such a part would be appealing. Playing a serial killer allows an actor to show their range and move away from being typecast. For those who’ve gone before them, such roles have been known to make a career, winning Oscars, Golden Globes and Baftas for those who take them on.
However, portraying serial killers obviously comes with its own set of challenges. These are people audiences know well, so do they mimic them word for word or do their own interpretation,...
Tennant is the latest in a long line of actors to dramatise the lives of some of the world’s most prolific murderers and it’s easy to see why such a part would be appealing. Playing a serial killer allows an actor to show their range and move away from being typecast. For those who’ve gone before them, such roles have been known to make a career, winning Oscars, Golden Globes and Baftas for those who take them on.
However, portraying serial killers obviously comes with its own set of challenges. These are people audiences know well, so do they mimic them word for word or do their own interpretation,...
- 8/24/2022
- by Isobel Lewis and Louis Chilton
- The Independent - Film
David Tennant took on one of his darkest roles to date when he played Dennis Nilsen – the notorious “Muswell Hill Murderer” who killed at least 12 young boys and men in North London from 1978 to 1983 – in ITV’s Des.
Tennant was the latest in a long line of actors to dramatise the lives of some of the world’s most prolific murderers – and it’s easy to see why such a part would be appealing. Playing a serial killer allows an actor to show their range and move away from being typecast. For those who’ve gone before them, such roles have been known to make a career, winning Oscars, Golden Globes and Baftas for those who take them on.
However, portraying serial killers obviously comes with its own set of challenges. These are people audiences know well, so do they mimic them word for word or do their own interpretation,...
Tennant was the latest in a long line of actors to dramatise the lives of some of the world’s most prolific murderers – and it’s easy to see why such a part would be appealing. Playing a serial killer allows an actor to show their range and move away from being typecast. For those who’ve gone before them, such roles have been known to make a career, winning Oscars, Golden Globes and Baftas for those who take them on.
However, portraying serial killers obviously comes with its own set of challenges. These are people audiences know well, so do they mimic them word for word or do their own interpretation,...
- 8/24/2022
- by Isobel Lewis and Louis Chilton
- The Independent - Film
The Northern Irish politicians make an intriguing cinematic pairing, but there are even more fiery duos that film could fictionalise
Nick Hamm’s new film The Journey tells of the decades-long enmity, followed by the highly surprising friendship, between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness as they laboured towards the Anglo-Irish agreement. It slots neatly into a favourite mini-genre of mine, mostly cornered by screenwriter Peter Morgan, who has made half a career of creating dramatic face-offs between real-life figures with diametrically opposed worldviews: Lord Longford and Myra Hindley (Longford); Brian Clough and Don Revie (The Damned United) and James Hunt and Niki Lauda (Rush). Other film-makers have taken up the format, too, in My Week With Marilyn, The King’s Speech and now The Journey.
Related: How Paisley and McGuinness's journey to peace ended at Venice film festival
Continue reading...
Nick Hamm’s new film The Journey tells of the decades-long enmity, followed by the highly surprising friendship, between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness as they laboured towards the Anglo-Irish agreement. It slots neatly into a favourite mini-genre of mine, mostly cornered by screenwriter Peter Morgan, who has made half a career of creating dramatic face-offs between real-life figures with diametrically opposed worldviews: Lord Longford and Myra Hindley (Longford); Brian Clough and Don Revie (The Damned United) and James Hunt and Niki Lauda (Rush). Other film-makers have taken up the format, too, in My Week With Marilyn, The King’s Speech and now The Journey.
Related: How Paisley and McGuinness's journey to peace ended at Venice film festival
Continue reading...
- 5/1/2017
- by John Patterson
- The Guardian - Film News
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Ground-breaking, intelligent, prescient 1970s drama Doomwatch, now out on DVD, is a British television classic...
Playing on the public's fear that 'this could actually happen', Doomwatch had a veneer of credibility unusual in the escapist television drama landscape of the late 60s/early 70s. This spring sees the most comprehensive haul of Doomwatch episodes released on DVD for the first time. The nickname for the "Department for the Observation and Measurement of Scientific Work", the series first appeared on BBC1 on Monday 9th February 1970 at 9.40pm. It followed half an hour of comedy from Kenneth Williams, which must have surely heightened its dramatic impact.
The series would run in tandem with the early Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who; the first episode made its debut two days after part two of Doctor Who And The Silurians. The two shows undoubtedly shared a synergy of ideas - not to mention cast and crew.
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Ground-breaking, intelligent, prescient 1970s drama Doomwatch, now out on DVD, is a British television classic...
Playing on the public's fear that 'this could actually happen', Doomwatch had a veneer of credibility unusual in the escapist television drama landscape of the late 60s/early 70s. This spring sees the most comprehensive haul of Doomwatch episodes released on DVD for the first time. The nickname for the "Department for the Observation and Measurement of Scientific Work", the series first appeared on BBC1 on Monday 9th February 1970 at 9.40pm. It followed half an hour of comedy from Kenneth Williams, which must have surely heightened its dramatic impact.
The series would run in tandem with the early Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who; the first episode made its debut two days after part two of Doctor Who And The Silurians. The two shows undoubtedly shared a synergy of ideas - not to mention cast and crew.
- 3/31/2016
- Den of Geek
After 50 years as the Observer's film critic, Philip French is retiring. Here he talks about his life and career and answers questions from readers and film-makers including Mike Leigh and Ken Loach
It says a lot about Philip French that after 50 years as the Observer's film critic – five decades in which he has watched more than 2,500 movies, written six books on the subject and received an OBE for his services to film – he is nervous enough about this interview to have researched his answers in advance.
When I arrive at his house in Tufnell Park, north London, I find French poring over a thick reference book at the kitchen table. A cup of coffee is left to cool as he thumbs through the relevant footnotes, anxious to get the facts absolutely right. He will turn 80 in a couple of weeks and says that he occasionally struggles to remember names of directors or actors.
It says a lot about Philip French that after 50 years as the Observer's film critic – five decades in which he has watched more than 2,500 movies, written six books on the subject and received an OBE for his services to film – he is nervous enough about this interview to have researched his answers in advance.
When I arrive at his house in Tufnell Park, north London, I find French poring over a thick reference book at the kitchen table. A cup of coffee is left to cool as he thumbs through the relevant footnotes, anxious to get the facts absolutely right. He will turn 80 in a couple of weeks and says that he occasionally struggles to remember names of directors or actors.
- 8/24/2013
- by Elizabeth Day
- The Guardian - Film News
Do you want to quiz the Observer film critic before he retires? Here's your chance
For decades Philip French has been a fixture of British Sundays, "a heavyweight of film criticism", "an exemplar of the very best". ("I tend not to read reviews," said director Kevin Macdonald in 2008, "but I do read his.") Next month Philip retires, 50 years and thousands of reviews since he first wrote for this paper in 1963, taking in a dozen Martin Scorseses, 30-plus Woody Allens, three cinematic releases of Apocalypse Now, seven Batmans… To mark the end of an era we've invited Philip to take part in our "You ask the questions" series, and we need your input. Do you have a burning question for Philip French? Let us know.
Perhaps you'd like to ask him what it can possibly be like to absorb so much film over the hours (days, weeks – years?) he's spent in screening rooms.
For decades Philip French has been a fixture of British Sundays, "a heavyweight of film criticism", "an exemplar of the very best". ("I tend not to read reviews," said director Kevin Macdonald in 2008, "but I do read his.") Next month Philip retires, 50 years and thousands of reviews since he first wrote for this paper in 1963, taking in a dozen Martin Scorseses, 30-plus Woody Allens, three cinematic releases of Apocalypse Now, seven Batmans… To mark the end of an era we've invited Philip to take part in our "You ask the questions" series, and we need your input. Do you have a burning question for Philip French? Let us know.
Perhaps you'd like to ask him what it can possibly be like to absorb so much film over the hours (days, weeks – years?) he's spent in screening rooms.
- 7/18/2013
- by The Observer
- The Guardian - Film News
Julian Fellowes had his work cut out in the final 90 minutes of this series, with eight sprawling story lines to tie up neatly with a gigantic Christmas-ready bow.
Instead, he threw the gauntlet down with a brand new character, in the form of great-niece Rose, an 18-year-old upstart who "hates London, but loves dancing". Hmmm.
The Dowager’s advice on how to treat the little smart Alec-lette was “keep smiling and never look as if you disapprove" - but that was before Rose announced she was off to the metropolis she claimed to despise, and then did a bunk to that den of iniquity, the Blue Dragon, or “the outer circle of Dante’s inferno” as Matthew Crawley would have it.
Matthew proved his manliness, looking after Rose on the dancefloor of the fabled Blue Dragon
And so, in the dying minutes of this third series, we were at last...
Instead, he threw the gauntlet down with a brand new character, in the form of great-niece Rose, an 18-year-old upstart who "hates London, but loves dancing". Hmmm.
The Dowager’s advice on how to treat the little smart Alec-lette was “keep smiling and never look as if you disapprove" - but that was before Rose announced she was off to the metropolis she claimed to despise, and then did a bunk to that den of iniquity, the Blue Dragon, or “the outer circle of Dante’s inferno” as Matthew Crawley would have it.
Matthew proved his manliness, looking after Rose on the dancefloor of the fabled Blue Dragon
And so, in the dying minutes of this third series, we were at last...
- 11/4/2012
- by Caroline Frost
- Huffington Post
Julian Fellowes had his work cut out in the final 90 minutes of this series, with eight sprawling story lines to tie up neatly with a gigantic Christmas-ready bow.
Instead, he threw the gauntlet down with a brand new character, in the form of great-niece Rose, an 18-year-old upstart who "hates London, but loves dancing". Hmmm.
The Dowager's advice on how to treat the little smart Alec-lette was “keep smiling and never look as if you disapprove" - but that was before Rose announced she was off to the metropolis she claimed to despise, and then did a bunk to that den of iniquity, the Blue Dragon, or “the outer circle of Dante's inferno” as Matthew Crawley would have it.
Matthew proved his manliness, looking after Rose on the dancefloor of the fabled Blue Dragon
And so, in the dying minutes of this third series, we were at last allowed a...
Instead, he threw the gauntlet down with a brand new character, in the form of great-niece Rose, an 18-year-old upstart who "hates London, but loves dancing". Hmmm.
The Dowager's advice on how to treat the little smart Alec-lette was “keep smiling and never look as if you disapprove" - but that was before Rose announced she was off to the metropolis she claimed to despise, and then did a bunk to that den of iniquity, the Blue Dragon, or “the outer circle of Dante's inferno” as Matthew Crawley would have it.
Matthew proved his manliness, looking after Rose on the dancefloor of the fabled Blue Dragon
And so, in the dying minutes of this third series, we were at last allowed a...
- 11/4/2012
- by Caroline Frost
- Aol TV.
'360' Pensmith Wrote The Story For Next Bond Film, But Never Got To Do A Script Exclusive: Screenwriters can be typecast in the same way as actors, and if someone was to stereotype Peter Morgan at this point, it would be as "the biopic guy." He's picked up two Oscar nominations for films based on real people--namely "The Queen" and "Frost/Nixon"--and along the way has tackled figures as varied as Tony Blair (three times), Bill Clinton, Lord Longford, Idi Amin, Brian Clough and, not once but twice, King Henry VIII. But he's been keen to stretch his wings for some…...
- 10/12/2011
- The Playlist
Forget Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee! There was one actor who truly epitomised classic Hammer horror, and that was the irreplaceable Michael Ripper. With a whopping 23 films to his name, he was to Hammer what Desmond Llewellyn was to James Bond.
Michael Ripper was born in Portsmouth on 27 January 1913. His father Harold was a civil servant who ran a local amateur dramatic company and taught elocution and speech therapy, his mother Edith worked as a teacher. Ripper had a very unhappy Victorian childhood; his dominant father was very much a stern disciplinarian.
A pupil of Portsmouth Grammar School, which he hated, Ripper was more or less pushed into acting by his father, who entered him in various poetry competitions. A close family friend and regular visitor to their Southsea home was the brilliant comic actor Alastair Sim.
Though he initially Ripper never wanted to be an actor, Ripper was eventually...
Michael Ripper was born in Portsmouth on 27 January 1913. His father Harold was a civil servant who ran a local amateur dramatic company and taught elocution and speech therapy, his mother Edith worked as a teacher. Ripper had a very unhappy Victorian childhood; his dominant father was very much a stern disciplinarian.
A pupil of Portsmouth Grammar School, which he hated, Ripper was more or less pushed into acting by his father, who entered him in various poetry competitions. A close family friend and regular visitor to their Southsea home was the brilliant comic actor Alastair Sim.
Though he initially Ripper never wanted to be an actor, Ripper was eventually...
- 2/2/2011
- Shadowlocked
Tom Hooper’s film The King’s Speech is out in UK cinemas on the 7th of January and is the perfect way to start your cinematic year.
Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush take the lead in the story of King George VI’s reluctant ascension to the throne and the crucial relationship he strikes up with speech therapist Lionel Logue to tame the stammer which threatens to undermine his presence as King as he is thrust before his subjects under intense public scrutiny at a point in history when the people need a monarch to lead.
I had the chance to sit down with Hooper who was very keen to play up the collaborative nature of the film’s development, including his work with Firth and Rush on the all important central relationship and how this creative partnership extended beyond the filming. Hooper’s humility and considered opinion of...
Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush take the lead in the story of King George VI’s reluctant ascension to the throne and the crucial relationship he strikes up with speech therapist Lionel Logue to tame the stammer which threatens to undermine his presence as King as he is thrust before his subjects under intense public scrutiny at a point in history when the people need a monarch to lead.
I had the chance to sit down with Hooper who was very keen to play up the collaborative nature of the film’s development, including his work with Firth and Rush on the all important central relationship and how this creative partnership extended beyond the filming. Hooper’s humility and considered opinion of...
- 1/3/2011
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Supporting actors aren't just those familiar faces who can steal a film. They show a way for movies to portray real life
Do you remember the film Iris? Directed by Richard Eyre, it opened in 2001, and was about the marriage between novelist Iris Murdoch, and her husband, the literary professor John Bayley. I have not seen the picture since it opened and as I try to recall it, I see three faces – Judi Dench and Kate Winslet (they played the older Iris and the younger woman), and Jim Broadbent – who was Bayley in his mature years. I think of it as a tripartite film, yet I know there was a fourth corner and a fourth actor – the young Bayley. I hope he will forgive me, but I have to check his name – of course, it was Hugh Bonneville.
Having looked the film up, here is what surprises me: Dench was nominated for best actress,...
Do you remember the film Iris? Directed by Richard Eyre, it opened in 2001, and was about the marriage between novelist Iris Murdoch, and her husband, the literary professor John Bayley. I have not seen the picture since it opened and as I try to recall it, I see three faces – Judi Dench and Kate Winslet (they played the older Iris and the younger woman), and Jim Broadbent – who was Bayley in his mature years. I think of it as a tripartite film, yet I know there was a fourth corner and a fourth actor – the young Bayley. I hope he will forgive me, but I have to check his name – of course, it was Hugh Bonneville.
Having looked the film up, here is what surprises me: Dench was nominated for best actress,...
- 7/1/2010
- by David Thomson
- The Guardian - Film News
LONDON -- ITV triumphed Sunday night at the BAFTA television awards, taking seven of the channel awards, ahead of BBC1's five awards, BBC2's three, and Channel 4 and Sky One with two apiece.
The awards, sponsored by Pioneer, are the gala night in British television and were held at a glittering ceremony at the London Palladium in London's West End.
Comedian and actress Victoria Wood was a double winner on the night, taking the best actress prize in ITV1 World War II drama "Housewife 49", the screen adaptation of the diary of a Lancashire housewife during the blitz.
Wood, in her first TV drama role in more than a decade, beat competition from Anne-Marie Duff in "The Virgin Queen", Samantha Morton in "Longford" and Ruth Wilson in "Jane Eyre".
The diary-form drama, part of a creative resurgence for ITV1 under director of television Simon Shaps, also won the best single drama category after facing off competition from "Longford" and Sept. 11 drama "The Road to Guantanamo".
In the best actor category, Jim Broadbent's portrayal of the campaigning Labor peer Lord Longford in the Channel 4 drama "Longford" earned him the award. The film follows his attempts to secure release for 1970s child killer Myra Hindley.
In the entertainment performance category, Jonathan Ross took the prize for his BBC1 show "Friday Night With Jonathan Ross," triumphing for the second year running.
The awards, sponsored by Pioneer, are the gala night in British television and were held at a glittering ceremony at the London Palladium in London's West End.
Comedian and actress Victoria Wood was a double winner on the night, taking the best actress prize in ITV1 World War II drama "Housewife 49", the screen adaptation of the diary of a Lancashire housewife during the blitz.
Wood, in her first TV drama role in more than a decade, beat competition from Anne-Marie Duff in "The Virgin Queen", Samantha Morton in "Longford" and Ruth Wilson in "Jane Eyre".
The diary-form drama, part of a creative resurgence for ITV1 under director of television Simon Shaps, also won the best single drama category after facing off competition from "Longford" and Sept. 11 drama "The Road to Guantanamo".
In the best actor category, Jim Broadbent's portrayal of the campaigning Labor peer Lord Longford in the Channel 4 drama "Longford" earned him the award. The film follows his attempts to secure release for 1970s child killer Myra Hindley.
In the entertainment performance category, Jonathan Ross took the prize for his BBC1 show "Friday Night With Jonathan Ross," triumphing for the second year running.
- 5/21/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
LONDON -- Helen Mirren's winning streak will continue Friday evening as she picks up the best actress honor at the 33rd annual Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for her performance in ITV1's "Prime Suspect: The Final Act".
The annual awards, sponsored by Turner Broadcasting, celebrate the best of British television and are voted on by the guild's members and over 100 journalists and critics who cover broadcasting and media.
Jim Broadbent was named as best actor for his role as Lord Longford in Channel 4's "Longford". The show also earned the award for best single drama.
Comedian Russell Brand won the best TV performer award in a non-acting role for his Channel 4 show "The Russell Brand Show", while BBC2's "Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive" was named best single documentary.
BBC1 time-traveling cop drama "Life on Mars" picked up awards for best drama series and the writers' award, which was given to Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah.
BBC1 natural history series "Planet Earth" was named best documentary series and also won the innovation in broadcasting award for pioneering methods of filming and producing video about the natural world.
The annual awards, sponsored by Turner Broadcasting, celebrate the best of British television and are voted on by the guild's members and over 100 journalists and critics who cover broadcasting and media.
Jim Broadbent was named as best actor for his role as Lord Longford in Channel 4's "Longford". The show also earned the award for best single drama.
Comedian Russell Brand won the best TV performer award in a non-acting role for his Channel 4 show "The Russell Brand Show", while BBC2's "Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive" was named best single documentary.
BBC1 time-traveling cop drama "Life on Mars" picked up awards for best drama series and the writers' award, which was given to Matthew Graham, Tony Jordan and Ashley Pharoah.
BBC1 natural history series "Planet Earth" was named best documentary series and also won the innovation in broadcasting award for pioneering methods of filming and producing video about the natural world.
- 3/23/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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