The Welsh Have Done Something Right

i
watched the Movie Shadowlands again tonight and was completely blown away by Anthony Hopkins wonderful ability to cry "On Camera".... Just watch this scene with Joseph Mazzello (the kid from Jurassic Park)
It pulls your guts out
In my mind Hopkins out classes the likes of Richard Burton anyday

15 comments:

  1. I think his role in Remains of the Day also showed his "acting chops". His tortured restraint was so subtle yet so obvious it made you want to cry.

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  2. This is one of my favourite films. Very moving and acted so well by all the cast. Beautifully moderated mood by Hopkins. As in 'Remains'. Not sure about the comparison with Richard Burton though. Different style.

    Burton was a brilliant dramatic actor. "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf" anyone? But for me his legacy lies in my audio tape of Dylan Thomas readings.

    Comparisons are odious, yes? Two wonderful Welsh actors that we love to love.

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    1. I alays found Burton rather too loud !

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  3. We went to a funeral today for a friend of Rudy's who just died of pancreatic cancer. He chose not to tell anyone, including his five kids, he was sick and they, of course, we shattered by his death. However, each one stood up at the ceremony and spoke about the love they each had for their dad and how much he loved them. The whole day cut a little close to the bone, but in the end it shows that the only thing that matters is Love!
    Hopkins is the best at expressing this.

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  4. I can't wait to see him in Hitchcock. The trailer looks great, and with Helen Mirren as his wife! What a pair.
    Cheers

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  5. I always think of Burton as a 'voice'. His readings of Milk Wood will probably never be bettered. However I couldn't see him play either a butler or serial killer (or maybe he did?).

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  6. Hopkins is far more versatile than Burton was Burton had the voice but if anything, he over acted.

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  7. Burton could pout, and that was about his limit. OK, and as Cro says, he had a voice.

    Sadly, I have neither.

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  8. I haven't seen Shadowlands ... how can that be ? Burton had sex appeal & charisma. Hopkins is a fine actor. Both beautiful voices. Hopkins as Hannibal the Canibal was amazing !

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  9. I was lucky enough to have seen Nigel Hawthorne playing this part in the West End (around 1989, I think), before it went on to Broadway - and that performance was still in my mind at the time this film came round, so perhaps I was being a bit unfair in then thinking that Hopkins didn't quite do it justice. I may well consider otherwise if I saw it again now.

    As to Burton v. Hopkins I'd have to agree that the latter is/was more versatile. Burton was a story of highs and lows - absolutely thrillingly magnificent in 'Virg Woolf', as pointed out above, and the benchmark standard for 'U.M.Wood' - but in his latter film roles he really was often 'on auto' - even in 'Equus', for me, there were only intermittent flashes of what he was capable.

    Btw: A bit apprehensive in seeing Hopkins as Hitchcock. As someone who grew up seeing Hitchcock regularly on our TV screens, Hopkins' appearance, from what I've seen so far, looks only like a very rough approximation of what the other A.H. looked like. I can accept that being 'good' doesn't mean that he's got to look literally the same in all respects, but I only hope that this doesn't get in the way of my accepting him in the part of the renowned director. Having said that, when Hopkins played 'Nixon' in the Oliver Stone film, he DID manage to get away with it even though only appearing roughly similar, physically and feature-wise.

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  10. Hi John, I have seen this film 18 times and I still makes me cough very loudly and wipe the tears. Think we all live in the Shadowlands sometimes. CS Lewis was an incredible writer. Have you seen Anthony Hopkins in the Donald Campbell film? Another awesome performance.

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  11. I went off Richard Burton when he was interviewed by Parky and said 'I loath, loath, loath acting'. I thought, 'well get down the mines then. Would that be better? Bet Liz would have married you then'. I'd pick Tony over Dick anytime. Saw him on stage a couple of times. Excellent.

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  12. I don't know why I missed Shadowlands either. Have you seen AH in the New Zealand film 'The World's Fastest Indian'? Jolly good. Additionally, the EnZed accent is considered by many actors to be extremely tricky to get right (it's not just an Australian one) but he does a tolerably good job. Brilliant man.

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    1. no kath
      I read the review though! sounds good...

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