Oscar Beat: Best Actor Predictions—It’s Gary Oldman Then Everyone Else

Collider
Adam Chitwood
October 16, 2017

Well folks, it’s that time. I’ve been covering some preliminary buzz and shakeups in this current awards season for the past couple of months, but as we head into November, the race starts taking a much more solid shape and predictions come into play. All this week I’ll be laying out my preliminary predictions for some of the biggest categories, and I’m kicking things off with the Best Actor race—which, actually, of all the major races is maybe the least exciting of all.

Indeed, while previous years saw various actors jockeying for the top position, this one very much seems like it’s Gary Oldman’s to lose. The beloved performer turns in a wholly transformative performance in Joe Wright’s World War II drama Darkest Hour, in which he plays Winston Churchill. Oldman is indeed as good as everyone’s saying, and bolstered by an Anthony McCarten script that gives him multiple explosive speeches—which he subsequently hits out of the park—this is a film chock full of “Oscar clip”-worthy scenes.

But beyond Oldman, it’s really not that competitive of a Best Actor race—this year Best Supporting Actor is where the real fight is. Timothee Chalamet should absolutely be in contention for his star-making turn in Call Me By Your Name, which continues to rack up critical support after first bowing at Sundance earlier this year. It’s a major contender in multiple big categories, and while younger performers don’t usually score Best Actor nominations, if the Academy takes to Call Me By Your Name the way audiences at Sundance, TIFF, and the New York Film Festival did, he should make the cut.

There’s also Jake Gyllenhaal giving one of the best performances of his career in Stronger, although his footing is less solid given that the film seems to have unperformed at the box office and, disappointingly, is at risk of being forgotten come Oscar time. Andrew Garfield could be back in the mix for his impressive turn as a paraplegic in director Andy Serkis’ true-story drama Breathe. That film has some mediocre reviews, which may stand in Garfield’s way, but the guy’s incredibly likeable and does a swell job in the film. And, let’s face it: if he can get nominated for Hacksaw Ridge, a nod for Breathe is entirely possible.

 BEST ACTOR PREDICTIONS: http://collider.com/oscars-best-actor-predictions-2018/

THE GATHERING STORM, PART 1 AND 2 (ALBERT FINNEY, VANESSA REDGRAVE, TOM HIDDLESTON, DEREK JACOBI, HUGH BONNEVILLE...)

A love story offering an intimate look inside the marriage of Winston and Clementine Churchill during a particularly troubled, though little-known, moment in their lives.

Brendan Gleeson hoping US TV role is on The Money

HERALD IE.

EIMEAR RABBITTE – 16 AUGUST 2013 02:30 PM

HE has played everything from Irish gangster Martin Cahill to a moody wizard in Harry Potter.

Now, Irish actor Brendan Gleeson is hoping to weave his magic on the US silver screen. The Dubliner will play a power-hungry media mogul in his first attempt at an American TV series.

Gleeson (58) has been handpicked by top US production company HBO to lead the cast in their brand new pilot.

The In Bruges actor will play a greedy media chief in drama The Money, which comes from Deadwood creator David Milch.

Gleeson takes on the role of American patriarch James Castman who is trying to expand his media empire and control his family.

If commissioned for a full season, The Money will mark Gleeson's first US TV series.

The move comes after Gleeson impressed HBO with his portrayal of Winston Churchill in TV movie Into the Storm, for which he won an Emmy Award in 2009.

READ MORE: http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/gleeson-hoping-us-tv-role-is-on-the-money-29504456.html

Michael Caine to be awarded Freedom of the City of London (TELEGRAPH)

by Daisy Bowie-2:00PM GMT 08 Mar 2013

British actor Sir Michael Caine will be given the Freedom of the City of London.

In the past, the honour has been bestowed upon other actors including Dame Judi Dench, and figures such as Winston Churchill, Diana, Princess of Wales and Nelson Mandela have also been recipients.

One of the oldest surviving traditional ceremonies, the award is thought to date back to 1237.

The honour is the latest in a long list awarded to Caine, who will turn 80 next week.

Caine was originally from London, having grown up in Southwark. Born Maurice Micklewhite in 1933 to a fish porter and a cleaner, he became famous for his roles in films such as Zulu, The Italian Job and The Ipcress File.

READ MORE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9917793/Michael-Caine-to-be-awarded-Freedom-of-the-City-of-London.html

Brendan Gleeson and Abbie Cornish to Star in Brad Siberling’s Thriller AN ORDINARY MAN by Adam Chitwood Posted:May 7th, 2012 at 12:05 pm (COLLIDER)

Golden Globe nominated Brendan Gleeson (THE GUARD, IN BRUGES) and Abbie Cornish (BRIGHT STAR, W.E.) are set to star in the new dramatic thriller AN ORDINARY MAN for Brad Silberling (CITY OF ANGELS, MOONLIGHT MILE) who will direct from his own original script.

The contemporary suspense tale centers on the unexpected relationship between a fictitious war criminal in hiding, and his only human contact — his maid.

Silberling produces the film through his Reveal Entertainment banner, in a co-production with Disruptive Media and producers Chris Miller, James Burke and Michael Richter.  David Lonner executive produces the film that is targeted to start principal photography in the Fall 2012 on location in Belgrade, Serbia.

Radiant Films International helmed by President and CEO Mimi Steinbauer will handle international rights to the film and will introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.

On the announcement of the film Silberling said, “There’s no greater pleasure than crafting a tale for brilliant actors to sink their teeth into, and with Brandon and Abbie, I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot.   Watching them go toe to toe in this suspenseful tightrope walk of veiled intentions, cat and mouse psychology, and desperate gambling for human contact – it will be a filmmaker’s dream to capture.   Having Mimi and her Radiant team squarely behind the film gives me a tremendous sense of security for the picture as it makes its way out into the world.”

“Disruptive is honored to be working with such incredibly talented artists as Brad, Brendan and Abbie, and are so excited to help bring this uniquely provocative story to audiences around the world,” continued Miller.

“Brad has written one of the smartest scripts I have read in awhile.  It’s an intelligent, complex story and a great character study of people in conflict.  Brendan and Abbie are perfectly cast and in Brad’s hands we expect great things from this thrilling film,” commented Steinbauer.

Gleeson gained critical recognition for his roles in last year’s successful comedy THE GUARD opposite Don Cheadle released through Sony Pictures Classics and IN BRUGES opposite Colin Farrell; earning Golden Globe Award nominations for both performances. He won an Emmy and was nominated for another Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in HBO’s “Into the Storm.”

His other credits include Martin Scorsese’s GANGS OF NEW YORK, playing the iconic Alastor Moody character in the worldwide box office hit franchise HARRY POTTER series, and TROY opposite Brad Pitt, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom. He was last seen in Universal’s SAFE HOUSE opposite Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds and is currently appearing in Relativity Media’s THE RAVEN co-starring John Cusack and Luke Evans. He will next appear in Robert Redford’s THE COMPANY YOU KEEP opposite Redford, Shia LaBeouf and Julie Christie, currently in post-production.

READ MORE:  http://collider.com/an-ordinary-man-brendan-gleeson-abbie-cornish/164588/





READ MORE:

Brendan Gleeson: Acting is a great excuse to put on a few pounds (Metro)

Your character in The Guard is an unusual cop, cynical but honourable – what did you make of him?
I think he’s very profound, wounded but unbowed – in terms of his integrity. He obviously has a tenderness that has been bruised so much it’s unrecognisable. The compromises, pettiness, incompetence, corruption, they wear him down to such an extent that he becomes stuck and increasingly lonely. He had only one soulmate, really, which was his mother.

The writer/director, John Michael McDonagh, is brother of Martin McDonagh, who wrote In Bruges. They have a similar melancholic Irish sense of humour...
Well, they have, but they’re very different voices. There are touchstones that are central to both of them, and there is a gallows humour that is shared, but the sensibility is different.

You tend to mix smaller films with Hollywood thrillers like your next one, Safe House with Denzel Washington. Is that deliberate?

I have to keep practising the muscles. Denzel Washington is always interesting and my character was interesting. Also, I’ve played an American a couple of times but people do constantly need reassurance that I can do it. It’s important, at some point, to stop being ‘the Irish guy’, because it limits what you’ll be offered.

You shared scenes with your son Domhnall in Harry Potter. What was that like?

That was an absolute joy. The last couple of years have been great for him. He spent a time not working, which is tough, but now he’s battle-seasoned. He’s found out the mechanics of what it takes; how to deal with being on a set for a long time without anything to do, how to be in a scene but not driving it. His work is becoming fascinating to me. He’s pretty cool in True Grit.
The Guard is out now.


Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/film/887754-brendan-gleeson-acting-is-a-great-excuse-to-put-on-a-few-pounds#ixzz1jv4wv0c0

Churchill named the greatest English gentleman of last century (Colin Firth is #5)

New Delhi, Sat, 10 Dec 2011NI Wire

Churchill named the greatest English gentleman of last century
Sir Winston Churchill has been named the greatest British gentleman of the last century in a recent poll conducted in England. The British conservative politician (and two-time prime minister) has been widely regarded as one of the most influential people in the history.

With his statesmanship, Churchill, who was also a historian and a writer, inspired the whole Kingdom to stand in defiance of Hitler during World War II. The new poll – held by Austin Reed to uncover the greatest gentlemen in modern memory – counted votes of as many as 4,000 people.

He is also the only British Prime Minister to have received the Noble Prize in Literature. "Sir Winston Churchill showed unprecedented courage and strength to lead this country and is a worthy choice as the greatest British gentleman," the Daily Mail quoted a spokesman for Austin Reed as saying.

The second name in this list of top Britons came with the best-known natural history filmmaker Sir David Attenborough. With several popular BBC series, including programs like Life on Earth (1979), The Living Planet (1984), The Trials of Life (1990), The Private Life of Plants (1995), The Life of Birds (1998), The Life of Mammals (2002), Life in the Undergrowth (2005) and the Life in Cold Blood (2008), he brought the hidden secrets of the world to living rooms across the country.

British actor, comedian and TV presenter Stephen Fry came in the third place in the poll. His sheer intelligent and amusing contributions to TV screens and Twitter feeds have certainly made him a national treasure.

Among others in the Greatest British Gentleman poll, Prince William took the fourth place followed by the Oscar winning actor Colin Firth (for the movie The King’s Speech) while actor David Niven took the sixth spot. Former Bond star Roger Moore and actor Michael Caine came in the seventh and eighth place respectively.

Here is the top 10:

1. Sir Winston Churchill
2. Sir David Attenborough
3. Stephen Fry
4. Prince William
5. Colin Firth
6. David Niven
7. Roger Moore
8. Michael Caine
9. David Beckham
10. Bruce Forsyth

Newstrack India