Vanessa Redgrave

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Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool Review

Very Good

Based on a true story, this stylishly produced British drama centres around two superbly involving characters whose real-life journey doesn't fit neatly into the usual formula. So the film continually surprises us with little details as it recounts a series of events over the course of about three years. Director Paul McGuigan (Sherlock) and writer Matt Greenhalgh (Nowhere Boy) cleverly keep the tone light with big emotional moments all along the way. And it's also a fascinating look at one of Hollywood's more uncomfortable truths.

It opens in 1981 Liverpool, when Oscar-winning actress Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening) collapses while preparing to perform in a play. In need of a place to recuperate, she reaches out to her much younger ex Peter (Jamie Bell), and asks to move in with his parents (Julie Walters and Kenneth Cranham). Seeing Gloria again, Peter takes a trip through his memories of their romance over the previous three years. They met in London when he was an aspiring actor, and he followed her to New York and Los Angeles before their relationship hit the rocks. He always wondered why she dumped him, but now he's starting to understand.

The way the flashbacks are woven into the main narrative is ingenious, as Peter literally walks into the past. This offers some powerful glimpses of the interconnections between them. It's not quite so necessary to eventually cut to Gloria's side of the story, although at least that offers a strikingly emotional final piece to the puzzle. Bening enjoyably makes Gloria a vain diva whose underlying insecurity makes her very likeable. Since she refuses to act her age, the gap between her and Peter never feels like an issue. And Bening develops terrific chemistry with Bell, who brings a beautifully understated rawness to Peter that's strikingly truthful. Bell gives a riveting performance that's never remotely obvious. And it's also terrific to see him reunite with Walters 17 years after Billy Elliot.

Continue reading: Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool Review

Vanessa Redgrave at Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year awards held at Claridge's - London, United Kingdom - Monday 31st October 2016

Vanessa Redgrave

Vanessa Redgrave and Lord Alfred Dubs arrive at Downing Street to hand a letter to the Prime Minister from Citizens UK highlighting the 170 unaccompanied child refugees in Calais. Unfortunately the request to access Downing Street was only made yesterday afternoon so the letter was handed to a police officer on duty at the gate at Downing Street - London, United Kingdom - Friday 5th August 2016

Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave
Vanessa Redgrave and Lord Alfred Dubs
Vanessa Redgrave and Lord Alfred Dubs
Vanessa Redgrave, Lord Alfred Dubs and Letter
Vanessa Redgrave

Benedict Cumberbatch Joins Campaign To Save Human Rights Act From Being Scrapped


Benedict Cumberbatch Vanessa Redgrave David Harewood Indira Varma

Benedict Cumberbatch is one of a number of British actors to put their names to a new appeal to prevent the new Conservative government in Britain from repealing the Human Rights Act.

The ‘Sherlock’ actor was joined by a number of big names, such as stage actress Vanessa Redgrave, ‘Homeland’’s David Harewood and ‘Game of Thrones’ actress Indira Varma in a series of short films based on the experiences of various people who have been used the legislation to correct injustices.

Benedict CumberbatchBenedict Cumberbatch joined the 'Save Our Human Rights Act' campaign

Continue reading: Benedict Cumberbatch Joins Campaign To Save Human Rights Act From Being Scrapped

Foxcatcher Review


Excellent

Director Bennett Miller continues to skilfully probe around the edges of true stories with this follow-up to Capote and Moneyball, although this is a much, much darker tale. Actually, it's such an unnerving series of events that it's not easy to watch, and its characters aren't easy to like. But it's so expertly shot and edited, with startlingly full-on performances from the entire cast, that it can't help but get under the skin and chill us to the bone.

It opens after the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) and and his big brother David (Mark Ruffalo) both won gold medals for wrestling. But they need help with funding to train for Seoul 1988, and Mark gets a remarkable offer from billionaire John du Pont (Steve Carell) to start a wrestling team at his vast Foxcatcher estate in New England, which is known for the thoroughbred horses managed by John's imperious mother Jean (Vanessa Redgrave). Aside from wanting to stay home with his wife (Sienna Miller) and kids, David doesn't trust John, so Mark heads to Foxcatcher on his own. But John's obsession knows no bounds, and soon he lures David and family to join them.

Initially, John's interest in wrestling feels like a mere eccentricity, a way of creating a team of "thoroughbreds" to rival his mother's prize-winning horses. But Carell cleverly plays the role with an insinuating glint that makes us wonder what he's up to, and his wrestlers see it too, going along with his nutty plans simply because the money is so good. Then the squirm-inducing twists and turns start, as John introduces Mark to cocaine and everything starts to spiral out of control. Nearly unrecognisable with a prosthetic hook nose, Carell is genuinely terrifying because his performance burns so slowly.

Continue reading: Foxcatcher Review

Foxcatcher - International Trailer


Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is brought to the Foxcatcher institute by multi-millionaire John du Pont (Steve Carell). Mark is a wrestler, and a good one at that. He confides in du Pont that he wants to be the world's best wrestler. Du Pont himself has his own motives - he wants to be the coach for the world's best wrestling team. But as training steadily creates friction between Mark, his brother Dave (Mark Ruffalo), and du Pont, it appears that not only are the athletes on edge, but their coach is actually becoming more and more mentally unstable. 

Continue: Foxcatcher - International Trailer

Telluride Film Festival: Bennett Miller Describes What Attracted Him To 'Foxcatcher' Project


Channing Tatum Steve Carell Vanessa Redgrave Bennett Miller Sienna Miller Mark Ruffalo

Bennett Miller's soon-to-be-released film Foxcatcher has been shown at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado and the director has discussed what aspects of the story first attracted him to the project.

Foxcatcher
Steve Carell (L) and Channing Tatum (R) star in Foxcatcher.

Read More: Steve Carell Is Almost Unrecognisable In Foxcatcher [Trailer & Pictures].

Continue reading: Telluride Film Festival: Bennett Miller Describes What Attracted Him To 'Foxcatcher' Project

Steve Carell Is Almost Unrecognisable In 'Foxcatcher' [Trailer & Pictures]


Steve Carell Channing Tatum Sienna Miller Mark Ruffalo Vanessa Redgrave Bennett Miller

Steve Carell is almost unrecognisable as paranoid schizophrenia and wrestling obsessive John du Pont in the upcoming film Foxcatcher. Directed by Bennett Miller who was responsible for such films as Capote, the film is based on the true story of two brothers, Dave and Mark Schultz, who were Olympic wrestling gold medallists.

Foxcatcher
Channing Tatum and Steve Carell in Foxcatcher.

Read More: Foxcatcher: Why A Wrestling Movie Has Stolen The Limelight At Cannes.

Continue reading: Steve Carell Is Almost Unrecognisable In 'Foxcatcher' [Trailer & Pictures]

Foxcatcher - Teaser Trailer


John du Pont is a multi-millionaire sports coach who has taken an interest in wrestling, wishing to train up a team for the upcoming 1988 Seoul Olympics at his state-of-the-art training facility. When  Olympic Gold Medallist wrestler Mark Schultz catches his eye, Mark can't believe his luck having always felt overshadowed by his renowned older brother Dave. Mark and du Pont develop a strong father-son relationship that pretty soon begins to get a little unhealthy; Mark starts to realise that there's a lot more to du Pont than he initially thought as he starts to witness increasingly volatile and erratic behaviour from him. Nonetheless, he is overcome by jealousy on seeing du Pont's newfound obsession with his charismatic brother and through the whirlwind of unusual bonds, deepening insecurity and unstable emotions, tragedy of the worst kind is about to ensue.

Continue: Foxcatcher - Teaser Trailer

'Foxcatcher': Why A Wrestling Movie Has Stolen The Limelight At Cannes


Steve Carell Channing Tatum Mark Ruffalo Vanessa Redgrave Sienna Miller

Murder, wrestling and the French Riviera don’t seem to go hand in hand, yet Steve Carell’s Foxcatcher has definitely won over the crowds and critics at Cannes Film Festival.

Foxcatcher
Channing Tatum and Steve Carell star in Foxcatcher.

Foxcatcher revolves around a prominent sports sponsor John du Pont (Carell), who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was convicted of murder in 1996 after he shot Olympic wrestling champion Dave Schultz (played by Mark Ruffalo). Named after the farm in which du Pont set up a wrestling gym and subsequently shot Dave, it is based on an autobiography by Mark Schultz, Dave’s brother. As such, the film also follows the glory and tragedy of Mark (Channing Tatum) who went on to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games and two at the World Championships in the 1980s.

Continue reading: 'Foxcatcher': Why A Wrestling Movie Has Stolen The Limelight At Cannes

Foxcatcher - Clip


Mark Schultz is an Olympic Gold Medallist wrestler who is often overlooked as his older brother Dave is renowned in the same sport. One day, Mark is invited to the luxurious home of sports sponsor John du Pont, who wishes to train up a team for the forthcoming 1988 Seoul Olympics at his own training facility. Mark is thrilled to be recognised for his talents for once, and begins to appreciate du Pont like a father. Unfortunately, it soon becomes clear that du Pont is not all he once appeared to be, being prone to increasingly volatile and erratic behaviour, and his support of Mark begins to get unhealthy. Not only that, but it seems he is now obsessed by the charismatic persona of Dave, and through jealousy and spiralling paranoia, tragedy of the ultimate kind is about to ensue.

Continue: Foxcatcher - Clip

The Butler Review


Good

This is an strangely slushy movie from Lee Daniels, whose last two films (Precious and The Paperboy) bristled with unexpected life. By contrast, this star-packed drama uses a true story to trace the Civil Rights struggle from the 1950s to the present day. But it's been so fictionalised that it feels kind of like a variation on Forrest Gump.

Cecil Gaines (Whitaker) grew up on a Georgia cotton plantation, where the cruel master's kindly mother (Redgrave) taught him to be a house servant. Years later, he marries Gloria (Winfrey) and moves to Washington DC, where he gets a job in the White House as a butler to presidents from Eisenhower (Williams) to Reagan (Rickman). His job description is simple: "You hear nothing, you see nothing, you only serve." And yet as the nation grapples with its racist culture, he has a quiet influence on each leader who moves through the house.

Whitaker narrates the film in drawling flashbacks, while the story flickers between Cecil and his eldest son Louis (Oyelowo), an activist who is involved in every key moment in the Civil Rights movement. And their younger son (Kelley) is sent to Vietnam. So it's like a condensed version of late 20th century American history, made notable by the lively cast of cameo players including Marsden (as JFK), Schreiber (LBJ), Ellis (MLK) and Cusack (Nixon), plus Fonda as a lively Nancy Reagan.

Continue reading: The Butler Review

Vanessa Redgrave Monday 23rd November 2009 London Evening Standard Theatre Awards held at the Royal Opera House. London, England

Vanessa Redgrave

Vanessa Redgrave Sunday 9th November 2008 AFI Film Festival 2008 ' Premiere of 'Defiance' - held at the Arclight Theatre Hollywood, California

Vanessa Redgrave

Vanessa Redgrave Quick Links

News Pictures Video Film Quotes RSS

Vanessa Redgrave

Date of birth

30th January, 1937

Occupation

Actor

Sex

Female

Height

1.80


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Vanessa Redgrave Movies

Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool Movie Review

Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool Movie Review

Based on a true story, this stylishly produced British drama centres around two superbly involving...

Foxcatcher Movie Review

Foxcatcher Movie Review

Director Bennett Miller continues to skilfully probe around the edges of true stories with this...

Foxcatcher Trailer

Foxcatcher Trailer

Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is brought to the Foxcatcher institute by multi-millionaire John du Pont...

Foxcatcher Trailer

Foxcatcher Trailer

John du Pont is a multi-millionaire sports coach who has taken an interest in wrestling,...

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Foxcatcher - Clip Trailer

Foxcatcher - Clip Trailer

Mark Schultz is an Olympic Gold Medallist wrestler who is often overlooked as his older...

The Butler Movie Review

The Butler Movie Review

This is an strangely slushy movie from Lee Daniels, whose last two films (Precious and...

The Butler Trailer

The Butler Trailer

Cecil Gaines is a modest and dedicated butler at the White House who manages to...

The Butler Trailer

The Butler Trailer

Cecil Gains is a devoted White House butler who grew up on a simple cotton...

Song for Marion Movie Review

Song for Marion Movie Review

By focussing on the emotional bleakness in this story, writer-director Williams manages to find some...

Coriolanus Movie Review

Coriolanus Movie Review

Actor-director Fiennes sets Shakespeare's military tragedy in a modern-day war setting, which gives it a...

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