Since a reader left a comment about yesterday's post on Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), I thought I might push Rough Cut (1980) on you today. Both were directed by talented director Don Siegel (1912 - 1991).
Rough Cut stars Burt Reynolds (b. 1936), Lesley-Anne Down (b. 1954) and David Niven (1910 - 1983). It is a rom/com, detective story about a very successful jewel thief (Reynolds) in London, and a Scotland Yard detective (Niven) on his last case before retiring. Of course the rom in rom/com comes in the form of the beautiful Lesley-Anne Down who was never sexier.
The supporting cast was exceptional. Reynolds has to put together a crew to pull off the heist. He travels around Europe to find them. A coordinator from England, and pilots from France and Germany. The movie sometimes seems like an excuse for the cast to travel, since the caper will take place in Holland.
Timothy West (b. 1934) plays the coordinator. He has 113 titles listed starting in 1961. Look for him in Ever After (1998), The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (1999), and 102 Dalmatians (2000), and if you get PBS or BBC on television, he appears in many of the wonderful mystery series' made by the BBC.
Patrick Magee (1922 - 1982) plays the German pilot, with a convincing accent...he was born in Ireland. 85 roles on his list, including The Masque of the Red Death (1964), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Luther (1974), and Chariots of Fire (1981).
Al Matthews (b. 1942) plays the American pilot who was picking up some cash as a jazz pianist in Paris when the heist came up. Rough Cut was his second film, and he only has 26 titles listed, but some are impressive. Superman III (1983), Aliens (1986), The Fifth Element and Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997. Not bad.
Joss Ackland (b. 1928) plays a police detective in Holland. Another actor with star power, and a great voice. Look for him in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) and Hunt for Red October (1990), and over 175 other roles.
Think of the screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. After the Thin Man and My Man Godfrey from 1936, Topper (1937), His Girl Friday (1940), and the like. Rough Cut is in the same style. You know the leads are up to something, but the ending of the movie is a bit of a turn that you won't see coming. And I won't ruin it for you. Sadly, this movie is not available on DVD or Netflix, but you may find it on VHS. Its worth the effort.
Showing posts with label Joss Ackland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joss Ackland. Show all posts
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Hunt for Red October
The Hunt for Red October from 1990 was on last night, and I like that movie. Come to think of it, I like most movies. Red October is based on the Tom Clancy novel and is one of the adventures of CIA agent Jack Ryan. In this one he is played by Alec Baldwin, but the next two movies, Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994), he is played by Harrison Ford. I have always wondered why Baldwin didn't continue what would become a very good, and probably profitable, trilogy.
Red October won the Oscar for best sound effects editing...not best picture but it is an Oscar. On to the bit parts.
One of the few women in the movie was Gates McFadden as Ryan's wife in the beginning scenes. Of course, she was the doctor on the Enterprise in "Star Trek, The Next Generation" from 1987 to 1994. So Red October was made while she worked on Star Trek TNG. I am sure she is type cast because of her prominent role in Star Trek TNG, but what else do you need? The residuals from the movies and the promotional items will keep her wealthy.
I noticed the Russian attack sub commander was played by Stellan Skarsgard. He was nasty in this film! I thought he was much more likable as one of the three fathers in Mamma Mia!, the off beat musical that tried to weave together a bunch of ABBA songs that really weren't meant to tell a story. Yes, I liked that one, too!
Skarsgard's role in Red October was pretty small, so I think he qualifies as a bit actor here. He had a bigger part in 1997's Good Will Hunting. I wish he didn't look so much like Liam Neeson. I keep getting them confused.
Fred Thompson held up well as the Admiral on the aircraft carrier. I may have voted for him in the last presidential election if he had won the nomination! He has 44 acting roles in his resume, and now that his political career is over, he's back to acting. Do you remember him in Fat Man and Little Boy, when he rolled the truck tire into the office to complain?
Lastly let's mention Joss Ackland who played the Russian ambassador. He has 179 credits on IMDb and his face pops up everywhere. Born in England in 1928, he did the Russian accent better than most of the sub personnel, and certainly better than Sean Connery (Scottish!) who didn't even try. No matter, I still like the movie!
Red October won the Oscar for best sound effects editing...not best picture but it is an Oscar. On to the bit parts.
One of the few women in the movie was Gates McFadden as Ryan's wife in the beginning scenes. Of course, she was the doctor on the Enterprise in "Star Trek, The Next Generation" from 1987 to 1994. So Red October was made while she worked on Star Trek TNG. I am sure she is type cast because of her prominent role in Star Trek TNG, but what else do you need? The residuals from the movies and the promotional items will keep her wealthy.
I noticed the Russian attack sub commander was played by Stellan Skarsgard. He was nasty in this film! I thought he was much more likable as one of the three fathers in Mamma Mia!, the off beat musical that tried to weave together a bunch of ABBA songs that really weren't meant to tell a story. Yes, I liked that one, too!
Skarsgard's role in Red October was pretty small, so I think he qualifies as a bit actor here. He had a bigger part in 1997's Good Will Hunting. I wish he didn't look so much like Liam Neeson. I keep getting them confused.
Fred Thompson held up well as the Admiral on the aircraft carrier. I may have voted for him in the last presidential election if he had won the nomination! He has 44 acting roles in his resume, and now that his political career is over, he's back to acting. Do you remember him in Fat Man and Little Boy, when he rolled the truck tire into the office to complain?
Lastly let's mention Joss Ackland who played the Russian ambassador. He has 179 credits on IMDb and his face pops up everywhere. Born in England in 1928, he did the Russian accent better than most of the sub personnel, and certainly better than Sean Connery (Scottish!) who didn't even try. No matter, I still like the movie!
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