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There Will Be Blood
I’m not sure the English language, or any language for that matter, has the superlatives to describe the acting of Daniel Day-Lewis, I’m also finding it very tricky indeed to pick a favourite performance. If I HAD to though it would likely be the Paul Thomas Anderson masterclass - There Will Be Blood.
Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting 8 years ago. Always an enigma in his life (Marty Scorsese had to pry him away from being an apprentice cobbler in Florence to do Gangs of New York, he subsequently took on a butcher’s apprenticeship in preparation.) Indeed, his preparation for his characters have become legendary, whether living by himself in the wilderness for Last of the Mohicans or sleeping in solitary confinement and having guards wake him up with cold water throughout the night for In The Name of The Father.
Perhaps most famously, so consumed was he by his character, that he felt the presence of his dead father whilst playing Hamlet at the Laurence Olivier Theatre in London - he walked off stage mid-performance never again to return to theatre. You can watch Parkinson question him about that here.
Well he’s back. The trailer for his new film dropped this morning. Directed by his son and also starring Sean Bean Anemone promises to be feel good family comedy. Just kidding. It’s about the sometimes complex relationship between brothers, fathers, and sons. It’s Directed by his son Ronan and co-written with Day-Lewis, and is out in a month.
In other significant news…
Disney+ are re-releasing The Beatles Anthology, including a new 9th episode. The famous documentary series was released in the 90s, it reunited the 3 remaining Beatles with their legendary producer George Martin. It is the latest Beatles project from Jackson’s Wingnut Films and Park Road Post teams.
Also, quite enjoyed this list from The Hollywood Reporter Top 25 Sports Movies of All Time. You may be able to guess what film was number one? Excited to checkout the rest.
Finally, TIFF and Venice Film Festivals are just around the corner. Stay tuned for more on those next week.
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Our pick of the week… My Left Foot
Given the return of a master, this week's classic pick proves that the most extraordinary stories often come from the most unlikely heroes.
Day-Lewis delivers a powerhouse Oscar winning performance as Christy Brown, the Dublin writer and artist who overcame cerebral palsy to create art with his only functioning limb. Jim Sheridan's biographical drama refuses to turn Brown into a saint, instead presenting him as a brilliant, difficult, hard-drinking Irishman who happened to be disabled.
The film opens brilliantly with Brown backstage at an awards ceremony, secretly sipping whiskey through a straw while sparring with his nurse. It sets the perfect tone - we're allowed to laugh with Christy, not pity him. Day-Lewis seamlessly takes over from Hugh O'Conor's younger version, creating one unified persona.
What makes this special is how it avoids typical inspirational movie tropes. Brown's large, loving Dublin family treats him as just another member - defending goal in street football, wheeling him around in a barrow. The result feels authentic rather than manipulative.
Brenda Fricker shines as his devoted mother, while the film honestly depicts Brown's struggles with alcoholism and frustrated romantic desires. This isn't about overcoming disability - it's about a complex human being who created beautiful art despite enormous challenges.
A masterclass in biographical filmmaking.
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Enjoy the bank holiday!
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