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Want the news as soon as it comes in? Join Ken-Friends, the Kenneth Branagh Mailing List, which has spies in every corner of the globe... ;-) And if you have a bit of news or info yourself, let me know. This includes any "chance" encounters you might have with our Ken (on the street, in a restaurant, outside his home as you're being dragged away by security), but if you're stalking him, I don't wanna know...
Okay, so "I'll be back this week" is happening on the last day of the week (though calendars always put Sunday first, so maybe it's already next week...).
If you are wondering where the 2009 news went, you'll find it in the News Archive.
Here are a few more things, the end of the last update...
Regarding Thor, MTV.co.uk has put up a very handy gallery of the characters and cast. I'm assuming they will add or subtract as necessary.
This is the link to the Wallander review by AA Gill. It contains these memorable lines: "He transcends this slight, underpowered and underwritten detective story so that you realise what a blindingly subtle and talented actor he is. Every year he has not been on the stage or screen was a waste." Yup.
And one which I had forgotten, an interview from the Radio Times, here, which comes with a nice photo.
And here is a little article from The Mirror, 20 January 2010:
Kenneth Branagh's Swedish Sleuth Wallander to Get a GirlfriendHmmmm... we shall see... A couple of other tidbits...
By Nicola MethvenHe's the grumpiest detective on the box - and with good reason.
Over the past few weeks poor Wallander has had to deal with getting divorced, losing his job, suffering a nervous breakdown, getting diabetes and his dad's death. But at last the Swedish sleuth - played by Kenneth Branagh - has got something to look forward to.
Breaking from the Henning Mankell novels, BBC chiefs are to give Kurt Wallander a bit of light relief - in the form of a girlfriend - for the third series of the Bafta award-winning drama.
And my money is on it being Vanja Andersson - actress Saskia Reeves - who appeared in last Sunday's final episode of the series playing a florist.
My source whispers: "Wallander is the epitome of a worldweary detective and it's about time he had a bit of romance in his life. The books never gave him a lady friend but we're going to let him have a bit of fun."
So cheer up now, Kurt.
Here's an excerpt from a report on Widescreen Weekend 2008 in Bradford, from The 70mm Newsletter,
Quality, Quantity and Width, Widescreen Weekend 2008 – Better Than EverAnd here is an excerpt from an interview by William R. Braun with the young soprano Anna Christy, from Opera News magazine, September 2009:
By Mark TrompetelerKenneth Branagh
After Sunday lunch delegates returned to a packed cinema to hear Kenneth Brannagh [sic] in conversation on stage with Bradford Film Festival artistic director Tony Earnshaw. The interview covered his film career and Mr. Brannagh spoke in depth about certain of his films, his screen roles and his approach towards them. The conversation ended with discussion on his 70mm, four hour, full play text version of “Hamlet“. The interview which lasted well over an hour also concluded with Kenneth Brannagh being awarded with the Fellowship of the Bradford Film Festival, of which the annual widescreen weekend is a part. Mr. Brannagh gave a short but very eloquent thank you to the museum, the festival and the audience. Mention of “Cinema Technology” to the museum press office had successfully secured late access to the museum’s “green room“ for this CT reporter. Kenneth Brannagh kindly sat for an exclusive CT widescreen weekend report portrait. The screening of “Hamlet” (1996) that then followed displayed a modern 70mm print of fabulous quality. Shot more recently on film emulsions that would have used T-grain emulsion technology, the increased image sharpness and almost disappearance of all grain in the projection to a large screen, gave a presentation of breathless quality. The improved projected image of 1996 70mm film could very clearly be seen when compared with the screening of the earlier “STAR!” (1968 ) the previous evening.Given [Anna] Christy's theatrical bent, it seems logical to ask if she has a favorite actor. She answers the question before it is even completed: "Kenneth Branagh," she blurts. Asked what she admires in him, she thinks a bit. "Intent, I suppose. I have just always, always loved anything I've ever seen him in, starting with 'Henry V'. I saw 'Henry V' in eighth grade. My father dragged me to the theater, and I was completely smitten. And then I was one of the last dozen or so sopranos to be considered for Pamina in his movie of 'The Magic Flute'. So they flew me to London for screen tests and things like that. He was directing those screen tests, he directed me, and I don't know if I was even remotely able to get anywhere near what he wanted, because I was so starstruck, but that was..." And there is a sigh worthy of Sally in the Peanuts comic strip. "And ultimately, of course, I didn't get the role. And he sent me a handwritten note thanking me for coming to the audition, and I have it framed in my study just to remind me that that actually happened - that I was actually in the same room with such a man."Are we smiling? Yeah.For the photo finish: there are 4 new screen caps, added to the single image on the Compendium from the ever-mysterious Alien Love Triangle. I don't usually use screen caps, but it seems like Alien Love Triangle will never be seen by more than a handful. Even these caps are from snippets, not from the film. Ah well...
But we can live in the present with these photos from the Golden Globes red carpet, KB and the lovely Lindsay.
Thar's it for today. I am sure there will be more soon.
(24 January, thanks Pennie, Gillian, Lyn, Virginia, Kath, Patricia)
We have a whole passle of things to catch up with. Let's start with a word from Himself. You can read about the Ken-Friends 2009 Birthday Project, and read Kenneth's thank-you here. Well done pals!
In his thank-you Ken says he'll be "hurling hammers" in January, but apparently not with Stuart Townsend. Here's a blurb from The Huffington Post, 10 January 2010:
Stuart Townsend Replaced In Marvel's 'Thor,' Shooting Starts Monday By Mike CidoniAnd at the end of the article you see the second bit of news, the earlier release date. You can read a short article about this here. And then there are a bunch more...Stuart Townsend has departed Marvel Comics' movie adaptation of "Thor" because of creative differences, according to sources close to the production.
Townsend had been cast as Fandral, an ally of Norse god Thor. He was replaced by Joshua Dallas, according to the two sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record. The cast change came as production was about to begin. Shooting starts Monday on the movie directed by Kenneth Branagh.
Irish actor Townsend, 37, best known as the boyfriend of Academy Award winner Charlize Theron, starred in "Queen of the Damned." He had been cast as Aragorn in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy but was replaced at the last minute by Viggo Mortensen.
Dallas, an American actor who is a relative newcomer, appears in George Lucas' upcoming Tuskagee Airmen drama "Red Tails."
"Thor" stars Chris Hemsworth in the title role, a warrior cast down to Earth to live among mortals as punishment for his reckless actions, which rekindled an ancient war in the realm of Asgard. Thor's troubles continue after dark forces of Asgard are dispatched to invade Earth. The movie co-stars Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Renee Russo and Tom Hiddleston. Kenneth Branagh is directing.
"Thor" had been scheduled for release May 20, 2011, but Marvel has just moved it up to May 6, 2011.
As previously mentioned, the Thor literature defeats me: 10,000 comic afficionados all typing the same thing more or less - who do you choose (especially when your brain has been numbed by trawling through it all)? Anyway, here you go, in chronological order: 4 January; 6 January; 8 January; 13 January; 14 January; and 14 January.
One of the articles has a lot of quotes from Ray Stevenson (who was in Theory of Flight with Kenneth). You can watch the whole video at About.com here.
And finally, you can listen to a song composed for Thor by Nigel Cranswick in Sheffield. If you like the song and know any powers-that-be let 'em know.
And now we move on to Wallander...
There are a whole lot of articles and reviews, as the second series of Wallander premiered in the UK on 3 January. Here is a brief excerpt, from an article by David Lister in The Independent, 9 January 2010, which is much in tune with the general reception of the series (not sure about the last line though!):
Watch the master at workAnd here are a bunch more, again in chronological order: comments from co-star Sarah Smart, 30 December; interview from BBC News, 1 January; review 1, 4 January; review 2, 4 January; nice long article, 8 January; review 3, 10 January; and fun article about Wallander's ring-tone, 13 January. I have another super-duper review from AA Gill, but I've messed up and will have to wait till next time. You don't want to miss it, so come back!Kenneth Branagh's career has been largely concentrated on stage and the big screen. But what a magnificent TV actor he is. That much is certain from his Sunday night performances in Wallander, and it's the reason that I shall be sure not to miss the programme on BBC1 tomorrow night.
In his portrayal of the moody Swedish detective, Branagh catches with great poignancy a man at that moment in his life when difficulties with job, friendship, love life, an ailing parent and a daughter needing help with big decisions all converge on an already existential angst. There is no fire or overt emotion in him, yet somehow he conveys that his struggle to make sense of the world gets no easier as he gets older. It's masterful acting, and, for all his many triumphs in theatre and cinema, this is the role that will, I suspect, become the one that he will be best remembered for.
Meanwhile, it was a slow day at the Sunday Mercury, so someone threw together a few Branagh facts: you can read them here.
KB did not win the Golden Globe, but he attended the event and you can see a short please-tell-us-something-about-Thor video here.
I have more photos from the GGs and a couple of other little things (as well as AA!) and will be back later this week.
(18 January, thanks Nigel, Gillian, Anna, Lyn, Jude)
