Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by beach cruiser (A) on February 14, 2018 at 14:40:17

In Reply to: RE: I finally saw Darkest Hour, holy cow! just go see it! posted by PhilJ on January 20, 2018 at 16:54:27

I just saw the movie a couple of days ago, with a question and answer after with the lead actor.

While I had heard of the actor, I didn't know the face or connect the work, , and was surprised the guy was not old, like in the movie.

He said only one make up man would do ,or no picture for him , and dragged him out of retirement. Said they cut back the original mask, so made a "look" that only suggested Churchill, yet let his expressions come through. Said it was very detailed , because, unlike a creature makeup, with people, every hair must be the same , the details must match exactly.

Said it took four hours to put on, two to take off, so the days were long. He started his day about 130 AM and ended about 11Pm, for twenty-eight days. Said he went to the piano to get the vocal range to stay in, and immersed himself in the man. Said the saving grace was Churchill was good company, as preparations were about two years. Said his wife went to bed with the english prime minister and woke up with a commoner.

SAid the key was doing the work, learning the script at the kitchen table until he could do any scene at any time, if needed, on the spot. Mentioned the difficulty in telephone acting, who was good, and how the scene was set because they didn't have the money to shoot FDR in the conversation, so the scene was cut down and would up as a phone call with him carrying the scene alone.

SAid his most challenging roles were the ones where he has a character who doesn't do much, like commissioner Gordon in the batman series. Said it was hard to develop a character who only says , I need men on the roof, now, ! and then fades away, stuff like that.

He returned often to the theme of hard work as his main tool for success, and was a skilled public speaker, making the time go by with interesting comments on the side, keeping people very engaged.