"Merlin"
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"Merlin" (1998) More at IMDbPro »

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2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2004 | 1999

11 items from 2012


Supporting Actors: The Overlooked and Underrated (part 3 of 5)

24 May 2012 8:28 PM, PDT | SoundOnSight | See recent SoundOnSight news »

Nicol Williamson as Merlin in Excalibur (John Boorman, 1981, UK):

Turning in by far the best acting in Boorman’s epic, Williamson sets the bar for all other interpretations of the Merlin character. Best known as an acclaimed stage actor with a history of incredibly unprofessional behavior, this is Williamson’s most memorable film role and will have you chanting the “charm of making” in no time.

Rutger Hauer as Roy Batty in Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982, USA):

As an android seeking to prolong his short life, Hauer’s unique screen presence is perfectly utilized in director Scott’s atmospheric science fiction milestone. Hauer brings a sort of “alien” quality to the character Roy Batty and really makes this role a truly superior piece of casting.

Other notable Rutger Hauer performances: Nighthawks (Bruce Malmuth, 1981, USA), The Hitcher (Robert Harmon, 1986, USA).

Ricardo Montalban as Khan in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan (Nicholas Meyer, »

- Terek Puckett

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As 'Treasure Island's' Long John Silver, Eddie Izzard gets his bald pirate on

5 May 2012 3:00 PM, PDT | Zap2It - From Inside the Box | See recent Zap2It - From Inside the Box news »

Over a glass of wine at a busy restaurant bar adjacent to a mall cinema on the west side of Los Angeles, British comic and actor Eddie Izzard shares his long-standing desire to be bald -- not permanently, mind you, but just for a role.

"I've been trying to shave my head in some role for eight years," he tells Zap2it. "I just thought it'd be an interesting take. ... To keep a comedic thing going and a dramatic thing, it's a tricky thing to do. If you can break a look, if you can make it so one is over there and one is, 'Oh, God, you look so different,' that really helps."

Izzard is at the cinema for a screening of the first half of his latest project, a new, four-hour version of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic "Treasure Island," airing all in one night Saturday, May 5, on Syfy. »

- editorial@zap2it.com

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'Moonrise Kingdom' Soundtrack Features Françoise Hardy, Hank Williams, Alexandre Desplat & Lots Of Classical Music

2 May 2012 8:26 AM, PDT | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »

It just over two weeks the verdict will be in for Wes Anderson's Cannes Film Festival opener "Moonrise Kingdom" and the fact that it's the director's first period film (taking place in the '60s) isn't the only major change fans can expect.

The official soundtrack details have finally been unveiled and unlike the pop and classic rock heavy tracklists of his previous films, this one is serving up a lot more classic music along with new pieces by Alexandre Desplat. As has been previously reported, Françoise Hardy's "Le Temps De L’amour" (the song featured in the trailer) and legendary country troubadour Hank Williams (who has three songs here) will be featured. But they are really the only two artists on board as the rest is filled out intriguingly with music performed by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic and pieces from composer Benjamin Britten (you »

- Kevin Jagernauth

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Complete ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ Soundtrack Unveiled; Listen To Alexandre Desplat’s Score

2 May 2012 7:18 AM, PDT | The Film Stage | See recent The Film Stage news »

There few other directors whose soundtrack is so heavily ingrained with their films as Wes Anderson and his works. With his upcoming Moonrise Kingdom on the cusp of release we finally have the full soundtrack details, including a piece of score from Alexandre Desplat. It was previously revealed that Devo front man Mark Mothersbaugh, who scored Anderson‘s first three films, had a hand in composing.

French singer Françoise Hardy and classical composer Benjamin Britten are also among the featured artists and featured in the film’s original trailer. Other music comes from country legend Hank Williams (who has three tracks, embedded below), Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.  Check out the complete tracklist below, including a seven-part piece from Desplat and click the music player box to stream the first part, until an embed arrives.

01. Leonard Bernstein & the New York Philharmonic – “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, »

- jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)

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New TV Spot for Treasure Island Featuring Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood and Donald Sutherland

2 May 2012 4:00 AM, PDT | ScifiMafia | See recent ScifiMafia news »

This Saturday, Syfy will be airing both parts of the very popular British TV updated adaptation of Treasure Island, produced by Rhi, the same company that brought us Tin Man, Alice, and Neverland. It ain’t no Disney version, that’s for sure:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood

And Donald Sutherland Lead All Star Cast In Syfy’S

New Adaptation Of Treasure Island

Premieres Saturday, May 5 From 7-11Pm In

Special One Night Movie Event

New York – March 21, 2012 – In a special, one night only movie event, Syfy will present a fresh, new spin on the classic tale, Treasure Island, featuring an all-star cast led by Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood and Donald Sutherland. Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure story about fantastical treasure, youthful courage and murderous greed will premiere Saturday, May 5 from 7-11Pm (Et/Pt) on Syfy.

Izzard (The Riches, Oceans 12) stars as Long John Silver, »

- Erin Willard

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Syfy’s Treasure Island Features a Hobbit, a President and Grandpa Munster

26 March 2012 5:00 AM, PDT | ScifiMafia | See recent ScifiMafia news »

With such a great cast, I must admit my expectations are exceptionally and excitedly high. Syfy will be premiering its four-hour Treasure Island on one night, May 5, so make sure you have your evening clear. Starring Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit), Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games), , and Eddie Izzard (Mockingbird Lane), I really can’t wait to see this.

Here’s the press release:

Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood And Donald Sutherland Lead All Star Cast In Syfy’S New Adaptation Of Treasure Island

Premieres Saturday, May 5 From 7-11Pm In Special One Night Movie Event

New York – March 21, 2012 – In a special, one night only movie event, Syfy will present a fresh, new spin on the classic tale, Treasure Island, featuring an all-star cast led by Eddie Izzard, Elijah Wood and Donald Sutherland. Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling adventure story about fantastical treasure, youthful courage and murderous greed will premiere Saturday, »

- Erin Willard

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Breaking News: Syfy Announces Spring Schedule Including Eureka’s Final Season

16 February 2012 2:48 PM, PST | ScifiMafia | See recent ScifiMafia news »

So happy and yet so sad at the same time. Syfy has just announced its spring schedule, and surprise! The final season of fan favorite Eureka will premiere not in the summer as it usually does, but on April 16. The sooner the better, we say, and we can’t wait.

According to the announcement there are some great shows coming our way, including the second season of Lost Girl, a Treasure Island miniseries, the premieres of Monster Man, Dream Machines, and Total Blackout, the return of Ghost Hunters, Hollywood Treasure, and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, and of course some Saturday Original Movies. Here are the details:

Syfy’S Spring 2012 To Feature More Original Series And Original Hours Of Programming Than Any Spring Season In Channel’S History

February 16, 2012

Syfy’S Spring 2012 To Feature More Original Series And Original Hours Of Programming Than Any Spring Season In Channel’S History »

- Erin Willard

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Nicol Williamson obituary

27 January 2012 2:37 AM, PST | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »

Actor whose unpredictability never undermined his electrifying talent

Nicol Williamson, whose death of oesophageal cancer at the age of 73 has been announced, was arguably the most electrifying actor of his generation, but one whose career flickered and faded like a faulty light fitting. Tall and wiry, with a rasping scowl of a voice, a battered baby face and a mop of unruly curls, he was the best modern Hamlet since John Gielgud, and certainly the angriest, though he scuppered his own performance at the Round House, north London, in 1969, by apologising to the audience and walking off the stage. The experience was recycled in a 1991 Broadway comedy called I Hate Hamlet, in which he proved his point and fell out badly with his co-star.

Williamson's greatest performance was as the dissolute and disintegrating lawyer Bill Maitland in John Osborne's Inadmissible Evidence at the Royal Court theatre in 1964. It was »

- Michael Coveney

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Nicol Williamson obituary

27 January 2012 2:37 AM, PST | The Guardian - TV News | See recent The Guardian - TV News news »

Actor whose unpredictability never undermined his electrifying talent

Nicol Williamson, whose death of oesophageal cancer at the age of 73 has been announced, was arguably the most electrifying actor of his generation, but one whose career flickered and faded like a faulty light fitting. Tall and wiry, with a rasping scowl of a voice, a battered baby face and a mop of unruly curls, he was the best modern Hamlet since John Gielgud, and certainly the angriest, though he scuppered his own performance at the Round House, north London, in 1969, by apologising to the audience and walking off the stage. The experience was recycled in a 1991 Broadway comedy called I Hate Hamlet, in which he proved his point and fell out badly with his co-star.

Williamson's greatest performance was as the dissolute and disintegrating lawyer Bill Maitland in John Osborne's Inadmissible Evidence at the Royal Court theatre in 1964. It was »

- Michael Coveney

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Nicol Williamson, 1938 - 2012

26 January 2012 3:24 PM, PST | MUBI | See recent MUBI news »

"Nicol Williamson, the British actor best known for his role as the wizard Merlin in the 1981 film Excalibur, has died of esophageal cancer," reports the AP. "Williamson had dozens of film credits to his name but won more plaudits for his stage acting. Playwright John Osborne once described him as 'the greatest actor since Marlon Brando.' He was nominated for a Tony Award in 1966 for his role in Osborne's Inadmissible Evidence and again in 1974 for Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. He also was nominated three times for acting honors at the British Academy Film Awards, Britain's equivalent of the Oscars."

"He made his professional stage debut at the Dundee Repertory Theatre in 1960, before appearing in Tony Richardson's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Court Theatre," notes the BBC. "He later teamed up with Richardson again, to star his Hamlet production at the Roundhouse. It was so successful, »

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Nicol Williamson Dies: Stage Hamlet; Screen Merlin, Sherlock Holmes

26 January 2012 2:22 PM, PST | Alt Film Guide | See recent Alt Film Guide news »

Stage and screen actor Nicol Williamson, who played Hamlet onstage and Merlin on screen, died of esophageal cancer on December 16 in Amsterdam, where he had been living since 1970. His son announced the death yesterday, January 25. Reports vary on Williamson's age; he was either 73 or 75. For those familiar only with Williamson's movie work, he was best remembered for his cocaine-addicted Sherlock Holmes in Herbert Ross' The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976) and for his campy Merlin in John Boorman's Excalibur (1981, photo). Based on Nicholas Meyer's novel, in The Seven-Per-Cent Solution Dr. Watson (Robert Duvall) entices Holmes to seek psychiatric help with none other than a pre-Viggo Mortensen Sigmund Freud: Alan Arkin. (Here's wondering if Shakespeare's shrink, as found in John Madden's Shakespeare in Love, was inspired by the Holmes-Freud relationship in Ross' movie.) Though made for a modest $4 million (about $16 million today), The Seven-Per-Cent Solution turned out to be »

- Andre Soares

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2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2004 | 1999

11 items from 2012


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