Credited cast: | |||
Elijah Wood | ... | John M. Brinnin | |
Celyn Jones | ... | Dylan Thomas | |
Kelly Reilly | ... | Caitlin | |
Steven Mackintosh | ... | Jack | |
Shirley Henderson | ... | Shirley | |
Kevin Eldon | ... | Stanley | |
Steve Speirs | ... | Mickey | |
Richard Brake | ... | Mr. Unlucky | |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Andrew Bicknell | ... | Loomis | |
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Kate Drew | ... | Janet |
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Ken Drury | ... | Doctor |
Nicola Duffett | |||
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Weston Gavin | ... | Yale Provost |
Adam Gillen | ... | Harvey | |
Polly Hemingway | ... | Miss Missy 1 |
In 1950, John Brinnan invited the highly acclaimed and infamous Dylan Thomas to New York for a series of poetry readings. Ignoring rumors of Thomas' frivolities back home, Brinnan has his hands full when the poet arrives. Desperate to get his watchful university chaplains off his back, Brinnan takes Thomas to his family retreat in the woods of Connecticut. But even in the middle of nowhere, the resourceful and cantankerous Thomas finds an audience for his art, passion, love and aggression...
Superb reviews here of a magnificent film.
One complaint.
Too often the music kills the moment.
When no-one is speaking, and also when someone is speaking, the scene would be more intense without musical sounds that intrude.
Many years ago, in the 1940s I believe, H.L.Mencken wrote strongly of his irritation when musical sounds were introduced into films for dramatic effect.
This is a film largely about the spoken word and human frailties, in brilliantly simple black-ands-white settings that are intimate whether in a field, a forest or a cabin.
Of course it's merely personal opinion, but to me the music here merely clutters a classic.