Rufus Sewell

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Derek Smith

Original Poster:

45,512 posts

247 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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Last night I watched The Illusionist.

It was not a remarkable film, but is thoroughly enjoyable. I enjoy steadily paced films. The actors, for the most part, performed their roles well, although I thought the actions of one character in particular were not fully developed. His sudden change of heart came without explanation. It rates 7.6 on IMDB, which is surprisingly high, but it is pure entertainment without a message or complex meaning. Edward Norton, great in Red Dragon, was OK without being dominant. Jessica Biel had little to do but what she did she did well. One actor stood out though.

Rufus Sewell, an actor I've seen a few times but not been particularly struck by, nailed his character, the intelligent, utterly selfish and psychotic Prince Leopold.

To quote the film, everything you see is an illusion of course, but he was utterly believable. His part was the most complicated but afterwards, when thinking about what went on in the film, you could see the motive behind his every act.

So 7/10 is a reasonable mark, but Sewell's performance gives it that extra 0.6 perhaps.

The only reason I watched it was because I thought it was a film I'd seen some time ago about a battle between to magicians. I'm glad I was wrong.


Watchman

6,391 posts

244 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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I think it deserves a higher score. It's a well thought out story with mostly well developed characters.

I liked Rufus S but the stand out character was the inspector played by Paul Giammatti because we learned as he learned which is good storytelling from both the pov of the script and the actor.

frisbee

4,956 posts

109 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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He's really good in the Pillars of the Earth and The Man in the High Castle.

Northbloke

643 posts

218 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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Derek Smith said:
Last night I watched The Illusionist.
The only reason I watched it was because I thought it was a film I'd seen some time ago about a battle between to magicians. I'm glad I was wrong.
Was that The Prestige?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/

I had that recommended to me and it is on my Planner as yet unwatched.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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I find Sewell to be a very watchable actor. He was superb in the excellent (and criminally canned) Zen.

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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I think he played the part very well indeed, given what the ending was. And it was somewhat The Usual Suspect-esque I thought..

hepy

1,260 posts

139 months

Sunday 2nd October 2016
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Northbloke said:
Derek Smith said:
Last night I watched The Illusionist.
The only reason I watched it was because I thought it was a film I'd seen some time ago about a battle between to magicians. I'm glad I was wrong.
Was that The Prestige?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/

I had that recommended to me and it is on my Planner as yet unwatched.
Great film by Christopher Nolan. Well worth a watch.


Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Sunday 2nd October 2016
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Derek Smith said:
Rufus Sewell, an actor I've seen a few times but not been particularly struck by, nailed his character, the intelligent, utterly selfish and psychotic Prince Leopold.
Love R Sewell, always been a fan of his, unrelated, I used to get compared to him a while back. He has very striking features. Zen was one of thebest things on the Beeb a few years ago.
I re-watched the Illusionist, it wasn't as good as I remember, it doesn't hold up to repeated viewing and has some ropey plot structure, Ed was flat. Unlike the Prestige I feel, which gets better with repeated viewings.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 2nd October 2016
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hepy said:
Great film by Christopher Nolan. Well worth a watch.
The book it's based on is brilliant, written by Christopher Priest.

Brigand

2,544 posts

168 months

Sunday 2nd October 2016
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Always thought he was something of an underrated actor, I've been a fan of his for a long time now. Think the first movie I saw him in was Dark City, and its always a pleasure to see him still appearing in things.

Tango13

8,395 posts

175 months

Sunday 2nd October 2016
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Rufus Sewell reminds me a little of Oliver Read, gives off that slightly on edge aura, like he could go full retard at the slightest provocation.

Mothersruin

8,573 posts

98 months

Sunday 2nd October 2016
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Good actor - a mention for 'A Knight's Tale'.

Europa1

10,923 posts

187 months

Monday 3rd October 2016
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hornetrider said:
I find Sewell to be a very watchable actor. He was superb in the excellent (and criminally canned) Zen.
Agreed on all counts.

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Monday 3rd October 2016
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Tango13 said:
Rufus Sewell reminds me a little of Oliver Read, gives off that slightly on edge aura, like he could go full retard at the slightest provocation.
Yars, he has a vry good brooding intensity. Not many current UK actors can mange it. A lil similar to Mel Gibson.

walm

10,609 posts

201 months

Monday 3rd October 2016
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I am just making my way through The Man in the High Castle.
He is simply epic (although he does have by far the best role).

Smollet

10,465 posts

189 months

Monday 3rd October 2016
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Tango13 said:
Rufus Sewell reminds me a little of Oliver Read, gives off that slightly on edge aura, like he could go full retard at the slightest provocation.
Reminds me very much of Ian McShane in many ways. He was excellent in A Knight's Tale as mentioned elsewhere.

The Don of Croy

5,975 posts

158 months

Monday 3rd October 2016
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Smollet said:
Tango13 said:
Rufus Sewell reminds me a little of Oliver Read, gives off that slightly on edge aura, like he could go full retard at the slightest provocation.
Reminds me very much of Ian McShane in many ways. He was excellent in A Knight's Tale as mentioned elsewhere.
This 100% - could easily play McShane's son in a suitable piece. Or a remake of Lovejoy...

Tango13

8,395 posts

175 months

Monday 3rd October 2016
quotequote all
The Don of Croy said:
Smollet said:
Tango13 said:
Rufus Sewell reminds me a little of Oliver Read, gives off that slightly on edge aura, like he could go full retard at the slightest provocation.
Reminds me very much of Ian McShane in many ways. He was excellent in A Knight's Tale as mentioned elsewhere.
This 100% - could easily play McShane's son in a suitable piece. Or a remake of Lovejoy...
Ian McShane was excellent in 'Sexy Beast' too, the same brooding menace.

poing

8,743 posts

199 months

Monday 3rd October 2016
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I think he would be the perfect Bond villain.