Please note: Although this is a general (but Cumberbatch-centric) review, you may find spoilery descriptions. If you don't want to be possibly spoiled in any way, please wait to read this blog until you've seen the movie.
Agent Classified, as Skipper calls him, knows how to make an entrance--in a $19 million plane. (He and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Phil Coulson should compare notes.) Like Coulson, Classified leads a handsome ensemble of capable secret agents, but this team is collectively known as the North Wind. [To make the required Sherlock or ACD comparison, whereas the East wind is cold, bitter, and destructive (rather like Sherlock can be when faced with a terrible foe), North Wind is cool, witty, and savior-like when it breezily drops in to save animals in peril--although these agents aren't averse to destruction and know they look good walking away in slow-mo from a huge explosion.] When evil octo-scientist Dave abducts penguins all over the world while he prepares a Medusa serum to turn the cuddly birds into monsters, the penguins formerly of Madagascar (AKA Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private) travel the globe to thwart this evildoer's plan--which is exactly what the North Wind has in mind, too.
Fortunately, the North Wind also brings the arrival of Benedict Cumberbatch--or rather his vocal talents as grey wolf Classified. He's classy. He's confident. He's cool. He's a wolf with a plan. His voice--not just his animated expression--"raises an eyebrow" at the penguins' antics.
Theoretically, the family-friendly movie stars the cute penguins of Madagascar in the fourth movie in DreamWorks Animation's talking animal saga. The movie's plot, however, seems better suited to the Nickelodeon TV show. It's a fun movie, but the plot is standard evil genius vs. good, self-knowing smugness vs. wide-eyed innocence. The zippy pace and punny one-liners (often plays on actor's names: "Charlize, there on the death ray!" or "Kevin, bake on!") keep the story interesting for short attention spans. Plus, the actors are really into character and seem to be having a very good time.
The best lines go to John Malkovich as Dave, a mad-scientist octopus bent on revenge, and Cumberbatch as Classified. Whereas Malkovich can go full-stop (and non-stop) Evil with gusto and glee, Cumberbatch is more constrained as the proper British spy character that both checks the boxes for and simultaneously pokes fun at the spy-film genre. Cumberbatch's best line--"It's like talking to my parents"--is also his favorite. The Skype call in question is humorous because it's "human"--a scene with which parents or children can identify. Cumberbatch/Classified delivers the line under his breath, which also humanizes the character who, despite being highly successful in his career, still faces common fond frustrations with his family.
Once again, Cumberbatch's/Classified's Britishness is highlighted more so than would be typical in a "spy film" in a world long familiar with Bond. Classified wants the penguins to create a diversion, while Skipper's plan requires the North Wind to provide the diversionary tactic. The standoff results in a pronunciation-off before the plan-off to determine how the teams will work together. Skipper insists the correct pronunciation is dɪˈvɜrʒ(ə)n, with a short "i", but Classified asserts it is dīˈvərZHən, with a long "i".
The story's moral about what really counts does not reflect diversity--however you pronounce it--as much as it arguably should. By the time the credits roll, the penguins' status quo has been predictably restored.
Rotten Tomatoes today lists the critics' approval rating at 68% (up from 62% last night), with 74% of the audience giving it four out of five stars. Cumberbatch and Malkovich are getting strong positive reviews by both groups. U.S. box office returns since Thursday indicate that Penguins will end up in the top five by the end of the Thanksgiving weekend--way behind Mockingjay but ahead of Horrible Bosses 2. It's doing well within its niche-audience group, but Big Hero 6, even in its fourth weekend, is still strong competition, and all non-Mockingjay movies are doing less business than expected.
My adult-kid friends and I had a good time when we saw Penguins at a matinee yesterday, although we agreed there's no need for the 3D, other than providing more visual depth; the movie doesn't resort to gimmicky zoom-ins or close-ups. Like many Cumberbatch fans (especially those without children), we were there to see Classified and now want a Classified spinoff movie. If the penguins could do it after being cute in the Madagascar series, why can't classy Classified?
In the meantime, adult fans can play the "pengweng" drinking game. Every time Classified says "pengweng," take a drink of your favorite movie beverage. Classified doesn't always pronounce penguin that way, so you have to listen carefully.
Especially for Cumberbatch fans, Penguins is a pleasant dīˈvərZHən for an hour and a half. It's not the most profound or heart-tugging family film that DreamWorks Animation has ever produced (I'm biased toward the How to Train Your Dragon series), but it, like the penguins, is cute and fun. Plus, it's another way to enjoy Cumberbatch's talents--especially until the final Hobbit film or The Imitation Game comes to a cinema near you.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Friday, November 21, 2014
My PopMatters Review of To the Ends of the Earth
Nearly a decade ago, Benedict Cumberbatch starred in the four-and-a-half-hour BBC miniseries, To the Ends of the Earth. Although by then he already had earned great acclaim for his acting on stage and television (e.g., a BAFTA nomination for Hawking), he wasn't the international star he is today. Yet he clearly is a talented actor, and this miniseries showcases his range and, even better for fans, gives him an immense amount of screen time--he's in almost every scene.
The miniseries has recently been re-released in the U.S. and Canada, and, as a contributing editor for PopMatters, I reviewed the DVD. My review is now available on PopMatters at
PopMatters review of To the Ends of the Earth
Although I hope you find the review useful and possibly entertaining, I also want to direct you to the embedded links to the BBC press release and PBS Masterpiece article from 2005-06 that provide you even more background about the miniseries and Cumberbatch's research for playing and performance as Edmund Talbot.
I realize that many fans have long known about these articles and To the Ends of the Earth. If you haven't seen this performance and want to know more about it, I hope you'll not only read the review and watch the miniseries but also read two fine background pieces that can provide you with a greater context for this miniseries within Cumberbatch's career.
The miniseries has recently been re-released in the U.S. and Canada, and, as a contributing editor for PopMatters, I reviewed the DVD. My review is now available on PopMatters at
PopMatters review of To the Ends of the Earth
Although I hope you find the review useful and possibly entertaining, I also want to direct you to the embedded links to the BBC press release and PBS Masterpiece article from 2005-06 that provide you even more background about the miniseries and Cumberbatch's research for playing and performance as Edmund Talbot.
I realize that many fans have long known about these articles and To the Ends of the Earth. If you haven't seen this performance and want to know more about it, I hope you'll not only read the review and watch the miniseries but also read two fine background pieces that can provide you with a greater context for this miniseries within Cumberbatch's career.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
The Hollywood Film Awards and the Prelude to Oscar, or A Tale of Two Actors
Billed as the first event of the awards season and, as host Queen Latifah explained, an introduction to "highly anticipated films you'll want to see," the Hollywood Film Awards debuted on CBS last night (November 14, 2014). As a film aficionado, I already was aware of the films being "introduced" and promoted to the CBS Friday night television audience. Most members of the audience who tuned in for the red carpet show, awards, and CBS "after party" probably hadn't heard of all the touted films, but they likely watched to see, as CBS advertised for weeks, "your favorite stars".
Benedict Cumberbatch was one of those stars, but even though he took home the Hollywood Actor award for The Imitation Game, the evening wasn't all it could--or arguably should--have been for him as a potential Oscar nominee, probably because he was being himself instead of a promotional machine. All the reasons I enjoy watching this actor maneuver through the layers of public celebrity, in addition to being entertained and enlightened by his performances, were on display and sharply contrasting the "Hollywood game" of working the crowd and winning future Oscar votes.
Let's start with the way that Benedict Cumberbatch was filmed arriving at the red carpet and contrast his evening's "performance" as a potential Oscar nominee with that of another excellent British actor, Eddie Redmayne. Whereas Redmayne was shown smiling before the photographers and chatting amiably with CBS entertainment correspondent Gayle King, the camera first followed Cumberbatch stepping out of his car in front of the red carpet and being led where he needed to go. There's nothing spectacular about that common shot--except that Cumberbatch merely looked open-faced and friendly while concentrating on being where he needed to go. Contrast that initial impression of the impeccably dressed actor looking a bit serious--as he did later posing for the photographers--with Hollywood veteran Michael Keaton, who grinned from the moment the car door opened and showed very clearly that he was mindful he was live on national television. He worked the camera, even in the brief few seconds he was shown exiting a vehicle. Cumberbatch seemed intent on doing his job well but did not seem as relaxed as he has been on past televised red carpets, for example, at last year's Oscars. There's nothing wrong with being less glib than Mike Myers or as outgoing as Chris Rock on the red carpet, but Cumberbatch's quieter demeanor was a marked contrast to that of awardees clearly working the red carpet and cozying up to interviewers or the camera. During this awards season, potential best actor nominees Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch will inevitably be compared.
A comment in Lainey Gossip last week reminded me that the business of being seen may be just as important as the quality of cinematic work drawing attention to future award winners. The differences between Eddie Redmayne's and Benedict Cumberbatch's appearances at key parties, awards shows, and Hollywood events might be summarized by this description: "Eddie’s been working it a lot more visibly though, tirelessly showing up to every screening, every Q&A, without scraping the lower end of the event list. Benedict may have lost early ground to him because he’s been shooting The Hollow Crown but Harvey Weinstein understands Oscar timing probably better than everyone else." In the past couple of weeks, Cumberbatch has flown from the U.K. to U.S. more than once, and in the next few days, he will be promoting both The Penguins of Madagascar and The Imitation Game on U.S. talk shows, on Tumblr, and in person at premieres and Q&As. Nevertheless, as usual, Cumberbatch's emphasis always seems to be on his work--such as his current role as Richard III in The Hollow Crown or his continuing focus on Alan Turing instead of himself during interviews for The Imitation Game. He doesn't chat about himself nearly as much as most actors, especially those courting a potential award nomination.
A New York Times blog described the prestigious Governors Awards this year as a "scrum for votes" and complained in its lead paragraph that "The movie academy’s Governors Awards, typically one of the classier prizefests, teetered on the brink Saturday of becoming the Golden Globes, one of the gabbier — and grabbier — galas on Hollywood’s annual pre-Oscar circuit." Furthermore, it pictured Redmayne being "parked" at the ballroom entrance, while Weinstein "held court" with Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley. Certainly, Cumberbatch will be seen at important events, but the way he is portrayed--including through candid camera shots and on-camera interviews--is starting to show a difference in style that says as much about the actor as it does the campaign process that is becoming ever more social media savvy and publicly broadcast.
Both Redmayne and Cumberbatch were highly visible at the Hollywood Film Awards last night, which provided an excellent opportunity for the American mainstream television audience to see them and learn about their competing biopics about Alan Turing (Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game) and Stephen Hawking (Redmayne in The Theory of Everything). Redmayne chatted amiably with King during his brief red carpet interview, mentioning that he was looking forward to being reunited with friends attending the awards [Indeed, one photo shows the smiling trio of Cumberbatch, Knightley, and Redmayne], finding such events nerve wracking [even though the award winners knew in advance that they would be on stage], and showing off his shiny black shoes, which, as King noted, were fancier than the shoes he wore during a pre-recorded interview. Cumberbatch, on the other hand, talked very briefly with Mo Rocca. I usually like Rocca's laidback, friendly-guy style, but I agreed with Cumberbatch that the interviewer should not have asked about Cumberbatch being cast as Dr. Strange. That role is far from a done deal, and, after unsuccessfully evading Rocca's persistent attempt to get him to say something about casting, Cumberbatch instead looked irritated. "Check your notes," he dismissed Rocca twice before the interview was cut short.
Fortunately, Cumberbatch talked sincerely and smoothly about Alan Turing at the top of the interview, and his comments, while nothing he hasn't said during other Imitation Game interviews, nonetheless showed his devotion to the film and his insistence that Turing receive the recognition he deserves.
However, most U.S. television audiences are used to stars coyly teasing potential casting news or laughingly asking if the interviewer wouldn't love to see the actor in that as-yet-unannounced role. Cumberbatch didn't play that game. He clearly wanted to stick to the topic of The Imitation Game and resented Rocca's focus on Dr. Strange. I respect Cumberbatch for his choices, but his tone and the abrupt ending of the interview (King was heard on air to ask if Rocca was sending the camera back to her) might not have seemed as appealing to mainstream America used to seeing only happy, flirtatious, project-teasing stars.
During his acceptance speech for receiving the Hollywood Breakout Performance award, Redmayne joked about his early years of being a broke "Brit abroad" in Hollywood and making the rounds of auditions. He thanked his benefactors, including Stephen Hawking. He showed he is sincere, humble, and grateful--all the traits that audiences and award voters like in their winners.
During his acceptance speech for receiving the Hollywood Actor award, saved for next-to-last as one of the evening's main accolades, Cumberbatch led with a quip about short microphones and the time zone back home. He referenced Mathew McConaughey's "All right, all right, all right" HFA speech upon winning last year ("as we say . . . 'oh my, oh my, oh my'") that the audience didn't seem to get, possibly because, as the host and several winners noted, the crowd had been drinking a lot all evening. When Cumberbatch turned more serious, he talked about Turing, once again seeming sincere and well spoken. He also looked a bit nervous, rubbing his cheek and lip as he spoke. Whereas Redmayne charmed the audience, Cumberbatch expressed his sincerity and wit, but not everyone may have been as wowed because it was "typical Cumberbatch"--honest, direct, well spoken, but, in this case, not as over-the-top enthusiastic as audiences might have expected. Whereas Cumberbatch perhaps inadvertently referenced his Britishness (e.g., "where I'm from," "over here"), Redmayne talked about his early time trying to make it in Hollywood and seemed to show more interest in being one of the Hollywood crowd.
The best bits for me, who likes to hear interviews in which actors say something interesting or insightful, were the clips preceding an award being presented. Cumberbatch looked relaxed, happy, and knowledgeable in the interview clips within the segments dedicated to Knightley, director Morten Tyldum, and himself. When, in her acceptance speech, Knightley acknowledged her "lovely friend" who is "excellent on and off camera," Cumberbatch beamed, one of the few times the camera caught him genuinely smiling.
I was disappointed that the CBS "after party" special focused only on a few actors, Redmayne among them, in lengthier pre-recorded interviews. Cumberbatch was left out, probably for a variety of reasons--limited broadcast time, emphasis on stars most mainstream Americans know (in segments mostly featuring American actors), Cumberbatch's work or travel schedule. Nevertheless, Redmayne was featured, and Cumberbatch was not. Viewers had yet one more opportunity to get to meet Redmayne, who, for all his success, doesn't typically receive the same kind of media attention as Cumberbatch. Neverthelss, for all his fame, Cumberbatch may not be on a name-recognition basis with lots of Americans who, based on their introduction to The Imitation Game, might buy a ticket.
What did I like about the way Benedict Cumberbatch was portrayed during the Hollywood Film Awards? He remains his own man, who doesn't suffer fools (or interviewers prodding him for information he doesn't want to give). He looks incredibly styled without seeming to be overstyled--he wears clothes very well but seems equally confident and natural in clips showing him in a t-shirt on set. His acceptance speeches are always interesting and informative. What I worry is that he may not come across as charismatic as Redmayne during some promotional events, and his work schedule and focus on multiple projects at once may not allow him to be seen in the same light as other actors campaigning for Oscar. Cumberbatch has said that he doesn't play the politics of awards--but Harvey Weinstein expertly does and frequently wins. Fortunately for those fans in the U.S., Cumberbatch will be on television a lot more in the next week, as well as attending high-profile promotional events. His fans are already sold on Cumberbatch's talent and charm, but mainstream audiences deciding whether to see The Imitation Game on Thanksgiving weekend may not yet be on board with Cumberfame.
In an insightful recent article in Forbes, film reviewer Scott Mendelson praised Cumberbatch's performance in The Imitation Game and noted that the actor "is such an engaging presence that it’s obvious why he is so coveted by Hollywood for this big role or that big movie. In a purely artistic sense, he is a movie star through-and-through." Here's hoping that U.S. media this week provide a better showcase for this star to shine.
Benedict Cumberbatch was one of those stars, but even though he took home the Hollywood Actor award for The Imitation Game, the evening wasn't all it could--or arguably should--have been for him as a potential Oscar nominee, probably because he was being himself instead of a promotional machine. All the reasons I enjoy watching this actor maneuver through the layers of public celebrity, in addition to being entertained and enlightened by his performances, were on display and sharply contrasting the "Hollywood game" of working the crowd and winning future Oscar votes.
Let's start with the way that Benedict Cumberbatch was filmed arriving at the red carpet and contrast his evening's "performance" as a potential Oscar nominee with that of another excellent British actor, Eddie Redmayne. Whereas Redmayne was shown smiling before the photographers and chatting amiably with CBS entertainment correspondent Gayle King, the camera first followed Cumberbatch stepping out of his car in front of the red carpet and being led where he needed to go. There's nothing spectacular about that common shot--except that Cumberbatch merely looked open-faced and friendly while concentrating on being where he needed to go. Contrast that initial impression of the impeccably dressed actor looking a bit serious--as he did later posing for the photographers--with Hollywood veteran Michael Keaton, who grinned from the moment the car door opened and showed very clearly that he was mindful he was live on national television. He worked the camera, even in the brief few seconds he was shown exiting a vehicle. Cumberbatch seemed intent on doing his job well but did not seem as relaxed as he has been on past televised red carpets, for example, at last year's Oscars. There's nothing wrong with being less glib than Mike Myers or as outgoing as Chris Rock on the red carpet, but Cumberbatch's quieter demeanor was a marked contrast to that of awardees clearly working the red carpet and cozying up to interviewers or the camera. During this awards season, potential best actor nominees Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch will inevitably be compared.
A comment in Lainey Gossip last week reminded me that the business of being seen may be just as important as the quality of cinematic work drawing attention to future award winners. The differences between Eddie Redmayne's and Benedict Cumberbatch's appearances at key parties, awards shows, and Hollywood events might be summarized by this description: "Eddie’s been working it a lot more visibly though, tirelessly showing up to every screening, every Q&A, without scraping the lower end of the event list. Benedict may have lost early ground to him because he’s been shooting The Hollow Crown but Harvey Weinstein understands Oscar timing probably better than everyone else." In the past couple of weeks, Cumberbatch has flown from the U.K. to U.S. more than once, and in the next few days, he will be promoting both The Penguins of Madagascar and The Imitation Game on U.S. talk shows, on Tumblr, and in person at premieres and Q&As. Nevertheless, as usual, Cumberbatch's emphasis always seems to be on his work--such as his current role as Richard III in The Hollow Crown or his continuing focus on Alan Turing instead of himself during interviews for The Imitation Game. He doesn't chat about himself nearly as much as most actors, especially those courting a potential award nomination.
A New York Times blog described the prestigious Governors Awards this year as a "scrum for votes" and complained in its lead paragraph that "The movie academy’s Governors Awards, typically one of the classier prizefests, teetered on the brink Saturday of becoming the Golden Globes, one of the gabbier — and grabbier — galas on Hollywood’s annual pre-Oscar circuit." Furthermore, it pictured Redmayne being "parked" at the ballroom entrance, while Weinstein "held court" with Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley. Certainly, Cumberbatch will be seen at important events, but the way he is portrayed--including through candid camera shots and on-camera interviews--is starting to show a difference in style that says as much about the actor as it does the campaign process that is becoming ever more social media savvy and publicly broadcast.
Both Redmayne and Cumberbatch were highly visible at the Hollywood Film Awards last night, which provided an excellent opportunity for the American mainstream television audience to see them and learn about their competing biopics about Alan Turing (Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game) and Stephen Hawking (Redmayne in The Theory of Everything). Redmayne chatted amiably with King during his brief red carpet interview, mentioning that he was looking forward to being reunited with friends attending the awards [Indeed, one photo shows the smiling trio of Cumberbatch, Knightley, and Redmayne], finding such events nerve wracking [even though the award winners knew in advance that they would be on stage], and showing off his shiny black shoes, which, as King noted, were fancier than the shoes he wore during a pre-recorded interview. Cumberbatch, on the other hand, talked very briefly with Mo Rocca. I usually like Rocca's laidback, friendly-guy style, but I agreed with Cumberbatch that the interviewer should not have asked about Cumberbatch being cast as Dr. Strange. That role is far from a done deal, and, after unsuccessfully evading Rocca's persistent attempt to get him to say something about casting, Cumberbatch instead looked irritated. "Check your notes," he dismissed Rocca twice before the interview was cut short.
Fortunately, Cumberbatch talked sincerely and smoothly about Alan Turing at the top of the interview, and his comments, while nothing he hasn't said during other Imitation Game interviews, nonetheless showed his devotion to the film and his insistence that Turing receive the recognition he deserves.
However, most U.S. television audiences are used to stars coyly teasing potential casting news or laughingly asking if the interviewer wouldn't love to see the actor in that as-yet-unannounced role. Cumberbatch didn't play that game. He clearly wanted to stick to the topic of The Imitation Game and resented Rocca's focus on Dr. Strange. I respect Cumberbatch for his choices, but his tone and the abrupt ending of the interview (King was heard on air to ask if Rocca was sending the camera back to her) might not have seemed as appealing to mainstream America used to seeing only happy, flirtatious, project-teasing stars.
During his acceptance speech for receiving the Hollywood Breakout Performance award, Redmayne joked about his early years of being a broke "Brit abroad" in Hollywood and making the rounds of auditions. He thanked his benefactors, including Stephen Hawking. He showed he is sincere, humble, and grateful--all the traits that audiences and award voters like in their winners.
During his acceptance speech for receiving the Hollywood Actor award, saved for next-to-last as one of the evening's main accolades, Cumberbatch led with a quip about short microphones and the time zone back home. He referenced Mathew McConaughey's "All right, all right, all right" HFA speech upon winning last year ("as we say . . . 'oh my, oh my, oh my'") that the audience didn't seem to get, possibly because, as the host and several winners noted, the crowd had been drinking a lot all evening. When Cumberbatch turned more serious, he talked about Turing, once again seeming sincere and well spoken. He also looked a bit nervous, rubbing his cheek and lip as he spoke. Whereas Redmayne charmed the audience, Cumberbatch expressed his sincerity and wit, but not everyone may have been as wowed because it was "typical Cumberbatch"--honest, direct, well spoken, but, in this case, not as over-the-top enthusiastic as audiences might have expected. Whereas Cumberbatch perhaps inadvertently referenced his Britishness (e.g., "where I'm from," "over here"), Redmayne talked about his early time trying to make it in Hollywood and seemed to show more interest in being one of the Hollywood crowd.
The best bits for me, who likes to hear interviews in which actors say something interesting or insightful, were the clips preceding an award being presented. Cumberbatch looked relaxed, happy, and knowledgeable in the interview clips within the segments dedicated to Knightley, director Morten Tyldum, and himself. When, in her acceptance speech, Knightley acknowledged her "lovely friend" who is "excellent on and off camera," Cumberbatch beamed, one of the few times the camera caught him genuinely smiling.
I was disappointed that the CBS "after party" special focused only on a few actors, Redmayne among them, in lengthier pre-recorded interviews. Cumberbatch was left out, probably for a variety of reasons--limited broadcast time, emphasis on stars most mainstream Americans know (in segments mostly featuring American actors), Cumberbatch's work or travel schedule. Nevertheless, Redmayne was featured, and Cumberbatch was not. Viewers had yet one more opportunity to get to meet Redmayne, who, for all his success, doesn't typically receive the same kind of media attention as Cumberbatch. Neverthelss, for all his fame, Cumberbatch may not be on a name-recognition basis with lots of Americans who, based on their introduction to The Imitation Game, might buy a ticket.
What did I like about the way Benedict Cumberbatch was portrayed during the Hollywood Film Awards? He remains his own man, who doesn't suffer fools (or interviewers prodding him for information he doesn't want to give). He looks incredibly styled without seeming to be overstyled--he wears clothes very well but seems equally confident and natural in clips showing him in a t-shirt on set. His acceptance speeches are always interesting and informative. What I worry is that he may not come across as charismatic as Redmayne during some promotional events, and his work schedule and focus on multiple projects at once may not allow him to be seen in the same light as other actors campaigning for Oscar. Cumberbatch has said that he doesn't play the politics of awards--but Harvey Weinstein expertly does and frequently wins. Fortunately for those fans in the U.S., Cumberbatch will be on television a lot more in the next week, as well as attending high-profile promotional events. His fans are already sold on Cumberbatch's talent and charm, but mainstream audiences deciding whether to see The Imitation Game on Thanksgiving weekend may not yet be on board with Cumberfame.
In an insightful recent article in Forbes, film reviewer Scott Mendelson praised Cumberbatch's performance in The Imitation Game and noted that the actor "is such an engaging presence that it’s obvious why he is so coveted by Hollywood for this big role or that big movie. In a purely artistic sense, he is a movie star through-and-through." Here's hoping that U.S. media this week provide a better showcase for this star to shine.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
The Hollywood Film Awards and the Upcoming Awards Season
Last night as I was enjoying watching Scott Bakula in NCIS: New Orleans, CBS ran a commercial for the Hollywood Film Awards, which will be televised for the first time on Friday, November 14. It's hailed as the opening act for awards season, and it's getting much more publicity this year because it will be broadcast. What caught my eye, however, was Benedict Cumberbatch among the many stars whose images are being used to promote the show and, presumably, attract a wide television audience. More fortuitously, his image flashed on the screen during the voiceover announcing "some of your favorite stars".
While this brief image, which doesn't even list Cumberbatch by name, might seem to be a "so what?" moment, it really has a bit more importance concerning his career. It's yet another measure that U.S. national television networks, not just PBS or BBC America, consider this actor to be a star who, in a 30-second spot, will attract a viewing audience. It also may presage Cumberbatch receiving an award. After all, his name was listed a few days ago among the most recent attendees.
At the very least, Cumberbatch fans have another award show to watch and yet another red carpet to check out.
I was surprised that it hasn't received more press, but Benedict Cumberbatch received a best actor nomination for The Imitation Game, as announced by the British Independent Film Awards. Again, it may not be the biggest of all film awards, but it is prestigious and hints that even more nominations for this role are on the way. My favorite quotation came from The Hollywood Reporter: "In terms of big stars, it is down to The Imitation Game to bring home the BIFA bacon, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley getting best actor and actress nominations." As I mention in the book, although fans may have considered Cumberbatch a star from the get-go, within the past year and, especially, his work as Alan Turing, he's routinely termed a star (or a "big star") by more than the entertainment media. Critics, reviewers, and the boards who determine the awards are increasingly aware of his presence, talent, and increasing clout within the film, television, and theatre industries in particular.
While this brief image, which doesn't even list Cumberbatch by name, might seem to be a "so what?" moment, it really has a bit more importance concerning his career. It's yet another measure that U.S. national television networks, not just PBS or BBC America, consider this actor to be a star who, in a 30-second spot, will attract a viewing audience. It also may presage Cumberbatch receiving an award. After all, his name was listed a few days ago among the most recent attendees.
At the very least, Cumberbatch fans have another award show to watch and yet another red carpet to check out.
I was surprised that it hasn't received more press, but Benedict Cumberbatch received a best actor nomination for The Imitation Game, as announced by the British Independent Film Awards. Again, it may not be the biggest of all film awards, but it is prestigious and hints that even more nominations for this role are on the way. My favorite quotation came from The Hollywood Reporter: "In terms of big stars, it is down to The Imitation Game to bring home the BIFA bacon, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley getting best actor and actress nominations." As I mention in the book, although fans may have considered Cumberbatch a star from the get-go, within the past year and, especially, his work as Alan Turing, he's routinely termed a star (or a "big star") by more than the entertainment media. Critics, reviewers, and the boards who determine the awards are increasingly aware of his presence, talent, and increasing clout within the film, television, and theatre industries in particular.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Introducing Benedict Cumberbatch, Transition Completed: Films, Fame, Fans
On November 3, 2014, the second of my two performance biographies, Benedict Cumberbatch, Transition Completed: Films, Fame, Fans was published by MX Publishing, who, a little more than a year earlier, published the first book, Benedict Cumberbatch, In Transition. Either book can be read as a stand-alone volume, but there are some differences.
For the newer book, I analyzed many of Benedict Cumberbatch's recent films--the research for the performance, the performance, the premieres and reviews, and the significance of this film in the actor's body of work. Transition Completed therefore has chapters about Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Fifth Estate, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and August: Osage County and 12 Years a Slave (in the same chapter). Because Mr. Cumberbatch has often starred in indies, I included long sections about Little Favour and Burlesque Fairytales. I'm thrilled and grateful to writer/director Susan Luciani for providing photos and a discussion of the actor's work on Burlesque Fairytales. Of course, I had to write a chapter about Sherlock's season three and the way that Sherlock Holmes has become the sexiest consulting detective ever. Radio and theatre aren't left out: Mr. Cumberbatch's work on Cabin Pressure and the Rumpole of the Bailey series are among the works discussed in one chapter, as are recent and upcoming performances on stage. Then there are the voice roles, interviews, and work as a presenter, as well as appearances at premieres and awards, and the many, many accolades bestowed upon the talented actor in the past year alone. Transition Completed details the most recent part of Benedict Cumberbatch's journey from popular actor to international star--it is much more focused on the perks and perils of celebrity than was the previous book.
Benedict Cumberbatch, In Transition covers a much longer time span, from brief discussions of his early roles while he was still in school through mid-2013. Both books feature the actor's work in the theatre, in radio, on television, and on film. For this book I talked with two of Mr. Cumberbatch's early directors, viewed or listened to recordings of Mr. Cumberbatch's stage work in the past decade, and studied every document available regarding his work at the National Theatre. Some fans of the book have said the depth of research makes it seem like a thesis or dissertation--and I take that as a compliment. I tried very hard to uncover every source possible for me to review to write a performance biography, which may be a different type of biography than is usually found on the market. Instead of a tell-all, this book in particular (although it is true of both) documents Mr. Cumberbatch's growth as an actor and his increasing excellence in each medium. Because I continue to write so much about Benedict Cumberbatch--reviews (many in the past few years for PopMatters, others in my other blog--Books, Films, and Me), academic conference papers, journal articles, and books--I've started this new blog just to share my thoughts on this actor's recent work. I'll also comment on my journey as an unofficial biographer and a university professor who integrates examples from Sherlock, The Hobbit, Little Favour, War Horse, Third Star, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy into film and other humanities courses. So, welcome to Blogging about Benedict and Benedict Cumberbatch, Transition Completed. I hope that readers will enjoy them or at least find some insights worthwhile.
For the newer book, I analyzed many of Benedict Cumberbatch's recent films--the research for the performance, the performance, the premieres and reviews, and the significance of this film in the actor's body of work. Transition Completed therefore has chapters about Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Fifth Estate, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and August: Osage County and 12 Years a Slave (in the same chapter). Because Mr. Cumberbatch has often starred in indies, I included long sections about Little Favour and Burlesque Fairytales. I'm thrilled and grateful to writer/director Susan Luciani for providing photos and a discussion of the actor's work on Burlesque Fairytales. Of course, I had to write a chapter about Sherlock's season three and the way that Sherlock Holmes has become the sexiest consulting detective ever. Radio and theatre aren't left out: Mr. Cumberbatch's work on Cabin Pressure and the Rumpole of the Bailey series are among the works discussed in one chapter, as are recent and upcoming performances on stage. Then there are the voice roles, interviews, and work as a presenter, as well as appearances at premieres and awards, and the many, many accolades bestowed upon the talented actor in the past year alone. Transition Completed details the most recent part of Benedict Cumberbatch's journey from popular actor to international star--it is much more focused on the perks and perils of celebrity than was the previous book.
Benedict Cumberbatch, In Transition covers a much longer time span, from brief discussions of his early roles while he was still in school through mid-2013. Both books feature the actor's work in the theatre, in radio, on television, and on film. For this book I talked with two of Mr. Cumberbatch's early directors, viewed or listened to recordings of Mr. Cumberbatch's stage work in the past decade, and studied every document available regarding his work at the National Theatre. Some fans of the book have said the depth of research makes it seem like a thesis or dissertation--and I take that as a compliment. I tried very hard to uncover every source possible for me to review to write a performance biography, which may be a different type of biography than is usually found on the market. Instead of a tell-all, this book in particular (although it is true of both) documents Mr. Cumberbatch's growth as an actor and his increasing excellence in each medium. Because I continue to write so much about Benedict Cumberbatch--reviews (many in the past few years for PopMatters, others in my other blog--Books, Films, and Me), academic conference papers, journal articles, and books--I've started this new blog just to share my thoughts on this actor's recent work. I'll also comment on my journey as an unofficial biographer and a university professor who integrates examples from Sherlock, The Hobbit, Little Favour, War Horse, Third Star, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy into film and other humanities courses. So, welcome to Blogging about Benedict and Benedict Cumberbatch, Transition Completed. I hope that readers will enjoy them or at least find some insights worthwhile.
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