Latest news with #MarlonBrando
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
For true film fans, Netflix and Amazon Prime will never replace Blu-ray
The first time I saw a Blu-ray playing on a high-definition television, it changed my life. I was in the electricals department of a shop in Cambridge, and the film was Guys and Dolls. The clarity was such that I felt I could shake hands with Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons. Within days, I had blown all my pocket money on such a television and a Blu-ray player. Then came an even more significant moment of revelation. I bought the Blu-ray of Brighton Rock, and even though it is in black and white, my breath was taken away by one of the early scenes. When Pinkie and his gang are chasing Kolley Kibber through the back streets of the town, the definition was so perfect, I felt I was there with them, in 1947. Not only did it drag me into the film in a way I had never felt before, but it gave me an entirely new conception of the past. I started upgrading my DVD collection to Blu-rays as those of my favourite films came out. Some were only minor improvements – Kind Hearts and Coronets was not quite of the standard I had hoped for – but others were stunning. The Cruel Sea transports you to the North Atlantic; the restoration of The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is surely one of the greatest cultural feats of our times. But several really rather wonderful films are not on Blu-ray. I know there is talk of the format disappearing as everything is streamed, but (as with the streaming of music and compact discs) the quality is never as good, and real fanatics will always want a hard copy and good machinery on which to play it. Rely on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime for viewing films and you risk an unreliable Wi-Fi connection scuppering your viewing. There is also the fear that a cherished title will be dropped from the service's library without warning, before you've had a chance to (re)watch it. Blu-ray presents no such problems. So, in an attempt to be helpful, I thought I'd suggest a few British cinema classics that someone really ought to set about restoring and putting on Blu-ray. First, however, there is one magnificent American film that one can get on Blu-ray only by buying an import, which requires a different region's player on which to watch it: William Wyler's masterpiece The Best Years of Our Lives, from 1946. It is hardly a marginal work – it won eight Oscars – and it defies belief that no British distributor has brought out an edition for our market. Similarly, two great British films can be had as imports, with all the related problems, but are not available in British editions: Powell and Pressburger's 49th Parallel, and Anthony Asquith's moving film of Terence Rattigan's The Browning Version, with an awesome performance by Michael Redgrave. One very culturally significant British film, Chance of a Lifetime, from 1950, is not even available at the moment on a commercial DVD, let alone a Blu-ray, and would seem ripe for the attentions of the British Film Institute. It was part-funded by a state film-finance corporation set up by the Attlee administration to help the native film industry survive some idiotic trade and economic policies that had almost brought it to its knees. It tells the story of a West Country agricultural-machinery firm where the workers become so militant that the owner invites them to run it. It is to an extent allegorical with the state of the country at the time; and another allegory, the charming 1944 film Tawny Pipit, should also be on Blu-ray. Instead of Nazis attacking innocent nations, bird's-egg thieves try to attack the nest of a rare bird. It is a profound gem. Will Hay's best film, My Learned Friend, is not on Blu-ray, while some of his less brilliant films are. And one of the darkest and most superbly acted films of the 1940s, The Rocking Horse Winner, about a boy with a manipulative mother, is only on DVD. The two worst omissions are, however, two of the finest films of the Second World War. Launder and Gilliat's Millions Like Us overwhelms by its realism and its sheer projection of decency and courage, and is one of the most important historical documents of the period. Even more inexplicable has been the failure to restore, Colonel Blimp-style, the film I regard as Powell and Pressburger's finest, A Canterbury Tale. Written by Emeric Pressburger, a Hungarian Jewish refugee from the Nazis, it is for me the most English film ever made, projecting all our finest values. The BFI, which does much excellent work in this regard, should start there.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Winona Ryder says she lost out on a movie with Marlon Brando because of 'Heathers': 'They were deeply offended'
"They thought it was making fun of teen suicide." What's your damage, Hollywood? Winona Ryder said she lost out on a movie with Marlon Brando because of her role in the subversive 1989 comedy Heathers, now regarded as a cult classic. In a new profile for Elle UK, Ryder recounted how she was told that she would "never work again" if she took on the role of Veronica Sawyers. And "I did lose a job," she said. After some prodding, Ryder revealed the role was for The Freshman, the 1990 crime comedy that also starred Matthew Broderick, as a naive film school student who accepts a job with Brando's mobster. Ryder said she already landed the role — then, the filmmakers saw Heathers. "They thought it was making fun of teen suicide," she said. "They were deeply offended and, yeah, they revoked the offer." "I'm like, 'I can't work with Marlon Brando?' Ryder recalled, adding that she stood firmly by her work. "I had to stand my ground. I wasn't gonna apologize." The dark comedy centered on Ryder's Veronica, who is part of a clique of popular mean girls — all named Heather — at her high school, though she does not approve of their cruel behavior towards others. Veronica discovers that her new boyfriend, J.D. (Christian Slater), is intentionally killing students he doesn't like, including clique leader Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), who was not-so-accidentally poisoned; her death was staged to appear as a suicide. The late Shannen Doherty also starred as new clique leader Heather revealed last year, in a video interview for Harper's Bazaar alongside her Beetlejuice Beetlejuice costar Jenna Ortega, that her agent implored her not to do the film. "My agent at the time literally got down on her knees," she said. "She's like, 'Please, you're gonna destroy any chance of a career.'" And yet, "I think I made the right call," Ryder said. In a retrospective for the film's 30th anniversary in 2019, producer Denise Di Novi told Variety "everybody thought we were crazy to make the movie.' She also praised Ryder for not taking the advice of her agent, calling the actress "so smart, very brave and unusual." Di Novi added, "She was this amazing 15-year-old, if you can believe it. Winona got obsessed with the script.' Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly Solve the daily Crossword
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Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Winona Ryder reveals why she was dropped from a Marlon Brando film
Winona Ryder is reflecting on how one of her most iconic early roles nearly ended her career before it began. In a recent interview with Elle UK, the actress revealed that her decision to star in the 1988 cult classic Heathers cost her a major role opposite screen legend Marlon Brando — a consequence that industry insiders warned her about. As a teenager, Ryder was advised by her team not to take the role of Veronica Sawyers, the sharp-tongued protagonist in Heathers, a dark comedy about a murderous high school clique. 'My agent at the time literally got down on her knees begging me not to do it,' Ryder previously told Harper's Bazaar. 'She said, 'You're going to destroy any chance of a career.'' Despite the warnings, Ryder took the role — and quickly saw fallout. She was dropped from the 1990 crime comedy The Freshman, which starred Brando and Matthew Broderick. 'They thought it was making fun of teen suicide. They were deeply offended and, yeah, they revoked the offer,' she said. 'I'm like, 'I can't work with Marlon Brando?' I had to stand my ground. I wasn't gonna apologize.' Heathers was polarizing at the time but ultimately became a cult favorite and a defining moment in Ryder's career. 'I never turn off Heathers if it's on. I know it basically by heart,' she said, expressing no regrets. Producer Denise Di Novi told Variety that Ryder was 'very brave and unusual' to take on such a controversial role, describing her as 'an amazing 15-year-old' who became obsessed with the script. Though The Freshman was a missed opportunity, Ryder's gamble on Heathers proved to be a bold move that solidified her reputation as a fearless and unconventional talent.
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Why Stranger Things Star Winona Ryder Missed Out On Marlon Brando's Film
Last Updated: Winona Ryder was initially cast in The Freshman (1990) alongside Marlon Brando, but the offer was revoked after the producers watched her in Heathers. Winona Ryder is returning as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things Season 5, which marks the final chapter of the hit Netflix series. While fans gear up for the first part of the final season releasing on November 26, Ryder has now shared a 35-year-old secret that once deeply impacted her career. Winona Ryder Was Once Rejected From A Marlon Brando Film In a recent interview with Elle UK, the 53-year-old actress revealed that she was initially cast in the 1990 film The Freshman, opposite Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick. But everything changed after the producers saw her in Heathers. In 1989, Winona Ryder starred in the cult dark comedy Heathers, where she played the role of Veronica Sawyer. The story follows Veronica as she teams up with JD, played by Christian Slater, to take revenge on the high school queen bee Heather Chandler, portrayed by Kim Walker. What begins as a prank turns deadly when Heather dies, and the duo stages it to look like a suicide. The film explores themes like gun violence, eating disorders, sexuality and murder, all wrapped in sharp humour and biting satire. Why Winona Ryder Lost The Role In The Freshman The Little Woman actress shared, ''I was told I was never gonna work again if I did Heathers'," admitting, 'I did lose a job." She further explained, 'They thought it was making fun of teen suicide. They were deeply offended and, yeah, they revoked the offer." In an emotional tone, Winona Ryder added, 'I'm like, 'I can't work with Marlon Brando?'" But she stood her ground. She shared, 'But I had to stand my ground. I wasn't gonna apologise." She admitted that Heather holds a special place in her heart. 'I never turn off Heathers if it's on. I know it basically by heart," she said. Heathers Director Defended The Film's Intent Earlier in an interview with The Denver Post Michael Lehman, the director of Heather clarified that it's a mix of dark crimes and comedy. He said, 'The more horrifying or disturbing human behavior is, the more opportunity there is to mine it for certain types of comedy," adding, 'You click it a few notches in one direction or another to make it absurd, and it allows to you to understand human behavior better, because people do horrible things with the best intentions." He also pointed out that much of the backlash was rooted in misinterpretation. Lehman said, 'When it came out a lot of people were very upset and there was a big politically correct backlash saying, 'How dare you make fun of teenage suicide!' But Columbine hadn't happened yet. And anyway, we weren't making fun of teenage suicide, we were making a comedy about the way teenagers are perceived by adults and how they behave to each other." Despite The Setback, Ryder's Career Soared Though she lost the role in The Freshman, Ryder's bold choice to stand by Heathers didn't slow her down. In 1990 alone, she starred in Edward Scissorhands and Mermaids. Her performances in The Age of Innocence (1993) and Little Women (1994) earned her two consecutive Oscar nominations. Over the years, she has collected a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and even a Grammy Award. Winona Ryder is set to return in Stranger Things 5, a series she has been associated with for almost a decade, continuing to win hearts as Joyce Byers. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Winona Ryder says she lost out on a movie with Marlon Brando because of 'Heathers': 'They were deeply offended'
"They thought it was making fun of teen suicide." What's your damage, Hollywood? Winona Ryder said she lost out on a movie with Marlon Brando because of her role in the subversive 1989 comedy Heathers, now regarded as a cult classic. In a new profile for Elle UK, Ryder recounted how she was told that she would "never work again" if she took on the role of Veronica Sawyers. And "I did lose a job," she said. After some prodding, Ryder revealed the role was for The Freshman, the 1990 crime comedy that also starred Matthew Broderick, as a naive film school student who accepts a job with Brando's mobster. Ryder said she already landed the role — then, the filmmakers saw Heathers. "They thought it was making fun of teen suicide," she said. "They were deeply offended and, yeah, they revoked the offer." "I'm like, 'I can't work with Marlon Brando?' Ryder recalled, adding that she stood firmly by her work. "I had to stand my ground. I wasn't gonna apologize." The dark comedy centered on Ryder's Veronica, who is part of a clique of popular mean girls — all named Heather — at her high school, though she does not approve of their cruel behavior towards others. Veronica discovers that her new boyfriend, J.D. (Christian Slater), is intentionally killing students he doesn't like, including clique leader Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), who was not-so-accidentally poisoned; her death was staged to appear as a suicide. The late Shannen Doherty also starred as new clique leader Heather revealed last year, in a video interview for Harper's Bazaar alongside her Beetlejuice Beetlejuice costar Jenna Ortega, that her agent implored her not to do the film. "My agent at the time literally got down on her knees," she said. "She's like, 'Please, you're gonna destroy any chance of a career.'" And yet, "I think I made the right call," Ryder said. In a retrospective for the film's 30th anniversary in 2019, producer Denise Di Novi told Variety "everybody thought we were crazy to make the movie.' She also praised Ryder for not taking the advice of her agent, calling the actress "so smart, very brave and unusual." Di Novi added, "She was this amazing 15-year-old, if you can believe it. Winona got obsessed with the script.' Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
