Prolific American actor who was Oscar nominated for roles in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and To Be Or Not to Be
The American actor Charles Durning, who has died aged 89, first grabbed audience attention as the crooked Lieutenant Snyder in The Sting (1973). He makes an explosive appearance, tearing down an alley after the slick grifter played by Robert Redford, and repeatedly lurches out of the shadows throughout the rest of the film. Durning had only a handful of scenes, and over the next 40 years would seldom be granted more screen time in 200-odd film and TV roles. Nevertheless, his jowly face, with its boxer's nose and sly eyes, grew increasingly familiar, and his name in the opening titles usually promised good things ahead. His heavyset frame meant he was often cast as tough guys, but he later assumed more jovial roles, portraying Father Christmas several times.
His first...
The American actor Charles Durning, who has died aged 89, first grabbed audience attention as the crooked Lieutenant Snyder in The Sting (1973). He makes an explosive appearance, tearing down an alley after the slick grifter played by Robert Redford, and repeatedly lurches out of the shadows throughout the rest of the film. Durning had only a handful of scenes, and over the next 40 years would seldom be granted more screen time in 200-odd film and TV roles. Nevertheless, his jowly face, with its boxer's nose and sly eyes, grew increasingly familiar, and his name in the opening titles usually promised good things ahead. His heavyset frame meant he was often cast as tough guys, but he later assumed more jovial roles, portraying Father Christmas several times.
His first...
- 12/28/2012
- by Chris Wiegand
- The Guardian - Film News
Today we are talking to a terrifically talented stage and screen performer who has appeared in dozens of film, TV and stage projects over the course of his forty-year career, the thoughtful and charming Treat Williams. In this all-encompassing conversation, Williams and I discuss the many stages of his career thus far, from his early roots co-starring alongside the likes of John Travolta and Marilu Henner in Grease and Over Here on Broadway in the 1970s, to leading the film adaptation of Terrence McNallys The Ritz to headlining Milos Foremans stirring film version of Hair to starring in handful of other iconic films from his heydey at the top of the Hollywood heap - Steven Spielbergs 1941, Sergio Leones Once Upon A Time In America and Sidney Lumets Prince Of The City included - and even working with Woody Allen on the caustic Hollywood Ending. In addition to sharing candid and...
- 9/11/2012
- by Pat Cerasaro
- BroadwayWorld.com
The actor on life after Pacey, why he's proud to be Canadian and why he prefers film to television
Hi Joshua, I'm picturing you sat in some sterile distributor's office.
No, I'm in my house in Los Angeles. That's a lot better than some distributor's office, let me tell you.
Let's talk about the character of Jeremy in Lay the Favourite (1). He's like the lone innocent in a gang of rogues.
Yeah, he's the babe in the woods, he's outside the gambling arena and allows the Rebecca Hall character to connect to a different kind of life.
Are you a big gambler yourself?
I've gone to Vegas, played a bit of poker. The Ocean's 11 (2) lifestyle is a lot of fun. But I know when to quit. My theory is that when the money starts coming out of your pocket, it's time to stop. What I like about Lay the...
Hi Joshua, I'm picturing you sat in some sterile distributor's office.
No, I'm in my house in Los Angeles. That's a lot better than some distributor's office, let me tell you.
Let's talk about the character of Jeremy in Lay the Favourite (1). He's like the lone innocent in a gang of rogues.
Yeah, he's the babe in the woods, he's outside the gambling arena and allows the Rebecca Hall character to connect to a different kind of life.
Are you a big gambler yourself?
I've gone to Vegas, played a bit of poker. The Ocean's 11 (2) lifestyle is a lot of fun. But I know when to quit. My theory is that when the money starts coming out of your pocket, it's time to stop. What I like about Lay the...
- 6/21/2012
- by Xan Brooks
- The Guardian - Film News
This year's Tribeca Film Festival carries one of its strongest line-ups in years. In addition to films from Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Sundance and Berlin circuit, there's also a wealth of U.S. premieres or lesser-known festival movies in the line-up that look just as promising this time around; after a relatively weak SXSW, it looks like the East Coast is getting some of the good stuff.
Below, you'll find 15 films that seem among the most intriguing Tribeca has to offer this year. Of course, we can't speak for their quality as yet, but they certainly look promising at this point at time. And for the record, we haven't included the high-profile opening and closing films -- "The Five-Year Engagement" and "The Avengers" -- partly because they're getting more than enough attention elsewhere, and partly because we've already seen both (although can't review them just yet -- keep your eyes peeled...
Below, you'll find 15 films that seem among the most intriguing Tribeca has to offer this year. Of course, we can't speak for their quality as yet, but they certainly look promising at this point at time. And for the record, we haven't included the high-profile opening and closing films -- "The Five-Year Engagement" and "The Avengers" -- partly because they're getting more than enough attention elsewhere, and partly because we've already seen both (although can't review them just yet -- keep your eyes peeled...
- 4/16/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Each week within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to the worthwhile titles now streaming on Netflix Instant Watch. This week we look at alternatives to Footloose, The Skin I Live In and Texas Killing Fields .
This weekend music , murder and madness collide in theaters, where small-town teens discover the joys of choreography, a devastated widower delves into madness, and Texan detectives track a sadistic killer. But if these features won’t sate your cravings for badass dance moves, Spanish flavored drama, and true to life crime tales, we got you covered with a list of hot titles that are currently available online.
A town where dancing is illegal is turned upside down by a teen-aged rebel (Kenny Wormald) with the deep desire to cut loose…footloose. Craig Brewer, the subversive director behind Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan, helms this sassy remake of the...
This weekend music , murder and madness collide in theaters, where small-town teens discover the joys of choreography, a devastated widower delves into madness, and Texan detectives track a sadistic killer. But if these features won’t sate your cravings for badass dance moves, Spanish flavored drama, and true to life crime tales, we got you covered with a list of hot titles that are currently available online.
A town where dancing is illegal is turned upside down by a teen-aged rebel (Kenny Wormald) with the deep desire to cut loose…footloose. Craig Brewer, the subversive director behind Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan, helms this sassy remake of the...
- 10/13/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Boomtron recently got the chance to interview up and coming actress, Michelle Page. At age 24, she has gotten many great performances under her belt with more on the way. She talked about being an actress in different medians and working with other actors.
Michelle began acting at age 8 in various theater performances where she earned much praise. She has gone on to guest star in shows such as Bones, CSI: Miami, Cold Case, and Castle. She also recently filmed a guest appearance in the show CSI: NY that will run October 7th. She also has several films that are set to come out soon. This extremely talented actress has a huge future ahead of her and has secured her self as a rising star in the acting world.
Boomtron: Michelle Page
Boomtron: So you started performing at age 8 in theater productions, but what made you decide to become a full time actress?...
Michelle began acting at age 8 in various theater performances where she earned much praise. She has gone on to guest star in shows such as Bones, CSI: Miami, Cold Case, and Castle. She also recently filmed a guest appearance in the show CSI: NY that will run October 7th. She also has several films that are set to come out soon. This extremely talented actress has a huge future ahead of her and has secured her self as a rising star in the acting world.
Boomtron: Michelle Page
Boomtron: So you started performing at age 8 in theater productions, but what made you decide to become a full time actress?...
- 9/12/2011
- by Sarah Sommer
- Boomtron
Mandy Bannon Mandy Bannon is the the lead actress of the recently released horror film Last Breath which was directed by Ty Jones and also starred Aaron Laue. Mandy Bannon turned in a dynamic performance in a physically and mentally challenging role as a wife whose marriage is on its last breath. She is token hostage, along with her husband, by a madman who forces the couple into an array of deadly and gruesome situations. In Last Breath, Mandy Bannon had to be appealing. She had to be resourceful. She had to cry. She had to be sad. She had to be angry. She had to be drunk. She had to run for her life. She had to deal with hundreds on top of hundreds of rats! She had to do it all! And she did it all admirably proving that she just isn't a one note actress, but an...
- 4/23/2011
- by Big Daddy aka Brandon Sites
- Big Daddy Horror Reviews - Interviews
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