Anthony Hopkins Heads for Your Final Destination
Filed under: Drama, Romance, Casting, Newsstand
When you make a list of the top septuagenarian iconic actors, Sir Anthony Hopkins has to rank very near the top. His work in films like Magic, The Bounty, Howard's End and, of course, The Silence of the Lambs has shown his tremendous depth of talent and won him many awards, including a best actor Oscar for playing the suave, sophisticated sociopath Hannibal Lector.Lately though, his work has seemed -- how should I put it -- uninspired. It's as if he feels he's proven all he needs to prove and doesn't care to work so hard anymore. Or maybe its just his choice of films lately (like Hannibal and the equally forgettable Bad Company and Alexander) that makes me think Hopkins has decided it's okay to rest on his impressive laurels?
Whatever may be happening with Hopkins at the moment, there may be hope for the man yet because he's returning to familiar ground with his latest choice of projects. According to Production Weekly, Hopkins will re-team with frequent collaborator James Ivory and star in The City of Your Final Destination for the director. The film, based on the novel by Peter Cameron and adapted by another longtime Ivory collaborator Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, tells the story of an Iranian-born student who travels to Argentina to seek permission from a deceased author's family to write a biography of his life.
Once there, he confronts the family and by doing so forces them to take a hard look at their lives and face one of their greatest fears -- the future. Hopkins joins Omar Metwally, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Hiro Sanada and the terrific Laura Linney who are already cast in the film. This marks Hopkins' fourth time around with director Ivory. Their three previous collaborations on The Remains of the Day, Surviving Picasso and the previously mentioned Howard's End have resulted in Hopkins delivering some of the best performances of his career. Maybe this fourth go-around will inspire something in the actor and will help him return to the form that made him the icon he is today. As a fan of the man and his work, I hope so.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-08-2006 @ 6:30AM
Phil said...
Hey, you neglected a recent film by Anthony Hopkins that is a real gem, go watch The Worlds Fastest Indian. Top notch stuff (IMO) from Sir Hopkins playing the real life character Burt Munro.
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11-08-2006 @ 8:51AM
Sabrina said...
You are a little uninformed, Bad Company and Alexander released 3 and 4 years ago...his latest work in the film "The Worlds Fastest Indian" is one of his greatest, that film released this year...uninspired is the not the word I would use to describe it. It also shows that Hopkins does care about his work, even if he stopped caring 3 years ago - he seems to be interested again.
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11-08-2006 @ 8:57AM
'size said...
"...happening with Hopkins at the moment, their may be hope for the man yet..."
their = there
sorry, simple grammatical errors are a pet peeve...
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11-08-2006 @ 9:12AM
Andrew said...
I can personally say that I have no problem with this, especially given the performances he's given us in the past, but Tony's never been bashful about admitting that a hefty paycheck is sufficient comepensation for those less than stellar films. Michael Caine's shared the same view. Again, Just cause a guy does Titus and Remains of the Day doesn't mean he can't get caught up in a little Chris Rock-age.
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11-08-2006 @ 2:51PM
michael said...
nay sir, you forget last year's THE INDIAN RUNNER...Hopkins at his best! Now shush!
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11-08-2006 @ 3:23PM
chris ullrich said...
thanks for the grammar help. as for the "indian" movie i didn't think he was too bad in that one. not up to his former standards but better than other recent work. perhaps that was the start of his turn-around that will be further enhanced by appearing in this film?
and i don't have a problem of people doing things for the money i just wish they wouldn't stop doing their best work and just forcus on the money.
after all, i bet michael caine regrets doing a POS like "Jaws: The Revenge" just for the money. at least i hope he does.
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11-08-2006 @ 8:00PM
Sabrina said...
Hi, Chris - Okay, so you have seen it. Thats interesting, you really don't think Indian is one of his greatest performances? I think its just as good as his former work in films like Remains, Nixon and Titus. But that's okay...everyone has different views. I do agree that stuff like "Bad Company" do no justice to his talent, hopefully he won't do something like that again. Comprising your talent for money, I dont like that either no matter how big of a Hopkins fan I am.
He's doing mostly small films these days: Proof, Indian, Bobby, Slipstream and now this James Ivory film. He said recently that small films are "more satisfying", so maybe he has realized that doing good work is important.
Lets hope Hopkins has a great role in this Ivory flick :)
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11-14-2006 @ 2:00PM
Laurie Brown said...
Mr. Hopkins may have made some bad choices over the past few years....however...we know that the success of a film is very dependent on the post production work.
An actor often chooses roles that takes them out of their comfort zone. With a better script, Bad Company may have been a more entertaining movie. Alexander had the best intentions. Hannibal...well he has to pay his bills doesn't he?
I think you should know that Mr. Hopkins has become somewhat of a renaissance man. He is now invoved in music composition and painting. He is not resting on his laurels...he is going through a period of re-discovery. Good for him!
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