This week, we lost one of the greats. Dame Maggie Smith passed away Thursday at the age of 89. She was probably best known to people my age and younger as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter franchise as well as the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crowley on the TV series "Downton Abbey" as well as in its subsequent films. The first thing I remember seeing her in was 1991's Hook with Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman in which she played Granny Wendy. Because of what I assume was excellent makeup, I guess I've always thought of her as old, even though, if I'm doing the math correctly, she was only 56 when she made that movie.
She had a career that spanned more than six decades, during which she won numerous awards including two Oscars (for her work in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and California Suite) as well as four prime time Emmy Awards (three of those for "Downton Abbey"). She excelled in period pieces with large ensemble casts of mostly British actors, frequently working with the same ones many times throughout her career. She also usually had the best quips and one-liners. This week's film is one of those.
Set in the early 1930s, a group of snobbish rich people have gathered at a very upper-class estate for a weekend of relaxation and hunting. The film turns into a classic British murder mystery when someone is killed on the premises. The cast is a veritable who's who of great British actors. In addition to Smith, the movie features, Helen Mirren, Kristin Scott Thomas, Michael Gambon, Stephen Fry, Charles Dance, Tom Hollander, Jeremy Northam, Clive Owen, Kelly MacDonald, Emily Watson, Derek Jacobi, and Richard E. Grant. Also included in the cast are two "token" Americans--Bob Balaban (who also co-produced the film) and Ryan Phillippe.
The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, and Best Supporting Actress (for which both Smith and Mirren were nominated). Julian Fellowes won the film's only Oscar for Best Original Screenplay--Fellowes, of course, would go on to create "Downton Abbey."
Directed by the great Robert Altman, this week, I'm recommending 2001's Gosford Park.
Until next week, stay safe, be good to your neighbours, and please remember that if at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Yours in peace, love, and rock and roll!
The Reverend Will the Thrill
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