Kenneth Branagh - Sleuth

0:00 If I say the name Kenneth Branna, what role or performance comes to mind? Like you got a favorite one? Well, that's kind of two different answers. Like immediately, the first thing I think of is Henry the Fifth That was where I discovered him, and it is just the greatest performance, the greatest I think film version of the play. But my favorite performance of his was actually in Dunkirk. Really dun Kirk. I did not expect to say that he does so much with just his face. There is a scene where he's standing at the end of the pier and you can watch him realize that he is about to die, and then he sees the ships come in, and his whole face tells you that whole story just a few seconds, and it is one of the greatest moments. I just absolutely adore his performance in that movie. He is fantastic in dun Kirk. I'll tell you, I cannot get enough of him as Hercule Parrot though. He's so much fun.

1:18 He's so fun in that role. I know, the new one, Haunting in Venice. I just watched that the other night. Oh like you spectacular, h you know, I know, we'll talk about it later later on here but that ridiculous mustache and his eccentricities are He's spectacular. I can't get enough of enough of him in that role. But let's talk about you know, he does more than U. He does more than act obviously, So let's talk about a film by Kenneth Brandon, his two thousand and seven underrated Captain Mouse thriller Sleuth. Hello everybody, and welcome back to a Film by podcast. I'm Jeff Johnson with me today once again. Amber Lewis from Docking Base seventy seven. Nice to be back. Nice to have you back.

2:40 You did such an awesome job recently. You were you were the guest You were the guest co host for the R. Mel Brooks episode for High God. That was so much fun. I had several people they reached out and they're like, I've never heard of High Anxiety and I have to see. Yeah, well, I mean it's one of his underrated ones. It's not what people think of when they when they first think mel Brooks. But loved talking about mel Brooks with you on that one. You are certainly no stranger to our Patreon, where you have shown up several times to talk about some awesome movies. From nineteen eighty six. The last one we did was The Manhattan Project with John Lithgow. Yes, yeah, loved, loved that one. Speaking of Patreon, I would like to shout out our newest patron, Matt Sutter. Matt took advantage of our free seven day trial and now he's getting access to all of the good bonus content, including the mini nineteen eighty six lost episodes, which I want to say half of them feature Amber at this point. Up, yeah, another one's coming up and uh and not to mention, we we now have video so you know Halloween is approaching.

4:02 If you want to be scared, you can check out you can see us actually talking and and interacting. So if that's your if that's your thing, but check out a film by on Patreon for all that good stuff. Now then sleuth Amer, can you tell us what Sleuth is all about? Sleuth is the story of a writer, a very successful mystery writer who invites his wife's lover to his sprawling country estate to have a battle of wits and see who's gonna end up with the wife and he's gonna win this cat and mouse tennis match that got going on. Sir Michael Caine and Jude Law.

4:51 These guys, they always seem to be circling one another. I know both were involved in the Harry Potter projects, you know, because uh, let's see Brandon plays who was it a guilt worry Lockheart? Yes? Okay? And then I haven't seen the spin off series the is it the Fantastic Beasts? Yes? Yeah, because because Jude Lost playing a young Dumbledore on that right, Yes, we call him Yumbledore in our house. He's a good Dumbledore. I really like Fantastic Beasts. I really like those. I liked, uh the ones with Johnny Depp, And then I thought they did a really good job switching over to Mad's Michelson, who I always love. And uh, you know that that very very sweet new main character, Neats Commander is you know, he's such a little marshmallow taking care of all the little beasts and understanding that they're not dangerous, they just have special needs. And the supporting cast is amazing. So if you are a fan of the Harry Potter verse, uh, you know, give it a try. It is my is my love for the Harry Potter books and movies enough to assuage my my disdain for redmain. Are you are you telling me like, didn't you like about him? Is it he's unusual looking or it's well, it's not, it's not. It's not so much his punchable face. It's he plays

6:27 an annoying character and everything I've ever seen him in and I don't I just don't think he's a good I'm sorry, like he's I just don't think he's a good actor. Well, I just think the character is so incredibly sweet that it might uh win you over all. Right, I'm gonna give it shot. Okay, I'm gonna give it a shot based on based on your your your opinion there. But let's talk about an actor who I always love watching, and that is Sir Michael Caine. Here he's playing the role of Andrew White. This guy, so he plays the he plays the opposite role in the original nineteen seventy two version. Yes, and I need to give a little disclaimer here, this is not a remake. Yes, I'm glad you say that because I do want to get into that. We're going to because I have thoughts. As always, if you didn't have thoughts, we would not be inviting you to talk with us. But what are you feeling.

7:30 Okay, Yeah, the year before, Kane finishes Chris Nolan's The Prestige, which is a fantastic film. It's his second of eight collaborations with Christopher Nolan. I gotta be I gotta tell you though, Aside from all that, watching him and this really brings to mind his performance in death Trap, which I know we covered. Yes, we watched that last night because we were inspired after well, okay watching It's not just me. Yeah, Andrew Wyke and Sidney Brule are both wealthy, vain writers with amazing houses in a tension filled battle of wits with with a younger, handsome actor. Yeah. Absolutely, yeah, I love Michael Kane in this, but what would you Let's let's talk about Michael Kane's performance. What I think is so interesting is that Michael Kaine is usually some level of genial, you know, even if it's a very very serious role, he's still like, oh but he's such a nice guy, you know kind of thing. And in this one, like he's a rat bastard in this like he isn't absolutely just a mean, spiteful, hateful He starts from the moment he opens the door. Yes, he tags him the minute he opens the door and it never stops that opening scene. First off, credit to Branda for the very unusual les that he

9:00 shoots this movie in and that honestly it's his direction and the camera work that made this watchable for me. Okay, okay, you definitely have thoughts. I know we're gonna get into this, okay, but you're right though. Jude just knocks on the door and he immediately is taking shots at him, like the whole thing with a car like yeah, yeah, the little clun well yeah, the other car, yeah, the who the other car that's sitting there? Yeah yeah, And he's like what do you think of mind? You know he's right. Then I was like, I'm really gonna enjoy Michael Kane in this movie because he's this is one of those where he's he's just gonna be a prick about stuff. Yeah, there's and there's no wink, there's no twinkle. It's just you know, aggressive. From the very beginning, it is a Jude law as my low Tindall. So the year before he's got the rom com with Kate Winslet and who is it? Who else is in that? Jack Black and Holiday? Yeah? Thank you?

10:09 Thanks? Like what who was the who it was? It was Jack Black? Okay, Jack, I love that you focused on the guys and it's the women's movie. Yeah. But well, I mean, I guess I want to talk about Jude Law. Yes, at this point in his career, I'd say he's probably known for for like Closer, Cold Mountain, Enemy at the Gates, and the talent of mister Ripley. Right, Yes, I loved him. If I had to pick an all time favorite Jude Law performance, it's gonna be Enemy at the Gates where he plays vasili zeisef one. I was thinking talent in mister Ripley. I'm gonna tell you this.

10:50 If you like historical war films, if you like great No Strike that stellar performances, if you like love stories and you like action, Enemy at the Gates is your film. Oh my goodness, has it all? Has it all? And I will say this not to give anything away, but the love scene that is in that movie, I would probably put it in the top top five of all time. Wow. Yeah, you have to see it to understand what what I'm saying. And I don't want to give it away, but yeah, because I thought it was strictly like boys shooting guns like No, probably why I didn't see it. No, Rachel Weiss is.

11:33 She is spectacular in the movie. And man, I'm telling you one of the most memorable romantic love scenes I've ever seen in the film. And now you got homework. You gotta watch it. And then you got yeah. Yeah. Uh. This is his second time playing a part that Michael Kine did prior, because we gotta remember he also did the Alfie remake in two thousand and four. Yes, Amber, is there an? Is there another Michael Kane role we need Jude Law to take at this point? Ooh, interesting, it's becoming a thing with the guy, right right, yeah, you got anything, anything come to mind. The first thing I thought of was he's moving towards like Alfred Territory. Oh gosh, yeah, what he's fifty, so he's gonna he's gonna we do like a younger Batman.

12:22 Yeah, that could work you anyone that's anyone that's listened to uh prior episodes, especially our our collaboration with the Shelly you Can't Be Serious podcast where we did the what the what the hell, what the heck happened? Episodes? I like, I like to think that these guys are are talking and Kane's asking him like what he's got, what he's lining up? And I just like the idea of Jude Laws saying, well, you know, I'm looking at the role of HOGI for a Jaw's Revenge type of Rema remake. I could totally see him do flying flying a small Assessna and taking on a Great White Show, take a vacation of the Bahamas. Come on, they paid him to get into tan. You know the best part about that? What if Kine like responded, Oh, that's interesting because I'm I'm doing a Talent to Mister Ripley remake with the I'm gonna I'm up for Dicky Greenleaf and George Hamilton's gonna play the Matt Damon roll. I would you know what I would?

13:22 I would totally watch that movie I'm in speaking of being in uh quick cameo for two guys on the on the television because let's let's face it, this is this is definitely an actor's movie. This is one of those you can tell it definitely is a stage production. You got two guys do it the whole thing, but in a blinking you miss a moment. Uh Michael Caine's watching a police show and there's two guys on television. The police detective is actually played by Harold Pinter, who was the writer, the screenwriter, and he's interrogating a guy we we can't really see, and that guy is Kenneth Branna. So nuck on there anyway, even though it was always supposed to be two people. Clever little thing. Yeah, did you did you catch that? Like? Uh? Like, I was like, who is that guy? What's he watch? I didn't catch that it was Kenneth Brana, But I was like, is that Harold Pinter on the TV? What is going on? Yeah? I anytime an actor, an actor, anytime a character is watching a movie in our TV show in the background, I'm always like, what is it? You know, what's what's the what's the significance? So but I, yeah, I missed. I had to do some some research to find out that was actually Branda. But before, because he has a little voice, cameo in uh Infinity War and I saw that movie really like six times before I recognized his voice. Wait, hold hold

14:52 on, you're saying Kenneth Brandon did a voice over an Infinity War. The movie begins when the attack on the as guardian ship and you hear a radio broadcast and someone saying like, we're civilians and we need help, and oh you're I know exactly, someone come help us. That's Kenneth Branner. I never put that together. Oh all right, I gotta go back and watch it now. But before I do that, let's take a quick break, and when we come back, we'll talk a little bit about the film's background. And I think Amber has got some opinions that she's she's about ready to share. So let's talk a little bit about where this movie comes from.

15:39 Because originally it's a stage production written by Anthony Schaefer. It opened on Broadway on November twelfth, nineteen seventy runs for a thousand, two hundred twenty two performances. It wins the nineteen seventy one Tony Award for Best Best Play, and then they adapted a year later the screen in nineteen seventy two. That one stars Michael Caine in the role in the role of my Lit Tindall opposite Sir Lawrence Olivier in the role of Andrew Wyke. Did you have you seen the original? About one hundred and eleven times and let me tell you how much better it is than the movie that we're talking about. Okay, now, you you you you kind of stressed at the beginning. You said, this is not a remake. You want to elaborate a little bit. Well, and that's like my big problem with the movie just in general is it's completely different. There is no dialogue that is the same. The only thing they kept was the general framing premise and the character's names. Okay, that I haven't you haven't seen the original. I have not seen the original, and it's on the YouTube, so good to YouTube. And it is an absolute delight. You've got this fabulous house. Yeah. And the whole idea is that Andrew Wyke is he's actually based his character is based on Stephen Sondheim, who loved to play games. He loved games, he loved board games

17:11 and just all kinds of games. And Andrew Wyke is a mystery writer who loves games. And he has games everywhere throughout his house. Darts and an old Egyptian game I think it's called Senate. You know, just everywhere. Every inch of his house is covered with stuff, and he has Milo Tindall, Michael Kaine's character over because he's having an affair with his wife. Okay, And he tells him, hey, look I've got a girlfriend on the side. I don't want my wife anymore. You can have her, but you can't afford her. So what you're gonna do is you're in a steal the jewels that are in my safe. I collect the insurance money, you sell the jewels. We both get money, we both get the women we want. Everybody goes home happy. Okay, that sounds for me. Okay.

18:15 Then like the rest of it, you are off like a shot. He completely like strips Michael Kaine's character of all dignity. Then Michael Kaine whips it around on him, then he whips it back. Then Michael Kaine whips it back. It is like this back and forth tennis game of one upmanship, and you never really know who's on top. And it's done with so much fun. It's enjoyable. It's very much like death Trap. It's like kind of like clue. Oh okay, you sold me right there with the house and like the tongue in cheek and everything. And the issue that I have with this new version of Sleuth is, first of all, I don't like Carol Pinner. Okay, I'm just too angry and too like just aggressive for me. And all of his people are hateful, like in his plays and movies, like they're always just hateful people that you really don't care who wins. You really don't care, like you're not rooting for anybody, you just hate them all, And so it's all the charm is gone. You're not having any fun. I was having fun. I was definitely having fun throughout the first act. And then that is the most the same of the original. I will say. At that point, the movie takes a huge left turn for me, and I'm like, wait, hold on, what's

19:48 what's going on? And I gotta I gotta see the original now, because based on what you're saying, it is so good. But I also know Pinter he chose, he chose to offer a fresh take. You know, you mentioned the dialogue all the line. Everything's pretty much different from the original, with exception to the basic premise of two clever men engage in a battle of wits. But I guess this is kind of like this is on Jude Law right, because he's the one that hands the play to Pinter and says, write a screenplay for me and kid Brana and not Judlaw. I'm sorry, yeah, thank you, Jude Law. Yeah sorry. Branda does this like that's kind of what he did with Murder on the Orient Express. If you watch the original Sidney Lamette nineteen seventy whatever version of that story, it's very like it gets the humor of Agatha Christie and it's kind of whimsical and kind of like a soap opera in a way. And then when Branda does it, he does it completely straight. Okay, let me ask you this because I know I saw something that was really interesting. I was. I noticed it when I watched it, because you know, this was the first time watch for me. We initially when we were talking about doing a Kenneth Brandon episode, it was between this and I Think Dead Again Man, and we were like, you know what where we do we want to go with?

21:14 So good? All right, well, okay, I gotta I gotta watch it then I will haven't seen it. I haven't seen it. Yeah, I haven't seen it. Holy guacamole. Oh it's so good. I just went in and thinking, oh, okay, Michael Kane remake of a Michael Kine movie. This could be interesting. I was very excited for it. But and I remember when it first came out, watching it, going what the hell is this? So Branda intentionally uses claustrophobia in this movie? Is that? Is that prevailing in the original or is it just something that Branda does because but I love the way he does it, Like when they get on the elevator, like I was my skin with his crawling. Yeah, he does a vote claustrophobia. You know, it's these odd angles he's shooting at. It's really tight scenery. I noticed the act You're standing incredibly close to one another, even I mean even when they're not in that little elevator, it just feels uncomfortable, Like the whole time you're watching it, it felt uncomfortable. So I didn't know if that was something that he he added to this film or if that's something he kind of saw. Okay, okay, is that does it work for what this movie is? Yeah?

22:21 Absolutely, because you're saying these two men are just like kind of trying to crawl inside each other's brain. And you know, so that's just the physical manifestation of that you mentioned in the original. You know, you you commented on how amazing the countryside house was this house I think is absolutely stunning. I mean, if Patrick Bateman had the apartment I aspire to rent, Andrew Wike's house is the home I want to own. Are you a serial killer? No? But I would still live there. You didn't like this house? This house is awesome, O, like all concrete, Like on the outside it looks like a normal English country home, and then you get inside it was all concrete and modern furniture and okay, like the one chair you want to sit in. Okay, so I will conceee that the furniture in the place looks like something Lydia Dietz would have. But but the the the architecture of the house itself, the just I will say this, I want her, okay, yeah, well her, yeah, her. But even the fact that the wall has to like rise up like it's not just a door, like a wall disappears like a whole panel. I love this house.

23:37 No, okay, No, I'm very much like if I could have the house from Clue, I would totally have it. Well, okay, so if if you're if you're saying, hey, you can choose between Wike's house or the Clue Mansion I'm definitely taking the Clue mansion because for all I know, I would expect Whike to have hidden passages in his house. But but I definitely don't get them in the Clue house. So you got you got me there. But I don't know. I was I was watching it. I was like, you know, even like the the Odds sculptures, like that wire sculpture that's in the Fourier. Yeah, and I read a thing that the jewels and all the art, yeah, we're all on loan. Like they had to ensure them, your kid bazillions of dollars because it was all like authentic British modern arts. Jewels are real and they had to have like their own special security and all sorts. The idea that those that necklace, specifically that necklace is real. And watching Jude Law like because his his his his face, like just the wonder of seeing it. M h.

24:42 That was a great acting moment. I was like, Wow, I was like that he's really selling this because at that point I'm like, well, you know, some set designer, you know, prop guy made that, you know, but to know that that thing is real and he's just kind of the way it's gonna the way it's getting handled. That that blows my mind. I could even imagine the the insurance person on set just watching it and going, whoa easy, easy, take it easy, you know. Yes, Let's let me ask you this, uh pivotal scene. Is there a pivotal pivotal scene for you? You know, not not like the big climactic moment, but something that really like you know, tells you like, Okay, now now I see where we're going, you know, kind of kind of helps this movie out. I mean, I think the scene right after I don't want to give too much away, but the scene right after they opened the safe okay, yeah, but before the climax of that scene, like that section when you're like, wait a minute, is he being serious or is he? And I love the part the dialogue where he's like are you you or am? I mean, oh yeah, that whole interchange. I loved all of that. It's an actor's movie because just hearing these guys fit this dialogue back and forth at one another. There they are so in the moment and and you're really caught up and I know what you're talking about because it definitely harkens back to his performance in Death Trap where he's toying with the the younger actor and you're like, well, okay, he's

26:18 not is he Is he really going to do it? Now, He's not gonna do it, so I know exactly. And then he pulls out the key and he's like, I thought you guys thought I was serious. Yeah, yeah, you know. You bring up a good point. This is one of those movies that can definitely be easily ruined if you say specific plot points. So I'll be careful just for our listeners that are like, Okay, I gotta check this movie out, and definitely if you're gonna watch this movie, please good to YouTube and watch the original first. Really you say you say watch the first one and then watch this one, because we yes, I don't think we need to go too deep in to know that you're you're not overly happy with with this film, But I would think you'd say you'd do it in reverse and then like you know, like, hey, this was I see it was good. I see why it was good, but it wasn't for me. But you know, now need a palate clinch.

27:08 I'm going to watch a watch the original. And that's a good point. But I feel like Michael Caine in the original. There are so many layers to what he does and that he brings to that character, and Sir Lawrence Livy is having the time of his life. And he's one of those actors that Robert Burnette and I on Docking Bay have talked about how Lawrence Livy was a stage actor. He was not a screen actor. So sometimes his movies you're just kind of WinCE, like, dude, you need to rein it in. But this one, the director like really knew how to get just enough out of him where he's doing different accents. He's running around the set like a crazy person. I mean, he is just giving you abs every drop of sweat, and then you know you've got that. And then you've got Michael Caine doing all these neat subtle layers with his character. So I definitely think watched that one first. Okay, all right, you mean you mentioned Robert Burnett from Docking Bay. He's like he if you're the voice of reason, he's got to be like the the historian, the curator of that show, right, Yes, he definitely because he knows he knows everything about the Silent Era, the Golden Era, the silver I don't care what era of Hollywood we're talking about. He knows about it. Yes, I can make like connections to what you're watching now that you would never have thought

28:42 to make. I see myself like sitting down, he's been like, hey, let's talk about Sir Lawrence Olivia and I love him and clashed with the Titans, and he'd be like, get out. No, he would say me too, but yeah he would, he would for me the pivotal scene, I guess I got be careful now. Three days later, when when when a police detective shows up to the house, Yes, watching this and again we got these weird angles and I'm like, oh, when I hear the detective speak, it was like okay, And then I'm looking at him like if Michael Caine had the aggressor role in the first act of this film.

29:25 This detective shows up and completely takes it, takes it over as far as I'm concerned, I mean, and takes control very Yeah. Oh he is domineering to Kane in the in this as we seem afraid of him, but he's only like power. Yeah. I found that weird that this this you know, maybe he's like, okay, it's a it's a detective. I gotta watch what I'm doing, watch what I'm saying, But he was subserving it to to what the detective was saying and requesting. But at the same time, I'm like, dude, it's your house. You're Michael Kine, like what happened? But but I do think he was very like wrong footed because his perception of reality and what the detective is telling him is reality don't match up at all. No, this is where I talked about that that that weird left turn that the movie takes. For me, I was like, OK, what's going on? Because the first act, and I know we don't want to give anything away, but the first act really kind of leaves you wondering, like what exactly happened to Jude Law? You know, what what's going on here? So at this point it happened so fast you're kind of like, Okay, where are we going now? Yeah, and I'm kind of like at this point, I'm kind of I'm hesitant, you know, I'm intrigued, but I'm hesitant, if that makes sense, because I was all in I'm on the edge of my seat watching the first thirty minutes of this movie. First twenty five minutes of this movie and then

30:56 I'm like, uh, what's going on here? You know, And there was a little bit of confusion, which I'm I'm sure that's what Brandon wants you to have, is that confusion. But yeah, I'm not so sure. I liked where it was going. You know. Let's take well, let's take one more break, and when we get back, let's talk about the director, Kenneth Branna. We are back with Amber Lewis of the Docking Bay seventy seven podcast talking about Kenneth Branna. So a couple a couple of fun things for you to know about this incredible actor and incredible director. Born December tenth, nineteen sixty in Belfast, Sir Kenneth Charles Branna moved to London to escape the Northern Ireland Conflict also known as the Troubles, which most of us recognize as that that it's like. It was known as like a small scale war, but it lasted thirty years. Brilliantly detailed that in the movie Belfast. If you haven't seen Belfast, it you are in for a powerful, powerful treat. It is on my list and I'm ashamed to say I've not seen it because I saw the trailer for it, I just thought, that's spectacular looking. I can't wait to see it. It's it's so good.

32:19 As far as the young Branda, During school, he learns to speak without an Irish accent to avoid getting bullied. You know. He goes on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts Amber in nineteen eighty The principal asks him to perform Hamlet for Queen Elizabeth the Second during her visit. If if that is not telling you, If that's not you knowing that you've made it already, I don't know what else is. I'm gonna throw this one in there. For our buddy Dayton at Docking Base seventy seven. His first film appearance was an uncredited role as a student in nineteen eighty one's Chariots of Forts of Fire. If You Live If You've listened to the big team up episode between US Docum Based seventy seven Shirley Can't Be Serious Podcasts thirty something movie podcast, uh deff Dave, we did like the best year for the nineteen eighties. Dayton valiantly defended nineteen eighty one as his choice, and I had some things to say about Charis far he kind of won me ever take his side. I gotta spend really Okay, Well, yeah, he made some good points. It was a good episode. Then if if if people walked away changed, then then then then we did what we were supposed to do, I guess. But let's talk a little bit about his filmography. So starting with Henry the Fifth. Now, Amber, you said this was the

33:49 movie that made you a huge fan. This is nineteen eighty nine. He does Henry the Fifth. You want to you know, I knew nothing about it. All I knew we hadn't read it in school. That wasn't one of the ones that we did in school. All I knew was that everybody was talking about it. You know. It was this great new director and this great new adaptation and they were talking Academy Awards and he's the next Olivier and everybody went nuts. And so I rented it and was just completely blown away and had the poster in my room for many many years. I have seen it so many times. It's so spectacular with there's a baby Christian Bale in there, you know, Judy Dench, Emma Thompson, Paul Scholfield.

34:45 I mean, just all these amazing actors and the music is spectacular. It's just the best adaptation. It's not gonna be the last time he does Shakespeare. But two years later, he does this this very intense crime mystery called Debt Again with you know, he's back with Emma Thompson, Andy Garcia is in it. I oh, okay, yeah, it's so good. I gotta tell you, like, I I'm glad we're talking about Sleuth, but I regret that we're not talking about Debt Again because you know your reaction at the beginning, when you're like, oh, dead again, you could have done Dead Again. Yes, I'm like, oh okay, Well you watch it and then you'll be like, oh, we gotta do another episode.

35:34 Hey, you know, I'm I'm always happy to talk about Keath Branna. So if that's what it takes, then then absolutely. Nineteen ninety two. So a year later he does a movie called Peter's Friend Peter's Friends. Yes, have you seen this one? Oh? Yeah, I saw it in the theater. You are the person that needed to be on this this this episode, because seriously, like you had no idea, how obsessed? No, okay, tell me tell me about Peter's Friends. Because he's with Emma Thompson again, right, Well they were married, okay, so this is yeah, they're doing like the husband and wife thing. Okay, so yes, and these are all of their friends from college. Emma Thompson went to Cambridge with Hugh Lowry and Stephen Fry. Is you in this movie? Yeah, Hugh Lowry and Emmelda Stoughton, professor Unbridge from Harry Potter is in it.

36:25 She plays his wife. Stephen Fry is in it. I'm trying to think who else I know, I'm forgetting other actors, but there they were. All they played friends from college who have now gone out and done very sincendry other things. And they Peter has invited them to his home for New Year's okay, and this is the first time they've gotten together in the ten years since they've left school. I feel good comedy then, and it is, but it's also very you know, life has happened to them, and some of them have had happy things happen. Some of them have struggled.

37:07 Kath Branda is married to uh, do you remember the comedian Rita Rudner, Yeah, his wife. Yeah, okay, and you know they're struggling in their marriage, you know, and so it's just kind of are we the same people that we used to be? Who did we grow into? Are we still friends? You know? It's it's very big, chill kind of vibe. This guy is not slowing down because in nineteen eighty three he's back with Shakespeare. He's again Emma Thompson becoming quickly becoming like the mus to go to, uh actress to work with? Yes, such ado about nothing.

37:49 This cast. I don't know whether you like Branda, whether you don't, even if you didn't like Shakespeare. If you see the cast, this is like a you gotta watch it, right, because we're talking about these two. Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, all these unexpected Yeah, Michael Keaton, like who thought of him doing Shakespeare? But nobody. But I mean, you know, he's Batman, so he can be Batman. Can he can do Shakespeare? Right? Yeah? Thoughts on what you do about nothing? You a fan of that one? Oh? Yeah? I love it. I love the play and it's very he makes it very sexy. It's very you know, we're rolling through the Italian country side and everybody's tan and you know, curly hair and uh he handles the the challenges of the play really well, because it's a lot of like misunderstandings and and you know, things like that that kind of drive the story and sometimes work better on stage than on screen. But he handles it really well and very romantic. You're talking sexy Kenneth Branna. And that leads me to nineteen ninety four's Frankenstein. Yes, come on, the boy got swollen for that one. The abs on Kenneth Branda. Yes, they would drop him from the car on the way to the set, like six miles away, and he would run the rust

39:22 away Jesus. And he's done a Dustin Hoffman marathon Man thing. You have to do some prush ups. And here's what I don't get. The critics really lashed out at him on this one, and they were like, oh, well, he's he's finally made a mistake. He's finally you know, he's overwhelmed. He can't do everything. I don't get that, because you've got an incredible You've got an incredible cast, you know, de Niro, Branda, Tom Holts is in this, Helen A. Bottom Carter, I love it. You know, it's it's It was criticized a lot by people that it hadn't read the book. Oh yeah, I definitely, because it's not. If you're looking for Colin Clive and Karloff, you know they're not gonna find him here. No, not, not in this one. And and I'm glad because I this is Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and it's it's it's gritty, it's dirty, it's grimy, it's it's kind of great. Oh yeah, it's there's definitely some gross elements to it, but it is It's one of my favorite, uh favorite films of his. And also I would argue paid the way for the stage production of Frankenstein, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller. They alternated playing the doctor and the monster. I'm not gonna get that right without brand available on National Theater Live, and it's completely you know, the adaptation of the book. And I agree, I don't think

40:53 you're going to get there without this. He's got two more movies in the nineties again in this guy just never takes a break because the following year in nineteen ninety five, now he's doing a Midwinter's Tale and he not seen that one. Okay, okay, when I've missed. So to me, that's just that kind of sounds like, Okay, he's in his comfort zone. He's he's doing theater type stuff. He's doing. Yeah, you know, I kind of thought, well, Frankenstein took a whiff, so doing back. Yeah, maybe he's maybe he's feeling a little hurt from the harsh critics and jumps into it because well, in his life was a mess too, because he had an affair with hell on the Bottom Carter on that movie and then got divorced and it was a hot mess. So yeah, not not easy, not easy going for him. Yeah, poor guy. Yeah, well he did himself. But yeah, I mean yeah he did. Yeah, he had an affair with Helen A Bottom Carter. I'm not like he cheated on Emma Thompson. You're but yeah, I love him, so I will forgive him. Okay, we can look for him. We're off.

42:00 Yeah, nineteen ninety six. More Shakespeare. He's got a Hamlet. Did you see the Hamlet? Yes? Just to get through the whole four hours, I'll tell you, I'll be honest. When I first saw it, yeah, I was much younger. I probably the first time I saw it. I know, I watched maybe an hour before I was like, okay, I need to, you know, because then I'm looking at it, I'm like, wait, this is a this is a double cassette cluster. I'm not I'm not. I'm not spending the whole weekend with Hamlet. But now you go back and you and you visit this one. I don't know that there's anyone currently. I don't know that there's anyone better suited to play play that role than him, honestly, can you know? I've seen like every version and I love them all. I think that's one of the great things about Hamlet is he really is whoever's playing him. You know, that's the only way you can survive it is you have to make it your own.

42:55 So I've never seen one that I didn't like. Two thousand, your two thousand. We're sticking with the with what works. He's back with more Shakespeare Loves Labors Lost like a forties musical. I didn't see this one. I gotta I gotta be honest thoughts thoughts on it. I felt like he was like unleashing his inner musical theater. Okay, you know, like he had this uh you know, song and dance man bursting to come out. Do you recommend it? Though? Yeah, it wasn't a play that I was really familiar with, and you know, I thought the cast was really it was interesting because they were uh, kind of a mixture of ages and very charming and you know, love the use of music. So definitely, if you're doing a Shakespeare thing, I definitely say go for it. Okay, I will. I will admit this is a period of Brandon where I'm kind of I'm very hit and miss. More on the miss. He's really he's really delving into the you know, the theater, you know, the love of theater. Two thousand and three he does a short called Listening, But then two thousand and six he does as You Like It with Bryce Dallas.

44:14 Howard thoughts on that one, well, she tried to skip Okay, that tells me maybe we're skipping this one. Yeah. I mean I don't like to play that much, and I just she did her best. Well what do you think of He's so he's doing double duty here, he's at two movies in two thousand and six because he also does the magic flute, which you know, again I'm like, wow, he's just he's really leaning into this stuff. On that one, he was really like just trying to experiment. Yeah, well this is this is Mozart. Yeah, okay, you know, let's give it a try and see what happens. All right.

45:00 Well, two thousand and seven he gives the remake, No it's not a remake, a try, and uh, we saw what happens. Amber Amber Lewis is not too much of a fan of Sleuth, but watch the original he goes. He goes in a whole new direction in twenty eleven when he joins the MCU and he gives us Thor, and I could not believe it. I was like, what, And then I saw an interview with him where he talked about he loved Thor when he was a kid, he read the comics and did like the whole thing. And I just thought, what a neat like layer to find out about this person that you know a lot about because you've been a fan of him for so long, and then you find out like he's got this little this little comic book art. You know. The thing is with Thor, like when you watched it, especially when you watch the first one, it's I don't know, I think with with brand doing it, it gives it a little more gravitas, like I believe the drama unfolding on Nasgard a lot more and it you know, I remember, like when that movie was coming out, my first thought was, we have got a realistic world of superheroes because of Iron Man, And how can you add magic, like like Thor, It's not gonna make sense, it's not gonna work, it's not gonna it's gonna it's just gonna clash.

46:22 And what he did in Thor is fantastic because even the thought that you're having Thor gives you that that explanation. You know, what you call magic, we call science, and I love it. He opened up that world, you know where you were like, okay, it's a rainbow bridge, like sure, why not, I'm in and yeah, and so you know, kind of like we were talking earlier, you know, without this, you don't have doctor Strange with the like kaleidoscope and the hands grown out of his eyeball and I don't even know what. So you know, you have to accept that more metaphysical idea. And this is exactly where it came from, because before that it was you know, drink a potion and you get muscles or you know, build a suit or whatever, you know, get bit by a spider. But this really just launched us into this whole, you know, other dimension. Let's talk about the twenty fourteen He takes on the character Jack Ryan. He does he We had knew Jack Ryan movie. This is our what fourth actor to play? This is Jack Ryan shadow recruit that he does. You know, we had Harrison Ford. I'm sorry, we had Alec Baldwin. Baldwin, then we had Harrison Ford, then we had Chris no Ben Affleck and now we got Chris Pine. I think this was definitely an improvement over Afflex Jack Ryan. I did not see Afflex, but

47:55 I had to say I just watched this one not too long ago. Yeah, I got on a Chris Pine kick and so I was like watching everything he ever did, and it is a delightful movie. I gotta wonder why this didn't kind of take off, Like, why didn't we get more Chris Pine Jack Ryan. Maybe he was just too young. But I felt like Kenneth Branna did a great job with the action and the you know, the spy mystery of it all, and you know, I thought he really had a handle on it. But maybe Pine was just too young. I don't know. I mean, I was one of those, and it's one of those things like you know, you got Kevin Costner. He's acting opposite Kevin Costner, who is still prime Costner. Yeah, so I don't know.

48:42 Maybe maybe it's just the wrong time. I know, uh, you know, the Star Trek, the whole Star Trek. Things going crazy for him at this point too. So maybe I don't know, maybe there were some just some situations where he couldn't do both or twenty fifteen, Brandon addres Cinderella. Oh love it so much. Okay, so I've not seen it, but it's got Richard Charming, you got Kate Blanchet, you got Helena Bona Carter again, is this now? Answer this for me because I'm because I don't know. Is this like a straight Is this like one of the one of those Disney Live action type things? Are is just like its own thing?

49:25 Yeah, it's it's absolutely the story that you recognize. It's Disney Live action. Lily James plays Cinderella and she is just delightful. Kate Blanchett is just perfectly evil. The step Sisters are funny. It really is the animated film he had he keeps the mice, but like they don't talk, you know, but you still get them there, you know, the the Fairy Godmother. She doesn't sing bibbity boppity boo, but she does say it.

50:05 Okay, you know, So it's realistic, but it keeps all the charm and the whimsy and the delight of the animated. And Cinderella is my favorite, like old school Disney movie. I really had high expectations and I was pleasantly surprised. Amber recommends, we got to put it on the list next couple of years. I've got a lot of work to do. What to watch uh next? Over the next couple of years, he's he's he's doing a live theater. He's got Winner's Tale, Romeo and Juliet. But twenty seventeen we get Murder on the Orient Express and I could not be happier.

50:50 Loved this movie, loved the cast, and I loved Hercuio Burro. I never watched like because I know we've seen this character many times on the BBC, and I never once watched any of those this movie. Maybe when I go back and see see him now. So, what are your thoughts on the Orange Express? Oh? Wow? Well, like I said earlier, the original was a little camp you know, very you know, there is an element of Agatha Christie that is a little irreverent, tongue in cheek British humor, and it definitely played into that. So this one was a surprise because, like I said, he takes it so seriously, Like the murder scene is when you finally see it, it's dramatic and intense, where in the original it was a little soap. Operation was like this is from my sister, you know, which is fine, it's fun. I liked it, you know, but this one was just you know, it was sad and it was powerful. I thought Michelle Phiffer did a great job. I love her so Robert and round and round over hers, but she's the But I love her and I think she was great in this. And I love the orient express like just the idea of the train and the elegance of it all. How could Robert not like Michelle Pfiffer, Like what Michelle her his

52:29 groceries at the grocery store when she was like a sullen teenager, And that's like his thought bubble every time he Caesar is like what she You're not an a glamorous person. Did she put the milk on top of the eggs? Like what she happened? She made an impression that lasted. I'm gonna find a Michelle Phifer movie for us to cover, just so I can have him on here and and then just go back and forth with why she's why she's amazing. But yes, I have nothing more than arguing with him to argue with. Twenty eighteen, No surprise, we are covering William Shakespeare. Only this time the movie is All Is True and it's about Shakespeare's final days, and he's playing Shakespeare. I have not seen this one either, but he's completely unrecognizable. Yeah, it doesn't look like him at all. I want to check it out, just because you know, I'm looking at the I'm just looking at the poster, and I see Dame Judy Dinch, I see Ian McKellen, Like, yep, there's there's one we gotta watch. I got so much. Okay, well I've got prime, so I'll cue that one up for sure. Twenty twenty, he takes a different step with Artemis foul. Now this was correct me if I'm wrong? Was Amber? Was this one of those that Disney like Day and Date, this went straight to Disney Plus or am I think about a different movie? Nope, it was

53:59 that one. It was Disney Plus Liam and I had my son also a docking Bay guest on occasion. Liam adores Artemis Foul not as much as Percy Jackson, but almost and has read the books many times and I read the books to him. So we struggled with it just because it was not the universe that was in our head. I got you, and they made changes to the storyline where they were trying to like incorporate like the first three books, and we wish they would have just like picked one and stuck with it.

54:42 But it is delightful. I mean, it's fun. If you're not, you know, really married to the books, like you'll enjoy it. I would say I would accept. If I'm not mistaken, this is one. This is one of the projects that Disney Plus did, the did the right off thing. They like they acted like a bunch of their original content. Then I'm pretty sure this movie was was out with like the Willow the series they did, and a bunch of other movie projects. So whether or not they bring it back or you find it somewhere, I don't know, but I know, I know we've already talked about Belfast earlier, but twenty twenty one, I didn't see it yet. But it's it's a it's a must. You're saying, well, start with Belfast. Yeah, I don't know. Dead again though, Oh okay, double features a double feature, there it is. But I know, just based on what you had to say about Belfast, I've got to I've got to check it out. And knowing his background, knowing knowing that he lived, this is is again, I'm like, Wow, this is this is gonna be amazing. Yeah.

55:52 There is a scene with Judy Dench and they had done several takes and he finally got the exact perfect take that he wanted and he goes back to the tent, you know, to like watch it play back. Yeah, and he hears this noise in the background. He's like, what is that And his script supervisor was standing there and she goes, that's the sound of you gasping when she did exactly what she wanted her to do. And he was like, well, we can like take that out right. The sound goes like we can hear of that because it's just the most powerful moment and when you realize, like you said, he he's talking about his grandparents and his parents and the people that lived next door to him, and you know, things that happened to him. It's just breathtaking. Okay, Well, he's on the when we when we hit the twenties, he's on this this kick where he's pumping out of movie every single year because he you know, Artemis found in twenty twenty Belfast twenty twenty one. In twenty twenty two, he is back as a Hercio Perro Death on the Nile, And for me, I gotta say, if if if I was expecting, I was like, you know, it'd be fun, because but it won't. They probably won't be better than the first one they did this movie. I like this one

57:25 more than Murder on the Orient Express. What about you, oh, Dassie. I like Murder on the Orient Express better. I liked that cast better. A lot of the characters that I like in Death on the Nile didn't get enough time. For me. I wanted more of them, you know, I got you. I wanted more French and Sanders. I wanted more Anette Benning, you know, and and they changed something that I didn't agree with, so I was like, what the heck? But still, any any Agath Christie is fun for me, So I did. I did enjoy it. I loved it. Gilgadat is always just mesmerizing when she's on the screen. As far as I'm concerned and not known, not being familiar.

58:19 I didn't read the novel. I hadn't seen any of the BBC stuff, So I remember the first time I saw it, I'm we're over halfway through and I'm like, what's the mystery because no one has been murdered, right, And I was shocked. I was shocked when they walked into her bedroom. So yeah, I love it. Great performances. Army Hammer is fantastic in it. That was before he got canceled and we never heard from him again. But you know, everyone that's in this movie is just fantastic and and kind of a dagger in the heart too because it's his buddy from the first one from Murder on the ordin Express. Yeah, I was so pleased to see him back, and you know, we know how that ends.

59:05 But and that was the thing that made me mad because that does not happen. Okay. I kind of got the idea that this guy and I was like, like his recurrent character, like, you know, he's like the foil, like okay, and I love that actor. You know, it's like, why did you make me love this guy so much? Yeah? He was he was always fun to watch. He's fantastic the book end of the World War One backstory and then in the end, you know he shaved the mustache and yeah, his relationship with Sophie Okoneto is just charming. I didn't realize I love the opening though. You know in World War One, we're you know, in the trenches and and you see that captain with the with the mustache, and I'm like, and originally I'm thinking, well, that's if he's trying to be a younger Kenneth Brander, like they why didn't they do why didn't they get someone young her? Or why don't they get and then you the big reveal. I just was like, oh my god.

1:00:04 You know I always love that that digital daging stuff they do. Yes, always fun to see that stuff. Amber you have not been to the theater to see a Haunting in Venice. It is our Robert and I almost share birthday, and so we have a date to go see Haunting in Venice, but we haven't been able to make it yet. I implore you to see this one. This one's based off of her story Halloween Party. Yes, I book. I haven't read it, Okay, I can tell you there's some subtle changes and I knew this just doing some research on the movie before I saw it. But it's I don't think it's changes that you're gonna be like, oh, they ruined it. You know. It's like it's small things. But this movie is the perfect marriage between you know, pero mystery and supernatural horror film. The line he was excited, Like I was watching it and it was weird. It was creepy because I was like, I went to a late show. I'm the only one in the theater and it's spooky and there's you know, just the scenery and the performances and some of his his his his shots. I was a little creeped out here.

1:01:25 And there see I haven't seen I saw the first teaser trailer and that is it. Like I literally just discovered, I think yesterday, that Tina Fey is in it. Oh gosh. Tina Fey love Liz Lemon. She's known for her comedic genius, and this is a role where she is She's not playing a comedic, She's not in a comedic role, so she's I want to say that her character is loosely and I don't know because I didn't do any kind of research, but I want to say that her characters loosely based on Agatha Christie because she's like this famous author who has made Pero famous, so to speak, writing about him. So the whole that's and that's the whole premise is like she can't you know, she's stumps, she can't figure out this mysterious thing, and she's calling on Pero. But the banter that they have is spectacular because you know, he's very the pro character is very egocentric. Imagine a female version of Pero trying to put him in his place, you know, and then going back and forth. Michelle Yao is super creepy in the movie, really fun to watch. It's it's again. It's one of those casts where he gets he gets just the right a balance of like here's a superstar and here's some really well known character actors. I think you're gonna like it. And the young kid, the little the little kid that I don't know if you see him in the trailer or not. There's

1:02:57 a young boy and walking away, you're like, man, did that kid steal the show? That's all I'll say. Oh boy, yeah, stret to look forward to. Yeah, don't say anymore. That's that's all I'll say about that movie. But here's what I'll say about as we wrap up. Here's what I'll say about Keneth Branna. Currently, nothing scheduled, no projects announced. So I ask you, if if you could have your choice, Amber, what do you want to see Keith Branna do next? Like? Are you ready for more Shakespeare or you're ready for more Perot? What would you like to see him do? Oh? Okay, So I'm sorry. While you were talking, I was like, oh, who's this kid in uh hanting in Venice? Because I thought I knew who it was.

1:03:44 It's the kid from Belfast? Oh is it that plays young Kenneth Branna? Yeah? Now I really got to see Belfast because he is spectacular. So what do I want to see Kenneth Brana? I do next? I am greedy, greedy, greedy for Christopher Nolan, and I feel like Kenneth Branna is becoming what Michael Kaine was to Christopher Nolan. Michael Kaine's not working as much anymore, and so I feel like Keneth Branna's kind of slid in there, and he was not in Oppenheimer near enough. So I'd love for them to hook up and do something else, you know. I I would love to see another Shakespeare. We haven't seen a Shakespeare in a while, all right, you know, and there's plenty of Sas out there. And yeah, you know, like he did he did Thor We were just talking about that, so you know, my all time favorite is Midsummer So he could do a Midsummer Night's stream and make it, you know, really magical and fairies. And I know, as far as I'm concerned, I think it's Agatha Christie's great grandson is in charge of her estate at this point, so he's the one that's kind of calling the shots on the movies, like whether or not they're gonna make more. Okay, I read recently, so she she ended up writing I want to say, thirty three novels. So he was like, hey, there's there's tons of material. We love, Kenneth

1:05:15 Brandau. We will happily make every last one of these if if he wants to keep coming back and doing them, you know, So me, I'm gonna be ingredients say more Paro because I that mustache his You don't get Barrow, but you get Kenneth Branda directing a Miss Marple. Okay, now you that's uh, that's something that would definitely entertain because I kind of feel like the Pero that universe or that character we kind of got got to him at like later in his life, like he's he's already famous and he's already wanting to kind of get out of that that life. So I don't know how any more he's going to do, But if if Brandon goes behind the camera and directs him marpl I would definitely want to see that. Absolutely. As far as seeing Brandon film, though, Amber, I think I know where you're were heading. But I'm gonna ask, do you recommend seeing his two thousand and seven Sleuth? You know I'm always going to support my boy, so I will say yes, but only after you watch the original and you watch all of it. Kenneth Branna's other movies, all right, I think if you enjoy watching what could be called an actor's movie, then then definitely check it. Out. The first act is flawless. The film after that tends to lose steam as far as I'm concerned, but it definitely keeps you guessing. I've put all the blame on Harold Pinter, though I don't blame

1:06:45 Keneth Branna, and I don't blame Mi Cocaine or Jude Law I will I will never blame uh. I know this is streaming on Stars. It's available to rent on Prime and YouTube and Google plays that. Did you catch it on one of those? Uh? Yeah, I got it somehow. I have Stars through Hulu. I don't even know, okay, but I was on the Hulu so I watched it there. It's like that community chess card. But I mean, Bank Aaron your favorite. Everyone is going to go to YouTube and watch the original SLUP. I will definitely watch that. Well, Amber, I definitely want to thank you for joining us. I trust we have not seen the last of you. I hope not. I know we've got a fun one coming up. Oh yeah, yeah, that'll be for our Patreon. We I know Christmas time, you and Dayton will be doing a nineteen seventy six episode with US. I know we're gonna cover a star is Born. I was gonna jump in there and say that, but then I was like, maybe the plan has changed. Nope, the plan, the plan continues. I'm excited because I've seen them all, so that is exactly what's gonna make you, the guests that we need to hear.

1:07:56 I have a lot of opinions about each one. All right, thank you so much for letting me geek out about Kenneth Brana. This is much fun, always a pleasure. I will let our listeners know we got more for you tomorrow this Wednesday. Come back for Drawn Into Lower Decks. Ensigns Scott and Wayne are back to recap the latest episode of Star Trek Lower Decks. I've been saying this and I'm gonna I'm gonna keep saying it. If you are a Star Trek fan, if you're if you're a casual Star Trek fan, or if you're just like a, hey, I saw rathakon and I don't know if it's Star Trek's for me. I'm telling you, Lower Decks is one of the funniest, most original things I've ever seen. It's it's a it's an animated Star Trek show that's got a lot of adult humor and it is. It is fantastic, one of my favorite Star Trek things.

1:08:48 Now and after that. Next week, Amber was talking about sharing her birthday with Robert Burnette. Next week, I will celebrate my birthday by discussing my altar, my favorite film, Rocky, on our limited nineteen seventy six series. Our friend Andy Tom will be on hand to talk with me and share his experiences running those exact same streets in Philly. Thanks for making a film by a part of your podcast listening day,