Oscar and Lucinda (1997)

[trugannini]

Ralph Fiennes made this movie after the English Patient. I have only just seen it.
His portrayal of Oscar Hopkins almost took my breath away. Devout, tender, twitchy,
honest, childlike, full of neuroses. Totally vulnerable. The beautiful, sad story was
a delight. I looked for an audio book of this work, and there is one, read by Fiennes,
available only, it looks like, on cassette tape. Does anyone know of a CD of his
reading of this book, and what did you think of his portrayal of Oscar?

[Alice]

"Oscar and Lucinda" is a shamefully underrated film. I can't understand people who say that Ralph plays himself in every movie - they obviously haven't seen this or "Spider"! I missed "In Bruges" when it was on at my local cinema but look forward to watching it on DVD...

[trugannini]

Alice, people who say he plays himself in every movie show that they are the ones who are
lacking, tells me a lot about them, and nothing about Ralph. I'm fairly discerning in my choice
of films and theatre...and I'm so attracted to him, partly because he is NOT the same in any
of his movies. Hugh Grant IS the same in all of his movies, and there are heaps of others.
When I first saw Oscar and Lucinda I was transfixed by the acting, (his) by the story being so
Different, and how the director Gillian Armstrong treated the material. When you see In Bruges I think you will be impressed with his treatment of his character..... :)

[Alice]

I frequently want to give Ralph a big cuddle and tell him to settle down, especially when he fidgets like a four year old during interviews!

[trugannini]

He must have loved playing Oscar.....it was Fidget Paradise....in fact, I read somewhere that the director, Gillian Armstrong, had to tell him to cool with the fidgetting... He even had the foot and leg twitch when he had to sit still for any time. In the scene where he was underwater it was the calmest he had been for the whole film, except of course after he had got himself a drink from the pump before going to bed. I'm not elaborating on these scenes on purpose in case people haven't seen this ... :)

[Alice]

Must fidget more...must fidget more...

*eats a guilt-free chocolate because she's planning to fidget more and burn extra calories*

[Liza]

Ahhhhh....so that's the great weight loss secret. I'll have to fidget more...lots more. : )