Thanks, Solar

Hi everyone
I saw it a couple of nights ago - here's my personal view:

I thought the set design was absolutely stunning.
The production was very absorbing - it certainly didn't feel as though I'd sat there for over three hours!
Benedict's performance was very, very good indeed; he's so at home on the stage, and with Shakespeare
Honestly? I'd have liked to see some stronger casting alongside him - one performance in particular didn't sit right with me - maybe it was the direction, I don't know, but it was the only time I was not lost in the show, when this character had their "big" moment.
The rest of the cast were good but not, in my opinion, outstanding.
On the whole though I enjoyed it immensely as did my non-Shakespeare loving, non-Benedict fan partner, who thought both the play and Benedict were "excellent"

What a lovely report from Iillithiell
I just popped in to say that I hope all who attended the con had a fantastic time. I've been having a sneaky peek on Twitter over the weekend so I know some of our old friends had the time of their lives and that Andrew Scott, Rupert Graves and Louise Brealey were particularly appreciated.
I'm sorry to hear that Benedict was struggling with a head cold - I get the impression that due to this, and the huge numbers of people he had to pose with, it was a bit of a blur for those that did have a photoshoot with him, which is a bit of a shame, but lovely to know that everyone came away feeling so happy

And slightly off topic, but just want to say "hi" to everyone and hope you're all well

It's so true that you absolutely cannot say definitively that this or that movie/actor is. " the best" and that many many extremely talented actors never ever won a major award.
Tim Spall has already been mentioned; he's a fantastic, very underrated actor.
I thought Jake Gyllenhaal was great in Nightcrawler, too, but he was also overlooked.
The Oscars are what they are and shouldn't be taken too seriously, imo - it's the quality of an actors body of work that says the most about them.

I'm not criticising Ben for not campaigning the way others do - I think that's a ridiculous part of the whole thing anyway - I just think it became obvious that Eddie (or rather his PR people - or both!) - had nailed that part of it.
Ridiculous that people are trying to make BCs parents look bad - everyone knew that ER was pretty much certain to win it; why should they say otherwise?

Firstly: an apology - I'm cranky this morning and I'm painfully aware that I'm commenting on things that I'd usually stay silent on.
Secondly: I'm only stating my personal opinion and I'm fully aware and accept that others can and probably will disagree with me.
I'm saying this because I don't, as a rule, carry on with a debate for too long because I like and respect everyone on here and don't want to appear to be "arguing" with anyone.


But I feel that Amanda knows, by now, how people react to certain things and it's very easy to stop these over reactions occurring or at least to put a stop to them as soon as they start by clarifying matters.
She always seems to choose not to.

Which of course is a choice she's fully entitled to make.

Kerkerian wrote:

JenHart wrote:

Tinks wrote:

I have to say, it was obvious that the story about Martin being best man was rubbish; you can tell from Amanda's tweets that they are not close to Ben at all; even when she made it known that the story was untrue, she didn't wish any happiness or congrats to the couple - just pointed out that the idea of MF being his best man was making her laugh!
Anyway, that aside, I wish them, as I'd wish all newlyweds, a long and happy life together.

 
I'm surprised she didn't at least congratulate them, after all, they have met, and Martin and Ben have filmed together for some years.

Just because Amanda didn't do it via twitter (and why should she, since Ben isn't even on it), it doesn't necessarily mean that she and Martin didn't congratulate them. They may not be close friends, but they'll have each other's contact info.

 
It's true that they could congratulate him privately - for me though, there's just something about AA's behaviour on Twitter where BC is concerned; she could simply have stated that MF wasn't Best Man but she "laughed" at the very idea of it - as though the very notion he'd be a Best Man to BC was ridiculous; she's intelligent - even when further questioned she still didn't qualify her comment by wishing him all the best, and she'll know what some will take from that.
He's not on twitter, it's true, but it doesn't mean she couldn't have said something nice.
On his Oscar nomination, for instance, other colleagues tweeted their congrats - the only comment AA made was to say that no, the cast wouldn't be taking time out from filming to watch the nominations come in.
Anyway, my apologies for dragging the thread off topic, and I hope I don't come over as too  cynical about this; it's just an interpretation I have of this particular situation.

JenHart wrote:

Tinks wrote:

JenHart, what a beautiful story yours is - I don't mean to sound silly but it gave my heart a lift; that you and your man found and fell in love with each other (I hope you don't mind my saying that).

)

 
Actually we met when I fell on him on some public transport and I thought that he was gorgeous And no I don't mind you saying the above. Thank you. If Ben and Sophie are as happy as we have been they will be blessed indeed and I don't see why they shouldn't be as the way they look at each other is very loving.

 
That's really lovely

And me!
I hope they are happy and I wish them well for the future, but aside from that I don't have a huge interest in his personal life with his wife and baby.
I want to see more of his work and would love him to get more and more recognition as an actor.
I do feel uncomfortable though, about the obsessive and bitter stuff that some people are - publicly - posting.
Some of it is potentially career harming and, therefore, imo, some of these haters are quite sinister.

Yes, the part about paying to have a picture taken with someone - at this, or any other con, is something that I, personally, don't feel comfortable with. Not that I'm saying that actors should appear for free - of course they shouldn't be expected to give up their time for nothing - but paying for them to put their arm around me and smile and then forget all about me just wouldn't appeal to me (I know, I know - I'm a bit weird:D)
I do feel sorry for those that are disappointed in not being able to go though - especially due to the short notice given...in that respect it all feels a bit "take it or leave it" which isn't really fair.
Coming back to the pricing; it's very true and very sad that it's long been the case that those who can pay more get the better experience from cons, concerts, sports events, etc.
Lip service is paid to organisers wanting everyone to have the chance to experience - say - a Theatre production, but it's not the SAME experience as it most often involves restricted viewing.
I was having a similar discussion with someone about Football matches recently - certainly in my country, a game that was always the working persons' sport, is more and more pricing those working people out of going to watch it.
It does leave a sour taste in the mouth, but it's the same all over, sadly.