Wolf Hall

"Wolf Hall" (2015) takes us back to the 1500's.  The focus is not on the infamous Henry VIII, but his councillor Thomas Cromwell.

Cromwell is trained in the law and had traveled around Europe.  He had a relatively low position, but carefully uses his persuasion powers to work with King Henry VIII.   When we meet him he working under Cardinal Thomas Wolsey who is about to be let go by Henry VIII for his failure to annual the marriage to Anne Boleyn.  

Cromwell delicately endears himself to the king and over time becomes his chief advisor.  He has critics and opposing royal court members, but is very deft at handling them.

You don't want to go to bed right after the ending.  Although the story is fictionalized if you knew your history it wouldn't be a surprise. 

A lot of talented people helped to make this worth your while.

Peter Kosminsky was the director.  While in high school he was a producer for a touring play of "Twelfth Night" that included fellow students Hugh Grant and composer Rachel Portman.  He ended up at the BBC directing documentaries.  He has 19 directing credits, 11 for producing and 6 for writing including "Wuthering Heights" (1992) and "White Oleander" (2002)

Peter Straughan was the writer.  Early he was a bass guitarist and played for over 4 years in bands.  He has 15 writing credits, plus 2 as director and 1 for producer including "The Debt" (2010), "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (2011), "Our Brand is Crisis" (2015), "The Goldfinch" (2019) and "Conclave" (2024).

Debbie Wiseman was the composer.  She is asked to be a conductor for different orchestras.  She has 149 composing credits, 37 for the music department and 2 for acting.

Gavin Finney was the cinematographer.  The director trying to present a 1500's indoor lighting had scenes filmed by candlelight.  He has 56 cinematography credits plus 7 for the camera and electrical department including "Unforgotten" (2015-2017).

David Blackmore was the editor.  He has 58 editor credits.

Mark Rylance played Thomas Cromwell.   Mark has been involved with theatre.  From 1995 to 2005 was artistic director for Shakespeare's Globe.  He has won theatre awards on both sides of the Atlantic including 3 Tony awards.  He has 40 acting credits and 2 for producing including "Bridge of Spies" (2015), "The BFG" (2016),  "Dunkirk" (2017),  "Ready Player One" (2018), "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (2020), "Don't Look Up" (2021), "The Phantom of the Open" (2022) and "The Outfit" (2022).  See ...  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2016/05/bridge-of-spies.html  

Damian Lewis played King Henry VIII.   Damian has also had a theatrical career.  He has developed a credible American accent.  He has 40 acting credits, 4 for producing and 3 for soundtrack including "Band of Brothers" (2001), "Keene" (2004), "Much Ado About Nothing" (2005), "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (3019) and "Dream Horse" (2021).  See...http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/02/band-of-brothers.html

Claire Foy played Anne Boleyn.  She has 33 acting credits including "The Lady in the Van" (2015), "The Crown" (2016-2023), "First Man" (2018), "The Girl in the Spider's Web" (2018) and "Women Talking" (2023).

Jonathan Pryce played  Cardinal Wolsey.  I will always remember him singing "If you want to die in bed" which is part of his career in theatre.  He has 140 acting credits, 1for producer and 4 for soundtrack including "Brazil" (1985), "Glengarry Glen Ross" (1992), "Evita" (1996), "The Woman in Gold" (2015), "The Wife" (2017), "The Two Popes" (2019), "The Crown" (2020), "One Life" (2023) and "The Thursday Murder Club" (2025).

Timothy Spall played the Duke of Norfolk.  He was diagnosed with leukemia in 1992, but has since recovered.  He has 167 acting credits including "Life is Sweet" (1990), "Secrets & Lies" (1996), "Topsy Turvey" (1999), "Desert Flower" (2009), "The King's Speech" (2010) and "The Journey" (2015). 

Mathieu Almaric played a French diplomat, Eustache Chapuys.  He has 142 acting credits, 24 for directing and 14 for writing including "Munich" (2005), "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (2007), "Les Herbes Folles" (2009), "Poulet sux Prunes" (2011), "Venus in Furs" (2013), "The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014) and "Eternity's Gate" (2018).  Read about Mathieu in a very challenging role, http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/10/paralyzed-men-in-4-foreign-movies.html

I watched the award winning "Wolf Hall" on DVD.  Looking forward to the second season.

Bridge of Spies

Tom Hanks has appeared in a lot of thoughtful movies.  When I picked up a Blu-ray disc I was expecting a suspense movie and although I knew some of the story it was tense.  More importantly it made me reflect on some of the issues of today.

I first learned of Francis Gary Powers from reading the headlines of the Toronto Telegram when I was a delivery boy.  It was a bit scary that one of our guys had been caught by the evil guys.  There was a concern about nuclear war.

On IMDB there is a lengthy discussion about the accuracy of period components and political slantings.  A lot of it is very interesting, if sometimes confusing.  Like most movie viewers I wasn't there and can appreciate the difficulties of being accurate in every detail, fair to the historical figures and making the movie a money maker.  I believe they made a number of points relevant for today and revealed some historical realities that have been overlooked.

Most of our society was a bit paranoid during the Cold War.  I remember listening to talk about building bomb shelters and the Commie menace.  In the United States Joseph McCarthy was finding Communists in positions of power and influence and he specialized in uncovering ancient brushes with socialism.

Rudolf Abel (played by Mark Rylance) was a Soviet spy who passed undetected for 8 years.  We never learn if he passed on any significant information.  He is captured and put on trial.

We are introduced to James Donovan played by Tom Hanks as a sharp insurance lawyer showing how he could beat back claims.  He is soon asked to represent a captured Soviet spy (this happens before the Powers incident) and it soon becomes apparent that the Americans wanted to put on a good show to demonstrate how fair they were.  When Donovan does do a conscientious job he is reviled by government officials and the public who assumed Abel was guilty and deserved capital punishment.

Donovan is successful in avoiding an execution (shortly after the Rosenbergs had been executed for giving information to the Soviets).  He pointed out that if Abel was executed the United States would lose leverage for a possible prisoner exchange.  A strong reaction from vocal people who thought he should be executed.  One is reminded of today's anti-Muslim paranoia.

A complication was an an American student Fred Pryor in East Germany who was captured and one rumour was he would be exchanged for Abel.  However everyone including the East Germans realized he was not really a spy and the Americans had little motive to retrieve him.  At the time East Germany was not recognized by the Americans and they thought this would give them a bargaining chip.  The Soviets and East Germans had different motives.  Donovan decided to include Pryor in the negotiations, although government workers felt it was too risky and too trivial when they really wanted to recover a spy with lots of classified information.

Donovan pointed out that the constitution makes Americans better, and by adhering to the rules gained respect of the world.  He felt Abel was a Russian doing his best for his own country. and that is what Americans expected for their own spies.

In some ways the movie put Americans in a bad light for such things as not pursuing the spirit of the Constitution, wanting execution while the Russians were looking at 10 years hard labour for Francis Gary Powers.  But there was a lot of balancing with the Berlin Wall was started and we were shown would be escapees being shot. At the and of the movie Tom Hanks had the idea to contrast American youngsters climbing over fences without getting shot

On IMDB it was pointed that the movie's portrayal of torture inflicted on Francis Gary Powers was untrue.  He was given tools for a knitting project in reality whereas in the movies it was pointed out that Abel was given painting supplies.

There was some scenes that the returned spies would have their patriotism doubted.  In fact both men were accepted and in the case of Powers continued to work for the military.

Another touch dealt with flash photographers who had a problem with flash bulbs that after being used were very hot.  Instead of putting in pockets as advised they threw them on the floor.  Spielberg  chose to shoot a scene of reporters and others walking through discarded bulbs

Spielberg's father had been involved with a Russian/American exchange and was consulted.

Mark Rylance won an Oscar for best supporting actor. and had some of the best lines  "Do many foreign agents register?" and the much repeated, but timely "Would it make a difference?"

Amy Ryan played Mary Donovan, wife to James.

Music by Thomas Newman, in the background supported words and actions.  I will be adding to my iTunes list.

If you are looking for spine tingling suspense or seat clinging action you will be disappointed.  The movie's dramatic strength is the power of negotiation.  Tom Hanks was very believable portraying Donovan who went against government advice to persuade both the Russians and East Germans to co-operate.  In the post script at the end it was pointed out that John F. Kennedy asked Donovan to negotiate the release of Americans after the Bay of Pigs disaster which he successfully did.  In this day and age there are many who are ready to drop a bomb, send thousands of soldiers to fight at any insult to American integrity.  This movie provided an alternative.

Something I have never done before is to refer my readers to a more detailed review at IMDB--check out the discussion groups.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3682448/?ref_=nv_sr_1