Month: June 2015

Meet the Forsytes!

“Life calls the tune, we dance.” ― John Galsworthy

source: Amazon
source: Amazon

PBS Direct has just released Forsyte Saga – The Complete Series back to DVD. In celebration of the release – meet the Forsytes!

source: ITV Studios
source: ITV Studios

The Forsyte Saga chronicles the lives of the leading members of a large upper-middle class English Family. Only a few generations removed from their farmer ancestors, the family members are very much aware of their status as “new money.” The main character, Soames Forsyte is nicknamed as a “man of property” in the family by virtue of his ability to accumulate material possessions — but this does not bring him pleasure in his marriage to his beloved Irene or in life in general. Continue reading “Meet the Forsytes!”

Damian Lewis in Keane

The American Buffalo programme booklet has a nice section in which Damian Lewis answers questions asked by fans.

americanbuffaloprogramme

Mr. Carlos Hill asks: “Which piece of work are you most proud of?”

Damian Lewis answers: “I’m proud of all my work. I always turn up and try my hardest to do the best job I can, but I was proud of my Hamlet, playing Soames Forsyte in The Forsyte Saga, and I’m also very proud of a small film called Keane, which not many people saw.”

Well, we talked about Damian’s Hamlet earlier here — both the one with Damian being in the lead role at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park and the one with Damian playing Laertes opposite Ralph Fiennes’ Hamlet on Broadway. We also talked about Damian’s Soames Forsyte in much detail. We only talked about Keane though in the context that how it gave us Nicholas Brody. And, now that Damian puts Keane in the top three jobs that he’s most proud of, it’s time we talk about Keane. Continue reading “Damian Lewis in Keane”

It’s TIME… Let’s Make Some Buzz for Billions!

source: standard.co.uk
source: standard.co.uk

A casting call tweet from @CastingAbout the other day is a clear call to action. We’d better start buzzing about NEW Showtime Wall Street Drama Billions!

castingabout

So, Billions is currently casting for Season 1. If you happen to be in New York, and want to contribute a small part… well, why not? Continue reading “It’s TIME… Let’s Make Some Buzz for Billions!”

Anniversary of D-Day = Revisiting Band of Brothers

Damian Lewis Band of Brothers Dick Winters
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces entered German-occupied France from the sea and the air with a mission to secure a 50 mile stretch of the Normandy coast. They succeeded in connecting all five beachheads in 6 days, precipitating the liberation of France from a five year occupation, and eventually driving the Nazis out of mainland Europe. That beginning of the end of WWII was D-Day. The nerve-wracking horror as well as the incredible courage of the men parachuting down to enemy occupied land was captured in all its brilliant unbelievable glory in Band of Brothers. And leading those men was Dick Winters, played by Damian Lewis.

Continue reading “Anniversary of D-Day = Revisiting Band of Brothers”

A Night at the Theater with Damian Lewis: American Buffalo, Act II

“We all live like the cavemen.” – Walter "Teach" Cole
source: boradwayworld.com
source: broadwayworld.com

Advance Warning: A sign at the entrance of Wyndham’s theatre warns the audience about explicit language in American Buffalo. I would love to imitate that and warn you all, for the sake of giving a detailed review of the play, I choose to use some of that explicit language in my blog post. So, please read at your own risk – thank you!

In case you missed the first part of my review, and want to take a look, here it is.

American Buffalo, as it brings to life a day in the lives of three no-hopers that are dying to have a shot at their slice of the American Dream, addresses the themes of friendship, loyalty and business. The play, in particular, examines how the new corporate culture penetrates into daily lives and brings about unbearable cost to people through meddling with the core “values” they have held for the longest time. One can lie, break business deals, and simply do whatever it takes to get his own way in the new world, and there is no place for trust. Teach, coming from outside, symbolizes these “new values” in a way. He “teaches” Don how the new world works: “All I mean, a guy can be too loyal, Don. Don’t be dense on this. What are we saying here? Business.” Continue reading “A Night at the Theater with Damian Lewis: American Buffalo, Act II”