The Spectator, Christmas special

sgev1977 Global Moderator Posts: 19,751	The Spectator, Christmas special Dec 10, 2018 14:39:41 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by sgev1977 on Dec 10, 2018 14:39:41 GMT I wonder what it is: An interview? An essay by him? An essay attacking him because it's him?

mllemass
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The Spectator, Christmas special Dec 12, 2018 0:56:07 GMT

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Post by mllemass on Dec 12, 2018 0:56:07 GMT

He is interviewed by Cummings’ wife for the article.

The actor, who campaigned for the UK to stay in the European Union, plays Brexiteer Dominic Cummings in the Channel 4 film Brexit: The Uncivil War.

Interviewed by Cummings’ wife, Mary Wakefield, for the Spectator magazine, the actor described the referendum campaign as “the most extraordinary story” which read like a “thriller”.

The rest is here:
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/news/remainer-benedict-cumberbatch-says-its-a-hell-of-a-role-playing-leave-boss-37618138.html

sgev1977
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The Spectator, Christmas special Dec 12, 2018 2:50:49 GMT via mobile

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Post by sgev1977 on Dec 12, 2018 2:50:49 GMT

Interesting because one of her colleagues (he called her "a good old friend") wrote a piece opinion criticing him and defending Cummings for supposedly BC demanding Graham to write her husband as an evil man. Something refuted by Graham himself on the The Times article and on his Twitter account. He even doubted of him as an actor because a good actor doesn't do that!

She doesn't have any responsibility in what he wrote but I wondered why he didn't asked to Graham or BC's people beforehand. Now I'm wondering if he actually talked with his "good old friend" about the theme! I know it was *only* a piece opinion but if you would accuse someone of being an asshole at least check if you aren't being manipulated by a third party! At least you are the third party, of course!

Anyway, it will be interesting to read. I like when people with opposite views talk although it's not acceptable nowadays. BC's quotes seem very diplomatic and if that's the most remarkable part of it then it doesn't seem to be an inflammatory piece.

mllemass
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The Spectator, Christmas special Dec 13, 2018 6:41:57 GMT

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Post by mllemass on Dec 13, 2018 6:41:57 GMT

Here’s part of the article:

In July this year, when Benedict Cumberbatch was filming Channel 4’s upcoming Brexit film (Brexit: The Uncivil War) a friend sent me some photos by text message, tabloid snaps from the set. Benedict plays my husband Dominic Cummings, director of the Leave campaign, and the shots were long-lens and hazy: Ben/Dom pushing his son on a swing; Ben/Dom kissing his wife.

The real son-of-Dom and I were halfway through our Rice Krispies when the photos came through and I remember how taken aback I was. It’s not that they look alike. ‘We have different shaped heads,’ Cumberbatch tells me later. ‘Dom’s taller than me, I think, and he’s got a more prominent jaw. A bit of an underbite.’

But the stance, the set of the head and hands, the posture, were all perfect. ‘Who’s that?’ I said to my two-year-old, handing him the phone. He looked back at me as if I were mad: ‘Dada. That’s Dada, Mum.’

And she describes him as “slight” - the same word I used when I saw him in person. It’s the reason people think he’s shorter than he really is. It’s just weird!

He arrived at the door, slight, polite and oddly familiar in the way famous people are.

www.spectator.co.uk/2018/12/benedict-cumberbatch-on-playing-my-husband-dominic-cummings/

Last Edit: Dec 13, 2018 7:00:06 GMT by mllemass

sgev1977
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The Spectator, Christmas special Dec 13, 2018 11:33:11 GMT

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Post by sgev1977 on Dec 13, 2018 11:33:11 GMT

I haven’t read reactions, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone is angry at him or at her for just doing that interview. People are crazy! But it’s actually a very nice amiable piece. They don’t talk about politics so in theory it shouldn’t be polemic. Also nice ending:

But it seems to me a beacon of hope that someone who believes in the EU is willing to inhabit the skin of someone who doesn’t. That’s sort of what we all need to do right now, isn’t it? I ask Cumberbatch.

‘Well possibly,’ he says. ‘I am very wary of coming across as being wordy or preachy, but it’s really about listening to each other, all of us. And to inhabit someone else’s point of view is part of the way of going towards that.’

www.spectator.co.uk/2018/12/benedict-cumberbatch-on-playing-my-husband-dominic-cummings/

SPOILER: Click to show

But she is wrong: Russia was totally involved!

roverpup
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The Spectator, Christmas special Dec 13, 2018 13:36:34 GMT via mobile

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Post by roverpup on Dec 13, 2018 13:36:34 GMT

I liked this interview very much. I an forever curious about how actors act and I liked the way this piece delved into that. I know BC has said in the past that he uses a lot of ways to deliver a performance but I like his openness with getting to locate an empathetic connection with the character he is playing. It was very refreshing to see an interviewer that wanted to get into the details of that.

"You're going into the water... short-arse!"
- Sherlock

sgev1977
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The Spectator, Christmas special Dec 13, 2018 17:40:28 GMT

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Post by sgev1977 on Dec 13, 2018 17:40:28 GMT

I also liked this quote:

‘There are moments like that. There is the flow, you know. You are kind of not in the past or the future; you’re in the present, it’s just sort of happening. You try and aim for one of these takes, but if you’re on a film set you might feel like that, but then it might not be right technically.’

That sounds annoying, I say. It’s a measure of the man that Cumberbatch instantly sees the situation from the perspective of other people on set.

‘Well, yes, but it’s annoying for a camera-man who has just got everything right for that take when you say, no, I think I got that inflection wrong, I should have been looking at that line and, oh God, I said Remain instead of Leave!’

sgev1977 Global Moderator Posts: 19,751	The Spectator, Christmas special Dec 13, 2018 18:41:04 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by sgev1977 on Dec 13, 2018 18:41:04 GMT I think the last bit is malicious.

roverpup God Posts: 4,144	The Spectator, Christmas special Dec 13, 2018 19:25:40 GMT via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by roverpup on Dec 13, 2018 19:25:40 GMT Dec 13, 2018 18:41:04 GMT sgev1977 said: I think the last bit is malicious. It's a joke. And a pretty funny one at that - playing on some peoples mistaking actors for their characters.
	"You're going into the water... short-arse!" - Sherlock

sgev1977
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The Spectator, Christmas special Dec 13, 2018 19:34:52 GMT via mobile

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Post by sgev1977 on Dec 13, 2018 19:34:52 GMT

Ok. Maybe I didn't understand it because it's not my language. I thought they were taking that word out of context because he actually said it, according the article

Did anything surprise him about Dom?

‘Well he’s got a very even keel about him… and yet he has a sense of humour and he can laugh at himself and other things. He’s not a sociopath.’ After some of the things I’ve read about Dom, that’s a relief.

But yes, it sounds good as an ironic joke, actually!

Post by sgev1977 on Dec 10, 2018 14:39:41 GMT

Post by mllemass on Dec 12, 2018 0:56:07 GMT

Post by sgev1977 on Dec 12, 2018 2:50:49 GMT

Post by mllemass on Dec 13, 2018 6:41:57 GMT

Post by sgev1977 on Dec 13, 2018 11:33:11 GMT

Post by roverpup on Dec 13, 2018 13:36:34 GMT

Post by sgev1977 on Dec 13, 2018 17:40:28 GMT

Post by sgev1977 on Dec 13, 2018 18:41:04 GMT

Post by roverpup on Dec 13, 2018 19:25:40 GMT

Post by sgev1977 on Dec 13, 2018 19:34:52 GMT

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