There are actors with a very happy creative fate, who are said to be: "He can do anything." They possess not only multifaceted talent, efficiency and fearlessness, but also great luck. Indeed, in order for an actor’s gift to be fully revealed, roles are needed - different and many, but to get them, you need luck. So lucky, a favorite of fortune, was Alan Rickman, whose films are presented in the review.
Material Content:
A short biography of the film actor
When talking about Alan Rickman, his two roles are most often recalled - in the movie "Die Hard" and in the film adaptations of the novels by Joan Rowling "Harry Potter". The cult blockbuster made the actor recognizable and gave a pass to Hollywood. And the image of Professor Severus Snape from Potteriana turned him into a legend. However, the list of films with strong and vivid roles of Rickman is much larger.
It is noteworthy that Alan Rickman himself for a long time did not perceive the acting profession as something serious. He was born in post-war Great Britain into a very poor Irish-Welsh family and lost his father early. Together with his four brothers and sister, he was brought up by his mother and knew well what it means to “count a penny”.Therefore, despite the scholarship won for studying at the Department of Dramatic Art at the Latimer school, according to him, playing on stage "did not seem to him to be a practical and sensible choice."
After studying at Latimer school, young Rickman studied at the College of Art and Design, then at the Royal College of Art, after which he became a successful graphic designer. From his true vocation, he ran until the age of 26, until he ended up at the Academy of Dramatic Art.
Until 1987, Alan Rickman was for the most part a theater actor. During a tour of the theater in the United States, film producers noticed him and offered to work in Die Hard. So at the age of 42, Rickman became a Hollywood star.
Rickman's filmography includes more than 50 films and 2 series. In addition, he himself shot 2 paintings, in one of which he tried himself as a screenwriter. The British’s beautiful and deep voice was used several times in the dubbing, in particular, it comes from the lips of Absolhem’s caterpillar in the sequel Alice in Wonderland and Alice in Through the Looking Glass.
In 2016, Alan Rickman died suddenly. Almost all his life, from 19 to 70 years old, he lived with one woman - Rima Horton, without messing up his name in any sexual scandal. The couple did not have children, but Alan Rickman left an army of fans who jokingly call themselves "rickmannyaks." In memory of the idol, they published a book of letters and presented it to the widow of the actor.
List of the best films with the actor in the title role
Films with Alan Rickman in the title role were not always nominated for film awards, but often became an event in the world of cinema. Among the most curious are the following.
“Divine Creation” (2004).
In another translation, the name of this picture is “Creation of the Lord”. In this biographical drama, the British actor brilliantly played the famous American cardiac surgeon of the first half of the 20th century Alfred Blacock. The film once again raised and explored the problem of racism, having won several prestigious awards and 90% of the positive votes in surveys on rating sites.
“Snow Pie” (2006).
A drama in which Alan Rickman's partners on the set were Sigourney Weaver and Kerry-En Moss. A lone man survived a terrible tragedy: his son was shot down on the road. He found and killed the culprit, but he ended up in prison. Once released, the protagonist finds himself in a cycle of complex relationships with an occasional acquaintance suffering from autism. The atmosphere of a small Canadian town, the search for life support, love, kindness and a lot of snow.
“Mesmer: on the path of Nostradamus” (1994).
A strange, bewitching, biography film revealing the mysterious image of the German doctor and hypnotist Franz Mesmer. This role brought Rickman a victory at the festival in Montreal in the nomination for best male role, but the actor himself admitted that it was not easy for him. The plot unfolds in Europe in the 18th century, in an era when bloodletting was the main method of treatment - with convulsions, hysterical neurosis, epilepsy, etc. A fierce love line is framed by the fierce struggle of apologists for "scientific" medicine with the "quack" Mesmer, who says: " All pain is in the human mind. ”
Rasputin (1996).
This picture is interesting to the Russian audience as a view from the side. Attempts by foreign filmmakers to touch the secrets of Russian history are rarely successful. Many of our viewers note that even the magnificent Rickman did not have the “Russian spirit” to fully reveal the image of Grigory Rasputin - one of the most fateful characters in Russian history. Nevertheless, the film brought Alan Rickman two major victories - the Emmy Award and the Golden Globe Award in the Best Actor nominations.
The Dark Harbor (1998).
A drama with an absolutely shocking ending, very close to the arthouse, so it is rarely included in any reviews.A slow, phantasmagoric narrative where Alan Rickman played the unpleasant bore-husband of a young woman. The couple picks up a strange battered guy on the road, and what such a charitable deed will turn out to be incomprehensible until the very end.
“Close my eyes” (1991).
“It was my very first bed scene,” Rickman recalls of the role in this tape. Impossible, forbidden relationships within the same family against the backdrop of London landscapes. Rickman plays an eccentric wealthy intellectual whose wife has sex with his own sibling. The film is rare, controversial, frank and ambiguous, without clearly defined positive and negative characters. Of course, category 18+.
When it comes to Alan Rickman, it is very difficult to identify the best films where he plays a major role. You can take almost any - and you will not be mistaken. The skill and dramatic talent of this actor sometimes stretches even a failed scenario.
Supporting films
As an actor, playing supporting roles, Alan Rickman was not very convenient for his partners on the set. Thanks to incredible charisma, he quickly pulled the attention of the audience to himself, forcing empathy even to negative characters. Examples of such films are the following.
"Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" (1991).
“I like it when people say that they wanted the sheriff to succeed,” the actor admitted in an interview. His sheriff of Nottingham came out so vivid and vile that many people watch this film only for his sake. Perhaps that is why it was not without acting jealousy. Rumor has it that Kevin Costner, who played Robin Hood, insisted that some scenes with Rickman be excluded from the rental version. Acting in this picture, Alan practically "came off to the fullest", coming up with interesting moves. It became a cult scene where, during the wedding, he jerkily spreads the legs of Lady Marian, wanting to expedite the ceremony, belongs to him.
“Reason and Feelings” (1995).
Oscar-winning romantic melodrama based on the novel by D. Austin and the completely opposite image to the sheriff of Nottingham. Here Rickman is the personification of the ideal man, and this role was a success for him. The company in the filming of the picture he was made by Kate Winslett, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones and Emma Thompson.
"Michael Collins" (1996).
Historical drama about the civil war in Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century. In it, the actor Alan Rickman embodied the image of Imon de Valera - the author of the Constitution of Ireland. A film with excellent directing, catchy, atmospheric. For lovers of historical facts: the real Imon de Valera in 1945 brought the German people condolences on the occasion of Hitler's death. But in the movie "Michael Collins" events unfold much earlier, when the character Alan Rickman still does not know anything about it.
Playing secondary roles, Rickman is able to oust other actors from the frame without even opening his mouth. A vivid example is the Texas video clip “In demand”, which was remembered only by Rickman’s dance at the gas station.
Comedies featuring Alan Rickman
The versatile talent of Alan Rickman gave him the opportunity to play in films of various genres - including comedic ones. The brightest comedies where you can meet the actor are as follows.
“In Search of the Galaxy” (1999).
Very funny "galactic quest", where the former actors of the science fiction series really fall into space. Rickman's character is an actor who cannot stand his role as an intelligent alien with psi abilities.
The Gambit (2012).
An excellent duet of two British - Alan Rickman and Colin Firth. Rickman plays here a grumpy billionaire who loves art but hates his subordinates. The coen brothers participated in creating the script for the film.
A separate line in the list of comedies with Alan Rickman is worth mentioning the scandalous film "Dogma" in 1999, which caused a storm of religious protests. In it, the actor played the heavenly mediator - the angel Metatron. All the biblical images in the film look, of course, humorous, but with an open eye you can see that it is not ridiculed by faith, but church dogmas and conventions.
Crime films
The crime blockbuster genre has become the launching pad for Rickman’s Hollywood movie career. Subsequently, the actor more than once participated in such tapes.
"Die Hard" (1988).
The role of Hans Gruber made Rickman a star. The terrorist who captured the skyscraper, in his performance, turned out to be so irresistible and spectacular that the producers began regularly calling different English actors to play villains.
“The January Man” (1989).
A little-known, but very curious thriller, where Rickman plays a secondary, but as usual a bright role. A serial maniac commits murder after murder, and the character of Rickman helps the protagonist investigate this matter.
“The Kiss of Judah” (1998).
Festival crime movie about blackmailers, abductions and sexual crimes. Here Rickman tries on the role of a detective and successfully copes with it, despite the fact that many fans of the actor call the picture too passable and banal for his talent.
"Alan Rickman's" criminal talent is revealed not only in purely genre films. His unusual face and ability to find both positive and negative sides in any character made the actor a welcome guest on the set of more than one thriller.
Popular TV shows
Twice in his career, Alan Rickman has been able to try out the serial format. And once - even before arriving in Hollywood.
The Barchester Chronicles (1982).
A BBC film showing the cozy English town of 19th century Barchester. Rickman played in him a rather vile chaplain of the church, an intriguer and a ladies man. However, this role caused unexpected excitement among the female population of Britain, who overwhelmed the actor with love letters.
“Fallen Angels” (1993-1995).
The detective series Sidney Pollack in the style of neo-noir. Rickman appears in episode 5 of season 1, directed by director Alfonso Cuaron. This is a short story, literally a sketch, but the actor in it plays at the full power of his talent.
Rickman's works in the format of series are full of charm and once again prove the universality of the talent of the actor.
Director work
Alan Rickman not only starred in other people's films, but also twice tried to stay in the director's place.
“The Winter Guest” (1997).
“Such a time comes for all of us - when roles change, and children must become parents,” Rickman said about the idea of this film. In his first tape, he invited Emma Thompson to the main role, with whom he starred in the film "Reason and Feelings" only two years ago. The basis for the script was the play of the British Sharman MacDonald. Both directorial and camera work were carried out at a level that allowed the film to receive several prestigious awards - including CinemAvvenire at the Venice Film Festival and Golden Hugo in Chicago.
The Versailles Novel (2014).
A beautiful historical melodrama against the backdrop of the Louvre and Versailles from the era of the Sun King. True, both the Louvre and Versailles were filmed in London, but this is almost imperceptible. The spirit of the times is conveyed superbly. For the main role, Rickman again invited his long-time partner in Reason and Feelings. This time it was Kate Winslett, and Louis XIV the master played himself. The Versailles Novel was the penultimate film starring Alan Rickman.
Many films with the participation of Alan Rickman are rightfully included in the golden fund of world cinema. Some paintings have settled as rarities on the shelves of movie collectors. But in the hearts of the vast majority of modern teens, Rickman remained Severus Snape.After the news of his death, young Twitter users organized a farewell flash mob by raising virtual magic wands. Under the pictures was a caption: “Sticks up, Hogwarts! Rest in peace, Severus. "
