Alan Rickman, RIP
Are they calling in all the cool British guys in the arts, aged 69? I certainly hope not. But first David Bowie, and now Alan Rickman, have died at age 69 of cancer:
Alan Rickman, one of the best-loved and most warmly admired British actors of the past 30 years, has died in London aged 69. His death was confirmed on Thursday by his family who said that he died “surrounded by family and friends”. Rickman had been suffering from cancer.
A star whose arch features and languid diction were recognisable across the generations, Rickman found a fresh legion of fans with his role as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films.
Well, I never saw the Harry Potter films (fanstasy genre; not my cup of tea). I think I saw “Robin Hood,” at least on TV, in which he played a deliciously and memorably riveting Sheriff of Nottingham.
The film I know best of Rickman’s was the less-well-known “Truly, Madly, Deeply,” a very quirky movie about bereavement. In it, Rickman takes somewhat of a back seat to Juliet Stevenson. He plays the quirky ghost of her deeply-mourned husband who comes back to gently haunt her and give her a little shove back into involvement with life. Rickman is a bit muted there, but still riveting in a film that has a tone that veers from deeply tragic and moving to very funny in a dark way.
Here’s a clip; I’ve cued it up to start when the Rickman character—Jamie, a cellist—first appears as a ghost to his startled wife, who until then has been in such profound mourning at his death that she’s nearly been undone by it. At first she thinks she’s just imagining him, as she plays the piano part of a piece they used to play together:
Here’s a more animated Rickman as the Sheriff:
Rickman had that thing called “presence,” and he brought it to everything he did. I saw him on the Broadway stage in 2011, in a play called “Seminar” which was mostly forgettable—except for him.
RIP.
I don’t know about anybody else but I don’t ever feel Christmas has really arrived until I see Alan Rickman fall off the building in Die Hard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g64h1gXndjc
vanderleun–I always laugh when every year my husband and sons refer to Die Hard as a Christmas movie!
An intelligent, perceptive actor who played a memorable bad guy. Always had an understated cynicism about life and people, yet somehow likable, even as the bad guy.
Rickman was also great in “Galaxy Quest.” Part of what made him such an enjoyable screen present was his marvelous facial expressions, and his distinctive voice/delivery (especially as Severus Snape).
Well, they do survive in time to go home and open their presents on Christmas morning.
I second for Galaxy Quest – roll on the floor laughing funny, with him as a frustrated classical actor … condemned to be famous only for the roll of an alien on a cheesy TV science fiction adventure.
A friend of mine put the sad news on her Facebook page with a heartfelt plea: “Save the 69-year-old Brits!”
neo-neocon, the first film I also thought of was, “Truly, Madly, Deeply.” My wife and I saw it when it was in theaters (I probably don’t want to know how long ago that was). He was great and it’s a very interesting movie.
As with most foreign films, “Truly, Madly, Deeply” reminded me of the shallowness of so many American films. First, foreign movies tend to have actors and actresses who look “real.” Even though Stevens and Rickman are likely above average looking in real life, they don’t make them up to look like porcelain dolls. Real looking people draw me more into a film as I find them more relatable. I remember one scene in particular where Stevens was crying, sobbing doesn’t even come close to describing it. It was a very emotional scene and her acting was not overwrought, but she looked awful (as all of us do in those few instances where life completely devastates us). She not only had tears pouring down her face, but her nose was quite runny also, and she and the Director were unashamed to show that. It really made me feel sorry for her. Truly, madly, deeply sorry.
I don’t recall if I mentioned it here, but I highly recommend, “Brooklyn.” Great, believable characters all around. I found the female lead rather mundane looking (for a young woman) and was surprised when I saw pictures of the actual actress. Another woman unafraid to appear less than herself on screen to sell a role.
Alan Rickman–What a loss!
Everything he touched was wonderful, at least all the ones I’ve seen. (I haven’t seen the Harry Potter movies.)
I envy those who saw him in Dangerous Liaisons on Broadway.
And I’ve seen Die Hard so often I can recite the lines.
Brilliant, wonderful actor.
Neo, thank a thousand times for the clip fro that movie with him as a ghost. I’ve got to see it! Thank goodness for YouTube.
Thank you again, Neo.
May God comfort those who love him.
Per CNN, Rickman died after a “short battle with cancer.”
One seldom reads or hears of anyone dying of cancer without a “battle”, but those dying of other causes apparently go quietly and meekly into that good night, giving up without battling.
Peculiar.
He was great in the harry Potter movies, especially when they let him interact with the younger characters more. In many ways, he’s the grounded core of the movies. I think he makes the character better than he was in the books, which isn’t always a feat, generally speaking, but as Snape is one of the better characters in the books, I consider it to be praise. I wish he’d been in more scenes.
He’s great in Galaxy Quest, too. Just the right blend of homage and nose-tweak of Nimoy’s Spock.
Here it is from Rolling Stone: “David Bowie has died after a long battle with cancer….”
I agree with Tesh, he was great as Snape. He could steal a scene from anyone just by virtue of his presence. RIP
He was great in Galaxy Quest, as Sgt. Mom and Lizzy note. We really liked him as Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility.
RIP.
I first took notice of Rickman in Truly Madly Deeply and have been a fan ever since. I’m not familiar with Galaxy Quest, but have heard it mentioned quite a bit in today’s tributes to Rickman. Will have to add it to the Netflix list.
He was brilliant as Snape, embodying the character exactly as written, only more so. I loved him in “Sense and Sensibility” too and – oh heck, I’ll admit it – “Love Actually,” though that was a smaller part without a lot of acting challenge. He had real on-screen chemistry with Emma Thompson.
From Entertainment Tonight (tonight): “René Angélil passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer,” his rep said.
I have made my point and will now shut up.
I was an admirer until he directed the play “My Name is Rachel Corrie”.
London Trader, I hadn’t heard that. Just did some Googl’ing. Unfortunate. Definitely lowers my opinion of the man also.
He wrote/produced a Palestinian Propaganda play about Rachel Corrie.
For more on it: http://www.solomonia.com/blog/archive/2008/03/earnest-ignorance-my-name-is-rachel-corr/
London Trader is right. I ran a group website on reviews of Rickman’s work until I found out about his vile politics. That was that.