John Hurt is one great actor...

Anything I've ever seen him in, he's been really, really good. Whether its all-around great material like "I, Claudius" and "The Naked Civil Servant" or stuff that probably would have been sort of disappointing without him ("Scandal", the film adaptation of "1984"), I've never regretted putting my time in a movie that he had an important part in.

It's not fair that he isn't as big a star in America as, say, Anthony Hopkins is (another great English actor of about the same generation except he managed to somehow become a big star here--those Hannibal Lecter movies, I guess). Instead, most Americans seem to either not even know the name "John Hurt" or think you're talking about that blond lunkhead from "Broadcast News" and "The Big Chill."

So, what brought on this thread? I watched a movie this weekend on one of the HBO channels called "Love and Death on Long Island." I knew nothing about it and the title sounded lame to me, and Jason Priestly was in it (yeah, that 90210 guy), but when I saw that John Hurt was in it I gave it a shot. And maybe the title wasn't so bad, after all--it's a little like "Death in Venice."

It turned out the whole movie was a little like Death in Venice. John Hurt is a reclusive older writer living in England, deeply closeted in every way, and so clueless about contemporary pop culture that when he buys a VCR he doesn't know he also needs a TV to watch movies. Through sheer chance, he catches a glimpse of a young hearthrob actor in a movie called "Hotpants College 2" (don't ask). The young man is reclining in a pose that reminds the older man of the Henry Wallis painting "The Death of Chatterton," and the older man becomes obsessed with what, in his eyes, seems like the very embodiment of earthly beauty. The obsession leads him out of his near lifelong shell and he goes to Long Island, where this handsome but rather talentless young actor lives.



The story is quite sensitive, gentle, and quirky (in a good way). It's also quite intentionally funny in many parts (just the memory of hearing John Hurt asking, in an upper class English accent, to rent "Hotpants College 2" at the video store is enough to make me giggle while typing this).

Incidentally, Jason Priestly actually did a pretty good job in this film. The person who carries it, however, is of course John Hurt. He is in every scene, and his acting is wonderful.

So, I've got one more memorable performance from him that I can add to my appreciation of John Hurt...one of the best living actors in the English language.

It is most reminescent of "Death in Venice", but it's a gentle, sensitive, beautifully realized film.

I agree with you about John Hurt. I first remember him from "Midnight Express". Every film he's in, he lends a touch of class. A wonderful, overlooked actor.

..."Every film he's in, he lends a touch of class."

He always adds upward. His contribution helps make otherwise good films great, mediocre films good, and bad films bearable.

Thought he did a great job in 1984, although the movie is quite lame compared to the book.

I will try to catch this one. I have always liked John Hurt, he can always be counted on to be good. I don't think I ever noticed him until "I, Claudius". I was hooked and had to be sure to stay home to watch the entire thing.

"We get to see John Hurt crucified by an unrequited fan-love usually suffered by 14-year-old girls. He hides from his housekeeper while cutting out pictures of Priestly from TeenBeat. In a particularly affecting bit, Hurt sneaks a peek at a video of one of Priestly's "Porky's"-esque films. Hurt visibly blushes when watching his secret beloved deliver a tacky line: "You're just a skid mark on the underpants of life! Huh huh huh." Hurt cringes, laughing hysterically -- it is the stab of hot feeling everyone has had watching someone they're in love with do something embarrassing ... then the moment expands, and Hurt giggles, because, on the wings of his great love for Priestly, he can't help but guiltily give in to the lowbrow teen fun. It's a gorgeous little private moment of pure nuance, multi-textured and too subtle for the attitude, dictated by American films, that emotions must be big, hammy sandwiches, slathered in obviousness."

**That ought to psych you up to see the movie even more--it's a wonderful description of that particular moment of the film. It really was funny and amazing and touching. A transcendent moment from John Hurt.**

I saw that Long Island flick in the movie theater cuz I love John Hurt.

You'll probably enjoy this appreciation by Cintra Wilson, it's very good.

...a very interesting profile that I was actually happy was so lengthy.

I'm going to try and find that adaptation of Crime and Punishment on DVD. I didn't know about it till now.

in which he played director James Whale brilliantly. I even give a grudging thumbs-up to Brendan Fraser's performance as the object of Whale's unrequitted adoration.

...beat me to it. :-)

Bill Condon, who also directed "Kinsey", wrote and directed Gods and Monsters.

But Sir Ian played James Whale in the film. :-)

...but wasn't that Ian McKellan?

As I undertand it, Gods & Monsters has a very similar theme to Love and Death on Long Island, so any small confusion would be understandable.

I confused the two films.

Sometimes he narrates documentaries and he is the very best narrator there is, I think. He was also great in "The Elephant Man" and "Contact."