Post by london777 on May 30, 2017 0:24:33 GMT
Not represented:
John Irvin
English born, he served a sixteen years "apprenticeship" making documentaries and TV dramas. The last of these was the very good and popular mini-series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Alec Guinness as Smiley. With its seven episodes it can do more justice to the original novel. I find Oldman a better Smiley and prefer the depressing environment of the more recent movie, but no reason not to enjoy both versions.
Anyway, that success catapulted Irwin to Hollywood where he has been trusted with a string of big budget movies with mixed financial results. His attempts at "artier" movies have mostly flopped.
My favorite: a low(ish) budget TV war movie When Trumpets Fade (1998) about the gruelling Hurtgen Forest campaign. It is ironic that this campaign is overshadowed by the Battle of the Bulge which soon followed, while Irwin's film was overshadowed by Saving Private Ryan which appeared around the same time.
Whatever, Irwin ceased to be in any sense a British director once he followed the money.
John Irvin
English born, he served a sixteen years "apprenticeship" making documentaries and TV dramas. The last of these was the very good and popular mini-series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Alec Guinness as Smiley. With its seven episodes it can do more justice to the original novel. I find Oldman a better Smiley and prefer the depressing environment of the more recent movie, but no reason not to enjoy both versions.
Anyway, that success catapulted Irwin to Hollywood where he has been trusted with a string of big budget movies with mixed financial results. His attempts at "artier" movies have mostly flopped.
My favorite: a low(ish) budget TV war movie When Trumpets Fade (1998) about the gruelling Hurtgen Forest campaign. It is ironic that this campaign is overshadowed by the Battle of the Bulge which soon followed, while Irwin's film was overshadowed by Saving Private Ryan which appeared around the same time.
Whatever, Irwin ceased to be in any sense a British director once he followed the money.