Have A Think #9: Do You Like Music?

This time, a practical exercise. Here's a situation - you might have experienced it already - you mention Eccleston to your acquaintance and find out that you're talking to a person who has never heard about him. Hasn't even seen him in films without knowing it was him. And as the circumstances dictate, you have not more than ten minutes to explain and illustrate - if you want, make a pitch - and introduce your friend to Chris Eccleston.

You have all and any material you could think about. What would you use? Pictures or stills, extracts, video or audio? What's the best representation? If you've already tried it out, how did it work?

2009-10-08

Have A Think #8: Property Is Theft

Films affect us in various ways, and they also broaden our minds. And often they bring a challenge - or at least a question or two. For example, what is a Jacobean tragedy? (It has violence, to start with; "Every mode of violent death available to Renaissance man, including a lye pit, land mines, a trained falcon with envenom'd talons, is employed," to quote Pynchon.)

Or maybe, waiting for a coming Chris Eccleston project, you might have just found yourself with a 'G.I. Joe' comic - Watching a Katrina hurricane documentary (Spike Lee's for example) - Reading about Amelia Earhart (Chiclit's current pastime) - Perusing Askwith's book (like Alex).

In other words, if you prepare for a film, how? What about further studies? Do you prefer one to another?

2009-09-10

Have A Think #7: Leveraged Buyouts

There's recreation, and there's deliberate recreation. After a hectic week Chiclit found herself unwinding with a good rewatch of 'Doctor Who' Chris Eccleston series. It has a high Zen-factor in Alex's book too, but what are your preferences?

What is your favourite stress reducing performance - movie, series, or perhaps a certain episode? Which of his films do you get lost in? Does it change, say, with time or depending on specific circumstances? Or have you discovered the panacea?

2009-09-03

Have A Think #6: Apply In Writing

Derek Bentley, Trevor Hicks, Gen. Ford, Fred Noonan - Chris Eccleston played these historic persons, as well as characters hailing from the stories by Mike Phillips, Jorge Luis Borges, Thomas Hardy, Jennifer Egan, Susan Cooper, Herbjørg Wassmo. Also, a project ('Feet In The Clouds') that would unite these two aspects is in development. Our reader Jen has remarked that Eccleston should have been John Constantine, and thought it would be interesting to hear what other roles are envisioned. Hence, a question.

What real-life or fictional character can you see - or perhaps always have seen - as played by Eccleston? Never mind any temporal or other limits (your project could also be placed earlier in the filmography, for example). Should it be a direct portrayal or an interpretation? What is this association based on: Intuition, physical semblance, his acting style, ideology? And to go further, who would you appoint to write the adaptation or to direct?

2009-08-19

Have A Think #5: Fantastic. One Of Those

We've discussed some of Chris Eccleston characters before, especially those with dubious tendencies. There's though also a certain department of possible heroes: By nature or by plan, successful or not quite, or even victims.

No examples will be provided, because we'd like to know, who would you - no doubts or second thoughts - call a positive character? If you have suspicions about all of them, who comes closest? Is it more difficult to take Eccleston's characters for granted? Who would you go behind enemy lines with - or perhaps you would prefer a villain?

2009-08-12

Have A Think #4: Permanent Solution

Probably everyone had a film recommended to them by a friend, or perhaps watched something for experiment's sake. And yet there are films you'd prefer not to get involved with - and many more you're indifferent to. Chiclit wonders this week about some of the films she'd seen that have the only thing in common - they star Chris Eccleston.

"I know that I never would have sought out 'Anchoress', but loved its starkness and thought about it for days. I would never have discovered 'Death and the Compass', but I found the final scenes thrilling and fun - and am convinced Chris Nolan had them in mind when he developed the recent Batman. 'Othello' was great, watching a Shakespeare drama re-purposed as a modern treatise on friendship and race (timely in the middle of our recent Presidential campaign) - but not sure I would have seen it if I hadn't been following the Eccleston filmography."

So, what movie (or television show) has Christopher Eccleston led you to that normally you would never have watched? How did it affect you? Did it convert you into a fan of a certain genre? Encouraged to learn more about one director or other? Made you see Eccleston's other films in different light?

2009-07-28

Have A Think #3: A Bout Of Tourism

After a week's break - finishing the reviewing - another topic to think about. This time, a simple subject with a twist. Inspired by this postcard for 'Manchester Reads' project, let's take a look at the films we almost know too well from a different angle.
Write a postcard from any Chris Eccleston film you like (ca. 70 words) - that affected you most as a whole, that has a character you find special, or just the last one you saw.

Like this: A postcard from 'Strumpet' by Danny Boyle.

Dear viewer,
Smashing night. Met local cause célèbre, Strayman, - the artiste helped himself to my chips, obviously, but his pack was docile, for a change. He promptly absconded, muttering he has to write something down.
Karaoke was a killer. Tie a yellow ribbon! Bought Strayman a pint for the poetry attack. I wish Cooper Clarke paid a visit and connected Strayman with them right people who'd help him break through for real.
A.K.

2009-07-21

Have A Think #2: Criminal Philanthropists et al.

This week let's look at the roles Chris Eccleston played through his career, in general.
Those who are familiar with several of his films, tend to form one of the following opinions: That he plays villains best, that he plays good persons best, or, the happy medium, that 'it's all about the grey zones'.

For how do you decipher these characters? There was Red Scharlach, criminal philanthropist; cracked accountant David; Nicky Hutchinson whom Eccleston himself called anti-hero; Norfolk and his pride; Leo Zhukovsky, a man who was his mission; Vindici, Jacobean Man Without A Name; Major Henry West, one man squad of despair. And these are just the most obvious examples.

So, the question is, which role forced you to make the most memorable double take? Did you find yourself rooting for the 'wrong' person in a certain movie? Was there a particular occasion when Eccleston's approach changed your perception of the film? Made you adjust your opinion after you thought about it? Which character do you find hardest to put in this or other box?

2009-07-07

Have A Think #1: Collaborations

Through his career Chris Eccleston has collaborated repeatedly with several directors and writers. For example, Alex Cox cast him in 'Let Him Have It', then went on to direct him in 'Death and the Compass' and 'Revengers Tragedy', Michael Winterbottom directed him four times, Charles McDougall - three. Jimmy McGovern has written 5 features Eccleston has appeared in, and five writers are responsible for two films each. We would like to look at one specific collaboration, that with director Danny Boyle.

'Shallow Grave', big screen début, 'Strumpet', one of two TV projects as successful regrouping manoeuvre, '28 Days Later', return to bright lights without dumbing down or giving up the original ideas - these films were important turning points for Danny Boyle. But what about Eccleston? What place do these projects have in his filmography? Are they exceptional in some way for you? How do you think Boyle-Eccleston collaboration is different from others? Can you see them working together again?

2009-06-30