Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • Services
    • Aircheck for Actors
    • Demo Reels
    • Audition Prep/Self-Tape Reader
    • Mailing Labels
    • Contribute
    • Industry Links
    • Advertise
    Daily Actor
    Daily Actor YouTube Page Daily Actor FacebookDaily Actor Twitter Daily Actor Instagram Daily Actor Pinterest
    • Acting Tips
      • Actors on Acting
      • Advice Columns
      • Acting Quotes
      • Audition Tapes
      • How To Become An Actor
      • How to Memorize Lines
    • Monologues
      • Monologues from Plays
      • Monologues from Movies
      • Monologues from Musicals
      • Comedic Monologues
      • Dramatic Monologues
      • One Minute Monologues
      • Monologues for Women
      • Monologues for Men
      • Monologues for Teens
      • Monologues for Kids
      • All Monologues
    • Acting Resources
      • Acting Resume
        • Acting Resume Templates
      • Acting Classes
        • Los Angeles Acting Classes
        • Las Vegas Acting Classes
        • San Diego Acting Classes
      • Acting Schools and Colleges
        • Los Angeles
        • New York
        • BFA Acting Schools
      • Casting Websites
      • Headshot Photographers
        • Los Angeles
        • New York City
        • Headshot Printing
      • Acting Techniques
        • What is Method Acting?
      • Stage Directions
      • Demo Reels: Everything You Need to Know
    • Interviews
      Featured

      Interview: Donna Benedicto: “Not every character needs to fit into a box”

      Recent

      Interview: Donna Benedicto: “Not every character needs to fit into a box”

      May 1, 2023
      Jesmille-Darbouze-A-Dolls-House-Broadway-Interview

      Interview: Jesmille Darbouze on Her Role in ‘A Doll’s House’ on Broadway, Working Without Props and Why She Almost Stopped Acting

      April 27, 2023

      Interview: Lilah Fitzgerald Talks “Dream Come True” Roles in ‘Monster High’ and ‘Lucky Hank’

      April 13, 2023
    • Actor Blogs
    • Reviews
      • Movies
      • Theater
      • Books
      • Products
    • Actor Services
      • Airchecks
      • Demo Reels
      • Website Design
      • Mailing Labels
    Daily Actor
    Home » Reviews » Movie Review: Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins Star in ‘The Dresser’
    Reviews

    Movie Review: Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins Star in ‘The Dresser’

    Lance CarterBy Lance CarterJuly 13, 2016Updated:September 16, 2018No Comments2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    The Dresser review

    “The show must go on” is a term actors are fond of saying, both in jest and when something bad actually happens. In the wonderful Starz film, The Dresser, about an ageing actor, Sir (Anthony Hopkins), and his loyal dresser, Norman (Ian McKellen), they take that old saying to a new level.

    Set mostly in a dressing room during World War II, the film centers on a traveling Shakespearean troupe of actors who are about to perform King Lear while the sounds of air raid sirens crackle above. At points, we even see the theatre rattle. Yet, the show still must go on.

    As the film starts, Sir is missing and Norman does his best to assure the cast that he’s just delayed. At the last possible minute, he shows up disheveled and out-of-sorts. As he constantly asks Norman what his opening line is for the show – a show that he’s done 227 times – it’s clear something is off. Is he sick? Just forgetful? Or something much worse, like dementia? Whatever is it, Norman is right there by him as his friend and protector and watching McKellen play these scenes is perfection.

    The Dresser really is a story of friendship and uncompromising loyalty between the two long-time friends. Based on Ronald Harwood’s play and adapted and directed by Richard Eyre, the film is hands down terrific in every single way. It’s sometimes difficult to watch a play adapted to film. It can feel claustrophobic and insular (like the filmed version of Yasmina Reza’s Carnage), but not here. Eyre captures the sometimes chaotic and balletic madness that goes on behind-the-scenes of a play. And every scene in the film, which also stars Emily Watson and Sarah Lancashire, is perfectly nuanced and upon repeated viewing, each actor reveals more and more. It’s brilliant character work all around.

    Both Hopkins and McKellen, who have both played King Lear in the past, are putting on a master class and it’s not to be missed.

    Related

    Previous ArticleShort Film Review: ‘The Recursion Theorem’
    Next Article Allison Janney on Her Height, Filming a Sex Scene at Age 50 and ‘The West Wing’

    Related Posts

    Theater Review: ‘1776’

    May 11, 2023
    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3

    Review: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3’

    May 3, 2023

    Theater Review: ‘Mean Girls the Musical’

    March 2, 2023
    Add A Comment

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Popular Pages
    Become An Actor | Acting Tips | Acting Quotes
    Acting Resume | Resume Template
    Headshot Photographers
    Los Angeles | New York
    Print Your Headshots
    Acting Schools & Colleges
    Los Angeles | New York
    Monologues
    Movies | Plays | Comedic | Dramatic
    Men | Women | Teens | Kids
    • Contact
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Resource Listings
    • Write A Column
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for.

    © 2023 Daily Actor

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.