The Tudors, which tells of the exploits of Henry The Eight, has been an unqualified success having been very popular in Ireland, the UK and the US. It is shot in Ireland, which has been a major coup for the film industry, which continues to operate under immense pressure in the current economic crisis.
CAST
The film also has a major Irish contingent both in front and behind the camera. The star of the show is Cork actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers who appeared opposite the likes of Liam Neeson, Tobey Maguire, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Cruise, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Reese Witherspoon. His role as the young English King has given him a lot of notice, including numerous award nominations. For the last two years, he has received Golden Globe nominations, as well as receiving an IFTA Award in 2008.
This is by no means a one-man show though, and he has been ably supported by fellow Irish actors Maria Doyle Kennedy, Padriac Delaney, John Kavanagh, Sam Neill and the iconic Peter O'Toole. It is produced by another talented Irish man, Morgan O'Sullivan, who has now won two IFTAs in a row. O'Sullivan has worked on a number of films such as The Count Of Monte Cristo, Reign Of Fire and Veronica Guerin, starring Australian actress Cate Blanchett.
HUNGER
In all, The Tudors won 6 awards, which is one more than Hunger, which tells the story of hunger striker Bobby Sands who starved himself for 66 days as part of a 'no uniform and blankets' protest. It is an extraordinary film in many ways, as it's three acts centre around these protests. It takes a while for Bobby Sands to appear, a good 20 minutes, which helps to add to the mystique of the man. The first and final third of the film has very little in the way of the dialogue, although it does contain some quite harrowing images of prisoners being savagely beaten and of the complete deterioration of Sands' muscle tissue.
The middle act is staggering though, as it contains a single scene that is 23 minutes long, and contains a single shot for 17 minutes, the longest in cinematic history. It centres around a conversation between Sands and Liam Cunningham's Priest, as Sands outlines his plans and Cunningham tries in vain to stop him. Both actors play it perfectly and it draws in the audience in a most unexpected way.
FASSBENDER
It was a hue night for the film, and in particular for the main star, Michael Fassebender, who won 2 awards for Best Actor and also a Rising Star award. Fassbender first came to recognition when he starred in a Guinness ad about a man who swam across the Atlantic to make amends with his brother. At 31, he has served his apprentice admirably, appearing in the likes of Band Of Brothers and Hex, before making a film breakthrough as Stelios in Zack Snyder's 300. Then came Hunger, which is rightfully getting him notice as aims to build on his reputation.
Born in Germany, before moving to Killarney in County Kerry, he is set to become an even bigger fixture in the movies after he replaced Simon Pegg as Lt. Archie Hicox in Quentin Tarantino's upcoming Inglourious Basterds. It certainly couldn't have happened to a nicer fellow either, as he is very appreciative of what he has achieved and will no doubt continue that way as his career moves on.
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