Emma Thompson Top 5 Films
September 8th 2010 09:15
It's been a while since I posted a list of Top 5 performances, but having watched Nanny McPhee last night I was reminded of how fantastic an actress Emma Thompson is, and decided tonight I'd put up a Top 5 Emma Thompson film list. As usual this is only my opinion, so feel free to post your own favourite Emma Thompson films in the comments section.
5 - Peters Friends (1992)
Director by Thompson's then husband Kenneth Branagh, Peters Friends tell the story of a collection of friends who meet up at an English Manor house after ten years apart. Friendships are renewed, new ones forged and a secret will change their lives forever. Think The Big Chill, set in an English Country Manor House and you've got an idea of where the movie is heading. An all star supporting cast including Stephen Fry, Imelda Staunton and Richard Briers shine in this funny and poignant film written by American Comedian Rita Rudner and Martin Bergmann.
4 - Howards End (1992)
In her Academy Award and BAFTA award winning performance as Miss Margaret Schlegal, Emma Thompson showed the world a moving and stunning performace in this adaptation of the EM Forster Novel. Starring alongside Helena Bonhem-Carter, Vanessa Redgrave and Anthony Hopkins, it was Thompson who stood out and stole the film. Perfectly capturing the attitudes and beliefs of Edwardian England, Howards End is a wonderful, evocative film that perfectly compliments EM Forsters many-layered novel. A typical Merchant/Ivory production, the film is beautiful to watch if a little heavy at times. Thompson won her Best Actress Academy Award for her stirring and beautiful performance in this film.
3 - In The Name of the Father (1993)
In The Name of the Father tells the harrowing true story of Gerry Conlon, an Irishman who was falsely imprisoned for the 1974 Guildford Bombing which killed several people inside the Guildford Pub. After being found guilty 7 others are arrested tried as accessories to the bombing, most of these people being members of Conlon's family including his father. Thompson stars as lawyer Gareth Pierce, who aides the Conlon family in clearing their names. It's a powerhouse performance as a lawyer determined to do what is right and Thompson was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance.
2 - Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
Starring as the acid tongue shrew Beatrice in this Keneth Branagh inspired adaptation of Shakespear's Much Ado About Nothing, Emma Thompson steals the show from her first scene. A battle of the sexes story that has stood the test of hundreds of years, the film opens with young lovers Claudio & Hero conspiring to make Beatrice and the equally acidic Benedict fall in love. Young love never does run smoothly, and the back and forth between Beatrice and Benedict (played by the films writer/director Branagh) is a joy to watch. Much Ado About Nothing is one of the best Shakespearan adaptations around.
1 - Dead Again (1991)
This 1991 suspense film, that harkens back to the old film noir of the 1940's stars Emma Thompson in the lead role of Grace. Haunted by images of scissors and told in flashbacks to the murder in the 1940s of Margaret Strauss, this film directed by Branagh contains more twists and turns than you would expect. With supporting roles filled by Derek Jacobi, Christine Ebersole and Robin Williams, Dead Again is a thought provoking film examing issues of reincarnation, murder and revenge.
Emma Thompson - image sourced from Google
5 - Peters Friends (1992)
DVD Cover
Director by Thompson's then husband Kenneth Branagh, Peters Friends tell the story of a collection of friends who meet up at an English Manor house after ten years apart. Friendships are renewed, new ones forged and a secret will change their lives forever. Think The Big Chill, set in an English Country Manor House and you've got an idea of where the movie is heading. An all star supporting cast including Stephen Fry, Imelda Staunton and Richard Briers shine in this funny and poignant film written by American Comedian Rita Rudner and Martin Bergmann.
4 - Howards End (1992)
In her Academy Award and BAFTA award winning performance as Miss Margaret Schlegal, Emma Thompson showed the world a moving and stunning performace in this adaptation of the EM Forster Novel. Starring alongside Helena Bonhem-Carter, Vanessa Redgrave and Anthony Hopkins, it was Thompson who stood out and stole the film. Perfectly capturing the attitudes and beliefs of Edwardian England, Howards End is a wonderful, evocative film that perfectly compliments EM Forsters many-layered novel. A typical Merchant/Ivory production, the film is beautiful to watch if a little heavy at times. Thompson won her Best Actress Academy Award for her stirring and beautiful performance in this film.
3 - In The Name of the Father (1993)
In The Name of the Father tells the harrowing true story of Gerry Conlon, an Irishman who was falsely imprisoned for the 1974 Guildford Bombing which killed several people inside the Guildford Pub. After being found guilty 7 others are arrested tried as accessories to the bombing, most of these people being members of Conlon's family including his father. Thompson stars as lawyer Gareth Pierce, who aides the Conlon family in clearing their names. It's a powerhouse performance as a lawyer determined to do what is right and Thompson was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance.
2 - Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
Starring as the acid tongue shrew Beatrice in this Keneth Branagh inspired adaptation of Shakespear's Much Ado About Nothing, Emma Thompson steals the show from her first scene. A battle of the sexes story that has stood the test of hundreds of years, the film opens with young lovers Claudio & Hero conspiring to make Beatrice and the equally acidic Benedict fall in love. Young love never does run smoothly, and the back and forth between Beatrice and Benedict (played by the films writer/director Branagh) is a joy to watch. Much Ado About Nothing is one of the best Shakespearan adaptations around.
1 - Dead Again (1991)
This 1991 suspense film, that harkens back to the old film noir of the 1940's stars Emma Thompson in the lead role of Grace. Haunted by images of scissors and told in flashbacks to the murder in the 1940s of Margaret Strauss, this film directed by Branagh contains more twists and turns than you would expect. With supporting roles filled by Derek Jacobi, Christine Ebersole and Robin Williams, Dead Again is a thought provoking film examing issues of reincarnation, murder and revenge.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Of teh ones you listed Dead Again is the one that stands tall for me.
As shameful as it is to admit I thought she brought a lot to the Harry Potter series.
My Top five for Emma Thompson would be: (Ignoring Dead Again)
Primary Colors
Stranger Than Fiction
An Education
Wit
The Tall Guy