Hopkins wishes Aberystwyth Archive luck from across the pond
Academy Award Winner Anthony Hopkins has lent his support to The National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales's Screen Icon Project. The season, based at the DRWM, The National Library of Wales, has been organised to interpret and appreciate the contribution of Welsh Screen Icons to the cinematic world. Actors already honoured by the Archive have included Richard Burton, Ivor Novello and Stanley Baker with Hopkins and Zeta Jones to come.Although Hopkins could not personally make the trip from Los Angeles to Aberystwyth he stated modestly that he was extremely "honoured and flattered" by the Archive's inclusion of his work, and sincerely wished the Archive "the best of luck and success with this project".
Born in Margam near Port Talbot, Hopkins took US citizenship in 2000 yet the bond with his mother country has remained strong. Indeed Hopkins even stated, "The Welsh people have a talent for acting that one does not find in the English. The English lack heart." Many critics have drawn comparisons between Hopkins and Richard Burton performances. Hopkins though won an accolade never bestowed on Burton -the Oscar for his 1991 role in Silence of the Lambs.
Taking place on the 2nd of December is a matinee presentation (2pm) of Richard Attenborough's acclaimed Shadowlands starring Anthony Hopkins. The film centres on the romantic relationship between insular British writer C.S.Lewis - famed for his 'Chronicles of Narnia'- and an American fan of his writing, Joy Gresham (Debra Winger). Many believed that Hopkins was robbed of a second Academy Award for portraying the rumpled academic, naive to the ways of the world and certainly where love is concerned. Set in the 1930s director Attenborough makes exquisite use of the British countryside and Oxford architecture, contrasting the calmness of the locations with the chaos and inner turmoil cast upon Lewis by Winger's brash American. The intensity of their relationship and the inevitable ending will make you weep and a box of Kleenex is highly recommended.
Catherine Zeta Jones's contribution is a vivacious musical and dance extravaganza taking place on the 10th of December (7.30pm). Chicago is based on the award winning Broadway show; hit the cinematic screens in 2002. Jones was justly awarded a best supporting actress Oscar for her performance as the double murderess Velma Kelly. When a new girl, Roxie Hart (Renee Zelwegger) steals her limelight Velma becomes jealous of devious Roxie's publicity stunts and hunger for fame. So begins a hard-fought battle to see who can gain the most attention and thus avoid jail.
As the Christmas TV schedules fill up with classic musicals, here is a chance to appreciate a new classic, a film that can only be truly appreciated on the big screen. More importantly Chicago offers a night to get into the seasonal party spirit and revive flagging spirits after a hard day's shopping slog.
Notes:
Icon: Anthony Hopkins
2nd December 2004 2pm
Shadowlands (U)
Tickets £3.50
Icon: Catherine Zeta Jones
December 10th 7.30pm
Chicago (15)
Tickets£3.50
Press Contact: Llinos Medi Jones lmj@llgc.org.uk 01970 632 534