The Actors
2003 · Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany · 91 min
- Director
- Conor McPherson
- Screenplay
- Conor McPherson
- Producer
- Neil Jordan, Redmond Morris, 4th Baron Killanin
- Music
- Michael Nyman
- Cinematography
- Seamus McGarvey
Cast
What it is about
An Irish comedy set in Dublin. Two struggling stage actors, Anthony O'Malley (Michael Caine) and Tom Quirk (Dylan Moran), devise a con against a retired gangster, Barreller (Michael Gambon), with help from Tom's nine-year-old niece, a girl of remarkable cleverness.
How it was made
Written and directed by Conor McPherson from an idea by Neil Jordan, who produces alongside Redmond Morris. Michael Nyman composed the score and Seamus McGarvey shot the film. The actors perform a version of Richard III in which everyone wears Nazi uniforms, a nod to Ian McKellen's production. Much of the action centres on the Olympia Theatre, whose famous glass awning over the entrance was destroyed in a traffic accident and later rebuilt.
Reception and legacy
Critical response was lukewarm. Empire gave it two stars out of five, arguing that its comic premise had potential it never fulfilled. The sources consulted do not record major awards or a notable influence, so its present interest lies mainly in the careers of its stars and of McPherson.
Stills
Trivia
A famous awning
The Olympia Theatre in Dublin, the film's central setting, is known for its glass awning. It was destroyed in a traffic accident and later rebuilt.
A Richard III version
The characters perform Richard III with everyone in Nazi uniform, a reference to Ian McKellen's production of the same play.
Original Cinematopedia text based on Wikipedia (es) and Wikipedia (en) and Wikidata.