Tom Hiddleston is still on stage at the Donmar Warehouse, performing Coriolanus. The reviews – from what I’ve seen – have been mixed, but I think the widespread opinion is that Tom is one of the best parts of a rather mediocre staging of a well-liked (but not beloved) Shakespeare play. Still, Tommy’s star power (yes, I said it) has made Coriolanus a hit, so much so that dates had to be added so more money could be made off of Bloody, Warmongering Tommy (personally I prefer Fluffy, Duck-Soliloquizer Tommy). And this week, in some movie theaters around the world, people will be able to watch Coriolanus live. That happens on the 30th. Mark your calendars!
So, to promote the live event (I’m assuming), the Donmar Warehouse released a short clip of Tommy and the other actors rehearsing and practicing their stage combat and all of that good stuff. I don’t know what I enjoy more… Tommy eating a salad and reading the newspaper while having his bloody wound makeup applied, or Tommy being flipped all the way around and then just lying flat on his back for a beat? Tommy doing pull ups on a ladder (HOT) or Tommy jumping rope? Tommy doing manly push-ups or Tommy applying his own face makeup? What am I even saying? It’s all rather amazing and wonderful. I’m not even a full-fledged Dragonfly and I’ve watched this video three times already. PS… The heavy breathing at the end… I think that’s my favorite part. Yes. It is.
Promotional photos courtesy of the Donmar Warehouse.
Hahahaha! It’s full-on theatre porn. Love it. In my usual Snark McSnark of the clan McSnark way.
Swooning forever in the land of hiddleswoon. The breathing is definitely hot.
I thought I was the only one. LOL
Good for Tom, he’s always WAY more attractive when he leaves the twee at home. What is it about atrractive guys working out though?!
*Goes back to staring at new Chemboy pics*
What new CHemboy photos? I think you are mistaken – you might be imagining lovely shots of him in actively promoting Thor in Japan but we all know he doesn’t do that.
*Gasps* He’s promoting Thor 2? What is the world coming to?!
But yes, I was talking about these:
http://hookedonhemsworth.tumblr.com/post/74593596109/x
http://povril.tumblr.com/post/74509140730
goodness, he’s pretty *fans self*
this guy is amazing
He should wear track suit trousers and tight (occasionally sleeveless) shirts ALL THE TIME. Oh and the vigorous makeup application. Lol
His arms are really quite impressive in a non beefcake way when you see him in Coriolanus. It must be climbing up that ladder every night Hadley’s looked quite nice as well. Being a cynic I thought at first there was some padding in the costumes but when he strips to the waist you can see its all muscle.
Please….do go on. *Drool*
yes, please give us every glistening details =D
Yes, he seems to have gone to my school of makeup application. Near enough is good enough. However I must say his outcome is much better than mine!
When I see his bod strong like this, I can’t help thinking of Michaelangelo’s ‘David’. Cor blimey!
God, I was waiting for this post… So, I guess Donmar really wants to sell tickets. ALL tickets.
I did wonder if it was done to appease the myriad of fans who have been asking for a DVD. But yes they are pushing the live broadcasts although I have to say for a live broadcast it is having a wide circulation. Normally in my area there is just one arts centre that shows the NT live broadcasts but there are two cinemas within a half hours drive showing Coriolanus as well as the arts centre. Also in London at least venues are selling out.
I`m trying to understand how such things work. Is it strategy from Luke&Co or Donmar PR or both?.. I can`t imagine adult people who are talking about Tom`s sexy charms and just like: “Oh, he must do push-ups and we`ll sell tickets”. And Tom:” Oh, do I need to breath heavily and look intense and hug my colleagues?”.
Well, I`m joking, but: that charming and intense performance for 2 minutes doesn`l look spontaneous. Maybe they shot all artists and than there was cutting – like only for the fangirls.
Here’s a thought for those perpetually wondering whether his behaviour is fake/ PR strategy etc: maybe, just a wild guess, that’s just, you know, his personality. I don’t know the man personally, so all I’m basing this opinion on is observation, and the fact that constantly putting on a facade is 1) exhausting, 2) ultimately impossible to sustain. Things slip, masks fall, we’re all human, yadda yadda. But from the many interviews I’ve read/ watched/ listened to with him, I’ve yet to see an interviewer, regardless of gender, age, race, cultural background, who does not dissolve into a puddle of “awww, look at this nice, charming Englishman, where can I get me one of those?” Alright, that last part is mostly me, though I’m pretty sure I’d have to get in line behind Josh Horowitz.
DahliaDee, here’s the latest tweet from ELLEUK about the upcoming interview:
“On Thursday we will reveal pics from our shoot with Mr @twhiddleston. Also, a special short film he made. Until then, here is a quote: “I don’t know my boundaries. I just say yes to things” He’s not kidding either”
Maybe more than that being his personality it’s a matter of him not being able to assert it. He just nods along to whatever his PR office/people propose 🙂
DahliaDee, actually I have the same thoughts. You can’t fake your personality for always, there will be mistakes. The question is about PR: how far will it go with using Tom’s emotional generosity and… well, charming image. And does he know what he’s doing?
So I guess kaisei is right. It seems to me this “yes to everything” is close to the truth. Maybe he doesn’t know himself at all and just doing whatever they say. I always think about TH as a ENFP type of personality. “Just do it… and laugh! (oh, there are people everywhere? ehe-he).”
I just wanted to clarify that I didn’t mean that he is spineless or he can’t make a decision, because obviously he was stubborn and strong-willed enough to pursue an acting career, he decides which projects he wants to join and often on the red carpet it’s him insisting on staying longer with fans when Luke tries to pull him away.
I think when he says he doesn’t know his own boundaries maybe it’s about things he doesn’t have an opinion about, or things he doesn’t want to do but he ends up saying yes anyway. However, given that he is aware of it maybe he’ll change attitude.
Lovely points, from both of you, kaisei, veryspecialcases, and you might absolutely be right. I feel like I undeservedly went a bit mama-bear on pfff, everyone, basically, because it makes me uncomfortable to think Bunny’s being criticized unfairly 😀 So you have my sincere apologies. And about that “I don’t know my boundaries. I just say yes to things” thing, makes me wonder whether it might be a question of investigating said boundaries that drives him? Some of the time, I mean, let’s not rush to get him completely off the hook 🙂
No need to apologize 🙂
It could be like you say when it comes to something he never experienced before, like on Thor2 promo tour, when he appeared at that Korean show, I can understand being asked and him saying “yes, why not”, because when again in life he might be asked something of the sort? Maybe never, so let’s just do it at least once (I would say the same). Of course we don’t know what comes before that sentence in that interview, but I’m afraid it’s not only limited to this, that sometime he regrets not saying no from the start.
I agree with the points being said. He’s enjoying himself enormously doing all those daft shows. Eventually though, he will wake up and go, ‘I am bored of this, now.’
But, talk about faking it, Benedict Cumberbatch is faking this new funny, light personality. Benedict is a wonderful, charismatic actor, and he has a great sense of humour, but his UK PR persona until now has been more serious, complicated and intelligent and it suits him. He has great opinions and is not afraid to say them. Until, he started this recent America PR run to push Sherlock, he has gone soft. I’d rather he stick with what makes him tick, and leave the Tommy ‘copy-PR’ stuff behind.
Somebody knows how to bait the fan girls. How does a 251 seat theatre make allot of money in just a few months? – just like this. The Jaguar commercial cannot be hotter than this.
It IS subsidised and pretty much sells out for every performance, The next two shows only have Barclay tickets available but I am sure the critical acclaim the production has received will have gone down well.
doubt if Donmar can make A LOT of money from tickets sales only. The most expensive seat is only 35ponuds and front row is 10…my pre-theatre dinner usually cost more than Coriolanus ticket. Even Donmar’s programme is cheaper…
Just when I was done swooning over Benny in his swim shorts in the latest video of the NTA awards, I am now here gasping at Tommy doing push ups, applying his own makeup and getting ready for the play! And the heavy breathing?! Ack!
It’s the pull up off the ladder that got me.
Hi Windy!
It sure is hard to have two beautiful Brits to swoon over similtaneously. I think they should just hang out together every day and be done with it. It would make our lives so much easier!
@Icerose. Yup. All the way. Pull up, push up, sit up, blink. They all work for me!
Hi Secret Squirrel
Yes I do agree that they should hang out more….it would definitely make it much easier for us to ogle & stare & swoon….
Have you managed to pitch the DVD idea to either of them? :p
I have courier pigeons with their contracts and permission slips for their mums to sign for the DVD’s on route to England as we speak. They should be there in a couple of months!!
“they should just hang out together every day”
oh my, good morning to me, what a thought
I miss those War Horse promo days
Swim trunks? what did I miss??
@jammypants
It’s featured on celebitchy too – http://www.celebitchy.com/345998/benedict_cumberbatch_wears_swim_trunks_for_a_bit_at_the_ntv_awards_cute/
haha! his legs are tan!
I like the cards and letters around the mirror, it’s sweet.
There is a little Coriolanus statuette on the desk. I read that it was gift from some fan.
I saw something about that on Twitter. Someone did make that little statuette for him. It’s adorable. The same person made one for Mark Gatiss too.
some Korean fans made that for Tom. Mark Gatiss and Hadley got their own figures too
Did anyone notice that Coriolanus action figure on the dresser?? I WANT THAT!!
Not gonna lie…this video has distracted me all weekend.
I’m going to see this in my movie theater on Thursday! *Team Dragonfly* 😀
Okay, serious comment. Despite many reservations, I don’t tbink Coriolanus is a mediocre production, Kaiser, nor do I think it’s been received as such. Some have found it a little gimmicky is all. But it is proper qualidee.
I’ve finally put my finger on what I didn’t like. It is the dilution of Caius. Rourke said she was searching for the tragedy but to use an analogy, for me she has done what Bridget Jones did to Pride and Prejudice.
I have seen almost all four star reviews so the “mixed reviews” comment left me a bit confused as well.
The only negative review I saw was the Daily Mail and that one seemed to be striving to be nasty just for the sake of being nasty. The other reviews I have seen were all predominantly positive with some minor objections to the music, which is an issue of personal taste more than anything; the changing of one character from male to female, again a minor detail; and some negativity towards Hadley Fraser’s performance. The performances of Findlay and Hiddleston have pretty much been solid and no actor is responsible for a director’s decision.
You see I disagreed with the criticism of Hadley because I thought he was amazing. The only negatives I saw were the prduction/directorial flourishes (rose petals, techno chair sequence) and the depiction of Caius as a noble hero.
The depiction of Caius as noble is a biggie.
I mentioned that review to a friend who listens to Quentin Letts (the reviewer)on the radio. She immediately said “oh him, he always has to be different”
That Daily Mail review was a travesty, they made themselves look daft. All the reviews were 4star, including the Guardian who wouldn’t miss a trick to take down a posh-actor. But, then again this is a paper that spends a lot of time on the Kardashians and no-one in the UK really gives a f@£$ about them.
There were and still are a lot of comments floating around about the music being annoying, but i shall leave judgement until i see it. But, if people want pure Shakespearan adaptations, unedited 4 hours long then they would stick to the RSC [Royal Shakespeare Company].
I like my Shakespeare Baz Lurhman style, bit of jazz.
Hadley’s performance wasn’t as knock out as I was expecting but still very very good. No weak links in the cast IMHO…
@ p’enny.
” including the Guardian who wouldn’t miss a trick to take down a posh-actor.”
They are at it again today with a vengeance:
http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jan/26/working-class-hero-posh-britain-public-school
@joespider
but that article you’ve linked is right though – you do have to be wealthy by any average european middle class standard at least to make it in london – just to visit that city and stay for a week is expensive, never mind living there permanently and being out of a job which is what most actors are there, only the select few get constant work, the rest have to wait and be persistent, but that takes time and most importantly money
also, education does cost – a LOT
when I see the tuition fees people there have to pay I shudder, I’m not gonna make that amount of cash in the next 5 years for food, rent, clothes, etc, never mind one year tuition without the rest of the costs that follow
so indeed, these famous artists today – whom I love and this doesn’t deny them their talent and capabilities – are indeed filthy rich from my point of view, and they had been rich way before they got their break and became famous
i know @joespider drives me batty.
@ ‘p’enny
Not sure why you’d think the RSC is for trad productions and doesn’t conceptualise Shakespeare, eviscerate by cutting, do stunt casting and all the rest of it, since they have extensive form for it all.
Not that this is a criticism. Some productions are more successful than others, regardless of style. But perhaps the Globe would have been a better suggestion?
Darn it! I might have to miss the screening because of a family thing. I love the play Coriolanus so much, though, and am almost ambivalent about seeing it. Tell me more about what you thought.
You’ve said before that bells and whistles can turn you off. There are many. Not sure why the chairs are so commented on – functional choice for minimal cast in small space and hardly unusual for anyone who’s ever been to any fringe festival.
I don’t want to say anything about it is invalid or bad. But I don’t see why Rourke felt the need to find a different type of more sympathetic tragedy than the one already there in the text. Why not just stage one of the others?
I wonder about that too, Sixer. And the one audio interview I listened to with her last month did not address that question at all. Perhaps she felt doing it like that would make it more relatable to a modern audience? While there is a lot of room for interpretation in the text, Coriolanus simply does not come across as a particularly likeable or sympathetic character, at least not to me.
Some theaters are showing the screening on different days. Maybe you could see it that way? I’m seeing it on February 8 due to the date and time being more suitable than having to take a full day off of work to watch the broadcast at 11:30 in the afternoon (I’m in California).
T.Fanty – You must love your family more than I love mine, cos there is no way I would choose them over topless Tommy with scars and sweat! I tip my hat to your self-control.
+1. Almost all the reviews have been very, very good. So I am a little confused by the mixed reception part.
The reviews have been excellent apart from a few who review which seemed to have very rigid views on how Coriolanus should be interpreted. I have seen it twice and did not think he came across as “nice” but he has given it a more complex interpretation which some critics have picked up on. So instead of raging psychopath or totalitarian leader we have a unlikable flawed human being who brings about his own destruction through his inability to bend or understand others. But whichever you interpret it, Coriolanus is still a tragedy where the protagonist dies. In many ways I thought it made the politics more interesting and less black and white. It certainly rings bells with todays media frenzies and the cult of celebrity/public figures which permeates our political landscape.
Personally it never occurred to me that Bridgit Jones was in any way comparable to Austen. One is fluffy romance the other an observation of social norms so your analogy failed to work for me. What the production did was distil what is a “political” tragedy into an interpretation that was accessible and relevant to today. There is a teaching pack that comes with the production in which Josie does explain the focus was very much a Brechtian exploration of the relationships with the play which trigger events leading to the outcome.
I think the analogy was quite clear – Bridget Jones is Austen-lite. Rourke’s production is Coriolanus-lite. Ultimately, I think it’s a successful production but a less successful adaptation of the source. There is a central intent which I think the production has clearly lost. But it’s all subjective. Everyone’s experience (including Rourke’s choices) is valid.
My house has several flights of stairs, he can run up and down all he wants. I’m sure I can attach a ladder to the side of the house too.
During the filming of Marathon Man, Dustin Hoffman ran around the block, so that when he did the scene, he would be out of breath, as his character had just returned from a run. Sir Larry watched him go, and upon his return, suggested that he “try acting, dear boy.”
LOL, this is hilarious!!
I just need him toned and sweaty for a few minutes. He doesn’t have to act for that time period.
Ahhh, so that is where that quote is from. I didn’t know which movie it was attached to.
That is very old anecdote and just a tad dated. What would be fascinating is a dialogue between Larry (Classical) ,Stanislavski ,Micheal Chekov, David Mamet and Meisner on the merits of the acting styles. I think most actors today favour using the best of each style.
Icerose, I wish I could hear that dialogue…
I’ve always found that quote really condescending. I know it’s Laurence Olivier and all, but the scenes called for Hoffman to be out of breath. I guess you could just start heaving and bellowing away, but why not jog around the block? Or do some jumping jacks? If an actor needs to be out of breath, then they should be out of breath.
NT Live really knows which audience it’s going for, huh?
Exactly.
Yep! But this is exactly how I like Puddltom. Looking hot and leaving room for a little mickey-taking, rather than so much I want to smack him.
I’m right there with ya Sixer!
You didn’t want to slap him a teeny bit when you saw him playing slap tag? They were transferring energy around the circle.
Well, THAT sort of slap is another thing altogether.
No kidding. And judging by the way the fangirls received it, it certainly seems to have worked quite well.
I eat the air, promise-crammed. You CAN feed capons so.
Or is that too mean?!
LOL, Sixer! I loved that!
I saw the Tennant Richard II and the Cumby Frankenstein, and in both cases, each conema was sold out to squeeing girls.
The flip side, of course, is that it sells shows.
Very true, T,fanty. And I don’t fault the theatres for that at all.
While I had HUGE problems with the script of Frankenstein, better that people spend their money on this than Rocky, the Musical.
This makes me very happy. That is all.
Eating lunch whilst having a ghastly mortal wound applied by a hot edgy artist. Definitely my favorite.
He chews funny btw. Small controlled tasteful bites. Or am I over analyzing?
Yes.
Kelly, I need to see more than 2 seconds of him eating to garner an impression…Have you seen him eat elsewhere?
I can’t believe you actually made me google TH and food but you did.
I remember seeing him chewing somewhere something else too (dear lord at the sound of this) and thought it was funny in that he made the process seem so measured and proper, lol, I can’t explain it.
Maybe I’m just a big ol’ classless redneck, but I’m nowhere near as delicate while eating as he seems to be.
Anyway, I found this infamous chocolate incident
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwlEhOmcmgM
Also remember seeing some fan photos of him eating chips popping up on my tumblr dashboard and he looked funny eating those too!
Really? We are going to analyze the way he eats?? Just let me swallow my ginormous mouthful of jam & toast and gulp down the last of my milky tea so I can join in.
Thank goodness this is typing and not talking threads!
LOL, right?
Though I’d rather insanely over-analyze his eating habits than his personal relationship habits tbh
Well, You can see him eating the cookie with the Cookie Monster… to compare…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ubVVnWglk
Here’s the video of the crisps….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1wHEVAtvTQ
How awkward. Trying to eat potato crisps whilst a bunch of girls stands around watching him, wanting him to talk to them.
Cookie Monster is gorgeous!! His performance is always flawless and anyone on the screen with him pales in comparison!
I saw some previews of some of the superbowl ads for this year. There is one of Ralph (the piano playing dog muppet) sitting in the back of a car playing with the door handle. I know it is for Toyota, but dear god if that could be in the back of the Jag with Tom as his chauffeur it would officially be awesome!!
http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/watch/20993260/sneak-peek-at-superbowl-ads/
“if that could be in the back of the Jag with Tom as his chauffeur”
OMG you officially win the best superbowl commercial idea ever!!
Hey Kelly. I was just thinking of the linkage between Tom and the Muppets already (from the movie about to come out) so having them join him in an ad would have been great cross-promotion! Plus the seriousness of Jag and the twee of Ralph… perfect balance!!! Tom would just be the catalyst that ties them together…
Not to mention that Ralph could also give Tom piano lessons!
Ralph is my fav muppet ever! Good idea Secret Squirrel 😀
I must say u are always full of such great ideas! Don’t forget to include Benny in this latest one so it makes it all so much easier for Cumberflies to admire the guys.
Squirrel your brain is on a roll! I love it! And you know Tommy would take it all quite seriously and he’d plan out the disposal of the associate’s body with Ralph and then they’d break into a macabre song, he’d open the door for Ralph in the end, and then final twist could be one killing the other. Last man/dog/puppet standing gets the Jag.
http://static3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120214004515/muppet/images/thumb/0/0d/BAFTA-Awards-2012-Kiss-Piggy%26TomHiddleston.png/372px-BAFTA-Awards-2012-Kiss-Piggy%26TomHiddleston.png
But Miss Piggy is Kermit’s squeeze, so Tom is just playing with fire there!
I don’t know who I would want to win in a Ralph v’s Tom fight to the death. They both have looks and talent, but Ralph tells a joke a bit better. But then Tom is taller… Argh, don’t make me choose!!!
Well in Tommy’s defense, Piggy was totally throwing herself at him, that shameless snuggle came out of nowhere, bitch pls.
Ralph would totally win, come on, it’s not even debatable. Tommy has to accept when he is being owned like a mofo.
You’re right Kelly. Ralph must win. Nobody is allowed to kill a muppet. EVER.
Ok he has built up some serious shoulders and the biceps are going to have to require all new tight white shirts. Loved they played zip zip zop and all the cards from fans on the walls. It was rather gratifying to see a dirty, sweaty and gritty side to what goes into the prep for the play. Hot.
That was more of his prep for the play and not everyone else. I like the behind scene clip but they could have added more of the cast but that was not the aim of this video.
I would’ve liked to see the girls too, and a bit more of Mark Gatiss. But, then again Mark has had his Sherlock – twitter sphere world go crazy lately. He might be happy to lie low.
No more dancing.
This can become his new circus bear routine while promoting anything – exercising and heavy breathing.
Or just heavy breathing.
LOL!!!
I second this.
I don’t find 90s club dancing all that attractive sorry, my “Freestyler” traumatic childhood wants no flashbacks.
But swordfighting and heavy breathing I can get behind enthusiastically.
and let your imagination do the rest?
I love Hadley Fraser, really love, him and his epic beard
I need more time alone with that video or to get that makeup lady’s job. 🙂
It is an excellent vid – can’t wait to see it at the cinema next Thursday. With OLLA out in mid-Feb it’s really showing us how he can transform from weedy-but well toned vamp to uber-Roman soldier. I think Tom is really going out of the way to tell casting agents, ‘don’t even think of sending me a script about playing Mr Posh in period dramas. I’m not interested. Dan Stevens, is that away…”
In sweatpants and without underwear – very nice Tom! I does make me wonder what he and the producers of this video were thinking, I mean it is impossible not to notice.
I didn’t notice… Err, guess I’m weird.
But how can you be so sure? Maybe his boxer shorts are really loose and big?
After watching it too many times this weekend, I’ve come to the conclusion that he could be wearing that jock strap contraption underneath his clothes. He has to wear it when he wears that slightly see-through gown at one point in the play so maybe he just decided to wear it all the time.
That or his skin is allergic to underwear.
“That or his skin is allergic to underwear.”
Haha, I liked that one.
Erm, when I saw it in dec I got the distinct impression from certain silhouettes that he wasn’t wearing underwear. I’m no pride but I was a little shocked!
I go for allergic… lol
His skin is allergic to underwear?? I have a cream I could rub right on there and fix that…
*Squirrel to Tom*
Of course I’m a fully qualified medically trained professional. Now just lie still whilst I get the lighting right for the video…
Yes. When he falls you almost catch a glimpse of Hiddles Jr. Or is it my pervy wishful thinking.
It worked Donmar. Booked my NT live tickets today.
you can definitely see the outlines, and it is bouncing around throughout the video, so if he is wearing something, it is not to conceal anything. Bless him for being so uninhibited. But as it is an official ntlive release I was a bit surprised.
What an enjoyable view. I think I’ll watch it once more. And maybe again. I won’t be able to see the broadcast since the nearest theater is 90 miles away so this will have to do.
I got pulled into the Hiddleston vortex after that slumber party video last year. He wasn’t wearing any underwear in that either. The Buckingham Phallis was just swinging away! And in other pictures it certainly looks like he doesn’t wear drawers EVER! Not trying to be pervy but it is tough to miss.
Buckingham Phallis is hilarious!!
Isn’t he a Wimbledon boy? Should it be Wimbledong??
I booked mine a few days ago. Seeing an encore performance on Feb 11. As for Tom’s aversion to underwear, I am not complaining. At all.
Ok I think my eyesight sucks. I can’t see the phallis, dong or whatever it is that they rest of you can see. And I have watched the video several times ….ok now I am embarrassed that I am admitting to obsessing over this. And also for sounding like some perv.
Aw come on windy. You’re just checking for the authenticity of Tom’s costume. Real Roman warriors didn’t wear tighty whiteys or boxer shorts!!
“Real Roman warriors didn’t wear tighty whiteys or boxer shorts!”
Hahah, I think you’ve just nailed the reason why he’s not wearing any! Forget allergic, I just know Tom’s dedicated enough to fully immerse himself in the “Roman experience” as an actor, lol.
Didn’t I read somewhere that Romans often fought totally naked???
BRING
IT
ON
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudity_in_combat
(and I love that martial arts stick fighting is called “donga” style! Coincidence?? I think not!!).
Hahhahahaah, I can’t believe there’s a wikipedia article titled “nudity in combat” !!!! Ahahahahhahahah <333
I believe the Greeks did their work-outs in the nude, he can totally reshoot this video in the classical style if you ask me. It would also technically be more accurate. Otherwise, this is just a travesty, who ever heard of sweatpants before Christ? Tommy you have failed your classical education deeply.
p.s. GENERAL BUTT NAKED?!?!?! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
p.p.s. omg that Butt Naked guy is a lunatic, Hannibal Lecter on drugs, OMG
He’s a Westminster boy, coincidentally also the home of Big Ben and we know that that boasts many huge ‘dongs’ all day long…
I was wondering when Celebitchy was going to catch up! (And this is why the non-engagement post went over 300 comments…)
Lovely, just lovely (although I also do appreciate the Shakespeare-to-Mallards Tom.)
But really must take issue with the “mixed reviews” statement, Kaiser–this has received excellent reviews all around (Daily Mail is a non-entity on that front.) The production as a whole is receiving four stars over and over again, with the Big Man singled out as “transcendent”, among other praises.
Telegraph: Tom Hiddleston’s Coriolanus is a lean, mean killing machine with crippled emotions in this exciting and intense production, says Charles Spencer.
Guardian: “Josie Rourke also uses the Donmar’s intimacy to come up with a fast, witty, intelligent production that in Tom Hiddleston boasts a fine Coriolanus. Even if I have a few niggles, this is a thoroughly good evening.”
Independent: “In her finest achievement to date as artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse, Josie Rourke directs this stark, swiftly-paced account of Shakespeare’s severe Roman play and elicits a central performance of blazing stellar power and intelligence from Tom Hiddleston.”
Observer: Hiddleston is “the ideal combination of emotional reserve and physical bravura” for this blazing but bleak Coriolanus, says Susannah Clapp. It’s a fleshy, blood-soaked production, that is not sympathy-seeking but intimate.
Sunday Times: Tom Hiddleston is super-intense — and deeply dashing — as Shakespeare’s least likeable hero. Our critic is bowled over.
These are all four-star reviews…I actually looked for something less, other than Daily Mail, and couldn’t find one, though of course they probably exist.
Even the negatives are generally fairly mild, and countered with what got the critic excited. For example, the Sunday Times also said: ‘Rourke “could push harder at the play’s central conundrums”, and Borgen’s Birgitte Hjort Sorensen is underused.’
But if you expected any less of a reaction from someone with my username…. 🙂
The non-engagement post went to 300+ comments because a few over-invested fangirls took it there.
Hey Janeite. I hope you don’t mind my saying but I’m getting uncomfortable with the way fangirls is used as a pejorative around here. We’re all fangirls of one type or another, or we wouldn’t be bothering to comment. I don’t think it really helps for us to put each other down or to criticise the various ways in which we do our fangirling.
Let’s allow each other to be who we be and play the ball and not the man.
Goshdarnit. I think I just used a soccer idiom. Mea maxima culpa!
With all due respect Sixer, I have my opinion and you have yours. I was just calling it like I saw it. It was not due to any part of CB’s not being “caught up” that the previous thread had that many comments. People are always free to comment as they see fit here, myself included.
Well, there are certainly a great many posts regarding this video in that thread, which presumably would have been posted under this header had it existed. And that was *my* only point with that comment.
Ah, I see what you are saying TotallyBiased. I just went back and looked at that thread and there are a few posts on there at the tail end about the BTS video. But yeah, my comment was directed at why the thread ballooned in the way it did with all that speculation about Twitter accounts, daddy issues, secret girlfriends, and whatnot. Sorry for the confusion! 🙂
I was surprised at how long those two Engaged/baby threads went on, and added to it myself, but I don’t consider myself to be a “fangirl” in the true sense of the word. My joy from posting on here is seeing the witticisms and opinions of others from around the world. My life is mundane enough without sucking the fun out of this too! I try not to be nasty and just come here to have a giggle and catch up with new friends who share my opinion or have opened my eyes to new ways of thinking about things.
Don’t forget serious subjects get discussed too in these threads, such as racism and gang rapes in India and I have really seen amazing reactions from fellow posters on CB showing solidarity and support. Its not all fluff and nonsense!
And that is why I love you, Secret Squirrel! I don’t think I’ve made any secret of how uncomfortable I am by the direction some posters go with their comments. And for the most part, I just try to avoid those comments and enjoy other parts of the thread. They can do their thing and I will do mine and we can coexist. I honestly don’t know what constitutes the true definition of “fangirl.” And I don’t suppose it actually matters much. What I do know is that no one should be taking it upon themselves to tell anyone else how or what to post or what words to use. That is up to the moderators, not us!
Thank God this thread hasn’t gone the way of the last one. I don’t think I can bear more silly assertions that a single date six months ago equals a secret engagement or that a magazine following its typical marketing procedures equals a PR stunt. I would much rather watch the video again while setting up a course for him to climb from my basement to my attic. It’s an old Victorian. The back stairs are very, very steep. Lots of heavy breathing in store.
Morning chaps!
My apologies for coming across as wanting to censor others. Everyone should feel free to say what they please. I do apologise for the phrasing, and don’t ever let anything I say put you off saying what you want to say, but I can’t apologise for my point, which I’m afraid still stands.
I ask you: what constitutes a fangirl? What constitutes over-invested? Detailed recall of historical interviews? Going to a theatre production multiple times? Going to see a cinema screening of a production one has already seen live? Discussing the way an actor eats? Highlighting trousersnakes in videos? Monitoring Twitter to the extent that one knows the provenance of a knick knack on an actor’s dressing table? Knowing the number of comments on an old post on this site? Commenting on every post about an actor on this site? Reacting indignantly if challenged?
All these things are evident here and seem fangirlish to me. And I can understand why some people would also see them as evidence of over-investment. All’s I’m saying is that to use these terms as pejoratives and to set oneself up as somehow above or better than others makes me feel uncomfortable. If it doesn’t make anyone else feel uncomfortable that’s fine, but I’m putting it out there that it makes me feel uncomfortable.
And please note: I include MYSELF in all this.I do all this stuff. I’m as much of a fangirl as anyone, as EVERYONE, else here. We’re all in the same boat. You know?
Hey Sixer. I agree with you. My biggest guilt is posting to lots of different comments in the same thread (errrr, like now!). However I like doing it as I know how nice it feels when someone adds to my comments and am happy to let other posters know when I like or disagree with their comments. It helps make the world go round that little bit smoother!
@Lilacflowers – I have no stairs at my house so might have to buy binoculars and set up camp in your back garden. Would you be a dear and remove any curtains from the windows with a clear view to the said staircases so I can join in the fun. On the other hand, why don’t we just sign Tom up for the Eiffel Tower stair climb. LOTS of stairs there and the odd ladder for pull ups on the way!
@Secret Squirrel, there is a curtain-less window on the cellar stairs and several windows from those stairs to the next set, but the stairs from the first to second floor and second floor to the attic are enclosed. Big windows at the top though. I’ll set up cameras along the route and project the film onto the side of the house. Any particular beverage you would like out there in my back garden? (Oh, heirloom lilacs in the spring, honeysuckle in the summer, autumn clematis in late summer, just to let you know what you’ll be breathing. The Eiffel Tower idea sounds lovely. All those stairs and scaffolding.
@Lilacflowers – I’m not just saying this because of your name (and generous offer of the stairs movie), but I LOVE lilacs! They are one of my favorites!
I think a jug of margarita’s is in order for this one! Otherwise a strawberry daiquiri is always fun.
Secret Squirrel, I’ll make pitchers of both. That way you can choose as suits your mood. Plenty of salt on the glass rim for the margaritas. All that running up the stairs and working up a sweat requires replenishment of salt.
Oh come on, the best thing about any gossip site is the comment section.
I almost always visit for the comments, the news itself wouldn’t be half as interesting without people’s witty reactions and opinions.
Interesting discussion, fellow posters. And Sixer, I do understand what you are saying. No hard feelings in any way! 🙂
Aside from my terribly long post w/review references (that may get lost in moderation 🙂 ) I also wanted to point out that when tickets to the local NTLive broadcast became available (at a fine arts/opera/playhouse…very high-end!) they sold slowly at first–fangirls clearly not so thick on the ground in this area.
But the venue put up a review collection on their web page, and word of mouth must also be getting around (these are the sort of people who have pied a terres in London/New York, after all, as well as residences in this area) and suddenly the rather large, stately theatre is showing signs of selling out. It amuses me, especially considering the capacity of this place is more than three times that of the Donmar!
Business as usual: casually eating a salad whilst having gruesome and cool battle scars painted on the shoulder. Hiddleston, thou art a badass.
What an enjoyable view. I think I’ll watch it once more. And maybe again. I won’t be able to see the broadcast since the nearest theater is 90 miles away so this will have to do.
Crikey, that youtube clip has 110,000 hits in two days, and i am sure this thread is helping to boost views 😀 And, I hope it results in more bums on seats… except my local cinema has sold out. More encore showings, me thinks. This better be good Tom, you hear me?
Not making myself look good here, but I read literally almost every review and they are far from “mixed”. They rate from 3-4 stars (out of 5). That’s pretty darn good.
Also want to add, it seems to be a perfect time to be part of a fandom. Jude Law in Henry V, Ben Whishaw in Mojo, Tommy in Coriolanus, David Tennant in Richard II, and Matt Smith in American Psycho.
I’ve read every review I can find too, jammypants. Nothing wrong with that. And yeah, mostly they are quite good. That includes all critical reviews and reviews from average theatre-goers. The Coriolanus hashtag on Twitter is a good place to find links to most of them.
Yea, Twitter is a great place to find reviews. I find even the average theatre goer review good read. It really gives you an idea of what to expect. Are you catching a NTL showing Janeite?
Yes I am, jammy! Are you? I will not be seeing it until the 16th of February though as there are no showings earlier than that in my area. I think Secret Squirrel is also seeing it later in February.
I’m enough of a nerd that I’ve even jotted down a few notes from reviews I’ve read so that I can watch for various things they’ve pointed out as having liked or disliked. Everyone has their own take on things like the shower scene, the Aufidius/Coriolanus kiss, the music, the chairs, etc. It will be fun to watch them for myself at last.
26th Feb to be exact. I will be having a chat with my local cinema about why they are so late with showing these NTlive shows! I would like to go to more in the future (by coincidence they have War Horse coming up in March which I have been told is good) but having to wait months after the rest of the world gets old very quickly!
I haven’t done any research and high school (more than a year or two ago!) was the last time I read Coriolanus, so I am not sure if I want to take on board the reviews or just watch it and form my own opinion on this interpretation.
Lets face it, if Tom got sick and had to withdraw from the rest of the shows, I think more than a few tickets would end up being returned. It really is hinging on his attendance which is tough given the rest of the cast seem to be genuinely giving good performances too.
I’m sure there will be some informative posts after Thursday’s NTlive showing in “most” of the rest of the world!!
Janeite, yes I am as well! End of February.
I actually look forward to the kiss and shower scene for many reasons =p
And somebody noticed these fandoms.
http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/meet-the-theatre-celebrities-superfans-9082423.html
The description of Tom’s isn’t very flattering.
Gosh how I would hate that life. Fame is such a double-edged sword. I bet all of these actors go home exhausted from having to give so much of themselves every day. I think they have it much harder than the old school actors (in the 1950’s/60’s) who could ask the press/fans for privacy and generally get it. These days it is everyone with a phone camera instantly loading pics to the web for the whole world to see. Heaven help any actor who is having a bad day.
BTW, I don’t believe Tom and the others stopped the SD appearances because of germs. How ridiculous! My money would be on some distressed fans getting too involved.
I think I read in some report or the other that it was due to behaviour. Seems many people started to leave the theatre before the end of the play to dash outside and take a spot to meet Tom. The security guard scolded them saying not waiting for the end wasn’t respectful of Tom’s work but they kept on doing it.
So they were so excited by seeing him perform that the stopped watching it to run outside?? How bizarre!!!
I think Tom’s b’day is coming up soon. If he has any sense, he won’t be doing SD signings that night. The crowd will crush him to death with their overwhelming need to touch his sleeve and scream at him (God, just thinking about a life like that makes me want to tear my hair out).
The security guard sounds like the only sensible one there. I’ll bet he’ll be relieved when Coriolanus comes to an end and things go back to normal.
He isn’t doing stage door and I don’t think he will restart again. Anyway his b’day is on the 9th isn’t it? That’s Sunday so no Coriolanus, but I imagine on Saturday fans will bring their sacks of presents for him 🙂
“the Hiddleston harem” ahaahhahahahahahhaahha
I wish they would forbid these stage-door onslaughts of abuse everywhere. Just stop exposing people to mayhem and irrational thinking.
In the near future they’ll have to seal off the stage as well with some sort of bullet-proof one-way mirror as the fanatics will no doubt start throwing themselves at the actor mid-performance
Some of the descriptions of stage door behavior that I have seen are…unfortunate. I don’t think the Donmar really knew just how out of control it would get and their staff does not appear to be large. Hence, just the one security man for Tom Hiddleston. I think it was proving to be too much for said security dude (not through any fault of his own) and that is most likely what led to the cessation of stage door appearances. My guess is that it was not any one incident that sparked it; more just the overall chaos that was happening every night and the potential public safety and security risks.
“One girl who has seen the show says: I don’t much care for Coriolanus as a play, so I spent my time admiring the curve of Tom Hiddleston’s arse again.”
WTH
OMG
(LOLOLOLOL)
embarrassing, yeesh
I think the rude behavior of the fans is the reason behind Tom no longer doing autographs–the story about the girls leaving the play early just to get into the queue to meet Tom. Yeah, that is disrespectful, not just to Tom but the other actors as well. I do not know how true this story is but I tend to believe it. Yeah, also, he got sick and was exhausted on top of that. Signing day in and day out got to be too much. I can understand that. So many of them there too. He has said it himself–he says ‘yes’ to things when he means no. He must have a lot of resentments built up. I am the same way but I am learning to speak up. Anway, I have tickets to see this on Feb 11. I am really excited to see it.
Well, they certainly know what the audience wants to see. I’ll be in my bunk.
As for the reviews, I join others in seeing them as generally positive, with the exception of the Daily Mail one. I certainly was more interested rather than less after reading them, though seeing it in any form isn’t any option for me (perhaps they’ll put one of the broadcast performances one day?).
I wonder if he actually get’s a rash from wearing underwear. Because he seems like he has abandon it’s wear altogether.
He likes his boys to be free.
Just to chime in on the reviews, they all seemed pretty positive to me, except for some bitching about Donmar’s staging in general. Isn’t this their style? They do “gritty”, dirty Shakespeare, and it’s all a bit modernist? I read some reviews that were basically, “It’s good, but you know. Donmar being Donmar.” I saw the same comments for James McAvoy’s Macbeth, and by all accounts, that was a landmark performance.
I have also seen this twice and thought it was a totally thrilling production to see at close quarters, and with such an amazingly strong cast, with no weak links. I’m not saying that Tom is the greatest Shakespearian actor ever; for me he lacks a bit of depth. However, there is a wonderful clarity to the delivery of his lines, and a natural simplicty to his performance that is really impressive. Agree with Algernon about the staging- a few gimmicks, but this did not detract for me. Hadley got criticised for ‘over emphasising’ the homeo-erotic sub-text (surely that was a directorial decision?) and for having a strong northern accent for his role, but I found his performance powerful and a great counter-point to Tom. Best production I saw all year in fact (and I saw both Richard II, Henry V).
HIDDLES DIDDLES AS CAPTAIN AMERICA, I spit out my tea when he appeared in that costume
http://bcove.me/61pp4t34
He is so camp and skinny in that Cap America suit, it’s hilarious. I’ve been watching that clip on and off all day, i can’t stop laughing, not sure at him or with him. 😀 I know he said he did it for a laugh, and it was his chance to try on the spangly suit. It is a real comedy moment.
Him having the Loki hair and make up as well makes it worse me thinks 😀
I mean he nearly pulls it off though, if you didn’t know what Evans looked like in that suit you’d almost give him a pass, bless his socks
Fair enough, better to look skinny than fat in a tight suit, no money in the world would make me put it on
that’s not how I remember it!!!
I still think Loki looked best in his own leather costume. I don’t even care if it was hot and uncomfortable for him, he wore the bejeezus out of it!
The Captain America cosi is a nice fantasy, but Chris Evans definitely had the *ahem* right stuff to fill that out perfectly!
Secret Squirrel, while you’re sitting in my garden watching Tommy run up the stairs, I’ll send my “secret husband” Chris out to serve you those margaritas and strawberry daiquiris in his Captain America suit.
Have seen two productions of Coriolanus on stage in the past decade or so. Do not understand why they keep doing it – it is not that good. Yeah, yeah get it – war hero sucks at being civilian leader. Such revelation. What is the point last war hero/leader we had in U.S. was Ike. So what? I would rather see another staging of Titus Andronicus than Coriolanus. Still, because I do think TH is divine I might catch the live broadcast at my local Shakespeare theater end of this month.
When he walked through the doorway to his dressing room, it struck me how tall he is. He looks damn good coming and going.
I notice he applied powder with a light touch. Maybe he should do his own make-up; he might look less orange at premieres.
Thor: The Dark World’s DVD has a clip of Tom’s screen test as Thor; this gif was released as a teaser of sorts. Loki was definitely the better role for him, but I enjoyed seeing this…
http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/tom-hiddleston-thor-audition-1-photo-1390870142619.html?soc_src=copy
Thanks for that.
As much as I adore his little Bunny heart, it’s a no from me, baby (read that in Keith Urban’s accent, American Idol style).
Agreed. I adore the very bones of the boy but he was a far better Loki. I’m actually surprised his people let them release that…