I was not expecting Tom Hiddleston to show up at the Berlin Film Festival. Then again, I don’t live on the Hiddleston Tumblr pages, so how would I have known? Hiddles came to the Berlinale to support The Night Manager, the miniseries airing in the UK this month, and in America in April. This is a photo-heavy post because there were a lot of photos of Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Elizabeth Debicki (who is gorgeous and TALL).
The Hollywood Reporter offered up a lengthy review of the miniseries – you can read it here. They speak glowingly of Hiddleston’s performance, even saying he should be considered as a contender to take over the James Bond role from Daniel Craig. Let’s not go that far, peeps. I like Hiddles as much as the next girl, but he’s not going to be Bond.
What else? Let’s see. Hiddles certainly likes tight trousers, doesn’t he? Does he own a pair of pants that have any kind of extra room in the crotch? And that’s his publicist in at least one of the photos – Luke Windsor, the man who tries to make Hiddleston happen in bigger and better ways every year. I personally think Tom looks really tired in these photos, maybe because he had to fly into Germany from Australia, where he’s been filming Kong: Skull Island. I hope they’re done with filming soon, because I’m expecting lots of March Hiddles and April Hiddles.
Last thing… Tom’s hair looks really good these days, but I wish he wouldn’t gel it up so high.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.
no i wouldn’t, but i’d totally hit elizabeth because she’s absolutely gorgeous, and girls who are taller than me are sooo attractive (i’m already tall, so not many are). i saw the trailer for the night manager, and it looks so boring. i’m sick of stories about dudes dudes dudes, and female characters as love interests.
Olivia Coleman’s part in the book was actually a man, they changed it for her. Its probably still a sausage fest but they did at least do that
I know what you mean. I’m tired of it, too. But I think I read somewhere that Olivia Colman’s character was originally written as male. Does anyone know if that’s true or did I dream it up?
It is true, the name in the book was Leonard Burr.
was originally written as male, then Olivia got cast, said she was pregnant, producers went ok, so your character is pregnant then
Wrong place. Damn phone.
One of the important male characters in the book was specifically changed in to a pregnant woman for the series. But don’t let facts hit you on the indignant butt!
The series was also directed by a woman, but, again…
But the screenplay was written by a man. Is there a man in the world that can properly write a woman??
This is why I’m such a big fan of Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax). She knows how to do it right.
Episode 2 rocked!
Eeehhh… Of course men can write women. Unless, you’re defending women can’t write men either, which is… eh?
indignant butt? rude.
how relevant is olivia colman’s character going to be? it seems like a story about dudes, and i’m over that.
re men writing women: many can’t. they write women as they’re in their minds, and that’s one of the reasons why there are so many few well written and realistic female characters. obviously there are exceptions, like grrm writes wonderful female characters in asoiaf, but that’s literature. in films and television, they’re still lacking and that’s also because some men just can’t write women as real life breathing people.
Bay, I was asking honestly. If you can name a few men that can write a woman well in her complexity, name them. I can’t think of any off the top of my head.
I think only a man can judge if a woman can write them well or not.
Angela Burr is the 3rd important character after Jonathan and Roper. She will do many, many things even though she is pregnant. Being a le Carre novel, TNM carefully describes Burr’s world and Burr’s struggle with other people in the intelligence service is as important as Pine’s fight with Roper. I would say that the drama is a story about 3 dudes and 2 women, and other things.
@Nutballs, Another female writer who needs more love is Abi Morgan. Love her work.
Sixer, yes I’m loving this series as much or more than the last one. I have a full-on fangirl crush on Sarah L and I’m thrilled to see Siobhan get her own storyline this season.
Jammy, I didn’t realize that Abi co-wrote Shame. That makes me interested in seeing more of her work.
I think Sally Wainwright excels at a) women talking to each other and b) dialogue generally. If you want to know how average Britons actually talk, then you get it with Sally.
Abi Morgan wrote River, Nutballs. You saw that, didn’t you? And The Hour.
@Sixer @Nutballs, The Hour was a very enjoyable slow burn. Sad it ended right when things were picking up. It had some very memorable lines.
Sixer, I did see the first season of River with our favorite Gillian of the Insatiable Biscuit and enjoyed it.
I haven’t seen The Hour so I’ll have to search for a means to watch it that doesn’t cost me $3/episode on Amazon.
In reply to NUTBALLS : french author Sébastien Japrisot. He can write women like no other. If you can find The lady in the car with the sunglasses and a gun, it’s amazing.
He is also the author of A very long engagement, that Jean-Claude Jeunet totally botched in film.
But yesh, some men are excellent to write great women caracter.
Shinygrenade, I saw the trailer for that film (Woman in the Car…) on Indiewire last year and it looked intriguing. I haven’t seen it advertised at any of our area art theaters so I wonder if it lacks US distribution.
@NUTBALLS Recently, I think the guy who writes the Fargo tv series concocts excellent female characters.
I keep forgetting to recommend Shetland to you, Nutballs. We’re on the second to last episode of a 6 episode series tonight, but I should imagine it’s all still on iPlayer.
Sixer, duly noted and will check it out tonight.
Bay, Fargo is on my list of shows to check out. The BBC has usurped top spots since finishing Jessica Jones. I’ll get back to US shows eventually.
Oh Sixer, you have no idea how much I’ve been wanting to watch something based in Scotland! I much love the accents from there. The first episode is gone baby gone, but was able to watch the second before it expires tomorrow. Thank you for pointing it out to me!
You still need to see Short Term 12 if you can. Sorry, that’s still my best recommendation, along with the first season of True Detective!
She came across well in the trailer-it starts here next week-my recorder is set -my background reading up to date.
Happy Friday! Yes, my darling husband Tom looks tired. Sorry. We’ve been busy and I wore him out. We have German treats on the veranda in honor of the Berlinale but will be adding Vietnamese food items throughout the weekend. Because the Giant Monkey movie is now in Hanoi.
It was nice of the Berlinale organizers to choose that background specifically to match your husband’s eyes.
Yes, they wanted to make sure everything was just right.
dear @lilacflowers, i must insist that we develop a more equitable sharing plan if you are going to tire him out AND monopolize his free tim. Hiddles for all (or at least me)!
I’m reading a book called Johannesburg Cabal right now, and it was made for Hiddles this star in.
And by the way, yes, yes, and oh god, yes.
Fanty, I cannot find this book?
Ed: but I just downloaded Johannes Cabal the Necromancer, hoping that’s the one you meant. It looks very good!
http://www.amazon.com/Johannes-Cabal-Necromancer-Jonathan-Howard/dp/0767930762
Thanks Fanty, I’m always looking for something new and interesting to read. Agree that I could see Tom in a role such as this.
Yes, the Necromancer is the first one. It’s a really fun read. And once you see Hiddles in the role, you can’t unseen it. He would be wickedly funny.
and…I now need to read this.
sounds good -once i have finished my current two books i will hunt it out
He’s been bulking up for Skull Island, that’s why the suit looks a tight fit.
Just to correct something in that Hollywood Reporter piece and a general misconception I’ve noticed outside the UK; the BBC is not state owned. It’s an independent organisation, funded by a licence fee. The Night Manager is also a co-production with AMC, so I assume the budget was split.
I don’t know that state-owned is *that* inaccurate. The BBC is independent of government but it is a public body, whose assets are held in trust on behalf of the British people, via a Royal Charter – that’s state-owned as most people understand it. You couldn’t really expect a US reviewing publication to go into all that nonsense just to signal that the BBC is a public service broadcaster.
Sixer, yes but state-owned suggests that the govt fund it which they don’t, the UK public do by the licence fee. It could easily be described as a “public broadcaster”. I’ve also read somewhere the misconception that it’s state run, like in China
Fair comment! I rarely mention the licence fee on here cos I always get told I’m a bitter old hag when I do, even though I support it. It’s hard to explain the sense of personal ownership Brits feel over the BBC to other nationalities. Same with the NHS!
I thank you for your support you lovely Brits since I’m only paying a fraction of your fee to watch it on Sunday when it premiers. I’m just glad it doesn’t conflict with Happy Valley and Dickensian. I need them spread out my TV shows during the week!
Nutballs is a cheeky mare, as my father would say!
Sixer, I was honored to be compared to Murphy Brown back in a day. Sassy is my middle name, y’know.
*hangs head in shame* I have been a naughty Brit and haven’t been watching these fab show;, Happy Valley and Dickensian. I really should check iPlayer more regularly – i still haven’t got past ep 4 of War and Peace and its Lily James and her bad actings fault – i guess a need to focus on watching the blokes gad about in tight trousers and big hair.
Betti, you are missing some great television!
I gave up on War & Peace by episode 4. I was hanging around for Paul Dano, but couldn’t take the boredom anymore.
My daughter and I are enjoying Dickensian as well.
War and Peace was brilliant.
Many of the others like Happy Valley are stored up on my recorder.
And I am living with a generation that never watched OZ back in its hey day so we are feasting on that as well. always think of it as my introduction into violence and gay sex
I just realised Russel Tovey appears in one episode of the Night Manager as well
So am I to understand that the BBC is like PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) in the States? I’ve only ever heard of the BBC producing TV/mini-series shows. Are there no other TV stations like NBC, ABC, FOX, & CBS as there is in the States? (and by this I mean non-cable stations)
TV is like it is elsewhere with the exception of the BBC.
The BBC is like PBS on steroids. Any household in the UK that owns a television has to pay a licence fee (aka tax) of about £150 per year. This goes directly to the BBC, who use it to finance 7 main TV channels, a Scots Gaelic channel and a Welsh channel, plus an online youth channel. And also both a national and local network of radio channels. There are various “missions” the BBC has to fulfil for this: education, science, news, content for all demographics, etc.
Otherwise, TV is the same as the US. A lot of free-to-air commercial channels, plus a variety of satellite and cable companies with their own offerings.
Sixer, and the BBC doesn’t have adverts every 10 minutes. Big plus
Oh yes. Forgot the ads! We also have another public broadcaster – Channel 4. But its channels are entirely self-financing and it has ads.
That’s where it comes it handy to record the programmes so you can whizz through the ads.
I record everything, me, for that very reason!
wrong place.
@ Sixer – nothing to do with being able to watch (him) it over and over again then?
Got it, thanks Sixer! I’ve only heard the stations be refer to as BBC1, BBC2, etc. I figured each one tackles a different category. But wow on the extra fee to pay. Here you just pay whoever is your cable and/or satellite provider.
The BBC often do co productions these days-some of them are brilliant and others suck-some of the historical dramas have been laughable full of handsome young men,poor acting and inaccuracies.
I just read a TV critic I always agree with rave like mad about this, so all signs are good.
Mind you, they’d better be: it cost a fortune and MY POOR SIXLETS lost BBC3 to pay for it.
I think tired LEGS is hotter LEGS, so yes, I would.
LEGS probably talks less when tired too so you wouldn’t need the ball gag.
I would. I still have the remains of yesterday’s lemon drizzle cake. I like LEGS an’ all (when he’s not being classist) but I’m not sharing the cake you gave me!
Understood. Protect the lemon drizzle at all costs. We know how LEGS loves cake. But he may still have some of his birthday cake left (From the pictures Jason Mitchell has been posting, that was a monster cake depicting an upright empire state building done up in chocolate frosting with King Kong atop and people down below) so you won’t have to share.
I’ll steal his. See? Ball gags 4eva!
I will not abide the ball gag. The HiddleTongue must be unleashed and allowed to roam free. All over my body.
LEGS really did speak less at this festival. Surprising! He’s reduced Marvel talk to two words and ended it there. He’s even shut down any fan hope of veering off topic during the Q&A. Tired, jet-lagged, and bitchy LEGS is the best LEGS.
A Tom who doesn’t let fangirls push him into a corner is a BIG turn on for me. I glad to see him enforcing boundaries in his polite and courteous manner for his own protection.
Makes me wonder if that fangirl got the message when he refused to answer the question and the cast (as well as questioners) continued to mock it for the rest of the Q&A.
I am encouraged by these remarks, ladies. If LEGS is going less saccharine, I will approve.
After the Q&A where a fan apparently went on and on in a stalker-y way, then proceded to ask a question about Unrelated, he might have been AGGRAVATED LEGS. Angry Tom would be a sexy Tom. Think of the vigor in those stems, Sixer!
The Berlin review did say that Jed’s character was as one-dimensional as she was written in the book, so that was a disappointment along with some other stock stereotypes. I’m still looking forward to seeing all these beautiful people on screen and the lavish production since it is the most expensive BBC production in history (30 mill!). With AMC’s funding and licensing it all over the world, they’ll make it back along with DVD sales.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/night-manager-berlin-review-867287
There is a bit of snark in that review that I haven’t seen in others.
Teatime-with-sabrina-and-violet has quite a few comments on what went off at the Q&A last night. Somebody says that Luke was very nice too!! 🙂
I think that’s dollars, but we are still talking £3m per episode. That’s three times what Auntie usually spends on a prime time drama, so I hope AMC went halfsies!
I have informed Sixlet Major about this because he is a fan of LEGS but also extremely cross that the BBC’s youth channel has just had its budget slashed and moved entirely online. “I’m a teenager and I like watching TV on a bloody TV,” he says. I shall report back whether he thinks an investment in LEGS is worth watching Reggie Yates online for, or not!
I don’t worry too much about that because the reviewer watched the 1st episode only. He describes Cocoran as a stock character too, which is strange. I think Cocoran is a great character who can steal the show. With 6 episodes, there are enough opportunities for the seemingly stereotypical characters to become decent, interesting human beings. Who knows Jed can be a complicated, tragic woman who hides her terrible past with charming facade. Maybe the reviewer is too quick to recognize the cliche he is familiar with. Or maybe spy thriller in general is not his cup of tea.
Sixer, does the BBC offer their programs to be viewed through a smart TV? I can watch everything that streams online through my Samsung smart TV (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Vudu, HBO Now, Digital Theatre etc) with the exception of the BBC shows that I watch online.
I presume that will change once they introduce the subscription service that they’re planning in the future.
Someone posted what appears to be most (if not all) of the Q&A and it’s funny to watch Hugh’s reaction to the fangirl’s question:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GgNwAFPTq8
I was happily surprised to see that not all of the questions were directed to Hiddles, as I would have expected. Hollander’s response to the fun they had on set was awesome.
Nutballs – yes. But we only have one smart TV in the house, which is monopolised by MOI. So I prioritise BBC3 over LEGS, because I can foresee the forced purchase of at least one, if not two, new TVs. See my logic?!
Yes, of course Sixer. You are sensible and practical, like MOI. You need the LEGS on a big screen, my dear.
@spider, Deadline seems to love it http://deadline.com/2016/02/the-night-manager-world-premiere-reception-hugh-laurie-tom-hiddleston-james-bond-berlin-1201705689/
indiewire raves about it and says Jed and Cocoran become much more complex in Ep. 2. Interesting.
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/berlin-review-susanne-biers-the-night-manager-starring-tom-hiddleston-hugh-laurie-20160219
Thanks jammy and Gingerly
it also said Hugh and Tom are signed on as on sight producers which Tom said really enjoyed.I always suspected that at some point he will take on directing etc.
So I tiptoed over to Tumblr this morning and saw that the chick who asked the Unrelated question (zhora-salome) blogged about it. She thinks her question was appropriate since Tom didn’t rudely shut her down right away and that Hugh was an ass for the way he reacted when it was clear that she a) was an invested stan tracking Tom’s travel schedule online and b) wanting to ask an question unrelated (pun intended) to the Q&A.
It was an interesting view into the mind of the uberfan. Tom wasn’t to blame at all. Neither was she. It was all Hugh’s fault for ruining the Q&A.
Hugh’s continuous antics were kind of annoying but what the hell. He’s probably tired of all Tom’s fangirl mania. I don’t think he was necessarily trying to be mean but rather just make some fun of it. In total it is a good lesson for that girl and others to realize that there’s other artists, creators, journos at these events too that are not going to react as sweetly as Tom to off topic, trivial fangirl questions and gushing.
It’s a matter of knowing your audience. If this were an MTV event this behavior would be acceptable and written off. But at a panel with a distinguished author, writers and directors, it’s a little embarrassing. I do give credit to Tom though. He really does seem to care for his enthusiastic but incognizant fans that follow him to events by cluing them in when he redirects their questions to emphatically acknowledge and praise “the Masters” like Le Carre.
@Nutty, having had my own unpleasant interaction with that particular fan, I’m not surprised she sees nothing wrong with what she did, is laying blame elsewhere and is now asking for understanding when she’s shown none herself in the past. I would have sympathy if she had acknowledged she had crossed a line and eaten a little crow, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Sigh.
@Dara, Actually she did acknowledge that her questions were inappropriate and that she had not really thought things out when she stood up for the Q&A. She said she was caught off guard that she was actually picked to go first and then was further flustered with all Hugh’s comedic interruptions and laughter. I watched the video too before I read her post, and I can see her point.
But I also contend as I say above that this is a good lesson for people that go to these festivals/panels. They are industry functions after all, and there’s going to be serious critics and journos there as well as fans. I hope other fangirls/boys read her post and see how easy it can all go wrong when you don’t keep your adoration in perspective at these entertainment industry events.
She could have used several other avenues to find answers to these totally inconsequential details she has become so obsessed about. Was it really worth all the embarrassment? I hope others look at her experience and get some perspective before they go follow Tom to his film Q&As. Sometimes it’s just not worth knowing the answer to things that are soo Not important anyway.
Cranberry, you are a far kinder soul than I – I read her explanation and really didn’t see much of a mea culpa there at all, so we’ll probably just have to agree to disagree on that account.
I really do hope others see this as a moment to be learned from, because she sure isn’t. She just made another post about the topic and is even more defiant than she was before (if that’s possible) about doing nothing wrong, and double-downed on blaming Laurie, even calling him a d*ck for behaving the way he did.
I re-read my last comment, and I sound like a bit of a b*tch. I really try not to kick someone when they’re down, but this situation got the best of me I’m afraid.
@Dara I agree with you here. I haven’t had interactions with her, as I’m a tumblr lookie-loo only, but I read her explanations and I can’t see any acceptance of responsibility at all. When I started reading it I felt for her, as I thought she was going to admit she got overexcited and made an error in judgment, which happens to the best of us. But as I kept reading, it became apparent that she really doesn’t see a problem with her question because no one specifically told her she couldn’t ask It, so naturally that meant she should ask it, common sense and courtesy be damned.
And blaming Hugh is just so off the mark. The point when she lost me completely is when she said Hugh hijacked HER moment. What? On what planet was it her moment, as opposed to the moment of, say, the cast and creators of the show that had just been premiered? I think an easy rule of thumb is that if there is a stage present, and you are not the one on it, then absent some sort of Kennedy Center Honoree situation, it’s probably not YOUR moment.
When the subject/recipient of the question tells you that your long-winded, meandering, inappropriate, multi-part, off-topic question tells you that it is a question for another time and doesn’t answer it, you’ve been told that you should not have asked it. Whoever she is needs to buy a clue.
He looks tired and that hairdo is really ageing and a bit unflattering. Don’t suppress the hot!
Elizabeth Debicki looks so elegant. I wish wish wish I was tall.
She is rapidly becoming my new girl-crush. Her dress in Berlin was perfect. And I think her career is about to hit a new level now that she’s officially joined the Marvel universe for Guardians2.
Superficially speaking, can I just say I appreciate that she was cast as the girlfriend in The Night Manager? I think a male director might have gone the usual stereotypical borderline-bimbo route for Jed with lots of hair, spray tan, large (and probably fake) boobs, etc. etc. Debicki is all glamour and class, but still sexy has hell – not an ounce of bimbo in sight.
Dara, I find Debicki striking and drop-dead gorgeous, I can’t take my eyes off of her. Not many women can pull off short hair that way she does her look classy and elegant. I might be crushing a bit on her too.
Good Lord, I need to learn to edit myself better. I hope you made sense of that second sentence!
Would totally hit it. And all the reviews I’ve read of the Night Manager are raving about it, as well as Tom and Hugh’s performances, so I’m even more excited about this now.
And I really do think Hiddleston would be a good Bond, specially with the new direction that the franchise has taken with Craig. But I don’t want him to do Bond. Because a) Idris! And b) it’s already hard enough for him to break away from Loki and I’m not sure if he wants to get saddled with another role like that. Specially when he’s not all that well known in the US.
i have read that they had great rapport and Hugh still calls him Pine.There are several women with in the book who have back bone and i really like Jed’s character in the book if only because she walks on both sides of morality and does it with aplomb.
After reading several articles and reviews, I am more interested in this adaptation than before and well, I expect it will be at least quite enjoyable. I am not sure how they can make Jed a good female character but Bier repeatedly said that she wanted to create strong female characters. So, let’s see.
He bulked up quite a lot and shooting of the ape film is demanding. As far as remember, when he wore that suits last autumn the trousers were not so tight. With or without muscle, I don’t want Hiddles to be Bond, and probably after TNN, he does not want to play a spy again.
He seems like a one and done guy, if it weren’t for Loki, who is a rather dynamic character.
Even if Loki is boring as hell, he should do it 6 times. Haha. So it would be much better to think Loki is one of the most funny characters. I do think he is a good character
Agreed! Loki really is a funny character. More so by each film. I just love Tom playing really bitchy characters. Adam is another. So bitchy. Much funny.
Gingerly, you meant he should be *done* six times. In one night. Right?
That’s what I thought you meant.
me neither -Bond carries a lot of do’s and dont’s with it and I would much rather he kept on as he is doing with a mixture of genres.I also find Bond a bit of a cliche and gave up watching it ages ago.
Jonathan is more nuanced, vulnerable, and human. Bond feels like a caricature now. You’re right. He’d have to tick the boxes for a Bond template character. He’s the least dynamic pop culture figure. To agree to fill a Bond role, the actor makes the decision to pigeon-hole his career. If Tom ever gets offered and agrees to take on the role, I’d probably roll my eyes a bit and skip out. Le Carre, I find is a much better writer of human characters than Ian Fleming who spits out stereotypes (while creating a few).
@icerose, @jammy
This.
I think he’d make a fine Bond, but I hope he doesn’t do it either. Unfortunately if he’s asked, he will probably do it, he’s all but said so. Furthermore it seems someone like his management want to line it up for him because they keep putting out feelers and interviewers asking him about Bond “rumors”. Either that or these interviewers are running off of old insider talk from 2-4 years ago.
I have read that the first episode is a bit of a slow burn, sort of setting up the background, so I hope that doesn’t put people off.
maybe hence all the stock characterisations. If I recall, as the book progresses, the characters become much more rich and multi-faceted. Even Jed to a small degree.
There are two main women but i get there names muddled up plus the the many dalliances with on his way to joining Roper but I imagine they have been cut down.My favourite was always the one who is with him when he joins Roper and the French Canadian one who was probably cut out quite early.
Ah Canada. If they still keep the pointless storyline, maybe it can be a European character. Well maybe not completely pointless. Those chapters showed that Pine is quite the sensitive soul around any women (and gave him a new identity of course).
I love slow burns. If they’re done well I prefer a slow burn than OTT right off the bat and then flat on the next episode.
He looks like Mr. Burns in that first pic.
Can’t unsee.
If that’s Mr. Burns, then I’m Smithers.
Why does his publicist seem to be the only publicist in the world that can’t stay out of pictures? Ok, well, him and Cumberbatch’s. Are they just desperate for some residual fame or do these 2 need someone that close at all times? Can they not walk and talk independently? Maybe they’re both robots, and their Publicists have the remote controls….
Luke and Karon seem to be the only two publicists that keep themselves in the frame of their client’s pictures. Remember when Karon wore that low-cut dress during one of Bendy’s Oscar season red carpets and put herself on full-frontal display as he was being interviewed? I didn’t hear a word that Bendy said, I was so distracted by her bosom!
I think they’re just the ones you’re noticing. I notice PR people in a lot of pics especially at events.
Yeah, I thought about that too since I don’t have time to follow more that a few celebs. I wonder if Luke is unique in having a fan club all of his own?
I’ve wondered about that myself, because unless you have an interest in an actor you wouldn’t know who their publicist was.
kit harington’s publicist does it as well, and she always looks super pissed off which is hilarious.
And Kit always looks mopey, so they make a good pair.
Tom needs Luke close because he’s about as good as a five year old when it comes to keeping time. Luke literally steers him around. And I find it adorable. *Sigh*
I was surprised to hear Luke’s voice for the first time when he steered Tom down the line. It’s rather deep.
Hugh Laurie’s publicist managed to be in quite a few shots too.
He was not in Australia though right?He was in London. Didn’t he do an interview for BBC Radio just two days ago? The reviews for TNM are great… Read a couple of them and everyone seems to be impressed. Good for Hiddles. Btw I think no one knew that he would be in Berlin. I was pretty suprised.
Guest, that pre-recorded. I doubt Tom would fly all the way back to the UK for a 10 min radio interview that could have been done when he was in London. Also if he was home no doubt he would have made it to the BAFTAS on Sunday. The cast were still shooting in Oz on Monday.
But he wasn’t in any of the pictures of the most recent cast outing (a roller coaster and a zoo of some sort) and there was a photograph earlier in the week of him on an airplane. He might have flown on Sunday or Monday and done the radio show on Tuesday.
Are you sure? I am really confused now. I thought that he was in London. Btw I really like Elizabeth but I think she is way too tall for a woman….as for the show: I will watch it on Sunday. That’s for sure. And the trailer looked so good.
Lilacflowers, the plane pic was posted late Tues and it was on a Middle Eastern airline. Looks like he was flying the quickest route from Oz to Berlin.
Guest, honestly he wasn’t in London not for a radio interview. If it was TV then maybe his schedule would have allowed for that.
There’s no way he would have flown 24+ hours to the UK for a 10 min radio interview that he can easily do over the phone. Berlin was a much bigger deal since the BBC and AMC have a lot riding on the success of the series.
Guest, “she is way too tall for a woman” is an odd thing to say. What is she supposed to do about it? And too tall for what? To walk through a door? But that’s nice of you, that you like her anyway.
i love that she is taller than Tom and matches Hugh in height.
@nutballs, given the length of the flight, it actually makes the most sense that he would have flown to London, spent a night or two in his own bed for the first time in nearly two months, did a belated birthday celebration with mum, attended to whatever personal or professional business he might have pending, and then met up with the rest of the TNM cast (and Luke) to travel over to Berlin, instead of flying all that way just to spend a night in Berlin and then fly to Vietnam. Had he done that, he could have had some time to do the radio show. But we don’t know.
Lilac, my assumption is based on the flight attendant posting her snap on Wednesday morning (our time) and that he was coming from Australia. I also find it hard to believe that he’d get any more time off than for a big press event such as this one, as Brie’s regular absences could have created delays in shooting (depending on how many scenes she’s in) and JVR’s already looking at a shoot of nearly 5 months.
Perhaps there will be evidence to the contrary, but that’s what I think in light of what little we see and knowing that phoners are pretty common when the celeb is out of the country.
Lilacflowers, sorry no it doesn’t make sense, not to someone who makes up complex travel itineraries for people on a tight schedule. You’re suggesting he flew all the way back to London, just in time to miss the BAFTAS but to do a short radio interview instead. It was obviously pre-recorded (you could hear the edits) and as I said the plane pic was a ME airline they don’t fly direct to/from London anyway.
Also Brie Larson posted a pic in her trailer on Monday, if she was filming it’s very likely Tom was too. She couldn’t attend the BAFTAS because of her schedule. Last week she had to do a q&a from what looked like a hotel room because of the timing of her Australian flight. Apparently the SI producers were pressuring for her to be back on set.
https://twitter.com/wellshwood/status/696914222035304449
You have to change planes to get from Brisbane to western Europe – there’s no commercial airliner flying today that can make that distance non-stop (if I’m doing the math correctly, which is always iffy). Etihad does have a major hub in London though (and daily flights from Abu Dhabi), so I suppose it all depends on how much time Tom had to get to Berlin. I do think the interview was prerecorded, there’s just no way to tell exactly when.
Becky, as someone who also does complex travel, I was surprised to see Brie in Vietnam – I would have thought she’d fly to LA from Oz and stay until the Oscars. I have a feeling it’s going to be a pain in the a$$ for her get from VN to LA and back again. I guess she’s used up all of the wiggle room the KSI production had in the schedule.
@lilac – Luke was already in Berlin. He arrived with Colin Firth on the 15th or 16th. And Tom has never struck me as someone who would need to move heaven and earth to have a night or two in his own bed (the first class cabins of long-haul airlines are amazing these days). But that is speculation on my part…😜
There was actually no reason for him to be at the BAFTAs. He’s missed the BAFTAs before, even when he was in London (2014) so I don’t know why people are saying that the fact that he wasn’t at the BAFTAs means anything. Brie’s filming schedule isn’t really all that relevant either. They aren’t necessarily in every scene together. Both Brie and Samuel L. Jackson have missed lots of time flying back and forth to award ceremonies and movie promotions while Tom was still on location filming. Even Jason Mitchell and Corey Dawkins took some time off to fly to an award ceremony while Tom was still on location. He wasn’t in any of the group activity pictures from last weekend. None of us know.
I was hoping against hope that he would be in Glasgow last night for the High Rise premiere, but we had to make do with a Q & A session with Ben Wheatley. Interesting film, not without flaws but held my interest, quite naughty at times, with Hiddles performing well in both senses of the word, and looking great in and out of a suit.
I saw it when it came to the BFI and both he and Wheatley were at the Qand A.Both he and Tom were very funny. A lot of people did not stay for the Qand A so we were able to move up to the front row.
i loved it but I am both a Wheatley fan and a Ballard enthusiast.Some of the reviews really annoyed me as they seem to know nothing of either and kept referring to it as another Snowpiercer or class war.Tom and Luke were excellent in it but I think Tom’s was the more subtle role.I was also glad they had toned it down a bit violence wise
@ice, my only response to the lazy comparisons:
High-Rise: Does not seek change. Languishes in breakdown of civilization.
Snowpiercer: Seeks change. Unhappy with the breakdown of civilization.
well put Jimmypants
That’s interesting. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I have read High Rise I don’t have a problem with using Snowpiercer as a comparison point. The reaction of the main character is completely different, agreed, but the major themes are the same: dystopian science fiction with a heavy dose of satire; breakdown of civilisation; class warfare; physical location in a man-made structure used to represent social class.
I mean, it’s not like they’re comparing it to Superman or Scooby Do. (Though I do grant the point that Snowpiercer should technically be compared to High Rise, since HR came first.)
So what would YOU compare High Rise to? Caveats: You’re not allowed to say “nothing”. And it has to be reasonably popular … no use using a comparison point that no-one has heard of.
Popular satirical dystopian sci-fi that focuses on class warfare, with social class represented by physical location in a man-made object … GO!
@Lucrezia, Lord of the Flies with adults.
@Lucrezia, Murder on the Orient Express. The one with Poirot.
Yeah, I took High Rise to be more of an impact-of-technology and urban desert warping the mind dystopia than a class war liberation dystopia, to be honest. It’s just an extension of Ballard’s thinking in Concrete Island, isn’t it?
I quite like the Lord of the Flies analogy in the sense of alienation/isolation sending everyone crazy in the coconut, anyway.
Lucrezia – you read quite a lot in this vein, don’t you? Can you remember the name of the novel also set in a futuristic tower block, wherein the people at the bottom are crushed in like cattle and exist only to provide the energy supply for the building?
@ Sixer: “Impact-of-technology” is a perfect description. That’s what I was reaching for when I called HR “science fiction” – fiction revolving around the impact of science or technology. But most people think sci-fi means “set on a space-ship”, so your phrase is much better!
The book you’re thinking of, is it “The World Inside” by Robert Silverberg? I cheated and googled to come up with that. The plot summary on wiki is ringing vague bells, but I’m not really a fan of Silverberg, so if I did read it, it was only once and it would’ve been decades ago. The plot summary is making me think of Heinlein’s “Orphans of the Sky”, which is kind of Lord of the Flies after hundreds of years in a spaceship.
@ Lilacflowers: Personally, I’d definitely agree Lord of the Flies is a good example. But I think Icerose & Jammypants might reject it for the same reason they reject the Snowpiercer comparison. The kids don’t actively choose to stay in the scenario that’s making them savage and they feel shame as soon as they are released. Of course, I could be wrong. Icerose and Jammypants would you be okay with a reviewer using LotF as a comparison point?
@ Cranberry: 🙂
Wow I wish I was as tall as Elizabeth D. That would be fun. Hiddles is looking nice, if in need of a nap. I wish he would show up in like a plum colored suit just once and shock the world with it.
Sometimes I wonder if he is colour blind tbh…. Have you ever seen this guy in a yellow shirt? Or red?
He has red ties. But I also have suspected he may be color-blind because he keeps his personal, casual wear in a very limited range of blue, black, gray. The suit for the Berlinale was Ralph Lauren. He has been wearing RL for most of his public appearances in the past year. He might have a contract with RL and that’s the color range they’re showing
he was caught wearing yellow trousers in night club once.
Tee hee, I remember those!! (Who could forget them?) But to be fair I think they were ski trousers.
Pics or it didn’t happen p’enny.
here you are:
http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/72764286.html
Yellow trousers??? Haha where can I find that pic?
@lilac
I really think that he is color blind. Despite of the RL contract. It is fine though. I think blue is his color…. Suits him.
Ski pants in Iceland
LOL. So wrong it’s right, ski pants or not that’s a bold color. Thanks for the link!
Don’t forget the rescue-orange puffy jacket he wore to that children’s charity reading. I’ve had Tang that was less orange than that jacket.
Dara, you said TANG!! Now I’ll have dreams (nightmares) of that large green tin can that took up space in our pantry growing up. I think I drank 100 times my weight in Tang during my childhood.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/107904622_243c2abd77.jpg
yes yellow snowpants
Thanks for the link. Pretty funny trousers. But why does Levy look like Ken? Haha.
Nutty, Tang was the go-to drink of my childhood, but ours was powdered. Did you ever drink it hot? Hot Tang was one of the only reasons I ever agreed to go on the family camping trips. Not sure my parents enjoyed a 9 year old on a sugar-high first thing in the morning, but you can’t have everything.
Dara, doesn’t it only come in powdered? Never had it hot… sounds disgusting. Why oh why our parents allowed us to drink all the sugar we did — Tang and Shasta soda were our staples– is beyond me. My kids only get soda or fruit juice at occasional parties so they’re positively deprived compared to me.
Nutty, I’ve only ever seen Tang powdered – but I’ve never seen it in a metal can like in the link you posted, so that threw me off for a minute. And I had completely forgotten about Shasta soda – oh the memories!
If you have some Tang lying around give the heated variation a try. I agree it sounds disgusting, but it’s surprisingly tasty. Or maybe it was only good because our camping trips invariably happened on dismal, cold, rainy weekends and a hot beverage kept us all from dying of hypothermia while we cowered under a blue tarp waiting for the rain to stop.
I hated camping as a kid… I have a vivid memory of getting my ass eaten alive by mosquitoes when I had to wee in the middle of the night. In the land of 3 million lakes, they were our unofficial state bird.
Now that I’m in the high desert of Colorado, camping is a much more pleasant experience.
She says it is the first time she has been able to look her male co-stars in the eye without them having to stand on a box!
Sad lol but yeah, a lot of actors are shorter than they say.
Any THEO sightings over birthday week? I love the trailers but I wonder about the script. Some of the lines – “those weapons could bring a lot of pain”. Cringe. That flight is 24 1/2 hours minimum Australia to Germany. Please British sisters, let us know what you think of TNM as we Americans have to wait awhile. We will return the favor when ISTL is released.
I won’t be waiting, brownie. I’ve been watching BBC iPlayer with my geo unblocker, and if it works like the other shows I’m watching, each episode will be available to download and watch just after it airs in the UK. It’s worth the $5/month to see my favorite shows when they’re first available.
Nutballs you are so proud of your unblocked BBC iPlayer aren’t you? It must be like X-mas every night in your house. 🙂
Ha Cranny! In TNM’s media blitz the past few weeks, I see the poor souls who are moaning on Twitter about having to wait until April and I kinda feel bad for them in their ignorance. But not enough to reveal my secret solution. *insert evil laugh*
CB is where I learned about Digital Theatre and NT Live, so this is my contribution to the community. Yes, ladies we can be free of geo-blocking to enjoy our PuddleTom, hallelujah!
None, unless tumblr decides to create more fan fiction out of thin air.
I think you can put a pin in it and call it done.
Didn’t think there was much evidence that something was going on in the first place. He had other friends in Hawaii too.
@brownie – did you see the clip of the longer scene that had that particular line in it? In the trailer, where its’s out of context, I agree it sounded trite and looked hammy and overacted on Hiddles’ part. I cringed too, until I saw it in context – it works better within the scene. There’s still some ham to be found,, but it goes well with Swiss cheese so I’m not complaining.
@nutty, I don’t know how I’ll hang on until April. The rest of the world will have seen all of it by then and I’ll still be waiting (somewhat) patiently for the first episode. What was the name of the geo unblocker you use again? I don’t begrudge the Beeb showing it first, but I’m a little torqued AMC is rolling it out to ALL of their other markets before the U.S. Heck, even the Blu-ray and DVD’s will be released in the UK before the show even airs here. I might have to pen a sternly written letter to AMC execs.
Dara, I use unblock-us. They walk you through the process of changing your DNS servers to their’s in the UK. The only downside I’ve seen is that you can’t watch Netflix on the same computer since it now thinks you’re in the UK! Also, because it’s tied to my home router, I can’t watch shows when I am connected to another router. I learned that a couple of weeks ago when I was traveling.
So, I just changed the DNS settings on my laptop, so I can still watch Netflix on my desktop computer when I can’t watch on my TV. I don’t stream the shows online as it takes up a shit ton of bandwidth, but you can download the shows to the iPlayer app in about 10 minutes, where they are watchable until the expiration date, usually about 30 days later. Or you can purchase it too.
ETA: Brownie, I thought that line was cheeseball as well. I hope the series isn’t chocked full of that kind of fromage or as Dara suggests, it works better in context.
I’ll watch the Beeb’s programming to catch it before the AMC rollout, but I’m going to also catch it on AMC to get my family to watch it too 😛
My 70YO parents are looking forward to watching it on AMC too.
As I’ve been looking at the press for TNM this week, I’m beginning to think that this may be the second most important project of Tom’s career — one that has an even broader appeal than Marvel, when you consider subject matter, accessibility and demographics.
I will agree. I do think TNM has more impact with mainstream audiences than, say ISTL or HR. Those comes with niche audiences. TNM has broader appeal for sure and much better exposure and distribution.
it’s a spy drama, it’s definitley going to include a lot of cringe making lines, the book did. I really struggled to read the book because of the badly written male orientated dialogue. it does make me wonder if this is being made for Top Gear/ James Bond crowd. and if yes, there is going to a lot shaken and stirred sexy moments and badly landed punches and blown up cars.
i will have to try hard not to cringe, but I’ll just appreciate the beauty of hiddles and sass of hugh.
Penny I think it may walk down the middle of Bond and Tinker Tailor-i did not notice the language in the book but I was probably speed reading which I do sometime and I grew up with 4 brothers into cars and Bond so i developed an automatic turn off.The only thing that really struck me was how right Tom was for the part
Browniecakes, thankfully no. EO was on a road trip with a gal friend in CA that week. The friend posted pics on Instagram.
Makes me wonder if the November trip was the end of the line for Lizzy.
Then again, if you’re an FWB, there may not be a defined end-of-the-line.
Never convinced that there was much of a line to begin with.
I wonder if THEO will promote ISTL together in March.
Both are scheduled to attend the press junket day (3.21) for ISTL and the LA premiere on March 22. We’ve not seen the end of THEO just yet, at least as far as promotion is concerned.
i read it has a slightly European favour as the director is Danish – I l ove Danish TV shows so it gave me hope.My biggest concern was it might have loss a lot of the essence and complexity of Le Carre
@browniecakes Will be interesting to see what the labguage sounds like in context buy it may have been dumbed down because many people complain about complex text even on the BBC
He turned 35 just this day, but he looks 42.
42? such an exact figure? lol
i looked 102 when i flew back from New Zealand on a 24hr non-stop.
Very judgmental some folks aren’t the p’enny?
yup
You know I love The PuddleTom, but I’d agree that in these photos, he does look older than 35, which can be expected after a 24 hour flight.
I’d still ride him like Seabiscuit all night long with those GUNS and LEGS, especially if he needs to work off a little post-Q&A frustration. 😉
A well rested Hiddles looks 35. A haggard one looks 45.
HE may look older but it is the energy and humour that count
all the better for me; makes him more age appropriate!
haha. Always look for that silver lining.
No i wouldn’t, but thanks for asking.
What did they show of TNM at the Berlin Film Festival? Surely not all six hours. It would be bad if our star was snoring on Luke’s shoulder mid screening.
First two episodes I believe.
No, just of 1 of 6.
From @trim_obey :
Got to see a sneak of THE NIGHT MANAGER here at Berlinale (BBC, ep 1 of 6) and it’s *excellent*. Better than 90% of films here. Top Hiddles.
I’m reading conflicting things. Some say two, and others say one.
When Tom and Hugh did the first press conference in LA, they show 2 episodes.
This time, I think they just show one .
People just got confuse.
It sounds like two from this Berliner review http://waytooindie.com/news/the-night-manager-berlin-review/
He looks really old now. He needs to look after his skin and he probably shouldnt brush his hair like that because of the receding hairline.
His trousers are nowhere near “the Bee Gees in the ‘Stayin’ Alive’ video” territory, so I see no need for concern on that point. He is as beautiful as ever, and yes, I would hit it… again and again and again…
Is it just me, or does it look like he’s about to remove his pants in the pic with Luke?
Tut, tut, I think he was just checking he’d remembered to zip up. Unfortunate photo though. 🙂
That makes much more sense! I thought that after all the nude photos for High Rise he might be turning into a bit of an exhibitionist… Not that I would mind. I’m just sayin’…
Tom’s just giving us a more of what we want. Naked Hiddles!
Now, we need him to go Full Fassbender to give us more of what we want. Tom, are you listening???
He’s always been an exhibitionist. Check out also: The Deep Blue Sea, Only Lovers Left Alive, Unrelated, Coriolanus, and Archipelago.
Tom Hiddleston I can take or leave but I will watch anything in which Olivia Coleman features. She is just sublime. And Hugh Laurie is always a delicious bonus.
Oh and a huge no to Hiddleston for Bond. No. Really, seriously, no.
I find Coleman is a bit mixed-often plays in dumbed down roles but when she is good she is excellent.I just avoid her interviews because i have a thing about middle-age women who giggle like school girls However what I have seen in the trailer indicates she is excellant.
It is a face of a person being eaten by self-doubt. Not a good look. There is nothing sexy about it.
Psychologists anonymous!
For today’s Tom prognosis:
“Consumed by self doubt. Not a good look. Drags the sexy image.”
To alleviate vague feelings of contempt, apply a soothing balm of Perspective. Finish the application with a dollop of Reading-Too-Much-Into-Things.
and a final layer of seeing what you want to see.
Just glad Tom seems to be the boy of the moment along with Hugh –
This is a joke right?! Speechless….. Seriously, everyone has a different taste in men but…. Hahaha this one is actually funny….. Not. If a guy who is rich, good looking, smart, is doing what he loves, charming and funny has a face eaten by self doubt… Well then I wonder how my face looks like….
Hmmm, yes, he is promoting an extremely expensive, prestigious television production that will be broadcast internationally, for which he is garnering good reviews, is about to see two films released in which his performances have garnered great reviews; is about to fly back to Vietnam to continue filming what is likely to be one of the biggest blockbusters ever; and then will reprise a beloved character in the MCU. Yes, clearly, he has so many reasons to tear himself apart with doubt.
Apart from that how is he doing? 🙂
*snort*
I won’t bother to add any more snark to the excellent comments in response. What an out in left field observation based on nothing by subjective reading too much into his expressions.
@spidey, his recent work seems to be lacking in dogs. He needs to do a film with a dog. His career depends on it and he knows it.
There’s a dog in High Rise. It doesn’t end well.
@Anne tommy, true. And there is a frog and a pig in Muppets Great Escape.
And, of course, War Horse had a horse. Technically, Loki probably counts as an extraterrestrial so he has that genre covered. Pirate Fairy handles the deep water/pirate/cartoon genres all at once. Vampire? Check. Ghost? Check. World Wars I & II? Check. Dickens/Austen? Check. Hmmm. I think we’re down to a romantic comedy set on the lost continent of Atlantis with a cat as the romantic partner. No wonder he is full of self-doubt
@ lilacflowers – not surprisiing, they all ran off when they heard what happened to the last one!
Now that came from out of nowhere.
There is an interview in the Guardian with Susanne Bier but CB won’t let me put the link here.
thanks-i had not realised how many of her films I have seen
Tired or not I most certainly would hit dat !
I like the way Debicki is looking at him in the 5th photo. That would be cool if they were a couple. They’re both so elegant. Can’t wait to see their chemistry on screen. I hope it’s steamy sexy.
But their kids would be 7 ft tall.
Absolutely not. Tom Hiddleston has a smug knowingness about him which I find really unappealing. Dude knows he’s cute and plays on that constantly.
And someone just said this:
” Farhi says:
February 19, 2016 at 2:31 pm
It is a face of a person being eaten by self-doubt. Not a good look. There is nothing sexy about it.”
So make your minds up between you girls.
“smug knowingness”?? Ok, whatever. I’m glad someone who reads minds is finally able to unlock the secrets of Lord Dragonfly for us.
Seriously though, you do realize don’t you that generally speaking, actors in Hollywood are cute. Additionally, they have gotten enough positive feedback about their looks for that attractiveness to be a source of confidence for them. Tom’s really not standing out in the crowd if he’s attractive and aware of it. Most are aware of their attractiveness, even if only due to other people’s observations about them.
Is there any other “event” programming after The Night Manager? I really enjoyed both War and Peace and And Then There Were None. I feel like BBC is giving us a piece of eye candy for each with James Norton, Aidan Turner, and Hiddles.
The next Line of Duty is up soon. That is a fine, fine series. There’s a new thing called Murder coming along soon that looks good. I’m waiting for the Steve McQueen Windrush generation series, but no idea when it will screen.
Thanks, I’ll keep tabs on those. So far, impressed with the spring lineup.
I’m in the Paul Dano camp, James Norton didn’t do anything for me.
I love Paul Dano. I think he is brilliant and is one of the most underrated actors working today. But not even Paul Dano can get me through War and Peace.
Paul was wonderful. He is very underrated.
I’m ashamed to say I only managed one episode.
I actually rather enjoyed War and Peace. Happy to concede it was absolutely PEAK BBC and Britishered to death, but I thought Dano was great and it really gathered steam after a slow start. Lily James notwithstanding.
Oh I’d hit it all right but he looks more than tired, he looks old. Too much sun, too much hair dye, too much, um, fun . . . he’s starting to look like he’s got too much backstory, and he is losing his hair. Sexy, yeah. But sorta unhealthy for all the worked out arms, etc.
He looks good to me….love the hair, body, personaliy….so yup I’d hit it.
He does look as if he needs a bit of a rest. And I have a nice comfy bed for him right here…
You really going to let him ‘rest’ in that bed, Anne??
He does look a little tired at the moment, but he’s still hot! He doesn’t have to look young forever because he’s a character actor at heart, and the tend to get more interesting roles as they age.
It’s a shame the same isn’t true for actresses.
@KTE, for older actresses like Gillian Anderson, they’re seeing a boost in their careers.
Yes totally! He is a month older than me too.
Brilliant article in the Guardian today by John Le Carre about The Night Manager. Really interesting and well worth the read.
Yes it was good -surprised to see his favourite TTSS was the original TV version with Alex Guinness which I loved at the time.
I watched it again a year or so ago and it is still just as good 35 years later, and far superior to the film imo.
Thanks for the heads up Spidey. It was a very interesting article. He has such an insightful perspective of the film process.
I like that TH is growing the hair out a bit…I can see a tuft at the back that’s getting unruly and wavy.
PLEASE BRING BACK YOUR WAR HORSE PROMOTIONAL HAIR, TOM. I LOVE IT.
Right? That has been his best look up to now…. At least for me. He looked incredible back then. I also think that his hairline hasn’t changed. It is same as always. I always wonder about the receding hairline comments. It is just the length of his hair which is changing. As for the article in TG: very well read. Thanks for sharing. And according to the comments I read in TG people are looking forward to the broadcast of this show. I just hope that people will like it.
@icerose
Any chance that you are the same icerose who is also commenting in TG? Some people are so annoying there and I enjoy icerose’s comments….
Elizabeth Debicki and Tom could be sister and brother!
Ok, Tom is cute but, who is that guy behind him in that one pic?!
His publicist Luke Windsor.
There are some great photos of the monkey movie press conference in Hanoi on Reel tour Hawaii’s twitter link. So Tom flew from Australia to London – Berlin Friday, Vietnam Saturday (our time) and we wonder he looks tired.
BTW, Jus gatta say J-Chastain looks great in the featured links photo.
T-6 hours, ladies. Get yer corn popped and Pervy Tombangers mixed!