To think Kenneth Branagh is a bit of a twerp?

[CrystalMcPistol]

I know he's a Sir but I can't bring myself to put that in the title as 1) the honours system is a load of old hooey and 2) you just know that he refers to himself Sir Kenneth Branagh when ordering a taxi or booking a table in a restaurant. Twerp.

Also his acting is so self conscious, it's very 'look at me, someone once said in 1992 that I was the successor to Olivier's crown. I'm a Very Serious Actor don't you know'. Twerp.

And I've never enjoyed one of his films! Emma Thompson must pat herself on the back every night when she looks across the bed and sees Greg Wise lying there.

[MalmseyWhine]

Thanks OP, I found Much Ado on Youtube and have had a lovely afternoon watching it.

'Serve God, love me, and mend'

goes off sighing no more and singing Hey nonny nonny

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I love him OP, sorry and all that. Wish he was about more

[BitterChocolate]

I would have no real opinion about KB based on his TV appearances, he's fine but not brilliant. However, about 30 years ago I saw him play Hamlet and I thought he was totally amazing then. It helped that it was an outdoor performance at dusk beside the ramparts of the castle where the play was based (Kronborg Slot, Helsingor, Denmark), when the ghost of Hamlet's father appeared on the ramparts, he did actually appear on the ramparts under a flickering, blue spotlight. He played Hamlet as a confused, troubled young man rather than the angry version that we usually see, and when he died he was crumpled and quietly bewildered. It was very sad. I've had a slight soft spot for him ever since.

[Pneumometer]

However, about 30 years ago I saw him play Hamlet and I thought he was totally amazing then

He also did Hamlet at the RST in the early 1990s, with the then A-Team (Noble, Pearce, Shrapnel, Lapotaire) including amongst other "Richard" (now Hugh) Bonneville as Laertes. It was, as I recall, very long (didn't he have the idea of taking everything a lot of stuff from both quarto and folio?), but even with two intervals (I think) it was impressive. I think some of the adulation had got to his head, but he had lots to be adulated about.

Peter's Friends is still the best thing he's done, though, both as an actor and as a director.

[Fishwives]

Dear God, Goblin, what an odd comment. Why on earth would you blame Emma Thompson for 'emasculating' Greg Wise because you don't like his recent performances? Isn't it just possible he's not been offered good stuff? Or has gone off the boil a bit?

[YorkshireTeaDrinker]

I saw KB in Hamlet at the RST in the early 1990s. I agree with the previous poster who said he can speak blank verse like its everyday English. That was the start of my 20 year crush. Peter's Friends and Much Ado remain my favourites if his.

There are many many people in the world of entertainment deserving of the epithet 'twerp'; Ken is not one of them.

[Pneumometer]

I agree with the previous poster who said he can speak blank verse like it's everyday English.

While still leaving it obviously as blank verse. That's a pretty rare talent. It's a similar skill to Sinatra, making lyrics sound like speech, while still hitting the rhythm of the music.

[Polyethyl]

A month in the country is not available on amazon lovefilm. How can I watch it?

[The80sweregreat]

Emma is more annoying, usually on the Graham norton show.
I like him , was good in Harry Potter film as the cheesy teacher. (Name escapes me. ) he seems alright.