Richard Griffiths

Richard Griffiths

Richard Griffiths Quick Links

News Video Film Quotes RSS

Daniel Radcliffe Delivers Tearful Farewell To Richard Griffiths


Daniel Radcliffe Richard Griffiths

The Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe led a tearful farewell to his former co-star Richard Griffiths, who passed away last week. The Daily Express reports that the 23 year-old was sobbing as he paid tribute to Griffiths, aged 65. The portly Withnail and I star was buried in a 3 foot wide coffin and a number of well-known figures from the world of entertainment were present at the funeral to pay their respects.

In his speech, Daniel said that Griffiths made any room “twice as funny.” A mourner told the newspaper “Daniel was clearly very fond of Richard, as anyone who ever met him was, and was crying quite openly in church. It was a beautiful service and Richard would have been touched by how many people turned up to say goodbye… Richard was a tremendous character and the service was full of laughter and tears as his life was remembered with immense warmth and affection.”

A well-loved figure. Griffiths’ funeral was attended by the actors Nigel Havers, David Bradley and John Nettles. The comedian Jack Whitehall, also Richard’s godson, was also present, to say goodbye, at the church in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire. Griffiths’ former Withnail & I co-star Richard E Grant sent a vegetable wreath, as a nod to a scene in the film, according to the report. 

Continue reading: Daniel Radcliffe Delivers Tearful Farewell To Richard Griffiths

Respected Actor Richard Griffiths Passed Away This Week At The Age Of 65


Richard Griffiths

Beloved film and stage actor Richard Griffiths died yesterday due to complications from heart surgery. With more than 100 film and stage roles under his belt, Griffiths was a true acting veteran. However, younger audiences tend to recognise him most from his part as Harry Potter’s grumpy and sometimes cruel uncle Vernon.

His co-actor in the series, Damiel Radcliffe, who also collaborated with Griffiths in the play Equus, was one of the first to express his grief over Griffiths’s passing and his deep friendship and respect for the actor: "Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career," Radcliffe said in a statement. "In August 2000, before official production had even begun on Potter, we filmed a shot outside the Dursleys' (home), which was my first ever shot as Harry. I was nervous and he made me feel at ease. Seven years later, we embarked on Equus together. It was my first time doing a play but, terrified as I was, his encouragement, tutelage and humor made it a joy. In fact, any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence. I am proud to say I knew him".

Richard Griffiths, Southbank
Richard Griffiths left behind a loving wife, a number of friends and colleagues and numerous fans. 

Continue reading: Respected Actor Richard Griffiths Passed Away This Week At The Age Of 65

Richard Griffiths Dies Aged 65


Richard Griffiths Daniel Radcliffe

Actor Richard Griffiths, best known for portraying Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter films and Uncle Monty in Withnail and I, died today at the age of 65.

The actor passed away from complications, following heart surgery. Griffiths, a Tony award winner, was not just acclaimed for his work in film – he was also a proficient stage actor. His best known and most acclaimed stage portrayal was that of the charismatic teacher Hector in Alan Bennett's The History Boys. The actor was also awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) medal by Queen Elizabeth in 2008.  As the world of show business flocks to mourn the loss, one of the first people to express their grief was Griffiths’ friend and colleague, Daniel Radcliffe, who worked with him on Harry Potter, as well as the stage production Equus. "Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career. I was proud to know him,” he said. "Any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence."

But Griffiths’ biggest success by far was as the predatory uncle Monty in the cult classic Withnail and I. In a message to his co-star on Twitter, the actor Richard E. Grant said: "My beloved Uncle Monty Richard Griffiths died last night. Chin-Chin my dear friend."

Continue reading: Richard Griffiths Dies Aged 65

Private Peaceful Review


Good

The filmmakers tell this World War I story beautifully, but they never quite bring it to life as a proper movie. By taking a gently simplistic approach, it never feels like anything new as it deals with the usual topics of battlefield camaraderie, lost innocence and families torn apart by war.

It's set in early 1900s rural Devon, as the Peaceful family's idyllic life comes to an abrupt end when Dad dies. Now Hazel (Peake) and her three sons, Tommo, Charlie and simple-minded Joe (MacKay, O'Connell and Summercorn), must struggle to find enough work to survive. And when the war breaks out, Tommo lies about his age to go off to fight, partly because the girl he loves, Molly (Roach), turns out to be in love with Charlie. So out of guilt, Charlie joins him in the trenches. Which makes both Molly and Hazel worry if either of them will return home.

Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse), the film is packed with serious themes that contrast life on a Devon farm with the horrors of battle. The story is framed with scenes of Tommo in a military prison cell, and we have to wait until the end to find out what that's all about, which kind of waters down the impact of the harrowing scenes that come next. This is probably because everything that happens in the meantime reiterates the fact that fate goes where it will, and both good and bad people die in wartime.

Continue reading: Private Peaceful Review

Hugo Review


Excellent

Based on the Brian Selznick novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Scorsese's first family movie combines a young boy's adventure with a cinematic history lesson. It's a celebration of wide-eyed wonder that's a joy to watch, although the title isn't the only thing that's dumbed-down.

In early 1930s Paris, the orphaned Hugo (Butterfield) lives in Montparnasse station, where he scurries through forgotten passageways maintaining the clocks. He learned this skill from his late father (Law), but an automaton they were fixing is his only reminder of his happier childhood. Dodging the tenacious station inspector (Baron Cohen), Hugo worms his way into the life of grouchy shopkeeper Georges (Kingsley), and has a series of adventures with his goddaughter Isabelle (Moretz). When they learn that Georges is forgotten pioneer filmmaker Georges Melies, they decide to help bring him back to life.

Scorsese tells this story with bravura moviemaking trickery, from whooshing tracking shots to wonderfully inventive uses of 3D. He also peppers the screen with witty references to film history from Modern Times to Vertigo, clips from early cinema and flashbacks to the Lumiere brothers' exhibition and Melies' busy studio. Meanwhile, the main plot unfolds with a warmly inviting glow, sharply telling details and a colourful cast of memorable side characters.
Intriguingly, everyone is a bit opaque; like the automaton, the gears turn but we never really understand them.

Butterfield's Hugo may be consumed by an inner yearning, but he's always on guard, providing a watchful pair of eyes through which we see the drama, romance and slapstick of the station. And it's in these details that Scorsese and his cast draw us in. Standouts are Baron Cohen, who adds layers of comedy and pathos to every scene, and McCrory (as Mrs Melies), with her barely suppressed enthusiasm. As usual, Kingsley never lets his guard down: he invests this broken man with a bit too much dignity.

As the film progresses, the passion for the movies is infectious. Scorsese's gorgeous visual approach and writer Logan's controlled cleverness never overwhelm the human story. And even if Melies' life and Paris' geography are adjusted for no real reason, the film's warm drama and delightful imagery really get under the skin, making us fall in love with the movies all over again.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Review


Very Good
Captain Jack Sparrow is back for another high seas romp and, despite the long running time, this is more freewheeling comedy than action adventure. And while it's hilarious fun, it's also so meandering that it's a bit dull.

In London, Jack (Depp) is brought before George II (Griffiths) so he can help the Brits beat the Spanish to the Fountain of Youth. But after an elaborate escape, Jack ends up in the crew of the ship captained by the evil Blackbeard (McShane) and his daughter Angelica (Cruz), with whom Jack has a past. So now Blackbeard, the Spanish and the British, led by Jack's old nemesis/pal Barbossa (Rush), are racing to the Caribbean to find the secret of immortality. And their first task is to capture a mermaid.

Continue reading: Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) Trailer


The final instalment of the Harry Potter series is almost upon us! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will bring the much loved set of films to a close.

Continue: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) Trailer

Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets Review


Good

In his second big-screen outing, adolescent wizard Harry Potter is blessed with enough cinematic magic to overcome several of the very same problems that left last year's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" feeling a little protracted and rambling.

Sure "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" spends twice as much screen time on atmosphere and adventure scenes than on plot and character. But this time around every episode seems relevant, which is a vast improvement over last year's film, bloated as it was with Quidditch matches and monster moments that didn't advance the plot one iota.

Returning director Chris Columbus retains the enchanted ambiance as Harry heads to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year of instruction in the black arts. But nothing is ever easy for our young hero, as unseen forces seem to be conspiring against him -- not the least of which is some kind of elusive beast that's loose in Hogwarts' halls, turning students to stone.

Continue reading: Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets Review

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban Review


Very Good

Harry Potter is growing up, and so is his movie franchise.Under the tutelage of a new director -- Alfonso Cuarón, known for both children's fare (the 1995 remake of "A Little Princess") and an edgy, insightfully soulful, sex-charged teen road-trip flick ("Y Tu Mama, Tambien") -- the boy wizard has graduated from the world of kiddie movie spectacles with tie-in toys.

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is a film in which depth of character, cunning humor and hair-raising chills come shining through the visual blitzkrieg of special effects -- which are also magnificently improved over the series first two installments. Case in point: a half-horse, half-eagle creature called a Hippogriff that gives "Lord of the Rings'" Gollum a run for his money as the most life-like CGI creation in cinema history.

Beyond just its detailed feathers (which fluff when it shakes) or its golden eyes (which bore holes in the screen with obstinate personality), this winged equine's every movement, from its canter to its peck, is a studied yet natural, amazingly fluid amalgam of the two beasts that were combined to create it.

Continue reading: Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban Review

Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone Review


OK

Overly self-indulgent director Chris Columbus could have cut out the entire middle hour of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and if you hadn't read the popular children's book, you'd never know the difference.

A good 70 percent of the picture consists of showy set pieces that don't service the plot (which we'll get to in a minute) so much as obligingly recreate unrelated passages that would be missed by the boy wizard's enthusiastic and possessive fan base had they been omitted.

One 10-minute episode is spent watching a sport called Quidditch, sort of a flying-broom version of field hockey with more than one puck and incredibly intricate rules that go largely unexplained. It's a lot like the pod race scene in "The Phantom Menace" -- irrelevant but spirited -- although with 1/10th the special effects budget. (Oh, that blatant blue-screening!)

Continue reading: Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone Review

Richard Griffiths

Richard Griffiths Quick Links

News Video Film Quotes RSS

Richard Griffiths

Date of birth

31st July, 1947

Date of death

28th March, 2013

Occupation

Actor

Sex

Male

Height

1.75


Richard Griffiths Movies

Private Peaceful Movie Review

Private Peaceful Movie Review

The filmmakers tell this World War I story beautifully, but they never quite bring it...

Hugo Movie Review

Hugo Movie Review

Based on the Brian Selznick novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Scorsese's first family movie...

Hugo Trailer

Hugo Trailer

Hugo is a twelve year old boy who lives in Paris and loves mysteries. One...

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Movie Review

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Movie Review

Captain Jack Sparrow is back for another high seas romp and, despite the long running...

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Trailer

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Trailer

The trailer for the fourth instalment from The Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise has arrived!...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) Trailer

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) Trailer

The final instalment of the Harry Potter series is almost upon us! Harry Potter and...

Bedtime Stories Trailer

Bedtime Stories Trailer

Watch the trailer for Bedtime Stories. Disney’s new film stars Adam Sandler who plays Skeeter...

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Trailer

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Trailer

Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixTrailerWe've managed to get our hands on the...

Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets Movie Review

Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets Movie Review

In his second big-screen outing, adolescent wizard Harry Potter is blessed with enough cinematic magic...

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban Movie Review

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban Movie Review

Harry Potter is growing up, and so is his movie franchise.Under the tutelage of a...

Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone Movie Review

Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone Movie Review

Overly self-indulgent director Chris Columbus could have cut out the entire middle hour of "Harry...

Artists
Actors
    Filmmakers
      Artists
      Bands
        Musicians
          Artists
          Celebrities
             
              Artists
              Interviews