Good Man

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There are two kinds of Edward Woodward fans -- the kind that automatically say "Equalizer!" when they hear his name and the kind that speak in respectful hushed tones of his performances in Breaker Morant (my personal favorite) and the original The Wicker Man. Woodward died today in London at age 79. Smart salute.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 16, 2009 at 6:35 AM

comment #1

mattn says ...

This is a sadly underrated movie today, but it's one of my personal top ten. The first time I saw it, I was all ready to walk out of the theater and declare war on Britain.

Posted by mattn at November 16, 2009 7:23 AM

comment #2

moviefan says ...

Breaker Morant is one of my favorite movies of all time, Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson, Bryan Brown, all superb. I have an older DVD but I think I'll add this to my Blu Ray Christmas wish list.

Posted by moviefan at November 16, 2009 7:34 AM

comment #3

le corbeau says ...

I suspect there are four kinds-- at Aint It Cool the talk will be all about The Wicker Man, I'm sure; and for some, though not Americans, he will always be Callan.

Posted by le corbeau at November 16, 2009 7:55 AM

comment #4

cinemascopian says ...

Sad news. Woodward will always be, first and foremost, Callan, in one of the best British TV shows ever. Great great actor.

Posted by cinemascopian at November 16, 2009 8:20 AM

comment #5

NightWriter says ...

I own this Blu-ray and while the visuals are decent the audio is sub-standard. That said, BM remains one of the great semi-unseen/underappreciated films of the late 70s/early 80s. My favorite scene is when the prison comes under attack and Woodward, Brown and their junior compadre cooly demonstrate their extreme military competence by routing the scruffy insurgents. Then, once the shooting stops, they return to their cells as prisoners. Honorable men in a dishonorable geo-political struggle. True scapegoats, even if they weren't exactly saints.

Posted by NightWriter at November 16, 2009 9:38 AM

comment #6

Floyd Thursby says ...

After seeing BM, Nancy Reagan announced that Bryan Brown was her favorite actor. Always wondered what Mrs. Dutch thought of what the film is saying.

Posted by Floyd Thursby at November 16, 2009 10:12 AM

comment #7

lazarus says ...

My father and I used to watch The Equalizer and both loved it. I also had a VHS copy of Breaker Morant when I was in high school in the late 80's and saw The Wicker Man pretty early on as well.

So I guess I fall in both camps.

Posted by lazarus at November 16, 2009 1:47 PM

comment #8

Carl LaFong says ...

"Are there no prisons?! Are there no workhouses?!?!" A line from A CHRISTMAS CAROL that is usually delivered in dripping irony, Woodward delivered as a spitting invictive that nailed Dicken's rage. Hands down, the finest Ghost of Christmas Present, as presented in the 1984 version, which looks better and better with every passing year...

Posted by Carl LaFong at November 16, 2009 2:44 PM

comment #9

Rich S. says ...

Carl just beat me to it. Considering the season, it is proper to remember Mr. Woodward's Ghost of Christmas Present. God speed, Edward.

Posted by Rich S. at November 16, 2009 2:53 PM

comment #10

TulseLuper says ...

Edgar Wright's beautiful tribute to the man:

http://www.edgarwrighthere.com/2009/11/edward-woodward-1930-2009/

RIP.

Posted by TulseLuper at November 16, 2009 3:11 PM

comment #11

lipranzer says ...

I think of him from The Equalizer, and also from the original WICKER MAN. I didn't even recognize him in HOT FUZZ at first, but he was really funny when I watched it again.

That was a great tribute by Wright. It's reminding me I need to watch Callan, and give BREAKER MORANT another try.

Posted by lipranzer at November 16, 2009 6:48 PM

comment #12