I couldn't help but compare this version to the Albert Finney/Tom Courtney version and, though this was good, the older version was much better in my opinion. The story and the characters are compelling and engaging in both versions but, as been stated here before, the older version's portrayals seemed to have been played with more passion. The two leads, especially, were far too subdued in this version. Their voices seem to rarely rise above a conversational level so I never felt the same level of emotional from McKellen and Hopkins that I felt from Finney and Courtney. There is a line in which Sir says to Norman something like, "I'm sick of your friends!" The way Albert Finney almost yells the lines shows that he's heard this line one time too many from Norman.
Also, Norman's entire dialogue from the moment he reads Sir's dedication to his conversation with Madge shows a huge rollercoaster of emotions in the earlier version because Norman's voice rises and falls and his body language is more animated. Tom Courtney was magnificent and totally embodied Norman.
I'm sure it's a minority opinion but I have not been impressed with Anthony Hopkin's acting in a long time. I'm hard-pressed to think of a role in which I didn't see Anthony Hopkins rather than the character. He was better in this role but I don't believe he ever vanished into it the way Albert Finney did. An actor like Gary Oldman is much more chameleonic whether he is Drexel the drug dealer or Stanfield the corrupt DEA agent, we see the character not the actor. Ian McKellen was convincing as Norman but his portrayal was flat compared to Tom Courtney. McKellen is another actor that can embody a role but, I think it was the paring with Hopkins that hindered his portrayal.
Also, Norman's entire dialogue from the moment he reads Sir's dedication to his conversation with Madge shows a huge rollercoaster of emotions in the earlier version because Norman's voice rises and falls and his body language is more animated. Tom Courtney was magnificent and totally embodied Norman.
I'm sure it's a minority opinion but I have not been impressed with Anthony Hopkin's acting in a long time. I'm hard-pressed to think of a role in which I didn't see Anthony Hopkins rather than the character. He was better in this role but I don't believe he ever vanished into it the way Albert Finney did. An actor like Gary Oldman is much more chameleonic whether he is Drexel the drug dealer or Stanfield the corrupt DEA agent, we see the character not the actor. Ian McKellen was convincing as Norman but his portrayal was flat compared to Tom Courtney. McKellen is another actor that can embody a role but, I think it was the paring with Hopkins that hindered his portrayal.