source: The Dresser

I have concerns for the individual that marked this feature as a comedy. I assume they either did not watch it or could seek the benefit of time with a mental health professional. Aside from the wrong genre being attributed, this is a film worthy of an evening. A cast of actors that never disappoint, and certainly did not as they presented a story that may difficult to watch for anyone that has experienced a loved one decline.

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.

The Dresser in my country is not a popular movie. As a young movie freak, I don't know this kind of movie until Lionsgate Play application coming up on my Apple TV+ app. So here is my review: The storyline of "The Dresser" somehow connected with the role of dresser and his presence to convince an old under-rated actor in ordinary theater in London, so the actor can remember the dialogue and re-motivated on his acting purposes. Sometimes the actor (played by Sir Anthony Hopkins) is being demotivated by himself. Then he can't love everybody around him. The Dresser (played by Sir Ian McKellen), is always there to support him. For me this movie is a moment of dramatic scene that I've been waiting for between McKellen & Hopkins. They are both senior actors, Sir-s, and having lead roles in any kind of movie. Their mature acting makes this movie beautiful ly wrapped with low-budget assumption, because the location is only in 1 (one theater), with the whole corridors and the preparation on the actor's room. A worth it movie to be watched. Thank you Lionsgate Play app.

I have never seen the play, but based on the movie I'm sure it is a deeply moving piece beautifully crafted for minimalist theater. A somewhat meta-King Lear, Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen are masterful and charming in this adaptation. However, all the trappings of a film feel unnecessary. There's something just a bit off about watching a movie both celebrating and mourning the desperation, obsession, and beauty of the theater. This movie was not at all bad, but it's something that needs you to emotionally connect and watching it on screen creates a degree of separation that hinders that connection. If The Dresser were to show up on stage I would see it in a heartbeat, but I can't say that it's something I would ever watch on film a second time.

This film tells the story of a man who dresses actors for a play in a theatre back in the second world war. He tries his hardest to convince the ailing lead actor to continue playing King Lear, and witnesses powerful human interactions along the way. It's remarkable that I haven't heard of "The Dresser" before, given the fact that it has heavyweight actors Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins. The film is a single location film, featuring only indoors of a theatre. There are times I wish I could see the sunshine or some plants and nature, as the colour scheme is all brown and dark. The story itself is slow, but very dialogue heavy. There was a time when I thought the film was about to end, it turned out that I have only been watching for thirty minutes! The film felt long and slightly tedious, but the ending makes up for it. It is certainly a night to remember for the actors of the theatre.

The Dresser, 2015. *Spoiler/plot- An aging dramatic stage actor during WW2, begins to fall apart and needs his stage 'dresser' to keep him going on during bombing raids in London. *Special Stars- Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen, Emily Watson, Sarah Lancashire, Edward Fox, Vanessa Kirby, Tom Brooke. *Theme- TV cable dramatic movie. It good to have emotional support from your team when you create on the stage. *Trivia/location/goofs- All interiors shot in film. *Emotion- A great buddy film that highlights real complex human roles. A TV re-make of the famous theater work that was done as a feature film decades ago with two different male British leads. Still worth watching if you enjoy real characters and dramatic situations. *Based On- 'Dresser' theater play.

Odd to see actors the class of Hopkins and Ian as weary exhausted indifferent 95 year old men mumbling indifferently through the identical lines of the 83 version and presumably the original stage play. The Finney version is passionate, even hammy, but always on fire and witty and animated. The elegant laid back understated charm of Hopkins, his famous parliamentary style of understatement is turned down to a barely audible series of mumblings and the dresser, has all the charm of a premature dismissal from a halfway house because he lost his state subsidy, and is too old, medicated, and senile to get on. The lines all sound recited and the actors infinitely bored, This "sir" as himself or as lear, is always Hopkins, indelibly elegant, but here he just looks like a tired patient all the way through....like a triple bypass patient an hour after the general wears off in the PACU. I have never seen either actor get involved in a something and give it so little life. they both seen so ancient and a good 40 years past their prime, at least 40 years. Neither need the money and they can pick their roles so why did they do this in the shadow of an infinitely more entertaining performance?

My goodness, you don't get better than this. Tony Hopkins and Ian McKellen are perfectly cast in this authentic feeling take on travelling theatre during the second world war. Ill and aged, 'Sir' has premonitions, Norman (the Dresser) is desperate to hang on to what little life he has as Sir's most trusted aide. Without his role he has nothing. Norman is so caught up in his own anxieties he misses the clues to Sir's nagging self-doubts, his statements that 'he can't go on' and that 'really he should be resting at home'. Hopkins's portrayal is so subtle it is heart rending. This subtlety cannot be gained on stage as stray tears cannot be seen from the stalls let alone the gallery. McKellen, meanwhile, fusses and flaps with perfectly understood gay mannerisms for the period setting. As Norman, he gets perfectly right the intonation in his voice as he ducks and bows to Sir. These two actors provide stand out performances but this is not to commend all the other actors who also pull off incredibly touching and believable performances. Oh yes, this is worth watching, just be prepared to be left bereft.

There's superb acting in this deep and powerful drama, adapted to the screen by Ronald Harwood, based on his own play, and ably directed by Richard Eyre. It will probably appeal only to a certain slice of viewers, those that can get into a deliberately paced and dialogue driven film and are not looking for an action flick. The lead actors here Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen, Emily Watson, and Sarah Lancashire are all excellent in their roles. with a fine supporting cast enhancing the movie. To be honest, I hadn't heard of Lancashire before, but she was quite amazing in a very understated performance, and one scene with Hopkins was truly mesmerizing. All in all, I found this film became even more powerful as it progressed and with its superb acting, writing, and direction can certainly be recommended for those that like a heavy and most well presented drama.