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The Rickmanista Review Index & Table of Contents
The Monthly Rickmanista
"Vere, Dementer, Graviter"
The December 1999 Holidays Issue
Alan Rickman & Sigourney Weaver in the upcoming Galaxy Quest, also starring Tim Allen, the voice of Buzz Lightyear.
This Month’s Contents
Suggested Holidays Videos
A Touring Guide to Rickman Characters’s Locations in Seattle, courtesy of Rebecca
Georgiana’s this month’s Consulting Rickmaniac!
The Overachieving Rickmaniac of the Month
This month’s Book Review/Letter To Santa
The Puzzle
This Month’s Links
My thanks to Bonnie, Georgiana, Rebecca, and Sue
This Month’s Letter To The Editor
I have looked at the list of films but see sadly lacking American vehicles for Alan Rickman's fans to derive pleasure from the opportunity to see him in action: Quigly Down Under -- a silly Tom Selleck movie made palatable only by the presence of Alan Rickman on the screen; Die Hard -- another silly but this time Bruce Willis movie, made scintillating by the presence of Alan Rickman on the screen. There are others, but here is my favorite: ROBIN HOOD starring Alan Rickman!!!!! Alan Rickman in Robin Hood (the silly Kevin Costner movie) was absolutely mind-blowing. Here he portrays the Sheriff of Nottingham and may I say, after seeing this movie on the big screen at least twelve times and on video at least as many, I came to the conclusion (along with my two kids) that he ought to have been cast as EVERY part in this film. What a delight, a joy, a thrill to see Alan Rickman anytime, anywhere, doing anything! He also did a made-for-tv movie starring in the title role of Rasputin which aired in the US on the cable television movie channel HBO. Another tasty sampler of Alan Rickman all the way through. There isn't enough Alan Rickman for my appetite! He's really something!
Sue
Suggested Holidays Videos
As your guests have probably sat at least twice through every video featuring Mr. Rickman, may I suggest other titles? (If they haven’t, what are you waiting for?!)
For a start, there are the numerous film adaptations of Shakespeare plays and Jane Austen novels. Most of these are soothing to the nerves. All Ado About Nothing, with Branagh & Thompson, is a nice Shax choice, joyful and bright.
How about a film starring Judy Dench, such as Mrs Brown, or Tea With Mussolini? Or a comedy (without Dame Judy, that is), Waking Ned Devine?
But the problem is that your guests won’t leave, you say? If your guests are phobic but you are not and you enjoy a good science fiction flick with spectacular computerized effects, rent The Matrix; featuring every phobia known to man, with lots of twists in the plot – and on the characters, too. Repeat playings ought to keep unwanted phobic guests from lingering, especially if they hate science fiction.
Enjoy the holidays, and happy viewing!
A Touring Guide to Rickman Characters’ Locations in Seattle
This Month’s Consulting Rickmaniac
All right, Fausta, having entertained a salubrious cinematic query, how about the thespian equivalent? What theatrical 'outings' found Mr. Rickman in the altogether live on stage?
[Ans: I believe these were "The Grass Widow" (not a stitch) and "Lucy Chance" (towel only).]
Georgiana
The Overachieving Rickmaniac of the Month
This month’s Overachiever is Bonnie, who ran her first New York City Marathon in 4:58:13. Congratulations!
The Puzzle
The puzzle contains the following titles:
Galaxy/Quest; Rasputin; Die Hard; Dark/Harbor; Truly/Madly/Deeply; Winter Guest; Ubu Rex; Judas Kiss; Tango/At/The/End/Of/Winter; Dogma; Robin Hood; The/Winter/Guest; As/You/Like/It; Mesmer, Never Better
Please note titles with the /, such as Dark/Harbor, have each word in different lines. The word Winter appears only once, but pertains to two titles. A few of the remaining words spell one of the titles.
To get a printable copy, click on the puzzle.
This Month’s Book Review/Letter To Santa
I’m sure you know I’ve been a very good girl. For Christmas, I’d like a remake of a Spanish movie called
El Maestro de Esgrima
(The Fencing Master). Yes, I know, the original movie was made and released in Spain in 1992, and it’s not fair that I’m asking for a remake of a movie I haven’t seen. But Santa, have you read the book by Arturo Perez-Reverte (widely available in the original, and in translation)? It’s got the perfect Rickman part!The title character of The Fencing Master is this man in his fifties, medium height, slim and handsome (mmm, I wonder how Mr. Rickman would look in a handlebar moustache?), dedicated to his art. He’s got "Rickman-as-a-romantic-hero" written all over! Yes, yes, I know I said I’d rather see Rickman in something other than yet-another-period-piece, but this is one book that would make a fun film: There are great opportunities for some intense fencing/action scenes, much like Valmont’s in Les Liaisons Dangereuses but not as exhausting since Mr. Rickman would not have to duel eight times a week for two years (let the stunt men earn their keep, I say!). The Master is a man of great integrity who has retreated into himself, much like Col. Brandon, because of a broken heart. He is, however, pulled into intrigue by the political situation of his time (a rather obscure historical detail, but its consequences are clearly explained throughout the plot anyway, so no sweat). All of this revolves around a murder-mystery and a missing letter, which keeps you turning the pages.
To make things more interesting, a dark-haired beautiful young woman who is a also fencing master (would Catherine Zeta Jones be available?) hires the Master to teach her his most dangerous and lethal move. Of course this opens the way for a sexy, intense but not sexual scene, a scene that reveals much about the Fencing Master and the lovely lady – while they keep all their clothes on, I hasten to add.
In case you aren’t convinced yet, read the book, and, better yet, have Mrs. Santa read the book. It is a quick read, wonderfully paced, with interesting well-drawn characters (wonderful for a good supporting cast), fraught with action and suspense. I’m sure Mrs. Santa would even suggest a few opportunities for some nice "hands" scenes. Best yet, the story could be told in a way to obtain a PG rating, which would attract a large audience and would give Rickmaniac moms plenty of opportunity to take the kids to the movies on a rainy day, which I’m sure you're well aware we all badly need.
Thank you, Santa,
Fausta
ISBN: 0151001812, and
El Maestro de Esgrima
ISBN: 8420481017
by Arturo Perez Reverte, are in print and widely available at bookstores, both real and virtual.
This Month’s Links
Christine Spindler's website. Read the first 3 chapters of her book, The Rythm of Revenge, featuring Inspector Terry!
