Monday, January 17, 2011

Spitting image

Actor Roger Allam
Over the weekend a group of acquaintances and I went to a special screening of Stephen Frears' new film, Tamara Drewe. As this was a meet the director screening, Frears himself was present, and obligingly answered questions from the audience after the film. The cast includes Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace, Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Tess of the D'Urbervilles), Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia, the forthcoming Captain America) and Roger Allam (Speed Racer, V for Vendetta, The Queen), who plays a philandering crime novelist who gets trampled to death by stampeding cows. Tamsin Greig (Black Books) appears as his longsuffering wife.

Christopher Hitchens
This isn't an entirely original observation, but I couldn't help but notice Allam's startling resemblance to journalist and outspoken militant atheist, Christopher Hitchens. If ever a biopic of Hitchens was made, Allam would be the ideal choice to play him. Based on his performance in Tamara Drewe, it wouldn't be that much of stretch. With some minor tweaking of his larger than life smarmy and pompous screen persona, he'd have the characterization of Hitchens nailed.

7 comments:

J Curtis said...

My pastor once had the opportunity to converse with Hitchins on a radio program and ask him a couple of questions.

It was all 'Snipe and Dodge, Avoid Addressing the Larger Points' and God belief is 'Lunacy on Stilts'.

The guy HAS sold alot of books though.

Ross said...

Is your pastor's discussion with Hitchins available for download anywhere? I'd like to hear it.

J Curtis said...

It was on Steve Kane's radio program. Don't know if it's still available though.

Ross said...

Thanks for that. I just found and downloaded the podcast from iTunes. Hopefully I'll find time to listen to it over the weekend.

Ross said...

I listened to the podcast yesterday. I thought your pastor sounds like a good bloke, and he handled Hitchens quite well. Hitchens was more civil than I expected him to be.

J Curtis said...

Ross,

If you still have the link to the podcast, could you post it? Please?

Ross said...

Certainly.

Go into the iTunes store and search podcasts for "Steve Kane Christopher Hitchens."

Hope this helps.