McQueen relocates events to modern Chicago, casts a group of top-notch actors (including Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez and Liam Neeson), and overlays the action with socio-political overtones to produce an impressive change of direction.
It's the cast of Lincoln Center Theater's revival of "Morning's at Seven," which just added four more top-notch actors: Buck Henry (co-writer of "The Graduate," among other things), Julie Hagerty (who appeared in "Airplane!," among other movies), Christopher Lloyd (who played Jim Ignatowski on "Taxi," among other oddballs) and Piper Laurie (who played the mother in "Carrie").
This set contains all seven episodes, most notable for the usual profusion of top-notch actors in guest spots offered on British TV, like John Gielgud, Rosemary Harris, Ian Carmichael and many others.
Aside from the fact that it was a delightful, entertaining story, done with great taste, amazing writing and two top-notch actors, there was a message I felt the need to write about.
The cast is top-notch, each actor adding nuance to the prevailing style of unsmiling affectlessness (a crew of Buster Keatons).
Mr. Schepisi, aided by a cast that seems to include every top-notch British actor who did not appear in "Gosford Park" (as well as one, Ms. Mirren, who did), has succeeded beyond all expectation.
Aided by a cast that seems to include every top-notch British actor who didn't appear in "Gosford Park," as well as one who did -- Helen Mirren -- Mr. Schepisi's "deft, detailed portrait of a small, vital world slowly comes into focus" (Scott).
The old formula being a child-friendly tale laced with deadpan asides for grown-ups and delivered by top-notch voice actors.
