Fan Fun Movie of The Month: Dream Horse

“It’s a heart-warming movie. Bringing people together. Bringing community together.” – Damian Lewis

As it has recently won two awards, namely Owen Teale winning for Best Actor and the film winning in the Sound category, at BAFTA Cymru, Dream Horse has deserved to be the Fan Fun Movie of the month!

Dream Horse with Damian Lewis opened in NYC movie theaters on May 21, 2021 and went into history as the first movie I saw in a movie theater after the Covid-19 pandemic started! It was a time that we struggled to adjust to “normal” life. We needed hope, strength and inspiration. And Dream Horse has definitely offered us all three and more. Yes, we are off to the races but the story is not about winning or losing. It is about a bunch of villagers solving a collective action problem when all the cards are stacked against them. Dream Horse is about courage, community and second chances. Continue reading “Fan Fun Movie of The Month: Dream Horse”

Throwback Thursday to Nicholas Brody and His Muslim Faith

“You live in despair for eight years; you can turn to religion, too. And the King James Bible was not available.” – Nicholas Brody

source: Showtime
source: Showtime

I was born and raised in a secular family in Turkey, a country that is predominantly Muslim. That is, even though I am not religious myself, I am very familiar with the Islamic traditions, rituals and norms. I am obviously coming out of the culture and have been shaped by it in ways that I am probably not aware of 🙂 Thus, I thought it would be neat to talk about Nicholas Brody, my most favorite fictional character ever on small screen, and his Muslim faith, in celebration of Ramadan!

Now, I am not an expert, not even close, about Muslim characters on TV shows; however, even if there had been a popular Muslim character on TV before Brody came along, I just don’t think there is any way she or he could beat him on any popularity scale. Continue reading “Throwback Thursday to Nicholas Brody and His Muslim Faith”

Throwback Thursday to Damian Lewis in Agatha Christie’s Poirot

“I was at home a little while ago and that episode came on the TV and I just couldn’t believe how young I was. Where did all those years go?” – Damian Lewis

This was Damian’s response when he was recently asked in an interview with Essex Life about one of his earliest roles on TV, the ITV’s Agatha Christie’s Poirot episode Hickory Dickory Dock.

Lucky you, Damian, you are one of those men who ages like a good bottle of wine… I wanna say red Burgundy to be precise! But in honor of the years that passed since our early 20s, we revisit that young medical student Len Bateson in Hickory Dickory Dock today. ENJOY!

Continue reading “Throwback Thursday to Damian Lewis in Agatha Christie’s Poirot”

How Keane gave us Brody and How Brody gave us Axe *UPDATED*

Lodge Kerrigan’s beautiful film ‘Keane‘ with Damian Lewis received a 4K restoration thanks to Grasshopper Films and had special screenings at several movie theaters in the U.S in summer – fall 2022. I was very lucky to be at the Film at Lincoln Center’s screening in August 2022 followed by a a Q&A with Lodge Kerrigan and Damian himself. The 4K restored ‘Keane’ is available for streaming on AppleTV. So… why don’t we talk today about how this critically acclaimed movie caused a chain reaction in Damian’s career? 

Join me!

Continue reading “How Keane gave us Brody and How Brody gave us Axe *UPDATED*”

On The Horizon: Damian Lewis as Twin Vampire Brothers in The Radleys

“Your instincts are wrong. Animals rely on instincts for their daily survival, but we are not beasts. We are not lions or sharks or vultures. We are civilized, and civilization only works if instincts are suppressed. So do your bit for society and ignore those dark desires inside you.” – The Abstainer’s Handbook (second edition), p. 54

The Radleys is seemingly an ordinary suburban family. They live at 17 Orchard Lane in the village of Bishopthorpe, Yorkshire. Peter Radley is an overworked general practitioner. His wife Helen is an amateur artist who paints apple trees in watercolor. Their marriage has got distant over the years. Peter and Helen have two teenage children who attend the local high school. Rowan, their 17 year old son, suffers from rashes and chronic insomnia and reads Lord Byron .Clara, their 15 year old daughter, has recently become a vegan with the hopes of having animals treat her better.

Despite their best efforts to live like the next family, The Radleys are perceived to be “a little odd” by their fellow villagers. The family has their curtains closed at all times. They love their meat almost raw but choke on garlic. The amount of factor 60 sunscreen Rowan uses on his skin is off the charts. Clara is extremely pale and fragile. The Radley children are called freaks and bullied at school.

Continue reading “On The Horizon: Damian Lewis as Twin Vampire Brothers in The Radleys”