Laura Linney

  • 09 June 2004

Date of birth

5th February, 1964

Occupation

Actor

Sex

1st January, 1970

Height

1.70

Nocturnal Animals Review

Very Good

It's been seven years since designer Tom Ford made a splash with his award-winning writing-directing debut A Single Man, and it's no surprise that his second film is just as exquisitely beautiful to look at. What's unexpected is the complexity of the storytelling. Adapted by Ford from Austin Wright's novel Tony and Susan, this movie has three sides to it: a romantic drama, a darkly personal odyssey and a freaky thriller. These elements kind of fight for the audience's attention, but they're sharply played and packed with intense emotion.

Set in Los Angeles, everything revolves around gallery owner Susan (Amy Adams), who lives in a spectacular home with her banker husband Hutton (Armie Hammer), who's facing financial problems. Susan is shocked when she receives a manuscript by her ex-husband Edward (Jake Gyllenhaal), who has finally finished his long-gestating novel. But as she reads it, she realises that their break-up inspired the story, and she pictures Edward in the central role as Tony, a man travelling through Texas with his wife and daughter (Isla Fisher and Ellie Bamber), who are kidnapped and brutalised by roadside thugs led by the unstable Ray (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). So Tony teams up with jaded detective Bobby (Michael Shannon) to track them down.

The film's central narrative is Susan's deeply internalised discovery of her own dark soul, which plays out both in her scenes with Hutton and figuratively in the fictional thriller narrative. All of these things take complex twists and turns that have vivid moral shadings. But of course the Wild West action element continually steals focus from the more understated personal drama. In this sense, Gyllenhaal has the trickiest role, or rather two roles, as the story's catalyst and victim. Meanwhile, Adams is strikingly transparent as Susan, engaging in jagged interaction with both Gyllenhaal's enigmatic Edward and Hammer's eerily heartless Hutton.

Continue reading: Nocturnal Animals Review

Mr. Holmes Review

Excellent

Despite this being a film about Sherlock Holmes, the fact that it's not much of a mystery may disappoint die-hard fans, but as an astute drama it's more than worth a look because Ian McKellen is simply terrific in the title role. This is a much more complex character than he has been able to play recently either in movies (like the X-men and Lord of the Rings franchises) or television (the nutty sitcom Vicious). The film also reunites him with Bill Condon, who directed him to an Oscar nomination in Gods and Monsters 17 years ago.

It's 1947, and Sherlock is 93 years old when we meet him, living on the Sussex coast where he keeps bees and has befriended Roger (Milo Parker), the curious son of his tough-minded housekeeper Mrs Munro (Laura Linney). As Sherlock teaches Roger about both beekeeping and sleuthing, he is also trying to work out his final case some 30 years ago, which his mind simply refuses to recall. As he relives it in his mind, rather than through Watson's embellished account, all he can remember is a worried husband (Patrick Kennedy) asking him to follow his wife (Hattie Morahan). In addition, Sherlock is also still thinking about the things he discovered while recently in post-war Japan at the invitation of a fan (Hiroyuki Sanada).

The main story and the two flashback sequences are intriguingly intertwined in Sherlock's mind, offering parallel discoveries that help him piece together events that unfold in all three. It's a clever approach that allows McKellen to dig deep into the character as a man discovering that his mind is fading, perhaps into senility. His take on Sherlock is simply fascinating, a witty detective who has always resisted the fictional depiction of him in Watson's stories. And he's also an ageing man who hasn't lost his childlike curiosity, which makes his friendship with the young Roger surprisingly tender and engaging.

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Mr Holmes - Teaser Trailer

The year is 1947. Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) is 93 years old and living in almost total solitude in a farmhouse in Sussex. Here, he tries to keep himself to himself and tend to his bees, but is plagued by the fact that his once great mind has withered away to nothing. He remembers the final case he took, and how he was incapable of solving it. But now, with the help of his housekeeper's son, Sherlock Holmes shall once again solve a mystery.

Continue: Mr Holmes - Teaser Trailer

Mr Holmes - Clip

Time makes a fool of all of us; even the greatest minds will become blunt and lose their power as the years roll on. By the year 1947, Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) has reached the age of 93, and lives in solitude in a small Sussex farmhouse, dividing his time between read through his journals and tending to his bees. But when his housekeeper and her son begin to ask questions about his final, unfinished case, Holmes is forced to battle his own deteriorating mind in order to solve a mystery that would once have posed no problem to him.

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What Is It About Brown University? Famous Alumni

By George Percival in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 06 June 2014

Emma Watson John Krasinski Emily Blunt Laura Linney Tim Blake Nelson Ted Turner Eva Amurri

Emma Watson joins John Krasinski, Julie Bowen, Laura Linney as actors graduating from the school. We look at the other notable alumni.

Like the English elite University hegemony of Oxford and Cambridge, the US Ivy League produces a vast array of talent in various fields. The majority of the political elite pass through the likes of Harvard and Yale amongst scientists, scholars and various minds of significant creative ingenuity.

Image caption Watson joins an impressive list of Brown alumni.

Founded in 1764, before the US was even granted its independence from the British Empire, The Rhode Island institution has attracted an alumni that has changed the face of the country, as well as the world, on various levels. Contemporarily, Brown has been a notable site of emerging acting talent, the most high-profile case of which has been Emma Watson’s stint at the academic utopia. We look at a selection notable alumni who have penetrated into the sphere of popular culture as actors and entertainers after enjoying stints at the University:

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Paramount Developing 'The Truman Show' For TV Adaptation

By Jack de Aguilar in Movies / TV / Theatre on 10 April 2014

Jim Carrey Laura Linney Peter Weir

The 1998 classic starring Jim Carrey is getting a TV show of its own

For a film that depicted one man’s journey as he unwittingly became a staple diet of American’s TV-watching public, it’s perhaps fitting that The Truman Show should be adapted for the small screen by Paramount.

Image caption Image: The Truman Show soundtrack

The studio, as Paramount exec Amy Powell told The Wrap, will be looking to use a host of content to make the series happen. Including The Truman Show itself, their owned novels, screenplays and non-fiction that could all contribute to the development of a small screen adaptation.

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Benedict Cumberbatch Wins Praise For His Portrayal Of Julian Assange In 'The Fifth Estate'

By Elinor Cosgrave in Movies / TV / Theatre on 11 October 2013

Benedict Cumberbatch Daniel Bruhl Stanley Tucci Laura Linney Alicia Vikander Dan Stevens Peter Capaldi

'The Fifth Estate' has received mixed reviews since its release in the US yesterday (10 October). The film may be lacking in certain aspects but no one can doubt the talent of Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Fifth Estate has received mixed reviews in time with its release in US cinemas. The film follows the rise of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks to prominence. Although many have described the film as lacking in detail and merely showing the bare bones of the plot, this is summed up by Henry Fitzherbert of the Daily Express who wrote: "if you want to know more about Wikileaks and today's information war the picture is an excellent starting point. As engaging human drama, however, it falls short."


The official The Fifth Estate poster.

Benedict Cumberbatch's performance as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been highly praised by critics however. He stars in The Fifth Estate, which follows Assange's decision to publish the WikiLeaks website and his turbulent relationship with Daniel Domescheit-Berg at the height of the WikiLeaks controversy. The film, based on true events, shows politics on a local and global scale: from Assange's office to the centres of US government. Many governments worldwide considered Assange a threat to their national security whilst Assange was forced to wrestle with the consequences of his actions, namely that it would put others in danger.

Continue reading: Benedict Cumberbatch Wins Praise For His Portrayal Of Julian Assange In 'The Fifth Estate'

The Fifth Estate - Featurette

'The Fifth Estate' stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Laura Linney, Daniel Bruhl and Stanley Tucci along with director Bill Condon talk about the upcoming movie in short featurette. The film tells the shocking story of WikiLeaks founders Julian Assange and Daniel Domscheit-Berg and their quest to share classified information with the world.

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Why Neil Patrick Harris Loves Presenting The Primetime Emmys

By Elinor Cosgrave in Movies / TV / Theatre on 20 September 2013

Neil Patrick Harris Laura Linney Kevin Spacey

Neil Patrick Harris has discussed how much he enjoys presenting the Primetime Emmys. This year will be the second time the 'How I met Your Mother' actor has presented the award ceremony.

Neil Patrick Harris will be hosting the Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday and seems to be excited to do so! This will be the second time Harris has presented the awards, and the 65th time the award ceremony has been held.

Image caption Neil Patrick Harris will be presenting the awards for the second time.

Harris has spoken of his love for television and that he is pleased to be involved in an event which honours it. As reported by USA Today, Harris said "I love TV and the motley crew of people that are part of it. With so many TV offerings of every type, I think that makes for a better viewing experience of television than ever, and I'm happy to be the guy in charge of honouring that."

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Love After Death: Leland Orser Steps Behind The Camera For 'Morning' [Trailer]

By Jack de Aguilar in Movies / TV / Theatre on 19 August 2013

Leland Orser Jeanne Tripplehorn Laura Linney

Orser is playing with the word mourning, but can he portray it?

Leland Orser makes his directorial debut – and stars – in Morning, a film that focuses on the inner torment of two parents after their child dies. This is five days in the life of Alice (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and Mark (Orser) as they attempt to deal with death and forge love once more.


Image caption Orser directs for the first time in Morning

Mark’s grief leads him to separation – he cannot stand to be around his wife any more. The opening scene in the trailer sees him sitting in an empty pool -presumably because of the accidental drowning death of their child - on his own. An elderly woman (his mother?) attempts to console him, or at least shelter him from the rain.

Continue reading: Love After Death: Leland Orser Steps Behind The Camera For 'Morning' [Trailer]

Laura Linney - Sunday 13th June 2010 at Radio City Music Hall New York City, USA

Laura Linney Thursday 27th March 2008 Attending the opening night after party for the revival of the musical 'GYPSY' at Mansion - Arrivals New York City, USA