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[VIDEO REVIEWS]Hopkins remains one of today's greats

Published: 05 Jan. 2003, 23:48

Anthony Hopkins may be one of the few actors versatile enough to act as a cannibal murderer, as in "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991), and as a quiet Victorian-era doctor in "The Elephant Man" (1980). Most people, however, do not realize that Hopkins has acted in films regularly since "Spartacus" (1960), such is the power of his later film work. In his latest movie, "Bad Company," an action-packed comedy, co-starring Chris Rock, Hopkins confirms once again that he is multifaceted, if perhaps an uneven judge of material.

Born in Wales in 1937, Hopkins made himself known on the stages of London. Though Hopkins appears to have lost interest in the theater, he gave inspiring performances in "Howard's End," (1992) and "The Remains of the Day" (1993), both of which starred Emma Thompson, were directed by James Ivory and produced by Ismail Merchant.

"The Remains of the Day"

Directed by James Ivory. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Christopher Reeve and James Fox

Hopkins gives a true-to-life performance as a butler in this quiet English-period drama.

Set just before World War II, the story begins in a huge mansion in England, belonging to the influential Lord Darlington (Fox). His faithful English butler, James Stevens (Hopkins), is most proud of his loyal service to Darlington, to the complete suppression of his own life. He keeps his self-control in check until the vivacious housekeeper Ms. Kenton (Thompson) shakes his world. Stevens falls in love with Ms. Kenton, but refuses to act.

With the end of the war, Stevens realizes that his complete loyalty to Darlington, a Nazi sympathizer, was misplaced. But it might not be too late for him to restart the romance.

Ivory minimizes unnecessary scenes, focusing on the description of the characters' souls. Hopkins's and Thompson's performances are truly remarkable. Hugh Grant even makes a cameo.

by Chun Su-jin