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Heroes of science and politics

13 March 2007 at 03:04 AM | by Melty_Girl

Here's some fascinating articles that dig deeper than the usual discussion of the science of Sunshine and the political history of The Wind That Shakes the Barley.

Dr. Cox on Dr. Capa

The Telegraph looks at the plausibility of Sunshine's premise, the friendship of physicist Dr. Brian Cox, the film's science advisor, with his cinematic proxy, Cillian, and Cox's views on the film. Roger Highfield writes,

Rather than the usual white-haired, wild-eyed physicist, there is a Hollywood heart throb: Murphy. "It is a great portrayal of a physicist," says Cox. "Better than those seen in Back to the Future and Dr Strangelove." Traditionally, he says, scientists are the ones who cause all the trouble. ...[but] in Sunshine ... it is left to Murphy's character, and his knowledge of physics, to save the planet.

Doc Brown
Physicist faceoff: Doc Brown versus Doc Capa

Cillian told Buzzine that he learned some scientific theories from Cox that "opened my mind," but admits that in all honesty, "I really don’t know anything, and I still don’t know very much after doing this film." Meanwhile, Cox joked about Cillian, "If his film work takes a downturn, I have offered him a place doing a PhD."

Prof. Loach on all the shouting

As previously mentioned, I was quite moved by all the shouting in Barley, because Hollywood usually presents violence with surging soundtracks, choreographed bloodletting, and slow motion. IFC News's Matt Singer interviewed director Ken Loach, and got the backstory behind this choice:

"It's the army technique! The British soldiers in the film are, by and large, real ex-soldiers. ... And I said to them, 'How would you deal with this situation in real life?' They said this is what you'd do. This 'wall of sound' is a technique to disorientate the people. It isn't about individuals being brutal, it's a technique they're taught. I remember when I was given military training, you were taught how to bayonet an enemy soldier, and you had to shout as you were doing it. It's part of the drill. ... The shouting is, as I said, to disorientate and to confuse and to not give them time to settle. Cause if they settle, they'll fight back."

Check out the interview for info about the brothers who were loose models for Barley's Damien and Teddy, how Loach set up the climatic political meeting debate scene, and more.

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Melty_Girl
Posts: 1
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Re: About the Top 5 list
Reply #5 on : Wed March 21, 2007, 02:47:14
Nancy, we've had a little weirdness with that email box. Can you mail it again to the editors address?

Sorry for the trouble, but thanks for checking in!
nancy
Posts: 4
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About the Top 5 list
Reply #4 on : Wed March 21, 2007, 00:14:49
I also want to know when or how we'll know if our Top 5 list gets submitted. I e-mailed you mine like a week ago, but am not sure ifyou've received it.
nancykerrigan
Posts: 4
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Re:
Reply #3 on : Tue March 20, 2007, 23:13:01
I liked the Buzzine article alot. Cilly says some pretty interesting and funny stuff there.
Lilith
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Re:
Reply #2 on : Tue March 13, 2007, 13:24:29
It is funny, isn't it? I'd guess he probably prefers it to creepy bad guy, which is what they were calling him not too long ago.
Claudia
Posts: 4
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The Telegraph on Sunshine
Reply #1 on : Tue March 13, 2007, 13:03:38
I find it rather amusin that they refer to him as a Hollywood hearth throb. I wonder what he thinks about that ;)