Kermode Uncut: Farewell Edward Woodward

[poetryreincarnations]

Wow that was realy special what a wonderful tribute by the brilliant Mark Kermode for the great Edward Woodward forever to be remembered for The Wicker man and Callan and numerous other great parts

[EloiseDecember]

I loved him with the Scotch accent in the Wicker man. For me too he made the film.

[BobCratchit1843]

I loved his powerful performance in A Christmas Carol 84'.

[Filmzie]

I really loved him in Hot Fuzz probably because it was the first role i actually saw of his.

[dickyhart]

thank you! mark. Edward was my favourite actor ever, and you summed him up, Im sory it took me so long to find this.

[djslipdisk]

RIP Edward Woodward

A fantastic actor and all round good fella.

[sulijoo]

Edward Woodward once described his own name as sounding like someone farting in a bath-tub, bless him. RIP.

[TheHappydead]

what wer they thinking remaking the wickerman? hollywood can be so fucking dumb

[randomdave30]

@TheHappydead The Wicker Man was a genuine casualty of the shortsightedness of the 'suits' in the British Film Industry who were a bunch of accountants.

[randomdave30]

@TheHappydead The Wicker Man has had a tortouous history but the final insult is the Nicholas Cage re-imagining. My God he is the most wooden actor imaginable. An authentic re-make from Anthony Schaffer's original script, incorporating all the lost sequiences and perhaps with Ewan MacGregor as Howie and Billy Connolly as Lord Summerisle, might have been absolutely brilliant. Instead, the re-make is an embarrassment to modern cinema.

[newrochellephoenix]

@randomdave30 I could indeed see Ewan and Billy in a version.

[TulseLuper]

@randomdave30 That would be interesting, for sure. But to be fair to Cage, that script was a disaster and not even Daniel Day-Lewis could give credibility to lines like "Killing me won't bring back your goddamn honey!" They took all the substance out of the original, and even with a combo like Ewan and Billy, I'm not sure if it would've worked as well.

[ThermalFeedback]

The last image shown was of Edward Woodward as the Equalizer, which is how I knew him. I was only introduced to him as Callan here on YouTube. He truly was a remarkable actor and very down-to-Earth. I wish I had met him and had the honor of working with him. He is an inspiration to me as an actor. I guess I can only honor him in my work, having never been able to meet him.

[hatter23]

hi mark-good job here,Edward was an absolute star!

john hadlow film reviewer-BBC radio south west

[brettishgal]

Moving tribute, yeh Edward definitely had something else ! Love Callan, EQZ, Wicker man , Breaker morant, Hot Fuzz..... Why isn't EQZ season 2-5 avail yet ? tut....

[prissdoor]

This was a wonderful tribute and certainly well deserved. I've been a great admirer of both EW's work and the way he has conducted his life. I know personally of his kindness to an old woman who lived alone in N. Carolina and was the ultimate EW fan. He invited her to NYC to view a taping of EQZ, sent her flowers on her birthday, and invited her to spend time with his family in England. Amazing! He was a beautiful actor; none has touched me the way he did. The world is too quiet without him.

[Mayday7819]

RIP Grandad love u  xx

[Mayday7819]

RIP Grandad love u  xx

[RAIDERS58th]

Edward Woodward as THE EQUALIZER will always be my hero and roll model.

[rhodiumxl]

Thankyou so much mark for this wonderfully moving tribute,to a superb actor and human being xxxx

[weewees1]

I grew up watching the Equalizer as a kid and loved it! I wanted to be as confident as Robert McCall .Later on as an adult I saw the Wicker Man and it scared the jehosephats out of me...it still does! He was a great actor.

[ElleToInterzone]

Well said.

[ducksoup2007]

RIP Edward Woodward from a fan

[uncledavey80]

Nicely done.

[merskamp]

Love the little homage to The Equaliser at the end of this too. Thanks Mark. This was largely ignored here in America but its nice to see some respect and his Equaliser was the right kind of vigilantism, his character suffered unlike Harry brown.

[John27346]

heroically decent?

[jonquills66]

I was INTENSELY disappointed that Australia, as far as I know, completely! ignored Edward Woodward's death. Considering he was a pivotal actor in a seminal Australian film that is Breaker Morant...Australia should be ashamed. For me it's all too late. Australia is a cultural pygmy living in a desert of self indulgence. I'm off to the UK as soon as possible!

[ZAMPAROAD]

nice one, mark

[josiahscurlock]

That wonderful scene at the end of Breaker Morant.

[radiodarkhorse]

That was well said Mark. Edward will be missed for many reasons. The Equalizer, Codename Kyril (HTV) and The Wicker Man for me. His screams in the Wicker Man as he's being burnt alive freaks me out everytime.

Oh loved the heavenesque Equalizer image at the end. Very good! lol

[projectcyclops]

Thanksyou, and well said. "I've heard of the famous apples of course..."

[arhythmius]

"Breaker Morant" and "The Equalizer" -- Mr. Woodward owned the 1980's.

I appreciated hearing Mr. Kermode's anecdotes about this great actor, truly one of my favorites.

[MartinandFreddie]

Really well said . I must admit my best memories of Edward Woodward are from his TV stuff , in particular Callan which was part of my youth and which I never missed. I have recently acquired the movie of Callan which this tribute has reminded me of, so that is going on the player right now. It is good to know that someone you admired was worthy of that admiration Thanks Mark

[sinbad0910]

"Oh Jesus Christ!" that line will stick in my head forever, I never normally say this about stars I've never met but R.I.P Edward Woodward.

[jhvscs]

Hear hear. Whenever I think of the Wickerman, it is the moment that he sees the wicker man that I remember so vividly. You could probably measure what great acting is by Edward's performance in that scene.

[666nours666]

RIP Edward.

It's a touching homage you're delivering Dr ... thank you.

My answer to your question about the most memorable film/scene with E. Woodward is : The Wicker Man !

As for a specific scene, it's hard to tell: maybe the one at school when he's telling what a bunch of liars they are / or perhaps the final scene before going into the wicker man ... anyway : the Whole film is built on him and his wonderful interpretation !!

[Epihash]

A genuinely heroically decent man indeed.

[Flipflopab]

Nice tribute Mark. A really touching tribute. I knew you'd do a tribute

[blightytater]

Thank you.

[kevycanavan]

totally agree. Woodward makes that film what it is. A great performance in a great film.

[NBNA100]

good on you sir

thanks