Variety Review of Half-Blood Prince: Indispensable Rickman Delivers
HBP Film
Posted by: sue
July 05, 2009, 04:33 PM
Variety has now posted their review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and it contains much praise for the sixth installment in the Harry Potter film series. Noting that director David Yates "displays noticeably increased confidence here, injecting more
real-world grit into what began eight years ago as purest child's fantas," and has made a film that is "film is clear-headed and clean-lined."
The long review notes the physical changes of the cast, but does hand praise to the efforts of the adult cast members in particular making mention of the actor who plays Professor Slughorn, saying "Jim Broadbent, who makes a terrific disguised entrance and is then simply grand as the eccentric old prof." Of note however are remarks about the performance of a critical character in the film.
"It's this chapter in the Potter saga that obliges the always nasty but
ambiguously motivated Severus Snape to show his true colors, and the
indispensable Rickman delivers, as always, with line readings that are
delicacies of the infinitely mordant kind. He is periodically egged on
by the insidious Bellatrix Lestrange, a role Helena Bonham Carter plays
with such mesmerizing abandon that one hopes the role fully pays off in
the final chapter.
Among the always outstanding production values and top-drawer visual
effects, special note should be made of series newcomer Bruno
Delbonnel's exceptionally atmospheric cinematography and Nicholas
Hooper's emotionally churning score, which contains only the slightest
trace of John Williams' original themes.
Thanks Taylor!
81 Comments
276 Points
Positive reviews are nice to read. I can´t believe I will see THE MOVIE in 10 days. :)
515 Points
Rickman is so good sometimes when I’m reading the books I actual picture him in my head. He absolutely embodies Snape. I can’t wait for the Spinner’s End scene. I hope they leave it in!
144 Points
cant wait for the movie only 8 days left for me yay!
144 Points
i have already got my tickets to see it in cinemas i bought them a week ago yay!
144 Points
is it me or is everyone going to watch this movie at least twice in cinemas if its good??
16257 Points
I think Alan Rickman and Helena Bonham Carter are perfect as Snape and Bellatrix.
144 Points
alan rickman is a superb actor he just keeps delivering and the movies in which i have seen him in are always so diverse and different and he plays such prominent and different characters in each of them and seems so convincing…he is someone to inspire of being like….a great actor :)
4208 Points
The movie and the cast are going to be great! Rickman and Bonham carter make great adversaries.
144 Points
yes i agree with some of you alan and helena and maggie smith are some of the great actors in harry potter,…in that film its like a complete mixture oof great actors…i wish i could be apart of it
3048 Points
I cannot wait to see the performance that Alan Rickman delivers in this movie, as the Half-Blood Prince is the installment in which he plays the most indispensible role.
478 Points
The excitment is building up for this movie! Can’t wait to see it. The reviews are great! Ten more days!
288 Points
Another good review! YEA!
165 Points
Rickman has such finesse with Snape. Though the ending is now known, Rickman can still deliver the doubt with Snape’s loyalties.
3271 Points
AWESOME!! I’m so excited to see Rickman again playing Snape… he is my all-time favorite character for the books and movies! :)
43 Points
No one could do Snape the way Alan Rickman does. He is perfect for that kind of part and I truly adore his portrayal. I don’t mean to extenuate the man in any way, but I really do think the likes of Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, David Thewlis, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall and Helena Bonham Carter are probably all slightly “better” actors if you regard their entire respective body of work throughout the years.
Regarding the youngsters I have always been of the opinion that Tom Felton is more promising than all the rest put together, and that has absolutely nothing to do with Dan Radcliffe’s height.
Positive reviews are nice to read. I can´t believe I will see THE MOVIE in 10 days. :)