Thursday, July 24, 2008 East Central Illinois

10th Annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival 2008

To see, or not to see

By: Melissa Merli
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Story Photo

Photo by:

Chaz Ebert

URBANA – Relaxing on the patio outside the University of Illinois president's home Wednesday evening, British actor Timothy Spall was pondering whether he would sit through the four-hour movie "Hamlet."

The versatile Spall plays Rosencrantz in the film, which opened the 10th annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival at the Virginia Theatre shortly after the reception at the UI president's home.

"We're both seriously jet-lagged," Spall said of himself and his wife, Shane. "It's a toss-up."

The friendly Spall and fellow British actor Rufus Sewell, who portrays Fortinbras in "Hamlet," were to speak after the screening. The festival continues at 1 p.m. today with "Delirious," starring Steve Buscemi.

Spall and Sewell were among more than 150 people who attended the Ebertfest reception that begins what UI Chancellor Richard Herman calls the signature event of the UI Urbana-Champaign campus.

"We love this evening," UI President B. Joseph White told his guests, "because it's when the glitterati of the film industry meet the glitterati of Champaign-Urbana."

White then went on to acknowledge the absence of Ebert, a UI alumnus and Urbana native who for the first time in the history of the festival, a special event of the UI College of Media, was unable to attend.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning critic is at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, recuperating from surgery on Friday following a hip injury April 17.

Borrowing her husband's words, Chaz Ebert, who will act as festival emcee, said at the reception that Ebertfest without her husband is "a little melancholy."

Chaz Ebert said her job this week will be to make sure everyone has a good time and "also not to cry." Before she left, her husband told her, "Don't turn Ebertfest into the Oprah show."

Chaz Ebert, a former trial attorney, also introduced the filmmakers, festival organizers and others at the reception. Among them were Spall and Sewell; directors Joseph Greco and Jeff Nichols, both young filmmakers who are bringing to Ebertfest their first feature-length films; and Joan Cohl, whose husband, Dusty, died earlier this year. Ebert dedicated his 10th annual festival to Mr. Cohl, a longtime friend.

At the reception, Spall sat at a round, wrought-iron table, sipping Chardonnay and greeting well-wishers, one of whom told him he would enjoy Ebertfest because people don't hound the stars for autographs.

In England, the London-born actor is a well-known film, stage and television star. Internationally, he's better known for his turn as Peter Pettigrew in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

"What's astounding to me is how people are so interested in my contributions to the 'Harry Potter' films," he said. "Those are one of the smallest parts I've done in my life and it's caused the greatest interest internationally."

Of all his work, Spall is most proud of his association with British film director Mike Leigh. He has appeared in six Leigh films over 27 years. "I sort of give him the credit for my film career," Spall said. The actor also credits his having started out with a young, ambitious and energetic agent, who continues to represent him today.

As for his three-decade career, which led to Spall receiving the award of Officer of the Order of the British Empire in late 1999, he joked that he's been "tolerated."

"I came from a very ordinary background," he said. "My mom was a hairdresser and my dad a postman."

After he played the Lion in a school production of "Wizard of Oz," his drama teacher encouraged him to consider acting as a career. At age 19, Spall was admitted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and in 1978, he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Spall, who has "semi-given up the stage," has appeared in numerous films and had his own television series on BBC. As for 1996's "Hamlet," Spall said it gives a broader look at some of the more minor characters in the Shakespeare play.

Ebertfest's opening film also features what Spall called an "incredible cornucopia of mixed talent," with actors such as Charlton Heston, John Gielgud, Robin Williams and Gerard Depardieu.

Spall compared his time with Heston, who died April 7, to "working with one of God's mates."

"He turned out to be a lot of fun, actually. It's a great loss, but he was getting on," he said. "He didn't have a bad run. Unfortunately, some of the last associations with him is with gun rights.

"He was an icon. He was a fantastic film star and actually a wonderful actor," Spall added. "Not only was he God's representative in the '50s in Technicolor, but he also was amazing in 'Touch of Evil' and small films like 'Soylent Green.' He was amazing as a young actor."

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