Tag: Daniel Day-Lewis

What I Learned From The Last Of The Mohicans

Ah, The Last of the Mohicans. The James Fenimore Cooper novel is the very reason why Spark Notes was invented. I think I pretended to read it in high school. Though the 1992 movie, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and directed by Michael Mann, does improve on the book and makes it enjoyable. Plus, Day-Lewis runs around in the woods, kills a lot of people, and has long flowing black hair. What’s not to love?

What you also need to know is that the movie is set in 1757. The British and the French are going at it like rabbits. (This is also known as the French and Indian War for you history buffs.)

Chingachgook (Russell Means), his son Uncas (Eric Schweig), and his adopted white son Hawkeye (Day-Lewis) end up escorting the Munro sisters to join their colonel father at Fort William Henry near Lake George. Magua (Wes Studi), a Huron whose family was killed by Munro’s troops, wants to kill Cora (Madeline Stowe) and Alice (Jodhi May). This causes all sorts of battles, gun fights, and scalpings. There is also a pointless romance and a few lessons along the way.

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Remembering Pete Postlethwaite

The news of British actor Pete Postlethwaite’s passing has been a blow to the film and stage communities.

How wonderful is Daniel Day Lewis’ tribute to his co-star?

Pos was the one. As students, it was him we went to see on stage time and time again. It was him we wanted to be like; wild and true; lion hearted; unselfconscious and deliciously irreverent. He was on our side. He watched out for us. We loved him and followed him like happy children, never a breath away from laughter. He shouldn’t have gone. I wish so much he hadn’t. There’s a tendency to make lists at this time of the year. When we get to the Best of British, if Pete isn’t at the top of that list, he shouldn’t be far from it.

Day-Lewis starred with Postlethwaite in 1992’s The Last of the Mohicans and 1993′s In the Name of the Father