Star Pick with Kurt Angle

To bring you back to a Star Pick interview I posted a few months ago, actor James Phelps revealed his favourite film to me as his brother prodded him playfully – here is the entertaining retelling: a self professed history buff, as James spoke of his love of the film The Lives of Others (its engrossing story, fascinating characters and intriguing visuals immediately catching his cinematic eye), Oliver chimed in, with a rascally smile – “It’s also because he is a secret Communist”. . . James firing back, “I wouldn’t go that far” – his own face featuring an impish grin. Capturing the same dynamic found in their most famous roles, the pair are like a vaudeville act, finely tuned, James playing the straight man to Oliver’s more overt comedic personality. The famed Weasley twins from the Harry Potter franchise, the pair are known the world over as the scampish older brothers of Ron – roles that provided them with many of the best laughs found throughout the eight movies. Having left you hanging a bit longer than you might have liked, I am sure that many of you have probably been wondering just what Oliver chose as his favourite film.

The bass backbone (and backing vocalist) for AC/DC for almost their entire run at the top of the hard rock game, there is no doubt that Cliff Williams is an icon of the rock world. Joining the band in 1977 (just a few short years after their founding in 1973/74), taking over for original bassist Mark Evans, Cliff, along with drummer Phil Rudd (and Chris Slade – their drummer from 1989-1994 and presently – who has also been interviewed here at Filmizon.com), and Malcolm Young (nephew Stevie Young took over after Malcolm’s death), have been the ever solid rhythmic spine for Angus’ soaring guitar solos and Brian Johnson’s unique vocals (the man took over for Bon Scott after he died in 1980). . . or, as Cliff puts it, “I try to create a bottom layer that drives what our guys are doing on top”. Touring since their 1977 “Let There Be Rock” album, and the bass player on their albums starting with 1978's “Powerage”, there are not many musicians who have been seen or heard around the world more than Cliff. An inductee to both the Australian Recording Industry Association’s Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as of 2003), he has done it all, and really, there is not much more needed to be said than that.

When I first started watching the excellent British series Misfits (somewhat scarily, about a decade ago), I was completely impressed with their lineup of talented young stars (all playing delinquents forced to do community service – who also happen to have superpowers). I expected many of them to go somewhere, and I have not been disappointed – Joseph Gilgun is arguably the most entertaining part of the American show Preacher (as Cassidy); Iwan Rheon scared millions of viewers as the vile Ramsay Bolton on Game of Thrones; Antonia Thomas is a main player on the hit series The Good Doctor (as Dr. Claire Browne); while my favourite character on the series was brought to vivid life by Robert Sheehan (who played the hilarious Nathan). A man of many dimensions, I then followed him to the Irish series Love/Hate, a role that showed his range as a very serious young man working in the Dublin underground crime scene. Also, over the years, he has had some promising roles in films such as The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, The Messenger, Geostorm, Mute, Mortal Engines, and, currently has found his groove in North America on the acclaimed Netflix series The Umbrella Academy.

Arguably the greatest Canadian pugilist of all-time, George Chuvalo, standing six feet tall, weighing in at 240 pounds, and with a reach of seventy-one inches, was also graced with an iron jaw. Part of ninety-three professional bouts, Chuvalo never once fell to the canvas – and when you look at the foes he fought, that is one impressive statistic. With a record of 72-19-2, he was a five time Canadian champ, and two time World Heavyweight contender (the first against Ernie Terrell in 1965). Perhaps his two greatest fights were against Muhammad Ali (in 1966 and 1972) – though some may point to the 1965 Fight of the Year versus Floyd Patterson. Given only seventeen days to prepare for their first match, people (along with Ali) didn’t give Chuvalo much of a chance. . . yet, 12 rounds in, the man was still standing (for the first time ever in Ali’s career), the pair going the full 15. Yet, after the fight, Ali claimed, “he is the toughest fighter I ever fought” – Chuvalo earning the man’s respect. And, there is no doubt in Chuvalo’s mind about the fight, for he has long said, “when it was all over, Ali was the guy who went to the hospital because he was pissing blood. . . Me? I went dancing with my wife”.

With a mischievous twinkle in the eye, much like their iconic onscreen characters, James and Oliver Phelps are the living embodiment of the Weasley twins. Quick, witty, and playful with their words, their banter is infectious. Perhaps it is no surprise, as they are, in reality, twins, but they feed off of each other like no other. . . entertaining, to say the least. For those of you who may have been living in a cupboard under the stairs for the past few decades, James and Oliver play Fred and George Weasley, the older twin brothers of Harry Potter’s best friend Ron. A vital part of one of the most successful franchises in film history, they bring so much levity as the loveable Hogwarts’ pranksters, often claiming some of the most entertaining moments in many of the pictures.

How else can you start talking about Elijah Wood than referencing The Lord of the Rings – arguably one of, if not the best trilogy ever produced. Playing the lead character Frodo, he is the seminal everyman, or should I say everyhobbit, a down to Middle-Earth, caring individual with a larger than life spirit who takes on the task of transporting the most vile weapon of all-time, the one ring, into the heart of darkness to destroy evil for once and all. It is a performance of pathos, gravitas, and exquisite depth. Yet, one cannot forget Wood’s illustrious career. . . starting as a child actor, he graced the silver screen in pictures like Back to the Future Part II (a small part and his first film role), Avalon, The Good Son, only to further bolster his credits as a teenager with Flipper, The Ice Storm, and Deep Impact. Following the release of the above mentioned trilogy (2001-2003), Wood followed it up with solid turns in critically acclaimed features such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sin City, Paris, je t’aime, as well as voicing characters in the animated movies Happy Feet and 9. It must not be forgotten that he reprises his role as Frodo Baggins in the Rings prequel, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.