An Englishman In New York reviews (2009)

An Englishman In New York

2009

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5

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In 1975, John Hurt starred in a BBC television adaptation of Quentin Crisp's autobiography The Naked Civil Servant, playing the flamboyantly gay author and actor, and in 2009 Hurt revisits the role in this comedy-drama based on the latter years of Crisp's life. Crisp rose to fame in the UK following the publication of his memoirs and the success of a one-man show, but when a series of typically frank but witty quips during an interview lead to a public scandal, Crisp is approached by an American talent agent, Connie Clausen (Swoosie Kurtz), who says she can get him work in the United States. Crisp relocates to New York City, where he stages a show entitled How To Be Happy and gains a new audience. However, the high camp of Crisp's persona and his habit of making deliberately provocative statements (such as calling AIDS a fad and calling homosexuality a terrible disease) earns him the enmity of some gay activists and causes the show to close prematurely. Clausen arranges for Crisp to meet Phillip Steele (Denis O'Hare), the publisher of the Village Voice, and Steele offers Crisp a job as the paper's new film critic. Crisp's witty and acerbic commentary on new movies wins him a new fan base and he and Steele become close friends, but as age and broken relationships begin to take their toll on Crisp, he returns to the stage in a new show created in collaboration with performance artist Penny Arcade (Cynthia Nixon). An Englishman In New York received its world premiere at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival; the film takes its title from a song by Sting, who struck up a friendship with Crisp when they both appeared in the movie The Bride.~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

An Englishman In New York details

Format:	15 DVD
Starring:	John Hurt
Director:	Richard Laxton
Genres:	Drama - Biography, Gay/Lesbian
Studio:	MOMENTUM PICTURES

DVD 1 disc

Name	Discs
An Englishman In New York	15 Feature

DVD Information

Run time:	1 hour 14 minutes
Rental release:	28 Dec 2009
Main languages:	English

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Most helpful review An Englishman In New York

A sequal that works

By OscarFreak (417 reviews) from London , 29 Dec 2009

[Highly rated reviewer]

John Hurt is magnificent as Quentin Crisp with extremely fine performances from the rest of the cast that made the film very watchable. Having lived through the period and being a regular visitor to New York the film had a special resonance for me.
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Quentin Crisp's representative on earth

By rutitoottoots (19 reviews) from Oxford, England , 20 Feb 2011

[Highly rated reviewer]

If Quentin Crisp said 'Mr Hurt is my representative here on earth' then who are we to argue with it?

I don't like comparisons between this film and the TV adaption of Crisp's autobiography 'The Naked Civil Servant'. Yes, it's the same actor and it is a fabulous performance by him.

However, this film is the story of Quentin Crisp when he really knew who he was and was publicly known as who that was. We are treated to an engaging collection of quotes, presumably mostly genuine, some as part of appearance performances given by Mr Crisp. These are seamlessly woven together by writer Brian Ellis into director Richard Laxton's wonderful portrait of the New York life, including final years, of the man who had not been Denis Pratt since he was 19.
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Absolute Cult Movie

By JoeDaz (12 reviews) from essex , 10 Dec 2010

John Hurt again turns out an outstanding performance and the way he plays Quentin you actually believe it is the out spoken Gay Icon of the 70's-90's wonderful adaptation of this mans life
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Quentin!

By Porlock (2 reviews) from Porlock, Somerset , 25 Feb 2010

'The Naked Civil Servant' was a masterpiece. The sequel doesn't come up to that standard but it is still excellent. It comes across more as a documentary of a character in old age than a drama. As Crisp's representative on earth, John Hurt does not disappoint.
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Recommended ...if you watched the first one.

By HappySomeone (51 reviews) from Aylesbury , 03 Feb 2010

Many years ago I watched The Naked Civil Servant ...and enjoyed it immensely. So when this was being aired, I was interested. I don't know whether this would appeal to someone who didn't watch the original 20 or 30 tears ago - so difficult to comment from that perspective. But I (speaking as someone who did watch the NCS 20 or 30 years ago) thought it was a lovely film. John Hurt reprising his earlier role as the eccentric Englishman was brilliant once again. It is well acted, human, possibly a bit sad. Not as powerful as the original film, but good to see the second instalment. Recommended.
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sad yet enthrawling!

By D sheridan from London, uk , 01 Feb 2010

For those of you who have seen 'naked civil servant' this is a stunnning follow on with Hurt continuing his role as Quentin Crisp. An amazing performance by Hurt who embodies Crisp and grips you right form the start. As with 'the naked civil servant' the life of Crisp is sad but fascinating, and although not as shocking as the first film, it still portrays the life of a man whose outspoken views gave him fame and fortune as well as unhappiness.
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