Alan Rickman (1946–2016)

These diaries proved to be marginally worth the considerable investment of time necessary to plow through them. The beloved actor can be pretty interesting when he's discussing his approach to acting a role or directing a play, and his comments on others' acting and directing, or reviews of movies and plays are quite interesting. The book also contains quite a bit of tittle-tattle about his jetsetting and meetings with people you probably haven't heard about to discuss technical problems or contract minutiae, and for the most part these are much less profitable. These individuals are briefly identified in footnotes, but only once, and if they reappear, as they usually seem to do, they are difficult to remember. The front matter was annoyingly silent as to whether these are the complete diaries or excerpts; if the former, they could profitably been whittled down to size without losing much of general interest.… (mais)

Madly Deeply is a rare invitation into the mind of Alan Rickman—one of the most magnetic, beloved performers of our time.

From his breakout role in Die Hard to his outstanding, multifaceted performances in the Harry Potter films, Galaxy Quest, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and more, Alan Rickman cemented his legacy as a world-class actor. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice, and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate audiences today.

But Rickman’s ability to breathe life into projects wasn't confined to just his performances. As you'll find, Rickman's diaries detail the extraordinary and the ordinary, flitting between worldly and witty and gossipy, while remaining utterly candid throughout. He takes us inside his home, on trips with friends across the globe, and on the sets of films and plays ranging from Sense and Sensibility, to Noël Coward's Private Lives, to the final film he directed, A Little Chaos.

Running from 1993 to his death in 2016, the diaries provide singular insight into Rickman's public and private life. Reading them is like listening to Rickman chatting to a close companion. Meet Rickman the consummate professional actor, but also the friend, the traveler, the fan, the director, the enthusiast; in short, the man beyond the icon.

Madly, Deeply features a photo insert, a foreword by Emma Thompson, and an afterword by Rima Horton.… (mais)