Kenneth Branagh embraces action hero role — to get in shape

In the action comedy film "Mayday," Kenneth Branagh takes on the role of a former KGB agent, showcasing his versatility by performing physically demanding action sequences alongside co-star Ryan Reynolds.

Known for his Shakespearean roles, Branagh relished the opportunity to surprise audiences and embraced intense training, including yoga, to master the fight choreography.

The film, celebrated for its engaging script by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, hinges on the strong chemistry between Branagh and Reynolds, who bonded over their shared love of football.

Their on-screen dynamic enriches the narrative, highlighting cultural exchanges between their characters.

TORONTO, Sept 23 — For Kenneth Branagh, starring as an action hero in the Cold War comedy Mayday was a chance to surprise the audience — and get in shape.

The British actor, best known to audiences for heavyweight Shakespearean roles like Henry V, appears in the Apple TV film as a former KGB agent capable of taking on his most ruthless enemies armed with nothing more than a pen.

In his quest to help a US pilot (Ryan Reynolds) who has crashed in Soviet territory during the Cold War, Nikolai Ustinov (Branagh) battles anyone who stands in his way, leaving a trail of carnage behind him.

“There was some movie magic there for sure, but there was no question that I learned everything,” he told AFP on the sidelines of the Toronto International Film Festival.

“I tried to do it absolutely the best I could and the quickest I could, and not hurt myself and not hurt anybody else.”

To prepare, the actor practiced yoga for hours and trained methodically to master the fight choreography.

“It was a great chance to get a little fitter,” the 65-year-old laughed.

Above all, the action sequences were a chance to show off his versatility.

The running, jumping and fighting “was part of telling the audience who Nikolai was and surprising them.”

“I was surprised reading it, and I knew that I wanted to help surprise the audience by just letting them know that they maybe had underestimated this funny, eccentric Russian character.”

Branagh said he had been delighted with the script by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who also directed the film, and had loved working with people who had such a clear vision.

Bonding over football

Much of the success of the film hinges on the easy chemistry between Branagh and co-star Reynolds.

This unfolds on a perilous journey to Moscow, during which both men discover something about the other’s country.

Ustinov, who is obsessed with American culture, and specifically with Top Gun (the 1986 hit starring Tom Cruise), shows Navy pilot Troy Kelly (Reynolds) that not all Russians are the emotionless drones that Washington’s political leaders claim they are.

Meanwhile, Kelly reveals that not all Americans are good-natured heroes.

The on-screen bond developed very quickly from the first meeting between the actors, Branagh said.

“When we had our very first conversation, they just called ‘action’ on a costume test for him.

“He walked off the set, or I walked to him actually, so we shook hands in front of the camera, and we just started a conversation which hasn’t really stopped. We just got on.”

The pair have seen each other frequently since wrapping while promoting the film and always pick up right where they left off.

“When we meet at work or you know promoting the film, it just carries on,” he said.

“Wherever we see each other, basically we talk about football. It just always was very easy.” — AFP

Dolly Parton’s estate rocked by feud as manager accuses nephew of ‘retribution’ threats, seeks restraining order

Judge calls Weinstein a ‘sexual predator’ as he is resentenced to 15 years for 2006 sex assault on production assistant

Country song beats Mariah Carey tune for US chart record

JPJ denies fake news on Rohingya driving licences, files MCMC report

AGC appeals High Court acquittal of teen in Bandar Utama schoolmate murder case

Azalina: Anti‑Bullying Tribunal resolves five cases with awards, 55 complaints lodged since launch

在动作喜剧电影《五月天》中，肯尼斯·布拉纳饰演一名前克格勃特工，与联合主演瑞安·雷诺兹一起表演了高难度的动作戏，展现了他的多才多艺。

布拉纳以其莎士比亚戏剧角色而闻名，他很享受给观众带来惊喜的机会，并接受了包括瑜伽在内的强化训练，以掌握打斗编排。

这部电影因其乔纳森·戈德斯坦和约翰·弗朗西斯·戴利的精彩剧本而备受赞誉，其成功的关键在于布拉纳和雷诺兹之间强烈的化学反应，他们因对足球的共同热爱而结缘。

他们在银幕上的互动丰富了故事情节，突显了角色之间的文化交流。

多伦多，9 月 23 日——对于肯尼斯·布拉纳来说，在冷战喜剧《五月天》中扮演动作英雄是一个给观众带来惊喜的机会，同时也是一个锻炼身体的机会。

这位英国演员因出演《亨利五世》等莎士比亚戏剧中的重量级角色而为观众所熟知，他在 Apple TV 的这部电影中饰演一位前克格勃特工，仅凭一支笔就能与他最无情的敌人对抗。

在冷战期间，一名美国飞行员（瑞安·雷诺兹饰）坠机在苏联领土上，尼古拉·乌斯季诺夫（布拉纳饰）为了帮助他，与任何阻挡他的人战斗，所到之处一片狼藉。

“电影里肯定有一些魔法，但毫无疑问，我学到了所有东西，”他在多伦多国际电影节期间接受法新社采访时说道。

“我尽了全力，以最快的速度做到最好，而且没有伤害到自己，也没有伤害到其他人。”

为了做好准备，这位演员练习瑜伽数小时，并有条不紊地进行训练，以掌握打斗动作编排。

“这是一个锻炼身体的好机会，”这位65岁的老人笑着说。

最重要的是，动作戏让他有机会展现自己的多才多艺。

奔跑、跳跃和打斗“是为了向观众展现尼古拉是谁，并给他们带来惊喜。”

“我读完后感到很惊讶，我知道我想通过让观众知道他们可能低估了这个滑稽古怪的俄罗斯角色，来帮助他们获得同样的惊喜。”

布拉纳表示，他对乔纳森·戈德斯坦和约翰·弗朗西斯·戴利（同时也是该片的导演）的剧本非常满意，并且很喜欢与拥有如此清晰愿景的人一起工作。

因足球而结缘

这部电影的成功很大程度上取决于布拉纳和联合主演雷诺兹之间轻松自然的化学反应。

故事发生在前往莫斯科的危险旅程中，两人在旅途中发现了对方国家的一些事情。

痴迷于美国文化，尤其是《壮志凌云》（1986 年由汤姆·克鲁斯主演的热门电影）的乌斯季诺夫向海军飞行员特洛伊·凯利（瑞安·雷诺兹饰）证明，并非所有俄罗斯人都是华盛顿政治领导人所声称的那种没有感情的傀儡。

与此同时，凯利透露，并非所有美国人都是心地善良的英雄。

布拉纳表示，两位演员从第一次见面起，就很快在银幕上建立了默契。

“我们第一次谈话时，他们就直接喊‘开拍’，让他试穿戏服。”

“他离开了片场，或者更确切地说，是我走到他身边，我们在镜头前握了握手，然后就开始聊天，而且一直聊到现在。我们相处得很好。”

自电影拍摄结束后，两人在宣传期间经常见面，每次见面都像上次见面一样自然而然地继续着之前的友谊。

“当我们在工作中相遇，或者你知道的，在宣传电影的时候，这种交流就会继续下去，”他说。

“无论我们在哪里见面，基本上都会聊足球。这一直都很自然。”——法新社

多莉·帕顿的遗产管理人指控侄子发出“报复”威胁，并申请限制令，导致遗产继承人家族内部纷争不断。

法官称韦恩斯坦为“性侵犯者”，并因其2006年性侵制片助理的罪行被重新判处15年监禁。

乡村歌曲击败玛丽亚·凯莉的歌曲，创下美国排行榜纪录

陆路交通局否认有关罗兴亚人驾驶执照的虚假新闻，并向马来西亚通讯及多媒体委员会提交报告

总检察署就高等法院对万达镇同学谋杀案中青少年无罪判决提出上诉

阿扎利娜：反欺凌法庭成立以来已审理五起案件并作出裁决，共收到55起投诉。