365movieguy • 31m
Once, the beverage could only be consumed by great men. Now, it has fallen into the hands of ordinary men, getting a taste of greatness.
365movieguy • 32m
One of the loveliest scenes finds Neill and Northam discussing the history of an old whiskey that was once the property of royalty.
365movieguy • 33m
O'Toole gets left out of most of the drinking scenes, but surely he must have served as a valuable consultant on the subject.
365movieguy • 34m
DEAN SPANLEY also spends a good deal of time on the subject of great alcohol - the pleasure of seeking it, and the pleasure of drinking it.
365movieguy • 37m
It's a thankless part, but Northam handles it well, playing various shades of excitement, skepticism and disappointment with subtlety.
365movieguy • 37m
Northam is basically playing the audience surrogate - the polite, normal figure placed between Neill's whimsy and O'Toole's grandstanding.
365movieguy • 39m
I'm reminded of how good he was in that ridiculous Thomas Kinkade biopic, in which his material was far clunkier than it is here.
365movieguy • 40m
Most of his actual dialogue is on the clunky, obvious side, but O'Toole brings such glorious playfulness and emotional resonance to it.
365movieguy • 41m
To say that O'Toole steals all of his scenes almost seems unnecessary. He has a way of elevating and enriching even the thinnest material.
365movieguy • 44m
When he describes his former life as a dog, his eyes light up with puppy-like joy even as his voice remains stern and measured.
365movieguy • 45m
Again, some may roll their eyes at the whole reincarnation premise, but there's something magical about the way Neill plays his scenes.
365movieguy • 50m
Before long, Northam wonders whether there might be some long-lost connection between his crusty old father (Peter O'Toole) and Neill.
365movieguy • 51m
An open-minded character played by Jeremy Northam grows intrigued by Neill's beliefs, and begins wondering if reincarnation might be real.
365movieguy • 52m
The story centers on a man (Sam Neill) who believes in reincarnation. Specifically, he believes he was once a dog.
365movieguy • 52m
DEAN SPANLEY could be fairly described as a silly, sentimental movie built on an absurd premise, but it has an undeniable emotional hook.
365movieguy • 57m
Today's movie: DEAN SPANLEY (2008) - Now streaming on Netflix
All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. (Charles M. Schulz)
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