Beloved film and television actor Bryan Brown’s CV is ridiculously extensive, and crammed with plaudits and multiple awards. In the 1980s he carved out a successful career in Hollywood; since then, he has been primarily committed to the Australian industry. Not just a fine actor, Bryan has worked as a producer on feature films such as Beautiful Kate and TV series such as Twisted Tales and Two Twisted.
He was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame in 1989, and in 2018 received the AACTA Longford Lyell Award for lifetime achievement.
Tell us a little about the film you star in, Dean Spanley.
Dean Spanley, starring Sam Neill, Peter O’Toole, Jeremy Northam and myself, was shot in Norwich, England in 2007. Matthew Metcalfe, the New Zealand producer, had loved the novel My Talks with Dean Spanley for a number of years but wasn’t quite sure how to make a film of it. Enter two dogs and he had a movie. Warm, funny and poignant. A very original film and maybe the great Peter O’Toole’s last. Directed by Toa Fraser.
Watch Dean Spanley now at SBS On Demand.
Bryan also stars in Warwick Thornton’s 2017 film Sweet Country, now streaming at SBS On Demand.
What are your 5 favourite films at SBS On Demand?
1. Wings of Desire
1987Director: Wim WendersCast: Otto Sander, Bruno Ganz, Curt BoisCountry: GermanyLanguage: German
My favourite ever film. Directed by Wim Wenders it had a profound effect on me. I saw it in London and for the next several days whenever I looked out of a cab window and saw a man standing by himself on the kerbside, I would see an angel hanging over his shoulder. Stars Bruno Ganz. A great actor.
Watch Wings of Desire now at SBS On Demand.
2. Withnail and I
1987Director: Bruce RobinsonCast: Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann, Richard GriffithsCountry: UKLanguage: English
Brilliant English comedy. Dark, witty, hilarious, written and directed by Bruce Robinson, who had previously been nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay of The Killing Fields. A vastly different movie. Introduced audiences to Richard E. Grant.
Watch Withnail and I now at SBS On Demand.
3. Volver
2006Director: Pedro AlmovódarCast: Penelope Cruz, Yohana CoboCountry: SpainLanguage: Spanish
Directed by the Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. Love his movies. With the wonderful Penelope Cruz. Plenty of great women in this comedic film with ghosts and murder.
Watch Volver now at SBS On Demand.
4. Let The Right One In
2008Director: Tomas AlfredsonCast: Kare Hedebrant, Lina LeanderssonCountry: SwedenLanguage: Swedish
Don’t remember it all but I do remember how surprised I was that I liked it so much. A vampire! Youth and vulnerability.
Watch Let The Right One In now at SBS On Demand.
5. Downfall
2004Director: Oliver HirschbiegelCast: Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich MatthesCountry: ItalyLanguage: German
The story of Hitler’s last days. Only saw it recently. Bruno Ganz again. Fascinating. The whole evil gang is there – Eva Braun, Albert Speer and Goebbels and family.
Watch Downfall now at SBS On Demand.
Dive into the Movies at SBS On Demand and share your own #FiveFaves with us on Facebook and Twitter.
