Most young British actor standouts will have the ermine mantel of “The next Lawrence Olivier” immediately draped on their shoulders to try out for size. Olivier is widely considered to have been the greatest stage actor of all time, in addition to being an old-school Hollywood movie star, an accomplished and prolific director, and founder of one of the most prestigious theater companies in England. It’s a ponderous cape; but I remember thinking at the time of his breakout performance in Shakespeare’s “Henry V” that actor-director-writer Kenneth Branagh might indeed be able to succeed in bearing the weight of it.
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
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Mark Jackson
Film Critic
Mark Jackson is the senior film critic for The Epoch Times and a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. Mark earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams College, followed by classical theater conservatory training, and has 20 years' experience as a New York professional actor. He narrated The Epoch Times audiobook "How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World," available on iTunes, Audible, and YouTube. Mark is featured in the book "How to Be a Film Critic in Five Easy Lessons" by Christopher K. Brooks. In addition to films, he enjoys Harley-Davidsons, rock-climbing, qigong, martial arts, and human rights activism.
