The Actors

The Actors is a 2003 film written and directed by Conor McPherson and starring Dylan Moran and Michael Caine. In supporting roles are Michael Gambon, Miranda Richardson and Lena Headey.

The Actors is a contemporary comedy set in Dublin. It follows the exploits of two mediocre stage actors as they devise a plan to con a retired gangster out of £50,000. The gangster owes the money to a third party, whom he has never met.

The actors take advantage of this fact by impersonating this 'unidentified' third party, and claiming the debt as their own. To pull it off they enlist Moran's eerily intelligent nine-year-old niece, who restructures the plan each time something goes wrong.

The two protagonists are acting in a version of Shakespeare's Richard III in which everyone dresses in Nazi uniform, a sly nod to Ian McKellen's production.

The film is centred on the Olympia Theatre, and it is noteworthy for featuring the famous glass awning over the entrance which has since been destroyed in a traffic accident. The glass awning has since been rebuilt to its full former glory.

Cast

 * Michael Caine as Anthony O'Malley
 * Dylan Moran as Tom Quirk
 * Lena Headey as Dolores
 * Abigail Iversen as Mary
 * Aisling O'Sullivan as Rita
 * Ben Miller as Clive
 * Michael Gambon as Barreller
 * Simon Delaney as Ronnie
 * Alvaro Lucchesi as Lesley
 * Michael McElhatton as Jock
 * Miranda Richardson as Mrs. Magnani
 * Alison Doody as herself
 * Marty Whelan as himself
 * Deirdre O'Kane as Stage Manager

Reception
Empire gives the film 2/5, describing it as "Based on an idea by Neil Jordan, The Actors had the potential to be gut-achingly funny. But instead it ends up raising a few paltry smiles."

Soundtrack

 * 1) Act One - The Michael Nyman Band and Moss Hall Junior Choir
 * 2) Star Of The Sea - Laura Cullinan, Bebhinn Ni Chiosain, Cliona Ni Chiosain & Niamh H Reynolds
 * 3) Zinc Bar Walk - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 4) A Certain Party - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 5) House On Fire - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 6) Act Two - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 7) Could This Be Love? - Lena Headey & Dylan Moran
 * 8) Mary Directs Tom - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 9) Una's Waltz - Una Ni Chiosain/Conor McPherson
 * 10) Rope Trick - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 11) Dolores On The Beach - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 12) Return To The Scene Of The Crime - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 13) Seems So Long - Cathy Davey
 * 14) Wheelchair Chase - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 15) Tubbetstown Elegy - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 16) Lovely Morning - Cathy Davey
 * 17) Mrs O'Growny Appears - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 18) Zinc Piano - The Michael Nyman Band
 * 19) Final Act - The Michael Nyman Band