Anthony Hopkins binge-watches BREAKING BAD, sends fan letter to Bryan Cranston filled with praise

Anthony Hopkins binge-watches BREAKING BAD, sends fan letter to Bryan Cranston filled with praise

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We here at Bigfanboy.com are pretty huge BREAKING BAD fans, though if truth be known I’m one of those infamous folks who binge watched my way to the final episode… I actually plowed through everything up to the last several episodes before the finale, and I did it in about two weeks – I couldn’t get enough. While part of me hates the fact I put it off so long, another part of me is very glad I caught up in time to watch the final episodes with everyone else. And let’s face it, is binge watching that bad of a thing? You’re still watching the show, just having the benefit of skipping commercials… and not having to wait a year between seasons. Anyhow, one special BREAKING BAD fan who also binge-watched the show was Sir Anthony Hopkins – you know, the famous Academy Award-winning actor from SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE REMAINS OF THE DAY, HITCHCOCK, all that good stuff. Well, Tony decided enjoying the show wasn’t enough, he wanted to make sure the cast knew how much he loved what he saw, and man oh man did he love it. So Mr. Hopkins sent series star Bryan Cranston a letter, a rather gushing letter, telling him just how much he loved the show, and it’s a pretty impressive bit of writing. He not only praises Cranston, but the rest of the cast, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Aaron Paul, Betsy Brandt, R.J. Mitte, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Steven Michael Quezada, all of them. He calls them “the best actors I’ve ever seen.” I can only imagine how the cast and crew must feel after reading such incredible praise from such a distinguished thespian. Check it out below. Do you think Hopkins is overdoing it, or did he hit the nail on the head? We’d tend to agree with him. Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

Dear Mister Cranston.

I wanted to write you this email – so I am contacting you through Jeremy Barber – I take it we are both represented by UTA. Great agency.

I’ve just finished a marathon of watching “BREAKING BAD” – from episode one of the First Season – to the last eight episodes of the Sixth Season. [Ed note: There are in fact five seasons of Breaking Bad; this might have been wishful thinking.] (I downloaded the last season on AMAZON) A total of two weeks (addictive) viewing.

I have never watched anything like it. Brilliant!

Your performance as Walter White was the best acting I have seen – ever.

I know there is so much smoke blowing and sickening bullshit in this business, and I’ve sort of lost belief in anything really.

But this work of yours is spectacular – absolutely stunning. What is extraordinary, is the sheer power of everyone in the entire production. What was it? Five or six years in the making? How the producers (yourself being one of them), the writers, directors, cinematographers…. every department – casting etc. managed to keep the discipline and control from beginning to the end is (that over used word) awesome.

From what started as a black comedy, descended into a labyrinth of blood, destruction and hell. It was like a great Jacobean, Shakespearian or Greek Tragedy.

If you ever get a chance to – would you pass on my admiration to everyone – Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Aaron Paul, Betsy Brandt, R.J. Mitte, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Steven Michael Quezada – everyone – everyone gave master classes of performance … The list is endless.

Thank you. That kind of work/artistry is rare, and when, once in a while, it occurs, as in this epic work, it restores confidence.

You and all the cast are the best actors I’ve ever seen.

That may sound like a good lung full of smoke blowing. But it is not. It’s almost midnight out here in Malibu, and I felt compelled to write this email.

Congratulations and my deepest respect. You are truly a great, great actor.

Best regards

Tony Hopkins.

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About the Author

Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff.