Hey, hey, hey!
In honor of Benedict Cumberbatch’s birthday (July 19th, 1976), we at According to Benedict
thought it would be fair to give out a present or two to some of the fanbase we have.
There is a catch, however! We just don’t give out prizes willy-nilly.
So you want to win?
Don’t worry, everyone has a shot. We will give a prize(s) to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place participants.
Read more to find out contest rules and details.
Making the rounds on Twitter today was the news by Dunlop China announcing a 2-year agreement with actor Benedict Cumberbatch to be their spokesperson, with a new ad campaign scheduled to debut in July. Print items feature a sophisticated and dapper image of the man known by Chinese fans as – wait for it – Curly Fu, (thanks to the popularity of the Sherlock series in that country), along with the slogan “Why Dunlop?” – followed by “safe, strong yet supple – the choice of car enthusiasts”, and “Dunlop – Established 1888” (Thanks to MollyDobby’s Tumblr translation/post.)
It’s been awhile since we checked the vintage vault for songs favored by Benedict Cumberbatch, hasn’t it? It’s not completely our fault, you know. He’s been a very busy man lately:
Still, it seems no matter where he is or what he’s doing, he usually has earbuds or headphones close at hand, so whether he’s studying the South Boston dialect or talking to his talent agent, I think it’s safe to say he’s listening to music, too (and hopefully enjoying wine now and then.)
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| Photo via Two Paddocks |
“Alan Turing is not outwardly very sympathetic. He’s brilliant, but the way that Benedict Cumberbatch played him showed us these guys found the right level of vulnerability, genius and the arrogance of the character, too.” – Harvey Weinstein.
Although Cumberbatch is known for playing intelligent characters and cheekily says himself that he’s a crowd pleaser, the “father of computing” Turing wasn’t just a genius brain nor a man you immediately sympathized with. He preferred relationships with machines rather than being around people but was indeed loved and admired by some. One of them was Joan Clarke, his only fiancée, who died in 1996.
English novelist Alan Garner remembers the mathematician as an athlete in the 1950s. A “stocky”, barrel chested man who hammered the ground on Tuesdays while jogging, often thinking aloud. Someone who had an extraordinarily aristocratic, English, high-pitched voice and a great sense of humour for good laughs, puns and plays on words. Others remember Turing as a man with a mask on because he suffered from hay fever, recall him chaining his own mug so that no one else could take it. Even though the Londoner didn’t go in deep conversations very often, he seemed “gauche” to Barbara Maher, had an “unkempt” manner of dressing himself and bit his finger nails during his treatment with weekly estrogen injections. However it didn’t leave Turing untouched when his homosexuality, back then illegal and considered an illness, was discovered and the judges named him “worthless” in court. “And this sunny, cheerful visage had shrunk into a pale, shaking, horror-stricken face. Something had happened. We don’t know what the fortune-teller said but he obviously was deeply unhappy”, adds Maria Summerscale to her memories.
Disgusted by his sexual orientation, the English society of the 50s punished Turing who then lost his job at Bletchley Park. The achievements of the logician haven’t been acknowledged during his lifetime due to secrecy at war.
Monday, June 23rd 2014 marks the 102th year since the British codebreaker was born but what if Turing had lived amongst us today? Live with all computing technologies we can not seem to live without anymore. Would he be amazed at the globalization and constant use of smartphones? Would he own a tablet himself? Interested in machines and the human mind, would he watch films like “Transendence”? What would his opinion on the NSA be? Would he work undercover and fight a cyber war? Would he run a marathon in support of gay rights? What would he think of the 77 countries in which being gay remains illegal? Would he live openly gay? Would he have tried to qualify for the Olympics only to be excluded of the games by Russia due to his sexual orientation? Would he be an as controversal figure as for example whistleblowers Assange and Snowden? More importantly would his thinking ahead of others be recognized by the British government?
Pardoned by The Queen in 2013, Dr. Alan Turing’s life and legacy will be brought to the big screen in “The Imitation Game”, in UK theatres on November 14th 2014, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch (SHERLOCK), Keira Knightley (Begin Again), Matthew Goode (Stoker) and others.
I’m sure it has caught your eye before: that pretty leather and wire bracelet Benedict wears most of the time. It can even be spotted at awards when he’s dressed to the nines. We’ll probably never know the personal story behind Benedict’s bracelet but it has an interesting history of its own.
The bracelet is called a Sami bracelet and appears to be quite popular with celebrities (like Sheryl Crow and Usher). It has its origins in the 10,000 year old indigenous Sami culture of Sweden, Finland and Norway. The Sami are reindeer herders and although they have given up their Nomadic lifestyle, they still follow their reindeer herds around during certain periods of the year. Meat production is the main reason for reindeer herding and antlers and hides are bi-products of this small industry. Sami artisans have been making beautiful crafts out of reindeer leather and pewter wire for hundreds of years.
Benedict’s beautiful bracelet was made by the company SwedeArt which specializes in Sami bracelets. I really love how simple and unique it looks. The pewter wire gives it a sophisticated and yet cool/sporty edge. I particularly love the button closure made of hand carved reindeer antler tips, which can just about be seen in this pic (any excuse for another Cumberbatch picture):
Lovely materials, lovely origins and one of the favorite accessories of a lovely man: SwedeArts Sami bracelets are really rather… well… lovely and make for a great gift to someone you love or yourself. The bracelets can be purchased in SwedeArt’s Etsy shop. The style Benedict is wearing can be found here for $69 but there are many other gorgeous varieties and colours to choose from.
In 1966, screenwriter and producer Gene Roddenberry came up with a new TV series that would become one of the most popular and successful franchises in science fiction: Star Trek. Set about 300 years in the future, “The Original Series” followed the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and his crew aboard the starship Enterprise on their mission to explore the galaxy. Other Star Trek series with different crews and twelve movies followed, as well as books, comics, games, magazines, and merchandise of all kind. Star Trek fans (‘trekkies’) even achieved to have one of NASA’s space shuttles named ‘Enterprise’.
Today, thanks to the new films with a young crew by J.J. Abrams, Star Trek has become popular again. The iconic uniform shirts in red, yellow and blue and catchphrases such as ‘Beam me up, Scottie’ (although never said in the series) are fully integrated in popular culture and known even beyond Trekkies. The same goes for Vulcan Spock’s salute, a greeting gesture with a raised hand, palm forward, with the index and middle finger parted from the ring and little finger, and the thumb extended. The salute is often accompagnied by the famous phrase ‘live long and prosper’.
Spock actor Leonard Nimoy apparently came up with the salute gesture himself. He based it on the priestly blessing, a prayer recited during Jewish services with both hands. Since then, and with a bit of practice necessary, the Vulcan salute has been recreated by countless people on and off screen.
Among these people is a certain actor we all know and cherish who played a charismatic (not so much) villain who’s better at everything. During the promotion of the film (Star Trek Into Darkness), Benedict didn’t get tired of doing the Vulcan salute. However, instead of extending it away from the hand, he’s holding his thumb close to the hand or even at an angle (picture). Not so much better at everything after all.
I fear that millions of young fans will now copy him instead of Leonard Nimoy. My warning therefore goes out to all of you: Benedict, you’re doing it wrong!
“It’s a terrifying prospect to have a completely functioning mind inside a body that locks you in, that keeps you stationary.” – Benedict Cumberbatch
http://vimeo.com/82024808
In 2013, Vertigo Films released Hawking: A Brief History of Mine, an authorized documentary about Stephen Hawking, the famous English theoretical physicist and cosmologist. The film opened the doors into Stephen’s private life, particularly as it pertained to his personal relationships – and living with a motor neuron disease diagnosis in 1963 that doctors said would end his life within 2 years. The film includes footage of Hawking at home, at work – and navigating his way in the world with humour – considered all the more remarkable given the limits motor neuron disease put on his body – and the pressure placed on his relationships.
This wasn’t the first glimpse into the world of Hawking’s brilliant mind at work as his body, as far as outsiders could tell, failed him. A 2004 biopic, also entitled Hawking, starred Benedict Cumberbatch as a young Stephen, curious and charming, haughty and humourous – and yes, all too human. Cumberbatch spoke of meeting Hawking and others with the disease trying to find their own way as the MND robbed them of the life they’d always known – and weren’t going to forget. Motor neuron diseases ruin the body, but the mind and feelings remain remarkably strong in comparison.
(more…)
I felt quite lucky to have been able to go to London and see STID again, this time acompanied by the amazing 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and in the very impressive surrounding the Royal Albert Hall undeniably is..
The RAH filled up with a very diverse audience, we even spotted some Klingons in the stalls!
Seeing some familiar (twitter) faces in the RAH was a fun bonus before the film started.
The film was preceded by an intro by the composer of the score Michael Giacchino. He was welcomed with a big applause from the audience.
The first notes of the film score gave me I goosebumps and to be honest the goosebumps didn’t go away throughout the film.. What an amazing experience to see and hear this already great film score performed live by such an amazing orchestra.
Of course I don’t have to mention how amazing STID is and especially Benedict in his role as Khan. There where even some screams from the audience when he spoke the words “I am Khan” and also the appearance of Leonard Nimoy’s Spock was cheered on by the audience.
A well deserved standing ovation followed the last part of the film score..
After thanking the orchestra, the choir and of course the conductor: Ludwig Wicki (who in the second halve of the film as a nice touch was wearing a classic Science Officers blue shirt) Michael Giacchino took the stage and he and the orchestra performed a little piece of the film score he wrote for the film “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”
This again was very impressive..
Watching a film accompanied by such a great orchestra is an experience I can and will gladly have again (someone who we later met in the tube said that he would love to see all the films like this and I agree) And if you ever get the chance to go and see/hear it like this.. Do!
credit: twopaddocks.com
There is something that all fans know about The Batch.
1. He takes way too long to answer a simple question
2. He wears entirely too much denim (Old Navy, anyone?)
3. The man loves his liquor, spirits, beer and food.
Here are some of Benedict’s favorite food and drinks and instructions on how to make them yourself to impress your friends and show them exactly how obsessed you aren’t.
(WARNING: Drinks are alcoholic. British people 18+ and Americans 21+)
“My senses have been thrilled and luxuriated in you.”
That sentence is one of many I love in that letter, read at the 2014 Hay Festival. I believe I read online that a book of the correspondence between Chris Barker & Bessie Moore is planned for publication to be released in time for Valentine’s Day 2015. I do hope so.
If a person responds warmly to your words, it is (in part) because a love of language is also a language of love. For some, they show – and recognize – love by doing nice things, buying gifts, spending time together – or being demonstrative with their affection. For others (like the letter read by Benedict Cumberbatch as British soldier Chris Barker), a person who is able to express their feelings fully – good or bad, serious or sarcastic, in good humor or in grief – and share those thoughts powerfully and intimately? Heaven.
Pay attention to what warms your heart and luxuriates your senses. Notice what makes others “come alive” when you spend time with them, whether the relationship is platonic, familial or romantic. Noticing small moments like these can bring you knowledge – and joy – and love. What could be more worthwhile than that?
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