ROTTEN TOMATOES: Anthony Minghella: 1954-2008

Anthony Minghella: 1954-2008

by Jeff Giles | March 18, 2008

Summary

Anthony Minghella, the Oscar-winning director of The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Cold Mountain, has passed away at the age of 54. Back to Article

(1-31 of 31 posts) | Reply

Tumey writes:
on Mar 18 2008 08:01 AM

Wow, this is a shock; tragic death.

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aifan writes:
on Mar 18 2008 08:08 AM

Ledger, Minghella, not good. Mr. Ripley is great, everything Minghella touched exuded a kind of European exoticism, as if it wasn´t part of our everyday experience as citizens of "the West". I will truly miss him.

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Bloody Mathias writes:
on Mar 18 2008 08:10 AM

The English Patient is his masterpiece.
He will be remembered for it for a long time.

RIP

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donwillymo writes:
on Mar 18 2008 08:22 AM

His movies were too *****ing long!!! I would've liked to have seen his work but I have a life...maybe the academy will forget him like they did brad renfro when they do the tribute

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bigbrother writes:
on Mar 18 2008 09:09 AM

In reply to this comment (#1639825)
Nice, way to demonstrate what's wrong with the movie going public.

P.S. your claims of "Having a life" are fooling no one.

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nathanpoitras writes:
on Mar 18 2008 09:27 AM

Well said bigbrother. I'm a big fan of The Talented Mr.Ripley and Cold Mountain, but I suspect his best work was yet to come. A real shame.

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rambo- killer #2 writes:
on Mar 18 2008 09:38 AM

Too bad. incredibly talented man.

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fnord68 writes:
on Mar 18 2008 09:46 AM

Bad news.I am yet to see Cold Mountain and as it is on demand on my t.v i think i'll watch it later.
r.i.p

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arendr writes:
on Mar 18 2008 10:10 AM

Shame.

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Poor_Frisco writes:
on Mar 18 2008 10:30 AM

i loved the talented mr. ripley. he will be missed.
RIP

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Bardego writes:
on Mar 18 2008 10:36 AM

I was never a huge fan of Minghella's films, but it sucks that he died when he was only 54.

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axebox writes:
on Mar 18 2008 10:42 AM

Talented Mr. Ripley is an amazing film.

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AnnaKo writes:
on Mar 18 2008 10:50 AM

I almost can't stand this sudden and tragic loss of first-class talent - first Ledger, now, one of the world's most gifted filmmaker. 54 is way too young for a man who still has so much to offer the world - our great loss... I miss him already.

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AnnaKo writes:
on Mar 18 2008 10:51 AM

Tragic, because neither were expecting to die... I think...

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dracus writes:
on Mar 18 2008 10:54 AM

I really enjoyed Mr. Ripley but thought Cold Mountain was overated. As for The English Patient, well, let's not go there. I agree with a lot of the other posters though, his death is a shame since his best was yet to come.

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markbart0305 writes:
on Mar 18 2008 11:34 AM

I am shocked and saddened at this news. I had enormous respect for this talented filmmaker. His films had a lasting impression on me. The English Patient is still one of my favorite movies of all time, although I didn't think much of it at all when I first saw it. It was through repeated viewings when I began to experience the power of that film, through its emotions and characters. His films are like fine wine; not only do they get better with age, but you must fully embrace them in order to experience what makes them great. He was one of the truly great old-fashioned filmmakers of our time. His films exuded a romanticism and style that's sadly lacking in many films today. He will be missed.

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ambientcafe writes:
on Mar 18 2008 11:47 AM

In reply to this comment (#1640112)
'markbart0305' is spot on with his comment. I love both The English Patient & The Talented Mr. Ripley equally, but I think 'Patient' is his centerpiece. I'll be revisiting both these films soon with renewed appreciation. I hope to see both these titles on BluRay eventually.

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jaredisme writes:
on Mar 18 2008 12:04 PM

Good night good sir...

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Rusticrub writes:
on Mar 18 2008 12:52 PM

so what's the dealio....what'd he die from???

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AnnaKo writes:
on Mar 18 2008 12:55 PM

English Patient was poetry come alive onscreen. Ondaatje was and still is a poet-writer of genius, and I honestly dont think anyone else could've done justice to his work, the way Minghella did. Minghella had a great feeling for the landscape of the human heart, and I think that's why he could translate it so well on film. The barren desert for the condition of a heart that thought it was unloved. True, there are many very gifted directors out there but how many are there who have his particular combination of artistry and humanity... he is a very fine specimen of mankind, among the very best... and I so wish I could write him back to life :(

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Rusticrub writes:
on Mar 18 2008 12:57 PM

yeah...he was cool

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AnnaKo writes:
on Mar 18 2008 12:58 PM

Complications from surgery. He died from a brain hemorrhage following the removal of his tonsil cancer.

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wafelz writes:
on Mar 18 2008 01:11 PM

The English Patient and The Talented Mr. Ripley are both great. I think I need to watch Cold Mountain again. A very sad loss.

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donwillymo writes:
on Mar 18 2008 01:30 PM

His funeral will be 162 mins approx. to commemorate how long the friggin English patient was!

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AnnaKo writes:
on Mar 18 2008 01:53 PM

lol, the English Patient was certainly too long for many guys... I dont think Ive heard a woman complain yet.... twas a film made by a romance junkie for romance junkies. :D That's why I say, not many people had his combination of strengths... include in there, his capacity to feel like a woman :)

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man in the water writes:
on Mar 18 2008 04:37 PM

I loved The English Patient. Yes it was long, but just so beautiful, and entrancing, one of my favorite movies. Haven't yet seen Mr. Ripley or Cold Mountain but will definitely check both out now. A tragic loss. Definitely one of the best visual styles in cinema.

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Bruce Campbell writes:
on Mar 18 2008 06:27 PM

@morons:

I hope when you die, people only complain because they have the attention span of an idiot.

Seriously, a talented man has died. And people are whining about their own problems? Show some respect - Respect for a human being, not a director.

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Spiderbash writes:
on Mar 18 2008 06:36 PM

I swear every time before a huge star I see some comdey that makes fun of the star. With Ledger it was a deleted scene in Knocked Up and with this one it was the Seinfield epsiode where Eliane hated the english patient. Weird thing. Well anyways R.I.P Anthony.

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kpizon writes:
on Mar 18 2008 07:07 PM

I absolutely despise The English Patient, and don't have much better feelings for Cold Mountain, but The Talented Mr Ripley and Truly, Madly, Deeply are wonderful films. Whether or not I liked his films, it's still a shame for someone so young to pass unexpectedly like that.

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arcadefire325 writes:
on Mar 18 2008 07:25 PM

He was a great director. R.I.P. and condolences to his family and friends. This is so sad.

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clamman27 writes:
on Mar 21 2008 03:39 PM

@ "Bruce":

like typing "who?" as a comment under an article about someone's death is being respectful?

to the other morons:
and what have YOU done in your life to be remembered for when you pass on?

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