Sam Neill and THE DISH (comments by Evelyn C. Leeper)

[Philip De Parto]

The following article is reprinted with permission from

THE MT VOID
07/17/26 -- Vol. 45, No. 3, Whole Number 2441

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Sam Neill and THE DISH (comments by Evelyn C. Leeper)

Actor Sam Neill (full name Sir Nigel John Dermot Neill) passed
away July 13. All of the articles talk about how well known he was
as Alan Grant in the "Jurassic Park" films, but whenever I heard
his name, I always thought of THE DISH, which one article talked
about as a "little-known film". I first saw THE DISH at the
Toronto International Film Festival in 2000 and wrote, "Wonderful
film about the (mostly) true story of the role played by the radio
telescope at Parkes, Australia, in the Apollo 11 moon landing. The
telescope was originally one of the backups for the live
television transmission from the moon, but when the schedule
changed, it became the primary. One of the other Australian
directors said that it seems as if all Australian films had to be
about quirky characters, and this has its share, but it also has
the magic of the space program (a lot of original NASA footage was
used) and the problem-solving element of APOLLO 13. Sam Neill is
the 'name' star, but the rest of the cast puts in excellent
performances as well. (Note: This came in second in the People's
Choice Awards.)"

[CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON came in first.]

An article in WIRED said:

"Sam Neill Inspired a Generation of Scientists"

"The actor, who died at age 78 on Monday, embodied a passionate
approach to research and positive masculinity in his role as
paleontologist Alan Grant in the 1993 blockbuster JURASSIC PARK."

The article also mentioned THE DISH and EVENT HORIZON. The full
article is at
<https://www.wired.com/story/
sam-neill-inspired-a-generation-of-scientists/>. [-ecl]