Talk:Ian McKellen/GA1

GA Reassessment

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I am reassessing this articles GA status as part of the WP:WikiProject Good articles/Project quality task force/Sweeps process. Jezhotwells (talk) 21:07, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

Quick fail criteria assessment

1. The article completely lacks reliable sources – see Wikipedia:Verifiability.

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2. The topic is treated in an obviously non-neutral way – see Wikipedia:Neutral point of view.

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3. There are cleanup banners that are obviously still valid, including cleanup, wikify, NPOV, unreferenced or large numbers of fact, clarifyme, or similar tags.

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4. The article is or has been the subject of ongoing or recent, unresolved edit wars.

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5. The article specifically concerns a rapidly unfolding current event with a definite endpoint.

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No problems when checking against quick fail criteria. Proceeding to substantive review. Jezhotwells (talk) 21:12, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

Checking against GA criteria

1. It is reasonably well written.

   a (prose):

   • The article is reasonably well written Jezhotwells (talk) 21:17, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

   b (MoS):

   • the article conforms sufficiently with MoS Jezhotwells (talk) 21:17, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

2. It is factually accurate and verifiable.

   a (references):

   Ref #6 does not support the statement that he attended Bolton School Jezhotwells (talk) 21:27, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

   Ref #7 does not support the statement that he was a member of Bolton Little Theatre Jezhotwells (talk) 21:27, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

   The reference to Empire magazine needs a page number.

   • Whole swathes of the article, including quotations are not referenced at all. Ref #9 may provide more information (if reliable) Jezhotwells (talk) 21:55, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

   b (citations to reliable sources):

   • I am not wholly convinced that Tiscali is a reliable source, what is their source? Likewise GayWire.

   c (OR):

   • I find no evidence of OR Jezhotwells (talk) 21:55, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

3. It is broad in its scope.

   a (major aspects):

   • The artcile is NOT broad in scope, it glosses over his early career, training, etc. The Jezhotwells (talk) 21:55, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

   b (focused):

   • It is reasonably focussed. Jezhotwells (talk) 21:55, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

4. It follows the neutral point of view policy.

   Fair representation without bias:

   • It complies with NPOV. Jezhotwells (talk) 21:55, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

5. It is stable.

   No edit wars etc.:

   • No evidence of edit warring. Jezhotwells (talk) 21:55, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

6. It is illustrated by images, where possible and appropriate.

   a (images are tagged and non-free images have fair use rationales):

   • Images OK, but two fair use rationales may appear excessive in BLP. Jezhotwells (talk) 21:55, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

   b (appropriate use with suitable captions):

   • Captioned. Jezhotwells (talk) 21:55, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

7. Overall:

   Pass/Fail:

   • OK, there are some problems here with lack of referencing and failure to cover the full extent of the subjects career. I am going to fail this as not at this moment meeting GA status. Please work on teh artcile and bring it to WP:GAN Jezhotwells (talk) 21:55, 14 June 2009 (UTC)

At the request of Wildhartlivie some clarification on the sections that need referencing. I had throught that the highlighting would make it starightforward, but apparently not.

An early fascination with the theatre was encouraged by his parents, who took him on a family outing to Peter Pan at the Manchester Opera House when he was three. Reference

When he was nine, his main Christmas present was a wood and bakelite, fold-away Victorian Theatre from Pollocks Toy Theatres, with cardboard scenery and wires to push on the cut-outs of Cinderella and of Olivier's Hamlet. reference

His sister took him to his first Shakespeare play, Twelfth Night, by the amateurs of Wigan's Little Theatre, shortly followed by their Macbeth and Wigan High School for Girls' production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with music by Mendelssohn and with the role of Bottom played by Jean McKellen. (Jean continued to act, direct, and produce amateur theatre up to her recent death.) Reference

McKellen had taken film roles throughout his career - beginning in 1969 with A Touch of Love, excluding the unreleased The Bells of Hell Go Ting-A-Ling-A-Ling (1966) – but it was not until the 1990s that he became more widely recognised in this medium, through several roles in blockbuster Hollywood movies.[ This sentence needs references - and explanation (as per cover full extent of career). What role in A Toucvh of Love, well received?, citation, reveiew? Reference the fact that he became more widely recognised.

In 1993, McKellen had a supporting role as a South African tycoon in the sleeper hit Six Degrees of Separation, in which he starred with Stockard Channing, Donald Sutherland, and Will Smith. Critical reception? Reference sleeper hit.

In the same year, he was also exposed to North American audiences in minor roles in the television miniseries Tales of the City (based on the novel by his friend Armistead Maupin). (NB Tales of the City is actually a series of books.) Any critical reception that can be referenced? IMdB says he played one minor role, Archibald Anson Gidde. What other roles? Are minor roles such as these worth mentioning?

Also in 1993, McKellen played a large role in the TV movie And the Band Played On, about the discovery of the AIDS virus. What role? Critical reception?

His breakthrough role for mainstream American audiences came with the modestly acclaimed Apt Pupil, based on a story by Stephen King. McKellen portrayed an old Nazi officer, living under a false name in the U.S., who was befriended by a curious teenager (Brad Renfro) who threatened to expose him unless he told his story in detail. Reference the fact that it was a breakthrough. Critical reception?

On 16 March 2002, he was the host on Saturday Night Live. In 2003, McKellen made a guest appearance as himself on the American cartoon show The Simpsons, in a special British-themed episode entitled "The Regina Monologues", along with Tony Blair and J. K. Rowling. References

In April and May 2005, he played the role of Mel Hutchwright in Granada Television's long running soap opera, Coronation Street, fulfilling a lifelong ambition. He is also known for his voicework, having narrated Richard Bell's Eighteen, as a grandfather who leaves his World War II memoirs on audiocassette for his teenage grandson References, what is Eighteen, an audio book, a film, a CD?

McKellen has appeared in limited release films, such as Emile (which was shot in a few days during the X2 shoot), Neverwas and Asylum. Shot in a few days? reference.

McKellen appeared in the 2006 series of Ricky Gervais' comedy series Extras, where he played himself directing Gervais' character Andy Millman in a play about gay lovers. McKellen received a 2007 Emmy nomination for his performance Reference, critical reception, reference for Emmy nomination.

By this time, McKellen's ten-year relationship with Mathias had ended, removing the additional concern of what effect his coming out would have on his partner's career. Reference

McKellen has stated that he was influenced in his decision by the advice and support of his friends, among them noted gay author Armistead Maupin. reference

Section 28, which proposed to prohibit local authorities from "promoting homosexuality" 'as a kind of pretended family relationship', was ambiguous and the actual impact of the amendment was uncertain. Reference

McKellen became active in fighting the proposed law, and declared himself gay on a BBC Radio programme where he debated the subject of Section 28 with the conservative journalist Peregrine Worsthorne. Reference

In the intervening period, McKellen continued to fight for its repeal and criticised British Prime Minister Tony Blair for failing to concern himself with the issue Reference

In 2002, he attended the Academy Awards with his then-boyfriend, New Zealander Nick Cuthell - possibly a first for a major nominee since Nigel Hawthorne, the first openly gay performer to be nominated for an Academy Award, who attended the ceremonies with his partner, Trevor Bentham, in 1995.Both appearances need referencing, also suggest rewording possibly a first for a major nominee Was it or wasn't it?

In 2006, McKellen spoke at the pre-launch of the 2007 LGBT History Month in the UK, lending his support to the organisation and its founder, Sue Sanders, a personal friend. Reference speech and friendship

On 5 January 2007 McKellen became a patron of The Albert Kennedy Trust, an organisation that provides support to young, homeless and troubled LGBT people. Reference

In 2006, McKellen became a Patron of Oxford Pride. Reference

I have been to many Pride occasions across the World, from being Grand Marshall in San Francisco to the first ever gay march in Johannesburg in post-apartheid South Africa. Wherever gay people gather publicly to celebrate their sense of community, there are two important results. First, onlookers can be impressed by our confidence and determination to be ourselves and, second, gay people, of whatever age, can be comforted by the occasion to take first steps towards coming out and leaving the closet forever behind. I send my love to all members of Oxford Pride, their sponsors and supporters, of which I am proud to be one. Quote needs citing.

In addition as pointed out earlier the early part of McKellen's career needs writing about. How did he make the transition from Bolton Little Theatre to film roles? I believe he worked in rep. There should be a section betweeen Early years and Popular success. Hope this helps. Jezhotwells (talk) 08:31, 15 June 2009 (UTC)