Tom Hunsinger Movies
Academy Award nominees Stockard Channing and Bob Hoskins co-headline the British romantic comedy Sparkle, the third outing by the critically-praised writing and directing team of Neil Hunter and Tom Hunsinger (Lawless Heart, Boyfriends). Neophyte Shaun Evans plays Sam Sparks, a young man who migrates from Liverpool to London proper with his single mother, Jill (Lesley Manville) - a chanteuse in local pubs. In need of a job, Sam makes the cut at a public relations boutique by sleeping with the sixty-something head of the agency, Sheila (Channing), then (in a Graduate-like twist) falls for a girl closer to his own age, Kate (Amanda Ryan) - only to discover with horror that she's Sheila's daughter. As the expected complications ensue, Vince (Hoskins), the sexagenarian who arranged Sam and Jill's apartment in London, nurtures a deep-seated passion for Jill and decides to make his feelings fully known to her. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stockard Channing, Shaun Evans, (more)
Television commercial director and music video maker Marcus Adams directs the U.K. thriller Octane, shot entirely in Luxembourg. Madeleine Stowe stars as overprotective mother Senga Wilson, who doesn't want her teenage daughter Nat (Mischa Barton) to get into trouble. While driving down the road with her mother one night, Nat jumps out of the car and escapes with a bunch of backpackers. It turns out the crowd she's running with is really an evil cult that's out for blood, led by a freaky guy they call The Father (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). In order to save her daughter, Senga embarks on a thrilling journey into a rave/dance underworld of violent twentysomethings while she copes with her own past. The techno soundtrack was provided by Orbital. Octane premiered in the U.S. at the 2003 CineVegas International Film Festival and was renamed Pulse for its eventual video release. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Starring:
- Madeleine Stowe, Norman Reedus, (more)
This second feature from Boyfriends' directors Neil Hunter and Tom Hunsinger explores intertwined relationships in a sleepy seaside resort in the U.K., broken up into three segments. The film centers around the funeral of Stuart (David Coffey), the gay partner of Nick (Tom Hollander), who owns a local restaurant. Stuart's brother-in-law Dan (Bill Nighy) is a depressive farmer who lives with his wife Judy (Ellie Haddington) and becomes smitten with a French woman named Corinne (Clementine Celarie), a local florist. As Dan and Judy attempt to settle Stuart's estate, Dan gives into having an affair with Corinne -- but then ends up cheating on her with an amorous stranger (Sally Hurst). Meanwhile, Nick offers Stuart's straight best friend Tim (Douglas Henshall) a place to stay. Nick is furthermore disrupted by the advances of Charlie (Sukie Smith), a free-spirited woman who takes a liking to Nick and introduces him to hetero intercourse. The final section of the film centers on Tim who, after being abroad for several years, has a dalliance with shop owner Leah (Josephine Butler), who happens to be the former girlfriend of his adopted brother David (Stuart Laing). Also featured in the film are Dominic Hall, June Barrie, and Peter Symonds. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi
- Starring:
- Douglas Henshall, Tom Hollander, (more)
In this British dramatic comedy, three gay couples spend a weekend in the country as they try to sort out their relationships. Paul (James Dreyfus) and Ben (Mark Sands) have been together for five years; the first four were happy, but things have gotten difficult in recent months, and they're considering calling it quits. They've rented a house in the country for Easter weekend and have brought along some friends, whose love lives are also in transition. Owen (Andrew Ableson) and Matt (Michael Urwin) have been seeing each other for three months and are wondering if the time is right to move in together. Meanwhile, Will (David Coffey) and Adam (Darren Petrucci) recently shared a one-night stand, and Will is hoping it will grow into something deeper, though Adam knows better. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Dreyfus









