Alfred Bell Movies
- 1995
The finale in this Australian thriller contains extremely graphic violence and sexual scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers. The plot follows Martin Bullet, an L.A. cop who is on suspension for shooting an unarmed suspect, to his new job with the New South Wales police department in Sydney. His partner is Jack Moran whose partner died in pursuit of a mobster. Together they search for a mysterious killer who wears a single earring. After a series of twists and turns, Moran finally finds the killer and much more. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Director Kenneth Branagh's interpretation of Mary Shelley's classic horror novel stars Robert DeNiro as a terrifying monster created in an obsessive attempt to defeat death and stretch the limits of medicine in the early 19th century. With the use of flashback, a dying Dr. Viktor Frankenstein (Kenneth Branagh) divulges a tale of gruesome terror to a sea captain (Aidan Quinn): As a medical student, the rebellious Frankenstein elaborates on the work of a brilliant scientist (John Cleese), successfully bringing to life a "man" assembled from the body parts of corpses. Upon realizing the destructive consequences of his experiment, Dr. Frankenstein abandons the creature and attempts to return to a normal life with his medical partner, Henry (Tom Hulce), and his fiancée (and adopted sister), Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter). In the meantime, the nameless creature struggles with loneliness and rejection from society until he sets out to track down his creator in search of one of two things: a bride to keep him company or revenge. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) was produced by Francis Ford Coppola, who previously directed and produced monster-drama Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). ~ Lisa Kropiewnicki, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert De Niro, Kenneth Branagh, (more)
The premise in this actioner (set in the 1990s, which probably seemed futuristic at this time) is that the world's economy has hit the skids and in Australia, street punks are looting cars for their spare parts. In order to control the mobs of roaming gangs, the Aussie government rounds them up and stashes them in prison camps. When Crabs (Ned Manning) takes his girlfriend Carmen (Natalie McCurry) out to a drive-in movie on a date he does not realize he has just pulled into one of these prisons. In no time at all his tires have been stolen and he sees that he's been trapped. The rest of the action (spliced with humor) involves Crabs fending for himself and trying to finds a way out. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ned Manning, Natalie McCurry, (more)
Based on a novel by Colin Theile, the Australian Blue Fin stars Hardy Kruger as a taciturn tuna boat captain. Kruger's son, played by Greg Rowe, can't do anything to please his demanding dad. Hoping to prove his worth, Rowe puts his life-and sometimes other lives-on the line. A big box-office hit in Australia, Blue Fin failed to make a dent in the US. Perhaps it would have fared better had it been released after the internationally popular Aussie film Man From Snowy River. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Hardy Kruger, Greg Rowe, (more)
Two children ride the same pony in this Disney film, but neither one is happy about sharing the animal they both love. James Ellison is rich and wears leg braces; on the pony, she is not crippled. Scotty Pirie is a poor farm boy, and he loves to ride the pony as well. The two dispute the ownership of the pony, and the townspeople create many complications through their support of one or the other. Eventually, the two become friends, and while the ownership issue is resolved, it is not so important anymore because they have learned to share the pony between them. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Craig, John Meillon, (more)
Steve McQueen is ideally cast as a champion race car driver, participating in the famed 24-hour race headquartered in Le Mans, France. Though dedicated to Going for the Gold, McQueen finds time to romance widowed Elga Andersen. The dramatic angle to this plot wrinkle is that McQueen may well have been responsible for the death of Andersen's husband during a previous car pile-up. Director John Sturges, who'd previously helmed Steve McQueen's legendary motorcycle chase scenes in The Great Escape, was originally slated to direct Le Mans, but withdrew from the project; it was then taken over by Lee H. Katzin of The Phynx. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Steve McQueen, Siegfried Rauch, (more)
- 1968
Cry Wolf has become an all-purpose movie title, used for virtually everything but a retelling of the original "cry wolf" story. This 58-minute British programmer breaks tradition by returning to the source. Little Anthony Kemp is a boy giving to elaborate lies. When he overhears a plot to kidnap the prime minister, no one believes him. The boy tries to quash the plot himself, and nearly ends up as wolf-bait. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
