Peter Chelsom Movies
A writer/director of whimsical sensibility who maintains a strong working relationship with his actors, Peter Chelsom may well be the man behind one of the biggest box-office flops of all time (the notoriously plagued Town and Country [1999]), though the affectionately homegrown style of his numerous other projects outweigh the negatives of his one true misfire in the eyes of his many longstanding and devoted fans.Born in Blackpool, England, in 1956, Chelsom wet his feet in the entertainment industry by performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court, and the National Theatre in his twenties, later giving up the stage to focus on more celluloid-oriented goals. After making an impressive debut with his short film Treacle in 1987, Chelsom refined his talents in the television commercial business. Drawing critical praise upon the release of his feature debut, Hear My Song (1991), it was obvious that the fledgling director had a sincere ability to strike the emotional chords of his audience while maintaining a warm and charmingly irresistible quirkiness. A good-natured love story loosely based on the tale of Irish tenor Josef Locke, the promise of Chelsom's film career gained even more momentum as he avoided the sophomore slump with the endearingly quirky tale of a failed comedian with unbreakable resolve in Funny Bones (1995). Though some were standoffish in regards to the film's sometimes overwhelming weirdness, Chelsom's strikingly original approach ensured that audiences would pay close attention to his future efforts. This might have benefited his next feature, The Mighty (1998), a largely unseen but touching tale of the unusual alliance formed between a terminally ill child and an illiterate outcast, but the attention audiences and critics gave to the long-delayed Town and Country was overwhelmingly less than flattering. Greeted by the critics and audiences as an incoherent, overblown mess (which might in fact be the kindest things said about the film), Town and Country disappeared quickly from theaters and left Chelsom disheartened and questioning his career as a director. Fortunately, his next film, the romantic comedy Serendipity (2001), proved that even the most talented filmmakers can have their misfires. Though not as overwhelmingly quirky as his past endeavors, Serendipity's sincere warmth, aided by the performances of John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, was a signal that Chelsom might still have a few memorable tricks up his sleeve. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Hannah Montana: The Movie opens with Hannah's ($Miley Cyrus) hectic lifestyle wrecking the important relationships in her life. Because she gets into a catfight over shoes with Tyra Banks, she forgets to say goodbye when her brother leaves for college, and she's late for her best friend's sweet sixteen because she's being chased by the paparazzi. Anxious to get Miley back to her roots, her manager/father (Billy Ray Cyrus), whisks her away to their hometown in Tennessee, where he hopes grandma and the locals will help the selfish star reconnect to some simple family values. Since Miley wants to be Hannah most of the time, she hates being stuck in the backwoods town, but a cute young ranch hand -- and her grandmother's love -- eventually melts her heart. And, when the town needs to raise cash to stop a developer from soiling their perfect little community with a big, evil mall, what celebrity performer do you think might just show up to save the day? ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, (more)
Directed by Peter Chelsom, this film is the English-language remake of Masayuki Suo's 1995 romantic comedy of the same name; the Japanese version earned a record-breaking 9.5 million dollars in United States box offices. Shall We Dance? revolves around John Clark (Richard Gere), a workaholic Chicago lawyer who, despite a respectable paycheck and loving family, is unable to shake the feeling that something in his life is missing. On a whim, John disrupts his normal evening commute to attend a dance class in hopes of meeting Paulina (Jennifer Lopez), a beautiful dance teacher he would occasionally spot gazing out of the studio windows. Though Paulina quickly lays to rest any preconceived romantic notions John may have had about her, she nonetheless forms a bond with him that goes beyond those normally held by a teacher and student. Invigorated with his new hobby, John focuses his newfound enthusiasm into training for an upcoming dance competition; however, he chooses not to let his wife (Susan Sarandon) in on his plans. Unaware that dance may be, in fact, saving her marriage, John's wife becomes suspicious of all the time he spends away from home and hires a private investigator to find out whether or not her husband is having an affair. Ultimately, John is forced to examine how his old dreams fit in to his new life. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, (more)
This long-delayed romantic comedy from director Peter Chelsom stars Warren Beatty as a wealthy New York architect, Porter Stoddard. The revelation that his best friend Griffin (Garry Shandling) is cheating on his wife Mona (Goldie Hawn) leads to a mid-life crisis of sorts for Porter, jeopardizing his marriage to Ellie (Diane Keaton). When Mona leaves Griffin for her family's antebellum home in Mississippi, Porter accompanies her to lend his professional assistance in designing some home improvements and ends up entangled in a romantic assignation with his best friend's estranged wife. He then embarks on a series of other illicit, comical affairs. Among Porter's conquests are a cellist, Alex (Nastassja Kinski), the beautiful Eugenie (Andie MacDowell), and a Halloween reveler named Auburn (Jenna Elfman). He also runs afoul of Eugenie's overprotective father (Charlton Heston), who's armed with a shotgun and disturbingly unable to view his daughter as an adult. Town & Country (2001) is based on a script co-written by Buck Henry. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, (more)
After the long-delayed Town and Country, director Peter Chelsom turns in his second 2001 effort with this love-at-first-sight romantic comedy that revolves around fate, destiny, and chance. Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) are two New Yorkers already in relationships when they meet one another, each reaching for the last pair of cashmere gloves at a department store. Over coffee, they strike up an intimate conversation, and Jonathan thinks they should see each other again. Unconvinced, Sara arranges an elaborate series of "fate" games; if they're meant to be together, she reasons, she and Jonathan will receive some sort of sign in the future. Flash forward several years, and the two are at opposite ends of the country -- Jonathan in New York and Sara in San Francisco, both engaged to be married. Still, neither can shake the memory of their chance encounter, and they both enlist their best friends (Molly Shannon and Jeremy Piven) to help them find their true love again. Serendipity had its Gala World Premiere at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale, (more)
In the tradition of My Left Foot (1989), Peter Chelsom directed this emotional drama of outcasts, adapted from the Rodman Philbrick's popular young-adult novel Freak the Mighty. Although burly, slow-paced eight-grader Maxwell Kane (Elden Hensen), who narrates, is learning disabled, he nevertheless has a poetic soul, as evidenced when he meets the bright and brainy Kevin Dillon (Kieran Culkin), crippled by a birth defect. The physically deformed Kevin, who wears leg braces and uses crutches, suffers from Morquio's Syndrome, which causes physical growth to stop after the age of six. Illiterate Max gets Kevin as a reading tutor, and the two misfits soon become friends, sharing a vision of life as a contemporary Camelot. Gena Rowlands and Harry Dean Stanton appear as Max's grandparents and guardians. Max is portrayed by 19-year-old Emerson College filmmaking student Henson, while Sharon Stone has the role of Gwen Dillon, Kevin's mother. Boston-born author Philbrick, who winters in Key West, otherwise resides in Seacoast, New Hampshire (the setting of the book). The movie was filmed at a soundstage in Toronto, the University of Toronto, Cincinnati, and Covington, Kentucky. Exhibited out of competition at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sharon Stone, Elden Henson, (more)
Tommy Fawkes (Oliver Platt) is a struggling stand-up comedian who has tried for years to get out from under the shadow of his father, George Fawkes (Jerry Lewis), himself a famous humorist. Tommy finally scores a showcase spot at a major resort in Las Vegas, but when opening night rolls around, Tommy's act is an unqualified disaster, with the failure made even more painful by his father's presence in the audience. In search of a fresh start, Tommy heads to Blackpool, England, where he was born and raised, to look for a new act. Hoping to buy material from local performers, Tommy auditions a large number of acts, most of whom are utterly hopeless, until he sees a hilarious vaudeville team, the Parker Brothers. Their act seems more than a bit familiar, however, and Tommy soon realizes that they're doing his father's old material. But they have every right to be doing George's schtick -- it seems George stole his act from the Parkers ages ago. What's more, the younger and more eccentric of the Parker Boys, Jack (Lee Evans), is actually Tommy's half brother, the product of a fling with a Blackpool showgirl years ago. Veering between comedy and drama, Funny Bones has more than its share of effective moments on either side of the fence, and features fine supporting performances from Oliver Reed, Leslie Caron and Harold Nicholas. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Oliver Platt, Lee Evans, (more)
- 1991
- R
The owner of a British nightclub attempts to do the impossible by coaxing a legendary Irish tenor out of retirement for a once-in-a-lifetime show in this engagingly quirky comedy. The owner, Mickey O'Neill, is particularly desperate to land a performance by the great Josef Locke, as his already questionable reputation was ruined when he booked an impostor claiming to be Locke. Now only providing a show by the real thing can make up for it. Trouble is, Locke fled England several decades before to avoid charges of tax evasion, and would face immediate arrest upon his return. Naturally, the comedy emerges from O'Neill's desperate attempts to convince Locke to participate in the scheme. Much of the film's charm comes from the presentation of eccentric but believable characters, particularly Locke himself -- a real historical figure given warm life by Ned Beatty, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his performance. The film as a whole manages a similar balancing act between realism and comic fantasy, grounding even the less believable aspect of the narrative in strongly observed local color. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ned Beatty, Adrian Dunbar, (more)
Previously filmed in 1927 and 1934, Warwick Deeping's novel Sorrel and Son was adapted as a British TV miniseries in 1984. Set in the 1920s, the story concerned the efforts of impoverished Captain Stephen Sorrell (Richard Pasco) to raise his son Kit (Paul Critchley) all by himself, after his wife had walked out on him. Despite many deprivations, Kit grew up to become a doctor, justifying the years of devotion and sacrifice on the part of Sorrel Sr. The six hour-long episodes of Sorrel and Son were telecast by Yorkshire Television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Pasco, Peter Chelsom, (more)
- 1987
While filming a picture in India, a British director is suspected by his wife of having an affair with his leading lady, a sultry French beauty. Since everyone involved is too polite and reserved to ask any direct questions, nothing is ever actually straightened out, but a great deal of meandering talk is generated. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Chelsom, Shelagh McLeod, (more)
- 1985
This 5-part Masterpiece Theatre TV presentation was adapted from several short stories by Noel Coward. Though the personnel and settings change from week to week, the episodes are linked (sometimes very tenuously) by their relationship to the world of Theatre and the Performing Arts. In the first hour, a playwright (Peter Chisholm) is forced to cast a temperamental movie star (Susannah York) in his debut production. In the second, a married couple (Ian Holm and Judi Dench) do their "patriotic duty" by serving as the official British citizens in a faraway South Pacific isle. Episode number three finds an ageing homosexual musical comedy star (Tom Courtney) recalling his one romantic fling with a woman. The fourth installment is about a self-effacing old lady (Patricia Hayes) who dislikes being center of attention on her birthday. And the final playlet is set on a luxury cruise, where a playboy (Nigel Havers) has a tete-a-tete with an inquiring journalist (Judy Parfit). Star Quality was originally shown on PBS from March 29 through April 26, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In a charming tale about the spirit of Christmas giving, Nigel Playfayre (Peter Chelsom) is a callous investment manager somewhere in the middle cogs of a bank who is charged with delivering the Christmas turkey to an impoverished London family. On his reluctant way to fulfill his onerous obligation, he loses the address. From there on in, the story is of Nigel's slowly changing attitude as he meets one hardship case after another, searching for his destination in a low-income housing project. Meanwhile, the boy who finds the address has his own story to tell. And who is that couple riding around on a donkey, looking for an inn that will give them shelter on this Christmas Eve? ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Chelsom, Bill Fraser, (more)
- 1983
The BBC-produced An Englishman Abroad was first offered to American viewers October 27, 1984, as part of PBS' Great Performances series. Alan Bates stars as Guy Burgess, the infamous British diplomat who spied for the Russians in the 1950s. Alan Bennett's teleplay re-creates the 1958 chance meeting in Moscow between Burgess and English actress Coral Browne (playing herself). Though unrepentant concerning his traitorous activities, Burgess wistfully reveals to Ms. Browne that he longs to return to his native England. Mostly, he misses such niceties as British food, wine, conversation, gossip...and tailoring. An Englishman Abroad runs the gamut from cynicism to pathos in its all-too-brief 68 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Bates, Coral Browne, (more)
- 1979
- PG
In mid-1978, the cult fantasy guru and comic book illustrator Bill Richert -- after months directing Jeff Bridges and Belinda Bauer in the scattergun carnival of a political satire, Winter Kills -- faced a real head-scratcher. With Winter yet to be completed, Richert's backer, Avco-Embassy, lopped off all funding and suspended production indefinitely. Projectless, Richert spun around, picked up an unproduced feature script by drive-in director Larry Cohen (Q, It's Alive!), and somehow found the cash to churn out a second piece of eccentricity with Bridges and Bauer in the leads, this one for Columbia Pictures -- hoping he could use the latter's earnings to polish off Winter. Thus began a very shaky history over the next 30 years for a little film originally called The American Success Company. This ghost of a picture bombed at the box office in 1979, was later reedited twice by Richert under distinct titles (first as American Success in 1981 and then as Success in 1983), and received limited theatrical distribution. It has since fallen through the cracks of movie history, never receiving official distribution on home video but popping up in bootleg versions under the titles Good as Gold and The Ringer. The movie tells the story of Harry Flowers (Bridges), a Milquetoast employee of a Munich-based credit card company, AmSucCo (did AmEx raise any eyebrows at that?), married to the daughter (Bauer) of his slightly tyrannical boss (Ned Beatty). Flowers allows himself to be shoved around and coddled by everyone, until he suddenly decides to slip into an assumed identity -- that of a gruff, bull-by-the-horns modern-day prince, determined to "rescue himself" from wimpdom by learning sexual aggression from a prostitute (Bianca Jagger) and ultimately wresting millions from the hand that feeds him. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Bridges, Belinda Bauer, (more)
