Selina Cadell
An ex-convict is mysteriously drawn to two intriguing women after becoming involved in a car accident while passing through a sleepy Ontario town in director Marc Evans' enigmatic drama. Invited into the home of high-functioning autistic Linda (Sigourney Weaver) after getting into a car accident that involved Linda's daughter, ex-con Alex Hughes (Alan Rickman) does his best to gracefully accept Linda's selfless generosity. His situation grows increasingly complicated, however, when Alex finds the seductive allure of town sexpot Maggie (Carrie-Anne Moss) too powerful to resist. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, (more)
A clandestine love affair sends one man's charmed life into a tailspin in this dark, disturbing drama written and directed by Woody Allen, his first film set and shot in Great Britain and one his few films sans any humor. Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) is an Irish tennis player with an impoverished background. Just accomplished enough to make his way onto the professional circuit, but not skilled enough to be a consistent winner, he now works as an instructor at a London tennis club. The wealthy Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), who is as impressed by Chris's charm and good looks as he is by his game, takes a tennis lesson from the young man. Chris's intelligence and wit also make a strong impression on Tom's pretty sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), who soon falls for him. It isn't long before Chris and Chloe are engaged to be married, a match that pleases both Tom and his father, Alec (Brian Cox), a successful businessman who believes Chris has a bright future in his firm. However, Chris also feels an overwhelming attraction to Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), a sexy blonde from the United States who is dating Tom. Though Nola initially puts up some resistance, Chris gently nudges her in the direction of an affair. Passion soon ignites between the two, and they have a one-time sexual encounter, even as Chris and Chloe plan their wedding. Nola resists, however, when Chris makes additional attempts to wheedle her into bed. Nola drops out of Chris's life shortly before his wedding, but a chance meeting a few months later resurrects the relationship as Chris and Chloe try to start a family. Match Point received its world premiere in an enthusiastically received presentation at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, (more)
Originally telecast over Britain's ITV1 in 2000, the two-part mystery miniseries Thursday the 12th began with the discovery of an unidentified body on the estate of Marius Bannister (Ciaran Hinds), a wealthy dentist and politician. As an investigative TV reporter Julian Glover sifted through the particulars of the case, the viewer was introduced to the dramatis personae: Bannister; his wife, Nina (Maria Doyle Kennedy); their troubled adopted teenaged son, Martin (Jim Sturgess); and Nina's predatory sister, Candice Hopper (Elizabeth McGovern). In Rashomon fashion, a series of flashbacks indicated that any one of these worthies had motive aplenty to be a murderer -- and in fact, one of them was the victim. The key to the mystery was in the hands of Marius' supposedly senile father, Edgar Bannister (Peter Vaughan). In the U.S., Thursday the 12th first aired over the Bravo cable network on June 4, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Glover, Ciarán Hinds, (more)
- 1999
After the advent of Absolutely Fabulous and The Vicar of Dibley, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders stopped producing regular seasons of their eponymous show in favor of a series of holiday specials. This edition, from Christmas 1999, is based around an extended parody of Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace in which Jedi Knights French and Saunders are forced to fight Darth Maul with licensed toy merchandise instead of real lightsabres. Individual Star Wars sequences alternate with additional parodies, including a send-up of Spice Girl Mel C's "Northern Star" video. Ally McBeal's sylph-like physique, Madonna's British affectations, Diana Ross's airport customs problems, and The Matrix's special effects also provide punch lines. Other performers include frequent guest star Janette Krankie, one-half of the comedy duo the Krankies. Dominic Brigstocker directed, although Steve Bendelack stepped in to helm "Public Schoolgirls," a segment about Christmas holidays at a snooty boarding school. Although it has received no video release of its own, French & Saunders: The Phantom Millennium is included as a bonus on the DVD edition of French & Saunders: At the Movies. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1996
This is the first in a television series of British-made murder mysteries, adapted from Caroline Graham's novels about the polite and enigmatic Inspector Barnaby (John Nettles). Barnaby is married to the equally low-key Joyce (Jane Wymark), and they have an assertive daughter, Cully (Laura Howard). Barnaby's opposite is his acerbic partner, Troy (Daniel Casey). This pilot episode is set in the English county Midsomer. After the death of elderly Emily Simpson (Renee Asherson), her friend gets Barnaby to investigate, and the suspects include Michael Lacey (Jonathan Firth), curiously attached to his attractive sister Katherine (Emily Mortimer). The series premiered June 28, 1998 on A&E. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Nettles, Daniel Casey, (more)
Based on Alan Bennett's acclaimed play The Madness of George III, The Madness of King George takes a dark-humored look at the mental decline of King George III of England. The film's story begins nearly three decades into George's reign, in 1788, as the unstable king (Nigel Hawthorne, reprising his stage role) begins to show signs of increasing dementia, from violent fits of foul language to bouts of forgetfulness. This weakness seems like the perfect chance to overthrow the unpopular George, whom many blamed for the loss of the American colonies, in favor of the Prince of Wales (Rupert Everett), but the king's prime minister William Pitt (Julian Wadham) and his wife Queen Charlotte (Helen Mirren) are determined to protect the throne. Doctors are brought in, but the archaic treatments of the time prove of little value. In desperation, they turn to Dr. Willis (Ian Holm), a harsh, unconventional specialist whose unusual methods recall modern psychiatry. Willis struggles to break through to the mad king, treating him with an anger and haughtiness George has never before experienced. Stressing the absurdity of the entire situation, Bennett's witty screenplay emphasizes dry humor over tragedy, even utilizing references to King Lear for comic effect. Hawthorne's fiery yet vulnerable performance received much critical praise, including Best Actor at the British Academy Awards and a nomination for the same at the Oscars. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, (more)
- 1989
Having previously headlined a series of short TV skits and monologues, British comedienne-composer Victoria Wood graduated to the anthology format in this six-episode offering. Individual episode titles included "Mens Sana in Thingummy Doodah," "The Library," "Over to Pam," "We'd Quite Like to Apologize," "Val De Ree (Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha)," and "Staying In." All playlets were written by the star, as was the piano music heard between scenes. Appearing in support of Wood was an impressive coterie of British guest stars and comedy "regulars," including her old professional cronies Julie Walters, Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, and Susie Blake. Victoria Wood originally aired from November 16 to December 21, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victoria Wood, Celia Imrie, (more)
This unadorned biography of playwright Joe Orton (Gary Oldman) charts his bawdy, dangerous relationships. Alfred Molina plays Orton's brutish lover, Kenneth Halliwell, a pathetic figure who becomes horrific and then tragic before the film is over. The hilarity of scenes from such Orton plays as Loot and What the Butler Saw is evenly balanced by the bleakness of the playwright's tormented (and tormenting) off-stage existence, which ended suddenly at age 34 with half a dozen blows to the head from a hammer. Prick Up Your Ears is based on the book by theater critic John Lahr, who is played in the film by Wallace Shawn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, (more)
The kibbutz setting to this standard love story between Gil (Joanna Pacula), an Israeli woman and Mike (Sam Robards), a visiting American pre-med student is not particularly relevant to the tale -- which is a twist away from the original stage play in which the two lovers do not even appear. Four Brits are also visiting the kibbutz: two complaining young men, a young woman who arrives for a stay after experiencing a nervous breakdown, and a soldier trying to assuage the psychic wounds of the past. As these people interact and the romance between Gila and Mike heats up, the story leads to several, simultaneous climactic moments -- including the kidnapping of Gila and a group of tourists and a dramatic rescue by the disenchanted Brits. Through all this, Mike must decide whether he will stay with Gila at the kibbutz or go back to the U.S. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joanna Pacula, Sam Robards, (more)
- 1985
Part of the British mystery series based on the books by Agatha Christie, Miss Marple: A Pocketful of Rye was first aired in 1985. The body of wealthy tyrant Rex Fortescue (Timothy West) is found and presumably poisoned. After his wife turns up dead, the maid Gladys Martin (Annette Badland) takes it upon herself to ask her old teacher Miss Jane Marple (Joan Hickson) for help. When Gladys is also killed, Miss Marple starts to piece together the clues in the form of a morbid nursery rhyme. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Hickson
