James Condon Movies
Also released as Spotswood, The Efficiency Expert stars Anthony Hopkins as Wallace, a cold-blooded management consultant, infamous for radically "downsizing" every firm he comes in contact with. Wallace's latest assignment is to streamline a small, family-owned shoe factory in Australia. As he gets to know the eccentric (and endearingly inefficient) factory workers, Wallace undergoes a slow-but-sure "humanizing" process. Eventually realizing that he can simultaneously cut costs and preserve the dignity of the workers, he finds a way to modernize the operation without a single firing. In traditional fashion, the main story shares screen time with a romantic subplot involving the factory-owner's son and a female employee. Characterized by many critics as "Capraesque," The Efficiency Expert also bears trace of all those Ealing comedies of the 1950s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Hopkins, Ben Mendelsohn, (more)
"Paradise" is actually Australia, where this made-for-TV adventure was filmed. Raquel Welch stars as a rich, spoiled socialite who is shipwrecked on a desert island. Her only companion is boozy, unkempt Aussie Jack Thompson. Before the film has a chance to turn into Lina Wertmuller's Swept Away (or even Gilligan's Island), Welch and Thompson are up to their necks in intrigue. Trouble in Paradise originally floated to shore on May 16, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Laura Branigan stars as Kate Lawrence in this insipid and cliche-ridden romantic comedy. Kate is a singer who longs to be taken seriously as an actress. Despite the misgivings of her agent, she flies to Melbourne to read for a part in a play. Kate gets the part but is grilled by film critic Robert Landau (Michael Aitkens) at a press conference. Hate for Robert turns to love until he writes an unflattering review of her performance in the play. When Kate lands a job in a Broadway play, she leaves Australia hoping never to see Robert again. He hops a plane to New York to surprise her after her performance, waiting backstage to announce his love for her. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laura Branigan, Michael Aitkens, (more)
- 1984
- R
Jason Connery (son of Sean Connery) stars as Johnny Kirkland in this slightly uneven teen drama about facing down obstacles at college and at home. When Johnny goes off to the university, he is leaving behind an aloof and alcoholic mother (Diane Cilento, Jason Connery's real-life mother) whose recent divorce has further destabilized her emotionally. At school, his frat brothers latch on to the fact that Johnny excelled in his high school at both grades and sports and rather than hope his success will continue, they do everything they can to "bring him down to size." Apparently, their own size is quite small, indeed, barely visible to the naked eye if their loutish behavior is any yardstick. Compounding these problems are Johnny's troubles with his girlfriend Robin (Laura Williams) -- can life get any worse? Most likely not, but how it gets better is the focus in the rest of the film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Based on a novel by Colleen McCullough (The Thorn Birds), this "May-December romance" stars Piper Laurie as Mary Horton, a lonely middle-aged American career woman who hires a handsome, mildly retarded young handyman named Tim (played by 22-year-old Mel Gibson in his third screen role). At first keeping her distance, Mary is drawn closer to Tim as the days pass. When Tim's mother dies, Mary becomes his surrogate mother, a relationship that deepens into romantic love. Tim's older sister Dawn (Deborah Kennedy) resents Mary's "intrusion" into their lives, but Tim's dad Ron (Alwyn Kurts) blesses the relationship, realizing that it is beneficial to both parties. Director Michael Pate avoids all opportunities to cheapen or sensationalize the material; while Tim and Mary do end up in bed, it is a sweet moment, not a prurient one. Tim was produced for Australian television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Piper Laurie, Mel Gibson, (more)
- 1977
Norman Panama's penultimate directorial effort, Barnaby and Me was originally filmed for Australian television. The title character is a talented Koala Bear, who is to Australian fans what Benji is to Americans. Pausing in his escape from a vengeful mobster, American con artist Caesar falls in love with Juliet Mills, whose daughter Sally Boyden keeps Barnaby as her pet. The kooky koala teans up with Caesar for a series of picaresque adventures. It's hardly The Sting, but it's easy to take. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
In this detective drama, a private investigator looks into a murder and finds himself involved with blackmail, drugs, and beautiful women. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Thompson, Judy Morris, (more)
This video offers a child friendly take on the swashbuckling protagonists of author Alexander Dumas's classic novel The Three Musketeers. Centered around D'Artagnan and his three friends -- Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, respectively -- the production follows the musketeers as they uncover secret plots, upset the local royals, and rescue damsels in distress.
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
