Serena Gordon Movies

Made for British television, Act of Will focuses on three generations of women in a proud, indomitable family. Australian-born director Don Sharp brings to his soap-opera material the same energy and vitality that he'd previously lavished on such theatrical features as Kiss of the Vampire (1963) and Hennessy (1985). Since a portion of the production money was ponied up by Hollywood, American actor Peter Coyote is given a crucial role in the World War II sequences. Among the distaff cast members are the always welcome Jean Marsh (Upstairs, Downstairs), Victoria Tennant (the former Mrs. Steve Martin) and Elizabeth Hurley (who, as of this writing at least, is the girlfriend of Hugh Grant). Act of Will received its widest American exposure on public and cable television. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Pierce Brosnan made his first appearance as James Bond in this action thriller, the 17th in the series (excluding the 1967 Casino Royale and the 1983 Never Say Never Again) featuring the suave British super-agent. As the story begins, Agent 007 and his partner, Agent 006 (Sean Bean), pull a daring raid on a chemical weapons plant in the Soviet Union; however, they are captured by Russian troops, and while Bond is able to escape, 006 is not so lucky. Several years later, the Soviet Union and the Cold War are a thing of the past, but Bond is still at work ferreting out evildoers everywhere. Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen), a beautiful but vicious villain working with the Russian Mafia, spearheads the theft of the controls to GoldenEye, a high-tech satellite weapons system, and with her gunmen, she kills most of the soldiers and guards at a top-secret military facility in the process. Bond joins forces with Natalya Simonova (Izabella Scorupco), one of the base's few survivors, to help track down Onatopp's minions and the controls to GoldenEye, which can destroy all electronic circuits in a given area in a matter of seconds; however, in time, Bond discovers the true identity of the criminal mastermind who is behind this bid for unholy power and world domination -- none other than Alec Trevelyan, the man Bond once knew as 006. In addition to Brosnan, GoldenEye also marked another significant cast change for the Bond series -- Judi Dench made her debut as M, Bond's superior. Minnie Driver also has a cameo as a nightclub singer. Sadly, this was the last film in the Bond series for special-effects supervisor Derek Meddings, who died in the midst of production; the film was dedicated to him. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This Australian romantic comedy, filmed prior to the death of Princess Diana, was updated with additional scenes shot several months later. Even so, certain situations originally intended as comedy now seem prophetic and painful rather than humorous. After a grim London opening sequence with a voiceover acknowledging the royal Diana's death, the story flashes back 18 months to Wollongong, Australia, where independent Aussie Diana Spencer (Toni Collette), who entered a women's magazine competition, learns she has won a trip for two to meet the Princess of Wales. Spencer is fascinated by Princess Diana, since she shares both the same name and birthday (although she's 10 years younger). Joined by fiancé Mark Fraser (Malcolm Kennard), Spencer arrives in London, where the magazine's British representative Carol (Victoria Eagger) checks them into a hotel. She's then disappointed to find that her meeting with the Princess is not one-on-one but just an invitation to a garden party attended by hundreds. Problems arise when Mark is separated from Diana, who gets arrested along with British photographer Rob Naylor (Dominic West), part of the paparazzi pack stalking the Princess. (In one scene, paparazzi depart in a frenetic feeding frenzy to get pics of a celebrity in a car crash!). Carol makes a play for Mark back at the hotel room. Rob gets a tip on the whereabouts of the Princess, and Diana joins Rob in his stakeout of an apartment. After the Princess emerges and her car drives off, photographer Rob is in hot pursuit during a chase sequence. Mark decides to return to Australia, while Rob and Diana are joined by cross-dresser Neville (Tom Hillier), a look-alike for Princess Di. The trio takes off for Elton John's birthday party, where the Princess is scheduled to show. Attending the party are Bob Geldof, Jerry Hall, and Susannah York. One sequence in this film captures vocalist Kylie Minogue attempting to walk down a street while stalkarazzi keep pace; uniformed chauffeurs in another scene share a few drinks while awaiting passengers. The Sydney airport substitutes for London's Heathrow. Scenes later added to the controversial movie show Spencer in mourning outside Kensington Palace with an accompanying voiceover by Collette. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Based on a true story, Aristocrats draws back the curtain on an 18th century English family near the summit of society, revealing a tapestry of romance, prejudice, infidelity, and revolution. The three-part TV miniseries follows the four Lennox sisters, daughters of Lord Richmond, from youth to middle age and beyond. They go through marriages, children, scandal, and intrigue as they decide what matters more: position or principle. Part one centers on three of the daughters -- Caroline, Emily, and Louisa -- as they entertain ideas of marrying solely for love, an idea abhorrent to their snooty parents. But in spite of the folks' protests ("What will people think?"), Caroline marries an untitled politician, Henry Fox, about twice her age. Emily chooses, God forbid, an Irishman. But because of his wealth and nobility, he becomes acceptable. Louisa also marries a wealthy Irish noble. Part two centers on the fourth daughter, Sarah. After her debut in London, the diffident Prince of Wales (the future King George III) falls in love with her, but unexpectedly marries another for political advantage. Sarah then rushes into a marriage. But because her cold, neglectful husband cannot provide what she wants most -- love and attention -- she beds with others and the family ostracizes her. In part three, miserable, guilt-ridden Sarah finds true love with a decent military man and reconciles herself with the family. Meanwhile, Caroline dies, and social upheaval in America, France, and Ireland opens the eyes of the surviving sisters to new ideas, and they and their families become embroiled in struggles between the masses and the privileged few. ~ Mike Cummings, Rovi