Joan Blackham Movies
An aspiring West End actress intent on maintaining her famous mother's legacy finds her dreams suddenly clouded by the warplanes that buzz overhead in this bittersweet war drama from director Julia Taylor-Stanley. Diana (Zoe Tapper) is a London actress who knows deep within that she has what it takes to become a true star of the West End stage. Faced with constant rejection but eternally optimistic that her day will soon come, Diana enters into a passionate love triangle with talented playwright Robin (David Leon) and powerful director Christopher (Andrew Lincoln). Later, when Diane is finally cast in a headlining role, the drums of war begin beating as Hitler's army prepares for their devastating London Blitz. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2004
- R
- Add Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason to QueueAdd Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason to top of Queue
Based on author Helen Fielding's sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason picks up four weeks after the original film left off, with Bridget (Renée Zellweger) emotionally satisfied at long last with Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), her barrister boyfriend. Stability in Bridget's life, however, quickly becomes a contradiction in terms. Though Mark is openly supportive of Bridget's eccentricities -- and there are many -- she is nonetheless threatened by Mark's young, nubile intern, not to mention irked at finding out that he is, among other less desirable qualities in her eyes, a conservative voter. Complicating issues further is the reentrance of her ex-lover, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), whom Jones, perhaps mistakenly, thought she had finally gotten over. Before long, the situation escalates into another series of embarrassing circumstances for Bridget, who is faced once again with a crippling feeling of self-doubt and has only her diary and friends to combat it. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, (more)
A remake of the 1989 British TV movie of the same name (which itself was based on a novel by Michelle Magorian), the 2001 production of Back Home starred Sarah Lancashire as Peggy Dickinson, the role essayed in the original film by Hayley Mills. At the outbreak of WWII, Peggy and her husband, Roger (Adrian Lukis), make certain that their daughter, Virginia (Jessica Fox), is safely evacuated to the U.S. while they busy themselves with war work. Serving in the WVS (Women's Voluntary Service), Peggy enjoys a degree of liberation hitherto unknown to her, billeted in a luxurious mansion and serving as driver for several urbane military officers; meanwhile, Roger trudges along as an ordinary soldier. At war's end, Peggy feels out of touch with her former life, Roger is unable to adjust to peacetime conditions, and Virginia has become far too "Americanized" to be satisfied with her parents' existence. Back Home was first televised in the U.K. on October 22, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sarah Lancashire, Stephanie Cole, (more)
- 1994
- R
This British romantic comedy examines a trouble relationship between a behavioral psychologist and a paleontology lecturer with serious sexual hang-ups. Currently Dr. Daniel Becker is holding seminars for teaching body language to executives. Katie, the lecturer, seems to defy all he seems to know with her habit of knocking out any male she suspects of harboring sexual thoughts about her. They go out on a dinner date. Immediately, Katie-the-mind-reader smacks the waiter. Intrigued, Daniel blindfolds her to see if she really can read thoughts. Katie, who sees no future in their relationship, plans to go on a research trip to India with her peer, Sandip. Daniel tries to thwart her plans. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amanda Pays, Mark Frankel, (more)
Plenty boasts a cast of actors ranging from John Gielgud as an ethical and caustic senior diplomat to Meryl Streep as Susan Traherne, a woman looking for solace and a decent life in the aftermath of World War II. After World War II has ended, along with her work in the French Resistance movement and an idealized love affair with a soldier, Susan finds jobs in the business and diplomatic worlds. Her life slowly disintegrates as she tries and fails to have a child then marries diplomat Raymond Brock (Charles Dance) and suffers further emotional decline as her rather conventional marriage eventually becomes cool and finally, alienating. Against Susan's difficulties are tumultuous events in the background -- the Suez Canal crisis and Middle East developments among them. David Hare adapted the screenplay from his successful stage play which first opened in 1978. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meryl Streep, Charles Dance, (more)
