Colin Martin Movies
Two fictional characters, The Narrator (Paul Scofield) and Robinson, provide the wry commentary for Patrick Keiller's semi-documentary look at contemporary British society. The two have been commissioned by a British advertising company to do a thorough survey of Great Britain in order to discern its "problem," the exact nature of which is never elucidated. The two embark upon seven distinct trips across the country and find it inundated with ugly urban sprawl and nearly devoid of habitation. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1996
- R
This low-budget satire takes a shot a Hollywood as it follows two desperate, unsuccessful actors, Dern Reel and Patrick St. Patrick, who steal 10 recently shot rolls of film from Tinseltown's newest darling, the director David Egoman, and hold them for ransom. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In the opening episode of ER's second season, Carter (Noah Wyle) gets off to a bad start on his first day as new surgical sub-intern by showing up extremely late and woefully unprepared. Also on hand is new third-year student Harper Tracy (Christine Elise), who endures an ordeal by fire thanks to a psychotic patient -- and who catches the eye of the still-unattached Carter. Elsewhere, Greene (Anthony Edwards) ruffles more than a few feathers with his choice of new chief resident: the contentious and highly irritating Kerry Weaver (Laura Innes). With this episode, William H. Macy returns in the role of ER chief Dr. David Morganstern. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
From the directing team of identical twin brothers Timothy Quay and Stephen Quay, Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life focuses on the experiences of Jakob Von Gunten (Mark Rylance), who has come to the titular institute to train to become a manservant. Amidst a series of unorthodox lessons under the instruction of brother and sister Johannes Benjamenta (Gottfried John) and Lisa Benjamenta (Alice Krige), Jakob becomes attracted to Lisa and she to him. As the magnetism between the two of them intensifies, Lisa's health declines more and more, leading Johannes to question Jakob's influence on her. The screenplay was adapted from the novel Jakob von Gunten by Robert Walser. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Rylance, Alice Krige, (more)
- 1990
Adapted from a fragment of text by the Austrian writer Robert Walser, the 17-minute Quay Brothers short The Comb opens with the image of a sleeping princess and then delves into her dream world, where the tunnels of the mind literalize, and become a mazelike, labyrinthine playhouse patrolled and explored by a roving doll figure. Stephen and Timothy Quay shot the film as a blend of animation and live-action, enveloped in a mythic golden aesthetic. On the soundtrack, they overlay a haunting score of violin and guitar notes, co-mingled with the cries, murmurs and whispers of the subconscious mind. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Witold Schejbal, Joy Constantinides, (more)
Majorettes and cheerleaders of a high school are being killed with their own batons by a mystery murderer in this low-budget horror film. Vicky (Terrie Godfrey) is the next targeted victim because she stands to inherit $500,000. Soon her grandmother Helga (Denise Hout) and the crooked local sheriff (Mark V. Jevicky) are the focus of the investigation and are later suspects in the murders. Helga is the nurse of a wealthy employer who stands to gain from his demise. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Kindlin, Terrie Godfrey, (more)
- 1986
Adopting new themes to old-fashioned morality, this children's drama looks at Terry (Jack McNicholl) and his involvement with a gang after he runs away from home. Les (Neville Watson) leads the gang with a ruthless violence, but after some time together Terry discovers that Les is basically okay; he has just been warped by an abusive mother. After Terry joins the gang in a robbery at his school, he later has a sharp pang of conscience and is faced with a serious moral dilemma. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack McNicholl, Neville Watson, (more)
- 1985
Also known as This Unnameable Little Broom and Little Songs of the Chief Officer of Hunar Louse (Being a Largely Disguised Reduction of The Epic of Gilgamesh), Tableau II, The Epic of Gilgamesh constitutes an 11 minute surrealist puppet film, conceived and shot by the famed Quay Brothers, Stephen and Timothy. The premise concerns Gilgamesh, a slightly demented, hydrocephalic dwarf boy riding his tricycle around a "sandbox kingdom." He attempts to seduce Enduku, a wild creature who resides in a forest (which actually constitutes a bird skull decorated with an array of exotic, multicolored feathers). Gilgamesh sends a prostitute, then sets a trap comprised of a mound of bloody flesh and a vulva-shaped trapdoor with a mechanical apparatus. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1984
With The Cabinet of Jan Svankmajer, Stephen and Timothy Quay pay tribute to the Czech animator Svankmajer (their mentor) through a series of brief symbolic episodes featuring a literally bookish professor -- the pages of the book emerge from his open skull -- and a young child. In a dream-like room featuring multitudinous drawers, the professor teaches a series of lessons, including several which suggest learning stop-motion animation itself. Both pieces feature the Quays' trademark obsessively detailed, carefully orchestrated visuals in the service of mysterious, unsettling, dream-like narratives. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
