Billy McColl Movies
My Brilliant Career and Oscar and Lucinda director Gillian Armstrong explores the final feat of the greatest illusionist ever to deceive a live audience in this docudrama concerning Harry Houdini's obsessive quest to find proof of an afterlife. The year is 1926, and Houdini (Guy Pearce) is an international superstar. Not only does the illusionist's otherworldly ability to bend reality hold audiences completely enthralled, but his easy charm finds him winning the hearts of his growing legion of fans as well. Yet behind Houdini's winning smile resides the restless heart of a tortured soul. Isolated by fame and drowning in regret over having not been present to hear his mother's last words, Houdini sets out in tour of Scotland and announces that he will pay 10,000 dollars to anyone who can prove spiritual contact with his deceased mother. But in his determination to prove that there is life after death, Houdini also becomes the target of countless charlatans, scam artists, and self-proclaimed spiritualists. Of course, stunning psychic Mary McGregor (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and her daughter/sidekick, Benji (Saoirse Ronan), seem remarkably sincere in their supernatural talents, yet that doesn't mean that the pair doesn't have their own ulterior motives for making a connection with the world-famous magic man. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Guy Pearce, Catherine Zeta-Jones, (more)
A nobody walks a dangerous path in a bid to become a big-shot in this gritty drama from the United Kingdom. Tony Cocozza (Ian Hart) is a small-time Scottish vocalist with a gimmick -- he loves the music of Frank Sinatra, and his repertoire consists almost entirely of songs associated with Ol' Blue Eyes. While Tony has a good voice and can bring off Sinatra's material quite well, he's a clueless nebbish offstage and hasn't been able to advance his career beyond the bottom rungs of the Scottish nightclub circuit. One night, while Tony waits out an intermission in his dressing room, an imposing-looking man named Chisolm (Brian Cox) arrives with a request -- his boss (Iain Cuthbertson) would prefer to hear some songs by Elvis Presley. Chisolm's boss turns out to be a powerful and dangerous crime kingpin, so Tony swallows his pride and sings like The King for a few minutes; the mobster is pleased, and Tony soon finds himself playing a better grade of nightclubs and spending his spare time with some of Glasgow's most notorious crime figures. Bill (Alun Armstrong), Tony's pianist and closest companion, warns Tony that he's getting in over his head with his new and dangerous friends, but imagining success is finally around the corner -- and emboldened by his new relationship with Irene (Kelly MacDonald), a pretty but cynical cigarette girl he met at a gig -- Tony refuses to listen to him. Strictly Sinatra also stars Tommy Flanagan and Richard E. Grant. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ian Hart, Kelly MacDonald, (more)
- 1986
In the fourth episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of the Time Lord," the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) uses videotaped evidence in hopes of proving that the Doctor (Colin Baker) was guilty of breaking the Laws of Time on the planet Ravolox. But the Doctor contends that he and his companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), were actually responsible for saving Ravolox from the villainous machinations of intergalactic con artist Glitz (Tony Selby). Written by Robert Holmes and originally telecast on September 27, 1986, Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 4 was technically the concluding chapter of a four-part story arc subtitled "The Mysterious Planet." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, (more)
- 1986
In the second episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker) faces a death sentence unless he can prove that his breaking of the Laws of Time was for a good purpose. As evidence for the prosecution, the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) shows the Doctor and his travelling companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), acting in a highly suspicious manner on the earthlike planet Ravolox. Subtitled "The Mysterious Planet," this chapter of "The Trial of a Time Lord" was written by Robert Holmes and originally aired on September 13, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, (more)
- 1986
In the third episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of the Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker), on trial for his life, is confronted with videotaped evidence of his "disobedient" behavior on the planet Ravolox. It is up to the Doctor and his companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), that their mission to Ravolox was intended to rescue the inhabitants from malevolent con artist Glitz (Tony Selby). Written by Robert Holmes and originally telecast on September 20, 1986, Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 3 was technically the third chapter of a story arc subtitled "The Mysterious Planet." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, (more)
- 1986
Geordie makes a living supplying heroin to other Edinburgh dealers. He is assisted by his wife Sadie and his burly friend Duffy, who not only protects Geordie, but also sells a little on the side. The trouble begins when Duffy begins suffering moral qualms about the business and tries to get out. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmy Nail, Brian Cox, (more)
- 1984
Based on the novel by Agatha Christie and set in the late 1950s, this unevenly told film starts when Dr. Arthur Calgary (Donald Sutherland) comes back to England after two years on an Antarctic expedition and discovers that the man he is searching for has been executed for murder. At the beginning of his expedition he had given a ride one night to a hitchhiker and accidentally ended up with his address book. To his horror, the hitchhiker's mother was killed on that night, and he had been the alibi that would have saved him from execution. Spurred on by his sense of shock and guilt, Calgary makes contact with the family and is put off by their disinterest in finding the real killer. It seems that the mother had many enemies among her close family members: her husband was having an affair, there was a blackmail scheme in the works, and many felt that she had already excluded them from any inheritance. Although the acting is uneven and the plot may seem predictable or contrived to non-Christie readers, the story retains interest, and Dave Brubeck's jazz score adds a special dimension to the proceedings. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald Sutherland, Christopher Plummer, (more)
- 1979
A British version of Saturday Night Fever, Music Machine chronicles the travails of a disco dancer's quest to become king of the local dance club. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gerry Sundquist, Patti Boulaye, (more)
