Tim Lewiston Movies
Penned between 1946 and 1961, Ernest Hemingway's novel The Garden of Eden remained incomplete at the time of its author's suicide, but finally appeared in 1986, as the second posthumously published Hemingway novel following the 1970 Islands in the Stream. As directed by John Irvin (Turtle Diary) and scripted by James Scott Linville, this screen adaptation faithfully adheres to the original story. The tale takes place in the 1920s, on the Côte d'Azur of the French Riviera, where David Bourne (Jack Huston), a youngish American writer, and his gorgeous wife, Catherine (Mena Suvari), spend a tranquil honeymoon. Tranquil, that is, until Catherine grows restless and dissatisfied, and brings into their midst Marita (Caterina Murino), an Italian girl to whom they both feel magnetically attracted. In seemingly no time at all, her sensual presence threatens to tear the marriage asunder. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mena Suvari, Jack Huston, (more)
A movie set becomes a metaphor for the tragic rise of World War II in Europe in this historical drama. It's 1939, and as Benito Mussolini rules Italy and war sweeps through Europe, Italian film producer Davide Rieti (Alfred Molina) is attempting to set up his latest project, a historical epic adapted from Puccini's opera Tosca. While Rieti is short on money, that's the least of his problems -- as a gay Jew, he's an easy target for the fascist pogroms which have become commonplace in Europe, and working at Rome's lavish Cinecitta Studio is one of his few respites from the grim realities of life under Mussolini. Eager to turn his adaptation of Tosca into an international epic, Rieti hires Hungarian Lazlo Molnar (Andras Balint) to direct, and casts German Kristina Baumgarten (Catherine McCormack), Italian Maria Grazia (Surama De Castro) and British James Clavel (Jonathan Pryce) in the leading roles. Rieti also finds room in the cast for his handsome lover Renzo (Rupert Friend), but while the cast offers one another a certain grudging respect (and Baumgarten and Clavel enjoy a brief romance off-set), the tensions that have gripped the world can be felt on set, and fascist and anti-fascist factions arise among the crew. The turmoil is aided and abetted by the presence of Annibale (Ivano Marescotti), the film's chief backer and an ardent supporter of Il Duce, while free-spirited director Molnar makes no secret of his leftist views. The Moon and the Stars received its North American debut at the 2007 Palm Springs Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jonathan Pryce, Catherine McCormack, (more)
British filmmaker Malcolm Needs writes and directs the gangster film Charlie, based on the real-life case of criminal gang boss Charlie Richardson. During the early '60s, brothers Charlie (Luke Goss) and Eddy (Langley Kirkwood) ruled the criminal underworld of South London. As he rises in power, Charlie finds himself connected with wealthy white South African businessman Richard Waldeck (Leslie Grantham). Charlie eventually starts to get involved with political crimes involving the ANC and gets caught. While on trial in 1966, his gang resorts to the horrific torturing of his enemies. The witnesses who testify against him are cruelly and unusually punished by Charlie's terror gang, leading to Judge Lawton (Antony Carrick) sentencing him to 25 years. Steven Berkoff and Anita Dobson appear as Charlie's parents. Charlie premiered in the U.K. in February of 2004. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Starring:
- Luke Goss, Steven Berkoff, (more)
- 2003
Stephen Whittaker loosely based his Rocket Post -- a romantic period drama leavened with quirky humor -- on the life and experiences of German rocket scientist Gerhard Zucher. The film opens circa 1938 in Southern England, where two expatriate aerospace engineers, Gerhard Zucher (Ulrich Thomsen) and Heinz Dombrowsky (Eddie Marsan), are attempting to use rockets as rapid-fire transports for regular postal mail. A regulating British official decides to assign both men to the Scottish isle of Scarp, where they can conduct rocket experiments sans interference. Personal complications arise, however, when Gerhard falls in love with local Scottish woman Catherine MacKay (Shauna MacDonald) -- and she with him. They enjoy a sweet, gentle, funny romance, and as Gerhard breaches success with his experiments, he finds his spirits lifted by the vicissitudes of Scottish life. But events take a decidedly darker turn when the Nazis show up and demand that Zucher return to Germany; if he refuses, his sister and her children will be executed. Suddenly, Zucher finds himself torn between his undying love for Catherine and his familial loyalty. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- 2002
Based on actual events that took place in Waterford, Ireland, in the late 1700s, director Stefan Schwartz's romantic comedy-drama concerns itself with a group of abductors who kidnap usually willing young women in order to persuade them to wed. Set during an era where law dictates that the eldest sons inherit family estates and younger siblings are left to either enter the priesthood or the military, young noblemen decide to take matters into their own hands by abducting the young heiresses and charming them for a night before releasing them to make their ultimate decision. As Anne (Sophia Myles) is subjected to the uninvited advances of Power (Liam Cunningham), Abduction Club member Byrne (Daniel Lapaine) schemes to kidnap Anne's older sister Catherine (Alice Evans). Though the kidnapping plan is foiled when Anne decides to tag along, Byrne's friend Strang (Matthew Rhys) finds himself attracted to the younger sister despite Abduction Club rules stating that abductees must be at least 18 (Anne is 17) and that no more than one member of the same family is to be abducted at any given time. Strang is subsequently expelled by Abduction Club leader Sir Myles (Patrick Malahide), and the fledgling affections of the mismatched couple face a formidable challenge as the local militia is tipped off to their scheme. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alice Evans, Daniel Lapaine, (more)
- 2000
Mary McGuckian directs this bleak biopic about famed Manchester United soccer star George Best, who dumped his career down the drain with booze, brawling, and drugs. The film charts Best's (John Lynch) rise from Belfast, to fame, to dissipation. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Lynch, Ian Bannen, (more)
In this family-oriented outdoor adventure story, Bryan Brown plays Tyrone, a hunter who captures a handful of grizzly bear cubs. However, Tyrone didn't count on the tenacity of the cubs' mother, who retaliates by kidnapping Tyrone's son. When Tyrone sets out to find his son, fearing the worst, the bear proves a kind and capable companion, guiding the boy through the wilderness and showing him the ways of survival in the wild. Shot amidst the rugged surroundings of Vancouver, British Columbia, Grizzly Falls also features Richard Harris, Oliver Tobias, and Tom Jackson; co-screenwriter Stuart Margolin is better known as an actor, best remembered for his recurring role as "Angel" on the TV series The Rockford Files. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Daniel Clark, Bryan Brown, (more)
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