Patrick Seymour Movies
London's most frequently eligible bachelor gets some lessons in growing up from a maladroit 12-year-old boy in this third big-screen adaptation of a Nick Hornby novel, directed and co-written by siblings Chris and Paul Weitz of American Pie fame. About a Boy concerns the parallel coming-of-age stories of the thirtysomething Will (Hugh Grant), a layabout "serial nice guy" living a posh, carefree lifestyle off his deceased father's fortune; and the preteen Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), a bright but awkward youth who's tired of his mom Fiona's (Toni Collette) depressed, boyfriend-less state. Their paths collide when Will, deciding that single mothers are the easiest romantic conquests on the dating scene, fabricates a two-year-old son and joins a group called S.P.A.T. (Single Parents Alone Together). Marcus is wise to Will's scheme, however, and through some incessant pestering and blackmail, he contrives for Will to date Fiona. Though Will doesn't hit it off immediately with either Marcus or his mother, he gradually begins to open up to the people around him -- so much so that he attracts the attention of another attractive single mom (Rachel Weisz). A U.S./U.K. co-production of Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Films and Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner's Working Title (the company responsible for the Grant-related Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bridget Jones's Diary), About a Boy was co-written by What's Eating Gilbert Grape creator Peter Hedges. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, (more)
Director Linda Yellen spins this study of four couples as they struggle to maintain their relationships. Middle-aged divorcée and landlord Katharine (Lynn Redgrave) is completely smitten with her live-in lover Rick (Harry Connick, Jr.). She loves throwing parties, and on one Halloween she hosts a dinner for some wildly dissimilar guests: her tenets Sandra (Cindy Crawford) and Paul (Jamey Sheridan) are conservative professionals, while fellow building dwellers Marta (Monica Keena) and Billy (Dylan Bruno) are rock musicians. Also at the party is wacky psychic Arnita (Tyne Daly). During dinner, Arnita sees the spirits of another couple: Mae (Samantha Mathis), a flapper from the 1920s, and Katharine's great-grandfather Edward (William Hurt). Unnerved, Arnita predicts that one couple will split up by year's end. Though initially shaken, the guests brush her off as a nut. Yet toward the year's end, Katharine grows increasingly jealousy of Rick's flirtation with Sandra. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynn Redgrave, Jamey Sheridan, (more)
Director Michael Apted's Inspirations (1997), which explored the nature of creative talent, laid the groundwork for this film in which he investigates scientific brilliance. Apted interviews seven noted figures from divergent fields, including elderly pharmaceutical chemist Gertrude Elion, bestselling author and theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, and MIT linguist Steven Pinker. With wit and radiate intelligence, they discuss their obsessions, observations on life, and the mental processes that brought about their own noted discoveries. Me & Isaac Newton was screened at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Adapted by John Robert Hoffman from his own play, the made-for-TV Northern Lights stars Diane Keaton as Roberta Blumstein, a high-strung New Yorker whose well-ordered lifestyle is set on its ear with the arrival of a child. No, not Roberta's child, but the son of her recently deceased brother Frank. The kid's name is Jack, and he is no more fond of Roberta than she is of him--at least, not at first. Gradually, however, the two lost souls come to find each other in the most unlikeliest of places: A quaint New England community that Roberta would under normal circumstances have never been caught dead in. Although the original play was a one-character monologue, the TV version features scores of eccentric and lovable supporting characters--among them one Joe Scarlotti, played by author Hoffman, and Ben Rubadue, portrayed by Maury Chaykin, the star of the Diane Keaton-directed theatrical feature Unstrung Heroes. Produced for the Disney Channel, Northern Lights was originally telecast on August 23, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
British filmmaker Michael Apted explores the creative process in this 100-minute documentary examining seven very different talents in action: David Bowie recording with his band; pop artist Roy Lichtenstein (1923-97) painting in his studio; Montreal choreographer Edouard Lock discussing modern dance; dancer Louise Lecavalier, a member of Lock's company; Japanese architect Tadao Ando; Seattle glass artist Dale Chihuly; and New Mexico clay sculptor Nora Naranjo-Morse. Ando's voice is dubbed into English. Shown at the 1997 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tadao Ando, David Bowie, (more)
- 1995
- NC17
"I'm gonna dance," Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley) insists in the opening scene of Showgirls, and dance she does. In this quasi-update of All About Eve, Nomi is a drifter whose sole ambition is to headline the "Goddess" topless dance show at the Stardust in Las Vegas. Of course, even Nomi must pay her dues, and she does so at the Cheetah, grinding poles and lap dancing her way to a future. Fortunately, her roommate, Molly, works at the Stardust and invites Nomi to see the show, where she meets Crystal Conners (Gina Gershon, in the Bette Davis role), with whom she immediately forms a love/hate relationship. Nomi soon learns what she must do to get ahead, and the rest of the film documents her cat-like crawl up the showgirl ladder of success. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, (Robocop, Basic Instinct, The Fourth Man), Showgirls was conceived as the first big-budget "adult" film since 1977's Caligula, and the first such production to wear the NC-17 rating; its failure at the box-office discouraged further attempts at large-scale adult productions. ~ Dylan Wilcox, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Berkley, Gina Gershon, (more)
- 1994
A professional woman falls in love with a potentially murderous neighbor in her apartment building in this gripping Dutch thriller. Roos, a divorcee doctor with a young son, has just moved into her ultra-modern apartment beside the sea. One of her first visitors is Eric, an attractive copywriter who shares his suspicions that fellow tenant and housekeeper for Roos may be in danger. Sure enough, the housekeeper is found murdered in her apartment. Meanwhile, Roos is being harassed by an obscene caller. Unbeknownst to her, she is also being spied upon by a binocular toting peeper. Eric becomes buddies with her son Davy. Soon he tries to buddy up to her, and despite the warnings of other tenants, finds herself equally attracted to him. Eric is arrested as a suspect for the housekeeper's murder and also on the suspicion that he killed his wife and Roos begins to feel paranoid. Her fear increases when another woman in the building is found strangled. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Renée Soutendijk, Victor Löw, (more)
- 1994
Directed by Linda Yellen, this made-for-cable movie originally aired on the Showtime network and featured a star-studded cast including Dudley Moore, Liza Minelli, and James Belushi. The plot centers around several fraternity and sorority graduates who have decided to regroup at their alma mater. Nick (Belushi), a determined but gloomy reporter, attends on the sole hope of finding some good gossip. His highest hope lies within the career ties of his ex-lover Winnie (JoBeth Williams), who now serves as publicist to rising politician Rebecca Ferguson Stone (Patricia Wetig). Fellow alumni Charlie (Ben Gazzara) is returning for equally dishonest reasons--he's hoping to convince his ex Francie (Gena Rowlands) to pay off his gambling debts. Francie, however, has found herself more interested in bonding with a single mom/housekeeper (Ally Sheedy). All of their lives take a turn for the unexpected when the big man on campus mysteriously dies. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- 1993
A group of seven women reunite three times a year to share their experiences with each other in this made-for-cable drama. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The Bells live on a sheep station in the Australian outback, struggling from year to year just to get by. In this story, they have suffered for a number of years from one of Australia's periodic droughts, and are practically the last holdouts in their part of the country to remain on the land. Everyone else has been forced to abandon their farms and move into the city. Despite that, their sheep are doing fairly well, and they have hopes that they can survive the drought. Just then, the government lowers its price supports for wool, and they can't get enough at shearing time to make even a reasonable payment on their debts. They are forced to kill off their sheep, sell their land, and move in with relatives in Sydney. The Bell's daughter Mathilda (Amy Terelinck), who is heartbroken at all these events and who desperately misses her half-wild (dingo) dog and misses the outdoors, runs away. Though the family is able to "get by" in the city, it becomes clear that from their perpsective they are not living - only surviving. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Lyons
