Greg Wise Movies

Not to be confused with John Duigan's hit 1994 sex comedy of the same name, Nicholas Laughland's 2002 British telemovie Sirens stars Daniela Nardini, Greg Wise, Robert Glenister and Sarah Parish. This psychological thriller concerns Ali (Parish, a London-based female law officer simultaneously involved in a heated and clandestine carnal relationship with her sister's beau and a city-wide police hunt for a serial rapist. When the squads close in on the boyfriend as their number one suspect, it foretells Ali's need to 'lay down her cards' by confessing her relationship to the man in question. But this may mean permanently losing all ties with her sister. Ali suddenly finds herself torn violently in two directions - but she's quickly running out of time, as new details come to light regarding the suspect's background and motivations. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Written by Richard Lumsden as a vehicle for himself, the British dramedy series Wonderful You zeroed in on a group of aimless friends and siblings in their early thirties. Though generally preoccupied with their own romantic and professional difficulties, the characters spent many of their waking hours brooding over the misadventures of Henry (Lumsden), a bike messenger who aspired to be a singer (the star also wrote his own songs). Since many of the stories dealt with Henry's anguish over reaching his 30th birthday, it was just as well that the series was of brief duration (seven episodes, to be exact). Wonderful You originally aired from March 9 to April 13, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A trio of monsters are on the loose in this updated reinterpretation of one of the great horror films of Universal's "Golden Age." A police detective, Vernon Coyle (Adrian Pasdar), is trying to track down an infamous serial killer known as the Midnight Raptor, a killer whose victims are almost completely drained of blood. Coyle, short on clues, seeks the assistance of Doctor Shauna Kendall (C.C.H. Pounder), an anthropologist who tells the surprised detective that she believes a vampire is responsible for the killings. Meanwhile, Grace Dawkins (Teri Polo), a woman working at the Griffith Park Observatory, sees a friend being attacked by what she thinks is a wild dog; while trying to help, she's bitten by the creature, and Grace soon makes the horrible discovery that she's become a werewolf. Jaded sophisticate Crispian Grimes (Greg Wise) runs a hot L.A. nightclub called the House of Frankenstein; to attract new customers to his club, Grimes purchases a body frozen in ice that is believed to be Dr. Frankenstein's famous creature. What Grimes' customers and colleagues don't know is he's the vampire who's has been committing the Midnight Raptor murders; once Frankenstein's monster is accidentally revived, and Grimes falls in love with Grace, an unholy alliance of monsters begins preying on the people of Los Angeles. Produced for the NBC television network, House of Frankenstein 1997 was first aired on October 28, 1997. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this Vietnam-set war drama, a cadre of soldiers embark upon a dangerous, doomed mission to a supposedly haunted mountain. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

A group of actors and filmmakers set out to adapt an "unfilmable" classic novel -- but find that their own petty concerns get in the way -- in this satirical comedy. Laurence Sterne's 18th century novel The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman told the story of its priggish title character from the moment of conception onward, with a bevy of digressions, distractions, and unfinished anecdotes. In adapting the work for the screen, director Michael Winterbottom chose to stay true to its anarchic spirit: the film begins as a mostly straightforward adaptation of events in Sterne's writings, and then veers into a tale about the making of the film itself. Steve Coogan plays Tristram Shandy, who narrates his own life story, beginning with his slightly botched birth, overseen by an addled doctor (Dylan Moran) and his reticent father, Walter (also played by Coogan). Constantly quarreling with his battle-scarred brother, Toby (Rob Brydon), Walter Shandy has an epiphany when he holds his newborn son; however, before that moment can occur, the film switches into the present day, where Coogan and Brydon, playing themselves, bicker over costuming and the size of their roles in the film. The rest of the film's crew has their own concerns. Director Mark (Jeremy Northam) is trying to figure out how to secure a big Hollywood star for a supporting role and shoot a battle scene on a budget. The film's brainy production assistant Jennie (Naomie Harris) worries that their adaptation is leaving out the best parts of the book, as she nurses a crush on one of the cast members. All the while, Coogan tries to deflect a tabloid reporter's inquiry into his strip-club escapades, and attempts to pacify the concerns of his wife, Jenny (Kelly MacDonald). Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story had its North American premiere at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Based on the novel by H.E. Bates, this period drama stars Embeth Davidtz as Bella Ford, a woman living in rural England during the Victorian era. Bella fell victim to Arch Wilson (Greg Wise), a unprincipled man who claimed to be from the nearby village. He seduced her only to vanish without a trace when she became pregnant. When she is outcast after her child is stillborn, a kindly villager named Ben Wainwright (Tom Bell) allows her to stay with his family in exchange for helping with the chores. However, the presence of a young and beautiful woman in the house creates a certain amount of tension between Ben, his wife (Gemma Jones), and sons Jedd (James Purefoy), a soldier; Matty (Kent Anderson), a shoemaker; and Con (Ben Chaplin), a homebody and social misfit. Con takes a shine to Bella and eventually proposes marriage; Bella accepts, but matters become complicated when she discovers that the dastardly Arch has returned to the village. Ismail Merchant served as executive producer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The recipient of seven Oscar® nominations, this film version of Jane Austen's classic 1811 novel stars Emma Thompson as Elinor Dashwood. With her mother and sisters, Elinor struggles financially after the death of her father, who bequeathed the Dashwood estate to his oafish son by an earlier marriage. While sorting out the family's affairs, the shy, self-sacrificing Elinor secretly falls for her stepbrother-in-law, Edward Ferrars (Hugh Grant), a sensitive, well-educated bachelor who cannot court her because of his foolhardy youthful engagement to the greedy Lucy Steele (Imogen Stubbs). The grateful Dashwoods are offered a modest country home by family friends, which they accept. Once relocated, Elinor's brash, spirited sister Marianne (Kate Winslet) falls for a dashing local, John Willoughby (Greg Wise), a womanizer who nevertheless seems to share her affections. A prominent neighbor, Colonel Brandon (Alan Rickman), also falls in love with Marianne, but she is oblivious to the older man's affections. Eventually, Willoughby fails Marianne, breaking her heart, until she realizes Brandon's feelings. When Edward's family disowns him, Lucy marries his brother instead, leaving him free to pursue an exultant Elinor. Thompson won the film's sole Oscar® for her screenplay adaptation of Austen's novel. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Based on a novel by Edith Wharton, The Buccaneers follows four wealthy young women -- Nan (Carla Gugino), Virginia St. George (Alison Eliott), Conchita Closson (Mira Sorvino), and Lizzy Elmsworth (Rya Kihlstedt) -- throughout their eventful journey from America to London. Though they set off intending to hunt down potential husbands for themselves, what they find has less to do with love and more to do with the repressive nature of turn-of-the-century English society. Shunned as "new money" by London's elite and courted by a slew of noblemen lacking any code of personal honor, the quartet is forced to examine society's focus on social status and personal wealth. Directed by Philip Saville, this film also features Mark Tandy and Greg Wise. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide