Guy Hibbert Movies
Oliver Hirschbiegel, director of Das Experiment and The Invasion, takes the helm for this film about a killer who dares not seek forgiveness, and another who feels incapable of granting it. The political divide in Ireland runs as far as it does deep. Alistair (Liam Neeson) and Joe (James Nesbitt) each stand on opposing sides of that gaping chasm. Alistair killed Joe's brother, and for than man who's lost family, absolution simply isn't an option. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt, (more)
A devastated father struggles to find answers after a bomb detonated in the peaceful Irish town of Omagh claims the life of his twenty-one year-old son in this topical docudrama from writer/producer Paul Greengrass and director Pete Travis. In 1988 a group who referred to themselves as the "Real IRA" set a bomb that took the lives of thirty-one people in the Northern Ireland town of Omaga. In the aftermath of the explosion, soft-spoken mechanic Michael Gallagher (Gerard McSorley) was forever changed by the loss of his twenty-one year-old son. Determined not to let the same grim fate befall his neighbors, Gallagher took it upon himself to become the official spokesperson for the victim's families, challenging the government's official stand on terrorism and providing a voice for the grief-stricken families of the innocent victims killed in the blast. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gerard McSorley, Michele Forbes, (more)
Filmed in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, this massive biography of Cuban leader Fidel Castro begins in the 1950s, when the title character, then a young and hungry lawyer, bristles at the iniquities and corruption of the Batista political regime. Inspired by the words by left-wing radio commentor Eddie Chibas (Hector Elizondo), Fidel becomes active in a revolutionary movement aimed at toppling Fulgencio Batista (Tony Plana). In 1959, Castro and his followers stage a spectacularly successful coup, one that is staunchly supported by thousands of idealists and Cuban expatriates in the United States. Unfortunately, to paraphrase cartoonist Bill Mauldin, no sooner has Fidel come down from the hills like Robin Hood than he begins behaving like the Sheriff of Nottingham, killing scores of his political enemies in round-the-clock executions, routinely snatching away the basic human rights that he had promised his followers, and embracing Communism with a fervent passion. Although the film does not shy away from showing the darker side of Castro, it is essentially sympathetic to its subject, balancing the Cuban dictator's political outrages with his many acts of benevolence, and attempting to provide "motivation" for what seem to be appalling contradictions. Victor Huggo Martin and Honorato Magaloni are cast respectively as the younger and older Castro, with Maurice Compte as his brother Raul and Gael Garcia Bernal as the ill-fated Che Guevara.Fidel was originally telecast in two parts over the Showtime cable network on January 27 and 28, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victor Huggo Martin, Gael García Bernal, (more)
A beautiful Russian bride seeking to start a new life in America finds her dreams shattered when an internet marriage agency sets her up with an abusive husband. When Natasha (Lia Williams) received word that she had found a new husband, she began to feel as if her future was finally looking up. That all changed, however, when her newfound husband reveals himself to be an abusive tyrant. These days, Natasha's only reprieve is her torrid affair with handsome houseguest Eddie (Douglas Hodge). But when lust gives way to deceit, murder, and madness, a once-innocent long shot at love becomes a desperate battle of survival. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lia Williams, Douglas Hodge, (more)
This provocative and potent fact-based drama, an HBO Original Movie, tells the tale of two Yugoslavian men. Best friends since childhood, the two find themselves on opposite sides when civil war tears their country apart. The moment of truth in their relationship occurs when they find themselves forced to decide whether or not it is worth it to kill each other for their political and religious differences. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Perez, Linus Roache, (more)
- 1995
A wealthy British couple living in Bangkok are so desperate to have a child they consider buying one on the Asian black market. This British drama chronicles their attempts. They tried adopting in England, but because they frequently travel about, were denied. Unfortunately, their first attempt to buy a baby is discovered and they are nearly arrested by the Thai government. Still the wife, Kate is terribly obsessed and so goes to cagey Jack Lee, who for $20,000 promises to bring her a child. He does, but then the couple learn that they cannot take it out of Thailand and they must give it back. She and Lee then conspire to purchase a Vietnamese orphan and smuggle it to Bangkok and then to England. She decides not to tell Michael, her husband, and she sneaks off to Saigon pretending to be Lee's wife. But once they get the baby, will she be able to keep it after all? ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Created by Lynda La Plante, the sporadically broadcast British TV series Prime Suspect succeeded in bestowing international stardom upon actress Helen Mirren. Set in London, the series dealt with female homicide detective Jane Tennison (Helen Mirren), who did her best to do her job in the face of sexual prejudice on the job and political corruption from the higher-ups. Virtually every time that Tennison investigated a murder, the trail of clues led to a compromising situation for a prominent civic leader, who invariably pulled strings to get the heroine off his scent. Not unexpectedly, Tennison was plagued with feelings of doubt and inadequacy, especially whenever her instincts proved (initially) to be wrong. Even so, by the time the series had run its course, Tennison had been promoted to superintendent. Making its British debut on April 7, 1991, Prime Suspect was broadcast for six seasons, each season progressively retitled as Prime Suspect 2, Prime Suspect 3, and so forth. In America, the property was seen over the PBS network and the A&E cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Mirren, John Benfield, (more)
- 1990
Donald Sumpter stars in this heavy-breathing British TV drama as Frank, a millionaire rock promoter. Saddled with a miserable domestic life, Frank enters into a torrid affair with the wife of a vicar. Jeremy Clyde, formerly of the rock group Chad and Jeremy, plays a key supporting role. Aimee was telecast by the BBC in 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
