Marc Evans Movies
- 1993
Teresa Russell plays dual roles as twins in this made-for-television English thriller. Based on the book of the same name by Dylan Jones, Russell stars as twin sisters Debbie and Jo. When Jo is killed in a car accident, twin Debbie assumes her sister's life and family, making everyone suspicious of Jo's death -- including Jo's husband. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Theresa Russell, Jonathan Pryce, (more)
- 1994
A three-part offering in British television's Ruth Rendell Mysteries anthology, Master of the Moor was set in Dartmoor, the home of a brooding, solitary young man named Stephen Whalby (Colin Firth). Virtually alone since the death of his mother, Stephen wandered the moors day after day, writing dreamy, hallucinatory prose about the beauties of the countryside to the local newspaper. After the mysterious murders of several young, blonde women, Stephen's writings became increasingly bizarre, thereby arousing the suspicions of Detective Inspector Manciple (George Costigan), who felt that the Heathcliffe-like hero knew more about the killings than he was willing to reveal. Master of the Moor was broadcast by Britain's ITV service in 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1997
This downbeat Welsh drama is set in a mining town that's been crushed by an economic collapse. Sid (Steven MacKintosh), Gwenny (Lisa Palfrey), and Boyo (Matthew Rhys) are three grown siblings who must care for their emotionally unstable mother (Sian Phillips) as they try to scrape together a living. Fascinated with American culture, the siblings emulate the hard-living lifestyle of the Beat Generation authors of the 1950s; their mother has told them that their father moved to the United States 15 years ago, and they often write him, hoping to someday join him there. However, he never returns their messages, and no one can explain why. Desperate for money, Sid and Boyo learn that a coal mine in a nearby town is looking for workers, but their mother is terrified that her children will abandon her and begs them not to go. Eventually, Gwenny and Sid, both desperate for comfort, fall into an incestuous relationship. House of America was the first theatrical feature for director Marc Evans after a number of television films; he was the recipient of the "Best Directorial Debut" award at the 1997 Stockholm Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1997
- R
Eoin McNamee based the screenplay for this drama on his own novel, which was itself based on real-life Protestant paramilitaries known as "The Shankill Butchers," who used the cover of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland to mask their often homicidal crimes. Set in Northern Ireland of 1975, the story opens with a killing by young psycho Victor Kelly (Stuart Townsend) and his gang, known as the Resurrection Men. The city lives in fear, and TV coverage perks the interest of journalist Ryan (James Nesbitt) and his associate Coppinger (James Ellis). Older hood McLure (Sean McGinley) hires Victor and his gang to do some dirty work, but local cop Herbie (Derek Thompson) enters the picture to put pressure on gang member Hascksaw (B.J. Hogg). As Victor's wildness escalates, Ryan uses words to weave a media myth around Victor's behavior. Meanwhile, McLure makes plans to destroy Victor. The Irish settings for this film actually were shot in Manchester, Warringon, and Liverpool. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stuart Townsend, Geraldine O'Rawe, (more)
Picking up where the multitudes of late '90s/early 2000s reality-based television shows left off is the unexpectedly shocking horror film My Little Eye, from director Marc Evans. Five twentysomethings are assembled to live together for a period of six months in a house specially outfitted with a bevy of webcams in order to collect a one million prize. The one major caveat being if anyone abandons the house prior to the end of the six-month period, no one will win anything. After introducing the different characters -- intelligent Danny (Stephen O'Reilly), slacker Rex (Kris Lemche), frat boy Matt (Sean CW Johnson), good girl Emma (Laura Regan), and actress wannabe Charlie (Jennifer Sky) -- the story jumps ahead to the last few days before the scheduled end of the contest. At this point, it becomes apparent that outside forces are somehow manipulating certain events within the house, and the household is sent into chaos as one of the participants is found dead. Another participant receives an ominous note, and shortly thereafter, the remaining participants begin to realize the true intensity of their mortal peril. My Little Eye premiered at the 2002 Locarno International Film Festival. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sean CW Johnson, Kristopher Lemche, (more)
U.K. filmmaker Marc Evans directs the psychological thriller Trauma, produced for the Ministry of Fear division of Little Bird Productions. Colin Firth stars as Ben, a man who wakes up from a coma to discover his wife, Elisa (Naomie Harris), has been killed in a car crash. He tries to start a new life on his own, but he's haunted by images of his wife and strange happenings in his apartment. Having no family connections left, he reunites with old friend Tommy (Tommy Flanagan). He also makes friends with neighbor Charlotte (Mena Suvari), who takes him to psychic Petra (Brenda Fricker). Trauma premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Starring:
- Colin Firth, Mena Suvari, (more)
An ex-convict is mysteriously drawn to two intriguing women after becoming involved in a car accident while passing through a sleepy Ontario town in director Marc Evans' enigmatic drama. Invited into the home of high-functioning autistic Linda (Sigourney Weaver) after getting into a car accident that involved Linda's daughter, ex-con Alex Hughes (Alan Rickman) does his best to gracefully accept Linda's selfless generosity. His situation grows increasingly complicated, however, when Alex finds the seductive allure of town sexpot Maggie (Carrie-Anne Moss) too powerful to resist. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, (more)
- 2008
Since his incarceration in 1982 for allegedly shooting a Philadelphia policeman to death, Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal has awaited execution on Death Row, vociferously protesting his innocence; he now qualifies as one of the most famous Death Row inmates in the world. Currently an author of five tomes and an on-air personality who broadcasts over the phone from prison, Abu-Jamal carries the support of no less than Nelson Mandela and the administrators of Amnesty International, who believe in and fervently argue his innocence. Filmmaker Marc Evans's documentary In Prison My Whole Life witnesses William Francome, a British man who was born on the same day as the shooting, traveling to the prison where Abu-Jamal is held to investigate the details of the man's case. The film witnesses Francome learning about the initial events of that terrible night that led to Abu-Jamal's arrest and conviction, the allegations that the trial itself was unfair, and the city where it all happened - and investigating the moral and ethical dilemmas that have turned Abu-Jamal into a touchstone for the global crusade against capital punishment. Participants include belletrist Alice Walker, social activist Noam Chomsky and rapper Snoop Dogg. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Francome, Noam Chomsky, (more)
- 2009
When the blame for a deadly freeway crash falls on the shoulders of the police department, a veteran police detective and his partner launch a comprehensive investigation into the tragic accident. In the aftermath of a violent six car pile up on the A12, two crash victims are pronounced dead at the scene, and another two are rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Bound by tragedy, the survivors being looking for answers anywhere they can find them. For an enraged father, the police are to blame. When he files a lawsuit against the department, Detective Inspector John Tolin (Douglas Henshall) and his partner, Senior Investigating Officer Ann Stallwood (Kate Ashfield) work to discover the true cause of the crash so that the surviving victims can move on with their loves. As Detective Tolin and Senior Officer Stallwood delve deeper into the lives of everyone involved in the accident, they discover evidence of serious crimes, including smuggling and genocide. Before long the suit is dropped, leaving the detectives to wonder whether the serious crimes they uncovered during the course of their investigation are about to go unpunished. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Douglas Henshall, Kate Ashfield, (more)
- 2010
- NR
In 1865, a handful of Welsh exiles took refuge in Argentina, and the long-standing interaction between these two very different cultures sets the stage for this comedy-drama from filmmaker Marc Evans. Gwen (Nia Roberts) and Rhys (Matthew Gravelle) are a couple from Cardiff whose relationship is going through a rough patch; her career as an actress is in a slump, so when he gets an assignment to do a photo essay on the Welsh community in Patagonia, she tags along as an assistant. While Gwen and Rhys are hoping the working holiday with help kick-start their marriage, things take a turn for the worse when she becomes infatuated with Mateo (Matthew Rhys), a handsome local man working as their driver. Meanwhile, Alejandro (Nahuel Perez Biscayart) grudgingly agrees to accompany his elderly aunt Cerys (Marta Lubos) as she leaves her small village to have needed surgery, but he soon discovers she actually has other plans, and is instead flying to Wales to see the land her late mother once called home. Patagonia received its world premiere at the 2010 Seattle International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Matthew Rhys, Marta Lubos, (more)
- 2011
- NR
What goes on backstage at a high-school musical turns out to be more exciting than what is in front of the footlights in this comedy-drama from director Marc Evans. It's 1976, and Vivienne (Minnie Driver) is a music teacher at a high school in a working-class suburb of Swansea, Wales. Vivienne has been put in charge of directing the school's end-of-season musical, and she's chosen an unusual and ambitious project -- an adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Tempest with a score assembled from contemporary rock tunes. Swansea isn't exactly a haven for the arts, and Vivienne has a hard time keeping her cast interested in rehearsals as warm weather arrives and the end of the school year looms. However, there are exceptions -- Davey (Aneurin Barnard) is excited that he gets to play love scenes as Ferdinand with the play's Miranda, a girl named Stella (Danielle Branch) who has stolen his heart despite her reputation. However, as Davey becomes infatuated with Vivienne, things become increasingly complicated for her, especially after she persuades several members of the faculty to join the cast. Hunky Dory includes performances of period-appropriate tunes from a number of British rock acts, including David Bowie, Electric Light Orchestra, and Nick Drake. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Minnie Driver, Aneurin Barnard, (more)
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.