Paul Barber Movies

This seriocomic British TV series stars Warren Clarke and Anthony Head as Maurice Riley and Syd Woolsey, a pair of professional burglars who have always managed to evade capture or detection, thereby earning the soubriquet "The Invisibles." Hoping to spend their declining days as peaceful pensioners in a Devon fishing village, Maurice and Syd's dreams of retirement when they run out of the money they've pilfered over the years. Now forced to return to the "old life", our heroes find that they are woefully out of touch with modern criminal methods, obliging them to team up with Hedley Huthwaite (Dean Lennox Kelly), the larcenous but none-too-ambitious son of their former partner in crime. Meanwhile, Maurice must deal with his wife Barbara (Jenny Agutter), who wants him to pack it in and lead an honest life, and with his daughter Grace (played by Anthony Head's real-life daughter Emily Head), whom he has carefully shielded from his perfidious activities and who is completely in the dark as to what her dear old dad has been doing for a living. As for the much-married Syd, he must learn how to get along without women complicating his "second career". Created by William Ivory, The Invisibles (working title: Desperadoes) initially ran for six hour-long episodes on BBC1 from May 1 to June 5, 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally titled American Meltdown, this speculative made-for-cable melodrama begins as a group of six terrorists, bearing names like Khalid, Shafig, and Ziad, take over a nuclear power plant in San Juan. It turns out that the terrorists' actions are merely symbolic, and that no real harm is intended -- but things get tragically out of control, and soon the military and the government are in full spin mode to gloss over and wash their hands of a deadly nuclear meltdown that threatens to destroy everything within driving distance of the plant. In a virtual reprise of his characterization in the TV series 24, Arnold Vosloo portrays the head of the terrorists, who are more "home grown" than anyone is willing to admit. The film is shot in a punchy, fast-cut, hand-held "breaking news" style, alternating dizzily between color and black-and-white to give it a documentary feel. Meltdown was presented by the FX cable channel on June 6, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Pigs from another world are ready to destroy the Earth, and only one mental patient can stop them in this absurdist comedy. Robert (Ian Fraiser) is an eccentric man living in a small British community, who after a stint of psychotherapy begins hearing voices in his head. This in itself is disturbing enough for Robert, but what really troubles him is what the voices are saying -- it seems he's being told about a band of alien invaders who resemble pigs and have a plan to destroy the world as we know it unless the United States stops its research in interstellar weaponry. Robert tries to tell the world about this dire news, but he soon proves to be a less-than-ideal cosmic messenger, and the only people believe he's serious are his on-and-off girlfriend Narendra (Indira Varma) and would-be musician Jimmy (Paul Barber). As Robert faces this unusual crisis, England reels from the effects of a strange plague that is apparently being spread by the nation's canines. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Six guys with nothing left to lose try losing their clothing for fun and profit in this international hit comedy. Gaz (Robert Carlyle) and Dave (Mark Addy) are two former steelworkers in the British industrial town of Sheffield who have been devastated by the economic downturn in their community. Gaz is threatened with losing visitation rights with his son if he can't pay his child support, while Dave feels emasculated by his inability to support his wife. One day, Gaz stops by a local pub for a drink and is told it's women only tonight -- the Chippendales male exotic dancing troupe is playing, and they are demanding a hefty cover charge. Gaz decides there's nothing a bunch of pantywaists from America can do that he and his pals can't do better, and decides to form his own crew of male strippers, called "Hard Steel." However, the local talent pool leaves a bit to be desired. Gaz isn't bad looking, but Dave is a bit heavy and very self conscious about it. Horse (Paul Barber) was probably hot stuff at Soul Night in the mid-70's, but his joints don't move like they used to. Guy (Hugo Speer) can't dance to save his life, but makes the troupe because ... well, let's say he and Dirk Diggler would have a lot to say to each other. Lomper (Steve Huison) is sometimes too busy attempting suicide to practice. And Gerald (Tom Wilkinson), their choreographer, isn't much on male exotic dancing -- ballroom dancing is more his speed. While "Hard Steel"'s performances are more amusing then enticing, for the first time since they lost their jobs the men have a reason to get up in the morning; joining the group has given them a circle of friendship, and a renewed sense of purpose. Combining broad comedy with believable and well-drawn characters, The Full Monty was a major box-office hit both in England and the United States and was nominated for Academy Awards as Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Several male and female frequenters of singles bars are murdered by an elusive serial killer. Investigating, Mulder and Scully unearth a number of highly contradictory clues. The trail of evidence leads to an isolated religious sect known as The Kindred -- and the seemingly inescapable conclusion that the murderer is a sect member who is able to change genders from male to female and back again. Written by Larry Barber and Paul Barber, "Genderbender" (sometimes listed as "Gender Bender") was first broadcast January 21, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

John Mackenzie's masterfully directed British crime drama features a star-making performance by Bob Hoskins as Harold Shand, a successful London gangster whose world falls apart over the course of one weekend. Shand controls the London docks and is planning a big real estate deal, financed by money from the American mob and given the okay by the London organization. His world is sweet -- he lives in a fancy penthouse, he owns a yacht, and has a sensitive and intelligent mistress. But suddenly a bomb explodes inside his Rolls Royce, another bomb destroys a pub he owns, and a third is found inside his casino. Shand can't understand who would suddenly want him dead, particularly over the Easter weekend, when representatives from the American mafia are coming into town to discuss investing in Shands's real estate project. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide