Jason Done Movies
- 1998
- Add Merlin to Queue
This four-hour fantasy miniseries, elaborating on the Arthurian legend and filmed in England and Wales, offers a portrait of the wizard Merlin (Sam Neill), following his life as a youth (Daniel Brocklebank) to his later conflicts with the evil Queen Mab (Miranda Richardson) and his love for Nimue (Isabella Rossellini), who is kidnapped by Lord Vortigern (Rutger Hauer). Amid battles and displays of magic and mysticism (courtesy of London's Framestore and the Jim Henson Creature Shop), Merlin strides the English countryside encountering Excalibur, the unbreakable sword, and a Camelot cast of colorful characters including the morphing manservant Frik (Martin Short), Morgan le Fey (Helena Bonham Carter), King Arthur (Paul Curran), Lancelot (Jeremy Sheffield), and Guinevere (Lena Heady). Premiered April 26, 1998 on NBC. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Neill, Isabella Rossellini, (more)
- 1997
One of the most popular British TV soap operas of the late 20th-early 21st century, Where the Heart Is was set in the fictional community of Skelthwaite. Originally, the stories focused on two nurses, Peggy Snow (Pam Ferris) and Ruth Goddard (Sarah Lancashire), and their extended families. Eventually and inevitably, the plot lines branched out to virtually every resident of Skelthwaite, especially the younger and prettier citizens. The first 54-minute episode of Where the Heart Is was broadcast in 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pam Ferris, Sarah Lancashire, (more)
- 1997
The British series Wokenwell had something in common with the whimsical small-town saga Ballykissangel, albeit with a more bizarre and supernatural edge. The series took place in the tiny rural community mentioned in the title, with dramatic emphasis on Wokenwall's three chief law enforcers: PC Brian Rainford (Jason Done), PC Rudy Whiteside (Nicholas Gleaves), and Sgt. Duncan Bonney (Ian McElhinney). The trio was perennially baffled and flustered by the weird goings-on in the community, but the cops weren't anywhere near as perplexed as their long-suffering wives, respectively Fran Rainford (Nicola Stephenson), Lucky Whiteside (Lesley Dunlop), and June Bonney (Celia Imrie). The first of the six hour-long Wokenwell episodes was seen on May 18, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Done, Tim Barker, (more)
Anthony Minghella wrote and directed this award-winning adaptation of Michael Ondaatje's novel about a doomed and tragic romance set against the backdrop of World War II. In a field hospital in Italy, Hana (Juliette Binoche), a nurse from Canada, is caring for a pilot who was horribly burned in a plane wreck; he has no identification and cannot remember his name, so he's known simply as "the English Patient," thanks to his accent. When the hospital is forced to evacuate, Hana determines en route that the patient shouldn't be moved far due to his fragile condition, so the two are left in a monastery to be picked up later. In time, Hana begins to piece together the patient's story from the shards of his memories; he's actually Count Laszlo Almasy (Ralph Fiennes), of Hungarian nobility and an explorer working with a group mapping uncharted territory in North Africa. An Englishman, Geoffrey Clifton (Colin Firth), soon joins Almasy's team; travelling with him is his lovely and spirited wife, Katherine (Kristin Scott Thomas). Katherine and Laszlo soon fall in love, which leads Laszlo to betray his friend, his country and all that is dear to him. Meanwhile, Hana and the Patient are joined by Kip (Naveen Andrews), a Sikh with a gift for defusing mines, and Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe), an intelligence agent who knows some of Laszlo's most shameful secrets. The English Patient won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress (Juliette Binoche). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, (more)
