Jayne Ashbourne Movies

A straight-laced father and his not-so-straight brother come together under strange circumstances in this comedy from Italy. Only a few days before his daughter Chiara (Elena D'Urso) is to be married, Nicolo Gammarota (Lino Banfi) gets the sad news that his mother has passed on. Now Nicolo must arrange a funeral just as he's putting the finishing touches on his daughter's wedding. Adding to his troubles is the arrival of his brother Francesco (Nino Manfredi) to pay his respects. Forty years before, Francesco came out of the closet with his homosexuality, causing a minor scandal in their community; Francesco moved away, leaving his family to deal with the gossip, and Nicolo hasn't spoken to him since. However, it was their mother's final wish that Nicolo and Francesco come together for her burial, so the brothers embark on an unexpectedly eventful trip through the countryside to grant her last request. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Based on a true story, this two-part British miniseries chronicled the sorry career of Victorian-era doctor -- and unrepentant murderer -- William Palmer. Eager to become "the most famous surgeon in England," Palmer (played with appropriate arrogant detachment by Keith Allen) stopped at nothing to achieve his goal, ultimately poisoning anyone who had the temerity to stand in his way. Despite having decimated virtually his entire family, Palmer managed to get away with his homicidal perfidy until he brought about the death of his "best friend," John Parsons Cook (Richard Coyle). As a result of this final outrage, Palmer did indeed become England's most famous surgeon -- but not quite in the way that he'd always imagined. Originally telecast in Britain by Yorkshire Television on March 3 and 10, 1998, The Life and Crimes of William Palmer was seen in America via PBS' Mystery anthology on November 12 and 19, 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide