Alan Fletcher Movies
- 1993
A teacher's life is nearly destroyed when his deranged student cries rape in this Australian drama. The new philosophy professor at an all-girls' academy, Professor Justin Thorne (Jimmy Smits) has it all: a great job, a solid wife (Sarah Chadwick) and family, and the adulation of his impressionable students. But when one particularly imaginative and alluring student takes a shine to him, Thorne finds himself in court fighting for his future. Jennifer Carter (Naomi Watts), the daughter of the school's widowed headmaster, throws off her loutish boyfriend and throws herself at Thorne. Meanwhile, she keeps a diary of imaginary encounters with a phantom lover. Cornered in his office one night, Thorne gets his blood up desperately rejecting Jennifer's advances. The passion is so strong that he finds himself making love to her almost involuntarily. Soon, Jennifer shows up battered and bruised, claiming Thorne raped her, and the police seize on her diary as proof of a twisted affair. Soon, the discredited professor must suffer through character assassination in court while attempting to unravel Jennifer's tortured psyche and stay out of jail. Adrian Wright co-stars as Kenneth Carter, the accusor's stern, secretive father. The film's director, George Miller, is not to be confused with the other Australian George Miller, who directed Mad Max. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmy Smits, Naomi Watts, (more)
- 1993
In this suspenseful drama, a medium sized plane en route from the U.S. to New Zealand gets hopelessly lost over the vast Pacific after his companion plane crashes. Now his only hope for salvation is the small commercial jet liner with whom the lost pilot is in radio contact. As his plane runs out of fuel, the larger plane must somehow find him before it is too late. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Loggia, Scott Bakula, (more)
- 1990
Australian cinematographer Ray Argall made his directorial debut with this low-key drama about a man coming back to his hometown and trying to make a new start. Dennis Coard is Noel, a successful insurance broker from the city who decides, after a brutal divorce, to forsake city life and return to his boyhood home. Moving back to the seaside town of Adelaide, he re-experiences the old gas station that his father once owned. Now his older brother Steve (Franklin J. Holden) is running things in partnership with his wife Judy (Micki Camilleri). Noel also meets Steve's prize mechanic Gary (Ben Mendelsohn), an awkward teenager who has just had a nasty separation from his girlfriend Wendy (Rachel Rains). As Noel observes the hometown folk and their daily troubles, he realizes what he has been missing in the mad, big-city rush. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frankie J. Holden, Ben Mendelsohn, (more)
- 1990
In this children's drama, Steven Wilson (Andrew Shephard) has been sent from his country home to stay with his grandmother Pearl (Pat Evison) in Melbourne. She earns her keep working in the boxoffice of a theater, and Steven spends most of his time with her at the theater. For the most part, he has delightful encounters with the actors and theater workers, but the theater owner is a charmless and mean old fellow who only very reluctantly allows him on the premises. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pat Evison, Max Phipps, (more)
- 1985
The Australian Fran stars Noni Hazelhurst as the title character. A single mother, Fran is selflessly devoted to her children. But something is lacking in her life, and that something is the love of a man her own age. Her efforts to juggle a love life with her home life are largely unsuccessful, resulting in a profound emotional crisis. Fran pulls no punches, and it isn't "easy" entertainment, but it remains a riveting experience for those willing to go the distance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annie Byron, Alan Fletcher, (more)
- 1985
Nick Mancuso stars in the made-for-TV Embassy. Cast as an American ambassador stationed in Rome, Mancuso's life is thrown into turmoil by a crucial computer chip. When not trying to keep U.S. defense secrets from falling into the wrong hands, he must juggle the affections of his press-attache-girlfriend, (Mimi Rogers), and his girlfriend's chief rival (Blanche Baker). Embassy was intended as the 2-hour pilot for a weekly series; it didn't sell, but Nick Mancuso's next venture in the TV-pilot field, Stingray, proved successful. Embassy was initially telecast on April 21, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
