Sarah Wilson Movies
- 2003
A spin-off of the 2001 TV movie of the same name, the British action-adventure series Red Cap was devoted to the exploits of the U.K. Army's Special Investigation Branch, a team of "military detectives" who pulled off elaborate sting operations to thwart the enemies of democracy. In other words, it was Mission: Impossible with uniforms and an accent. During the series' first season, the dramatic tension was enhanced by the fact that the seven-person SI team consisted of six men and one woman, compelling Sgt. Jo McDonagh (played by former EastEnders regular Tamzin Outhwaite), who had to go out of her way to prove that she was just as good as the other "guys." Created by Patrick Harbinson, Red Cap debuted over BBC1 on January 7, 2003, and was brought to the United States via the BBC America cable service beginning July 6 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tamzin Outhwaite, Douglas Hodge, (more)
A man who knows the importance of clearing out the weeks in one's garden begins to wonder if the same principles apply to the people around him in this made-for-TV drama, inspired by a true story. Maj. Herbert Armstrong (Michael Kitchen) was an attorney and clerk to the magistrate in the Welsh community of Hay-on-Wye in the early 1920's. One of Armstrong's great passion was gardening, and he took unusual pride in the appearance of the greenery around his home. Cursed with a patch of stubborn dandelions, Armstrong purchased a large supply of an arsenic-based weed killer to put an end to the problem once and for all. But when Armstrong's wife Catherine (Sarah Miles) and rival in business Oswald (David Thewlis) -- both of whom had recently raised Armstrong's ire -- both turned up dead, apparently poisoned with arsenic, investigators began to wonder if this was really a mere coincidence. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Canadian filmmaker James Dunnison directs this campy horror flick about a guy and his mother. Scrawny, leather-clad Phillip (Max Danger) is a misfit living in the basement of his mother's Toronto townhouse. Her bullying ways push him over the edge, and Phillip blows her away. Fortunately, he comes across an ancient ring that has the power to reanimate the dead. Unfortunately, his discovery provokes a horde of angry vampires. Between savage battles with mom and the undead, Phillip finds the time to fall for a sexy young medical receptionist (Sandra Guerard) who sports a different wig every time they meet. This film was screened at the 1999 Vancouver Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Danger, Sandra Guerard, (more)
Thomas Hardy's classic 19th century novel Tess of the d'Ubervilles was expansively adapted to television in this two-part British miniseries. Justine Waddell stars as Tess D'Urbeyfield, the poor relation to the prosperous D'Ubervilles, a rural family. Sent to work on the farm of her distant relatives, Tess stirs up an intense romantic rivalry between her cousin Alec D'Uberville (Jason Flemyng) and handsome "local" Angel Clare (Oliver Milburn). Tragedy ensues when the rapacious Alec "has his way" with Tess, inaugurating a chain of events that will ultimately find the heroine on trial for her life. A production of ITV's London Weekend Television, Tess of the d'Ubervilles was originally presented in one two-hour and one 90-minute installment beginning March 8, 1998. The program debuted in America on September 13 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Justine Waddell, Jason Flemyng, (more)
- 1996
An undercover murder investigation leads the authorities to discover the shocking truth behind a crime that initially seemed cut and dry in this thriller starring Daniel Craig and Rosie Rowell. When an outwardly devoted husband is accused of murdering his wife, undercover policewoman Jude (Rowell) assumes the role of a lonely heart in hopes of eliciting a confession. The closer Jude gets to the accused, however, the more she begins to question his guilt. Her judgment soon clouded as her relationship with a supervising officer (Craig) gets intimate, the conflicted cop soon finds reality and fantasy merging as new evidence leads her down an increasingly dangerous path. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Craig
A charming grifter who boldly feeds off the greed of others must straighten up before he loses everything in this British crime drama featuring House M.D. star Hugh Laurie. Leo Hopkins (Laurie) is the kind of con man who can sweet talk his way out of even the tightest of jams; he isn't afraid to take risks, and most of the time those risks pay off amicably. Eventually, Leo's nefarious ways catch up to him as his gambling addiction becomes a serious problem, his secretary seduces him, and his morally bankrupt boss gives him a troubling ultimatum. Now, as this unrepentant deceiver watches his life go up in flames, he'll be forced to make a decision that could alter the course of his entire life. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugh Laurie, Bob Monkhouse, (more)
- 1993
Presented by Britain's Central Television, the four-part miniseries The Guilty may or may not have been inspired by a true story. Michael Kitchen, often cast in enigmatic roles, headed the cast as Steven Vey, a prominent barrister. Vey's already troubled personal and professional life began to unravel and ultimately fall apart at the seams when he was accused of rape. The Guilty originally aired in 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
