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Robert Robertson Movies

1996  
R  
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With Breaking The Waves, director Lars von Trier fashions an often disturbing tale of the singular power of love. Bess (the Oscar-nominated Emily Watson) is a naïve, borderline simple young woman who lives in a Scottish coastal town ruled by the religious doctrine of its council of elders. Recovering from a mental breakdown caused by the death of her brother, Bess marries a rough yet compassionate and attentive oil rig worker named Jan (Stellan Skarsgård). For a brief time, the couple enjoys peaceful wedded bliss, with the worldly Jan introducing Bess to the mysteries of sex. Jan must soon return to his job on the rig, however, where he is paralyzed from the neck down in a freak accident. Bess' emotional trauma over Jan's injury turns into obsession as she prays to God for his recovery and offers to do anything to have her husband back whole. Jan, constantly medicated and profoundly depressed, asks Bess to have sex with other men and tell him about it, thinking this will allow her to return to a normal life. Bess, on the other hand, sees it as an expression of her devotion to Jan that even God won't be able to ignore. Bess's resultant downward spiral leads to a finale of both tragedy and spirituality. Breaking the Waves is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive European movies of the 1990s, marking von Trier's movement toward his influential Dogma 95 school of filmmaking, which emphasizes realistic situations of contemporary life, filmed without background music and with a hand-held, restlessly moving camera. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

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Starring:
Emily WatsonStellan Skarsgård, (more)
 
1993  
 
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Helen (Crystal Bernard) reluctantly accepts the financial assistance of Joe (Tim Daly) and Brian (Steven Weber) in her efforts to land a position with the Nantucket String Quartet. Unfortunately, the annoying eccentricities of her fellow musicians drive Helen crazy, but she agrees to stay on for the sake of the Hackett brothers. Before this situation is resolved, we are treated to tantalizing glimpses of the amateur musical triumph "Phantom of the Oprah," starring Fay (Rebecca Schull) as Oprah Winfrey! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1970  
 
The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) assists U.N.I.T. in its efforts to find out why the Mars Probe 7 project has suddenly cut of all radio contact with earth. The mystery deepens when one of the astronauts successfully returns from Mars, only to begin behaving like a lunatic. Written by Don Houghton and debuting March 21, 1970, the seven-episode "The Ambassadors of Death" was the second Doctor Who adventure to be lensed in color. Unfortunately, only black-and-white prints exist for episodes two through seven. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Jon PertweeCaroline John, (more)
 
1970  
 
In the second episode of the seven-part story "The Ambassadors of Death," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) investigates the bizarre behavior of an astronaut who has just returned from Mars. The root of the problem would seem to be a top-level government conspiracy -- but, as is usually the case on Doctor Who, there is more to this than meets the eye. Written by Don Houghton, "The Ambassadors of Death, Episode 2" originally aired on March 28, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode presently exists in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Jon PertweeCaroline John, (more)