Laurence Fox Movies
The tall, slightly gaunt, and quintessentially British character actor Laurence Fox bears more than a passing resemblance to one of the Windsors, so it scarcely surprised anyone when American producers from the WE women's network tapped the rising young thespian to evoke a twentysomething Prince Charles in the fluffy romance Charles and Camilla: Whatever Love Means (2005). Astute observers, of course, realized that this uncanny portrayal only represented the proverbial tip of the iceberg for Fox; at the time, he had already played another crowned head, Lord Rupert Standish, amid the ensemble cast of Robert Altman's Oscar-nommed comedy mystery Gosford Park (2001), and subsequently held his own with small supporting roles in Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) and Becoming Jane (2007) -- both of which also required the performer to project prime English stoicism and fortitude. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Events from the life of the author Jane Austen inspired this romantic historical drama, which speculates of a romance that may have had a significant impact on her life and work. Twenty-year-old Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) is the daughter of Rev. Austen (James Cromwell), a minister who looks after a flock in a small rural community in Southern England with his wife (Julie Walters). While her older sister, Cassandra (Anna Maxwell Martin), is engaged to be married, Jane resists her family's efforts to match her up with Mr. Wisley (Laurence Fox), the wealthy but dull nephew of Lady Gresham (Maggie Smith), a minor member of the British nobility. Jane has the heart of an artist, and hopes to distinguish herself as a musician or a writer, though her parents don't think much of her prospects. When Jane meets Tom Lefroy (James McAvoy), a young man her own age, she's intrigued; while he scoffs at her writing style, he clearly sees she has talent, and is eager for her to learn more of the larger world by exposing her to more daring literature and modern pastimes such as boxing. As Tom begins to court Jane, she finds herself increasingly attracted to this poor but keenly intelligent man, though she soon realizes her own ideas about love and marriage are sometimes at odds with the conventions of the society in which she lives. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, (more)
A precocious Edwardian girl suffocating from the social norms is forced to choose between following her heart and obliging her family's wishes after falling for a handsome but unsuitable stranger during a trip to Italy. Based on author E.M. Forster's tale of forbidden love and scripted by Pride and Prejudice scribe Andrew Davies, director Nicholas Renton's playful period drama follows young Lucy Honeychurch as she takes a trip to Italy and exchanges a brief albeit life-altering kiss with the unsuitable George Emerson. Later, as Lucy's snooping chaperone attempts to keep her on the path laid out by her family, her engagement to the dull Cecil draws near, and her repressed feelings boil to the surface, she is taken aback to encounter the dashing object of her affections back in her homeland of England. What's a girl to do when her wedding date has been set in stone but the love of her life won't be standing at the alter? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2007
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This conspiracy-themed release argues that paparazzi were used as scapegoats and cover-ups in the events surrounding the late August 1997 death of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales, and that much darker truths account for her actual demise. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Actress Cate Blanchett returns to her Oscar-nominated role and director Shekhar Kapur steps back into the director's chair for this belated sequel to the critically acclaimed 1998 biopic Elizabeth that explores the 16th century romance between the "Virgin Queen" and noted adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen). Michael Hirst teams with William Nicholson to pen the screenplay, and actor Geoffrey Rush returns to the role of Sir Francis Walsingham. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, (more)
In the midst of a bold military strike designed to end World War II before Christmas, a skilled team of special operatives are assigned the task of locating a hidden cache of Nazi gold in this tense wartime adventure starring Michael Madsen and Billy Zane. With 35,000 United States troops dropped behind enemy lines in German-occupied Holland, the top-secret team, code-named "Matchbox," sets out to claim the valuable booty and bring it back to aid the U.S. war effort. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Zane, Roden Karel, (more)
A courageous group of soldiers plot their escape from the well-fortified Colditz compound in this World War II adventure drama starring Jason Priestly, Damian Lewis, and Sophia Myles. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hardy, Laurence Fox, (more)
- 2005
Strap in for a rollercoaster ride through the emotional worlds of love and royalty in an original WE Channel movie exploring the enduring, 30-year romance shared between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles. Decades before the fairy tale wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, the young prince and his longtime sweetheart found their growing love tragically clipped by the many demands of royalty and the sometimes rough waters of romance. Though he had previously exchanged vows with the glamorous Diana, Prince Charles never truly forgot about Parker-Bowles, and in this film Anglophiles and royalty scholars alike will finally learn the truth behind one of the highest profile romances in modern history. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Fox, Olivia Poulet, (more)
From Spanish director Fernando Colomo comes this adaptation of Gerald Brenan's comedic autobiographical book Al sur de Granada. Matthew Goode stars as Brenan, a young Englishman of affluent and noble stock. Motivated by idealism and with a desire to become a great writer, Gerald moves to a small Spanish town to get away from the trappings of his upbringing. There, he befriends Paco, a local man played by Guillermo Toledo, who helps introduce Gerald to the town. Eventually, the beautiful Juliana (Verónica Sánchez) catches Gerald's eye, and he immediately falls for her. From there, it's up to Paco to familiarize Gerald with the local customs so that he can win the heart of Juliana. Consuelo Trujillo and Ángela Molina also star. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Goode, Verónica Sánchez, (more)
Lost deep in the enemy territory of the western front during World War I, allied soldier Private Charles Shakespeare (Jamie Bell) and eight other British soldiers from the Y Company seek refuge in maze of an abadoned German trench. Winding through the twisting tunnels through piles of corpses and hungry rats, the exhausted soldiers decide to hold thier position and await a rescue team. As the soldiers begin to fall prey to an unseen force, one by one thier numbers dwindle and thier suspicions of one another grow. A young soldier who illegally entered the armed forces at the tender age of sixteen, Private Shakespeare must now summon the courage to face an evil greater than he could ever imagine. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jamie Bell, Ruaidhri Conroy, (more)
Maverick American filmmaker Robert Altman takes a witty and absorbing look at the foibles of the British class system in this intelligent murder mystery set in the early '30s. Sir William McCordle (Michael Gambon) and his wife Lady Sylvia (Kristin Scott Thomas) are a pair of wealthy British socialites who have invited a variety of friends, relatives, and acquaintances to their mansion in the country for a weekend of hunting and relaxation. Among the honored guests are Constance (Maggie Smith), Lady Sylvia's matronly aunt; Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam), William's cousin who is also a well-known actor and songwriter; and Morris Weissman (Bob Balaban), an American film producer who is friendly with Ivor and researching an upcoming project. Observing the proceedings are the domestic staff of the mansion, including imperious butler Jennings (Alan Bates); footmen George (Richard E. Grant) and Arthur (Jeremy Swift); Probert (Derek Jacobi), a valet to Sir William; housekeeper Mrs. Wilson (Helen Mirren); Mrs. Croft (Eileen Atkins), who oversees the kitchen; and Elsie (Emily Watson), a maid. Also on hand are the guests' personal servants, including Mary (Kelly Macdonald), Constance's maid; Henry (Ryan Phillippe), Weissman's valet; and Parks (Clive Owens), a butler. While the servants are required to display a high level of decorum, they are expected to be passive observers who do not comment on what they see, though the gossip among them travels thick and fast once they retire to the servants' quarters downstairs. And it turns out that there's plenty worth gossiping about, especially after Sir William turns up dead, and everyone is ordered to stay at the mansion while the police investigate the killing. Gosford Park also features Charles Dance, Tom Hollander, Natasha Wightman, and Ron Webster; the screenplay was written by Julian Fellowes, based on a story by Altman and co-star Bob Balaban. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, (more)
A fun-filled getaway for four teenagers becomes a season in Hell in this tense British thriller. Liz Dunn (Thora Birch) is a student at an exclusive private school who is head over heels for Mike Steel (Desmond Harrington), a handsome classmate whose father is a well-known American rock star. Liz, however, is self-conscious about her looks and is convinced Mike would rather be with the prettier girls in her class. Liz is also unenthusiastic about an upcoming field trip, in which she and the other students will have to camp out for three days while studying local geography. Liz confesses her infatuation with Mike to Martin Taylor (Daniel Brocklebank), a science-minded geek and longtime friend who happens to be in love with Liz, though she prefers to ignore it. Martin proposes a solution to both of Liz's problems; he's found an underground bunker built during World War II near the school grounds, and he arranges a little party in which Liz and Mike will spend the three days of the field trip in the bunker, with class couple Geoff (Laurence Fox) and Frankie (Keira Knightley) going along, giving Liz a perfect chance to impress Mike with her charm. The students lay in a supply of food, water, and booze to last them for three days, but after 72 hours, they discover they've been locked in, and they're not sure if Martin intends to let them out. The Hole also stars Embeth Davidtz as a psychiatrist who consults with Liz after her ordeal. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Thora Birch, Desmond Harrington, (more)
