Richard Holmes Movies
- 2011
- NR
Director Amit Gupta teams with Welsh author Owen Sheers to adapt Sheers' gripping novel set in an alternate history where Nazi German has conquered Russia, and Allied forces were defeated during the Battle of Normandy. The year is 1944. The Nazis have occupied areas of Britain, and a small Welsh village is about to awaken to a shocking surprise. All of the men in the village of Olchon have vanished without a trace, including Sarah Lewis' husband Tom, a respected farmer. Could they have left under the shroud of darkness to join the Resistance? As the women nervously ponder the fates of their absent husbands, a German patrol appears in Olchon on a clandestine mission. When the winter weather takes a turn for the worst, the local women and the German troops are forced to rely on each other for survival. As Sarah and German commanding officer Albrecht Wolfram form a fragile alliance, however, the reality of the situation begins to weigh on both the villagers and the soldiers, and the tense situation leads to tragedy for all involved. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
A romantic weekend in the woods turns into a bloody struggle for survival when a vacationing couple finds their campsite surrounded by an aggressive gang of obnoxious adolescents in the feature directorial debut of My Little Eye screenwriter James Watkins. All nursery school teacher Jenny and her boyfriend, Steve, wanted was a quiet weekend alone, and what better setting for such a romantic retreat than a quiet lake surrounded by a vast forest? Just as Steve is preparing to propose to Jenny, however, their blissful moment of peace is rudely interrupted when their campsite is encircled by a gang of particularly unruly teens. After the kids provoke the couple by stealing their belongings and vandalizing their car, the situation turns deadly serious as Steve attempts to confront them and suffers a terrible beating. Now it's up to Jenny to flee from her tormentors under the shroud of darkness and make her way to the nearest town, though what she finds there may well be worse than what's waiting for her back in the woods. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender, (more)
- 2002
Based on actual events that took place in Waterford, Ireland, in the late 1700s, director Stefan Schwartz's romantic comedy-drama concerns itself with a group of abductors who kidnap usually willing young women in order to persuade them to wed. Set during an era where law dictates that the eldest sons inherit family estates and younger siblings are left to either enter the priesthood or the military, young noblemen decide to take matters into their own hands by abducting the young heiresses and charming them for a night before releasing them to make their ultimate decision. As Anne (Sophia Myles) is subjected to the uninvited advances of Power (Liam Cunningham), Abduction Club member Byrne (Daniel Lapaine) schemes to kidnap Anne's older sister Catherine (Alice Evans). Though the kidnapping plan is foiled when Anne decides to tag along, Byrne's friend Strang (Matthew Rhys) finds himself attracted to the younger sister despite Abduction Club rules stating that abductees must be at least 18 (Anne is 17) and that no more than one member of the same family is to be abducted at any given time. Strang is subsequently expelled by Abduction Club leader Sir Myles (Patrick Malahide), and the fledgling affections of the mismatched couple face a formidable challenge as the local militia is tipped off to their scheme. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alice Evans, Daniel Lapaine, (more)
A group of wealthy bohemians clash with each other as they're targeted by a gang of murderers in this dark comedy-drama based on the novel by Martin Amis. Upper class bohemian Giles (Charlie Condou), whose biggest worry in life seems to be the state of his teeth, has inherited a large estate from his family, and one weekend he invites large group of friends to join him for a weekend of drug-fueled debauchery. Ennui-stricken Cecilia (Olivia Williams), her hulking boyfriend Andy (Christian Solimeno), high-strung Quentin (Paul Bettany), his spouse Cecilia (Alexandra Gilbreath), hygiene-challenged Keith (Andy Nyman), unstable Skip (Kris Marshall), man-hungry Roxanne (Hayley Carr), drug-dealing Marvel (William Marsh), and Lucy (Katy Carmichael), who has been involved with most of the men in attendance, all settle in for a few days of conversation, free love, and good not-so-clean fun. But the revelers are unaware that the Conceptualists, a murderous terrorist organization, have staked out the mansion, and soon they're receiving messages from someone called Johnny, who makes clear his intentions to kill them all. Dead Babies was the center of a minor controversy at the time of its release in the United Kingdom; director and screenwriter William Marsh openly feuded with producer Richard Holmes after Holmes re-edited the picture against Marsh's wishes. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Paul Bettany, Hayley Carr, (more)
Wedding bells break up the old gang -- and one of the gang members isn't the least bit happy about it -- in this British comedy-drama. A bunch of London drinking buddies call themselves the "Jolly Boys," and devote most of their spare time to swilling beer, goofing off, and generally pursuing unambitious good times. But one day, Spider (Andy Serkis), the group's de facto leader, announces he's decided to marry his girlfriend Annie (Rebecca Craig) -- and what's more, he's even vying for a promotion at work. Des (Milo Twomey), his best friend, agrees to be his best man; he also gets a camcorder so he can make a video about the club's exploits before matrimony lures Spider away. But then Vinnie (Sacha Baron Cohen) decides to follow Spider's example, proposing to his girlfriend Tina (Jo Martin), and Des starts wondering if he's documenting Spider's last days of bachelor freedom or the beginning of the end of the Jolly Boys. The Jolly Boys' Last Stand was shot on digital video, and later transferred to film for theatrical release in the United Kingdom. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Andy Serkis
Just as the charming British film The Full Monty told the story of simple men willing to shed their clothes for money, Waking Ned Devine is the story of older Irish men who pursue money and take off their clothes. Commercial director Kirk Jones makes his feature directing debut with a story about a small town in Ireland called Tulaigh More, where one of their 52 inhabitants wins the lotto jackpot of nearly seven million pounds. When nobody claims it, the town goes on a search to find out why. They find the winner, old Ned Devine, dead -- a smile on his face, clutching the winning ticket. Well, in Ireland, the lottery winnings must be claimed by the purchaser, which puts the town in a spot -- if the lottery officials discover Devine dead, he forfeits his money. What ensues is a community coming together in hopes of getting his money to split 51 ways. What they learn is the importance of friendship and the true value of money. To reveal any more would spoil some major surprises, but suffice it to say, it involves aging actors David Kelly, 69, and Ian Bannen, 70, naked. ~ Chris Gore, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ian Bannen, David Kelly, (more)
Calling to mind the whimsical, swinging London comedies of the 1960s, such as the Blake Edwards Pink Panther films and the collaborations of The Beatles with director Richard Lester, this frantic romantic comedy is an airy, pop example of the British New Wave. Dylan Dan Futterman and Jez Stuart Townsend are friends from opposite sides of the Atlantic using their special skills -- Dylan is a slick-talking American, while Jez is a humble British computer expert -- to bilk England's wealthy. Both orphans, they plan to accumulate enough pounds to buy the luxurious mansion home they never had as children. Their scams include selling phony voice-recognition software and reinstalling the same insulation into various homes. Into their lives comes Georgie (Kate Beckinsale), a beautiful girl engaged to a rich jerk. Dylan and Jez hire Georgie as a secretary and both fall in love with her, though Jez's feelings are a bit more sincere. At first appalled by her employers' scams, Georgie believes their lie that they intend to give the money to the poor. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dan Futterman, Stuart Townsend, (more)
- 1994
- R
This British romantic comedy examines a trouble relationship between a behavioral psychologist and a paleontology lecturer with serious sexual hang-ups. Currently Dr. Daniel Becker is holding seminars for teaching body language to executives. Katie, the lecturer, seems to defy all he seems to know with her habit of knocking out any male she suspects of harboring sexual thoughts about her. They go out on a dinner date. Immediately, Katie-the-mind-reader smacks the waiter. Intrigued, Daniel blindfolds her to see if she really can read thoughts. Katie, who sees no future in their relationship, plans to go on a research trip to India with her peer, Sandip. Daniel tries to thwart her plans. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Amanda Pays, Mark Frankel, (more)
- 1994
This cross-cultural thriller follows the travails of an American in Istanbul who is sent upon a mysterious quest. Richie Hunter's adventure begins when he is handed an old compass by Haldun, a stranger. Haldun instructs him to go see Lamia, a wealthy aristocrat and show him the compass. Haldun is Lamia's illegitimate son, the ancient piece proves he is still alive. Lamia is married to a businessman with an arsonists heart. He wants to set fire to the family manse and claim the insurance money. Lamia's chauffer is going to steal the ancient scroll that contains the secrets of "death and love." Others too, seek this scroll including a religious sect and Richie Hunter who secretly works for a large U.S. corporation. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gonen Bozbey, Daniel Chace, (more)
- 1992
A teen is shunned by her family after she gets pregnant by a mystery man, in this British made-for-television drama. Based on the book by Mary Welsey, Serena Scott Thomas stars as Hebe, a girl who gets involved in casual prostitution as a way to make ends meet for herself and her young son while living in Southern England. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- 1992
Gavin Bellini is half Scottish, half Italian. Perhaps that blend of two of the most romantic sensibilities in the world accounts for his being in London, scraping out a living as an illustrator. One day he runs into his father's brother and learns that, if he high-tails it to Glasgow in time to attend his father's surprise birthday party, there's a chance he could come into some cash. He hops in his old rust-bucket of a car and takes to the road. On the way, he picks up a girl hitchhiker who is also headed back home to Glasgow. She is a feisty wench, and unexpectedly skilled at getting cars fixed. The two of them couldn't be more different and soon begin to argue and bicker, with the inevitable result that, in addition to their other adventures, they fall in love. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Capaldi, Frances Barber, (more)
- 1992
A priest named Father Jay (Luke Reilly) comes to the defense of Tommy Beltran (Luis Antonio Ramos), a poor youth accused of murdering his wealthy girlfriend. It appears that the girl's short-tempered father (David Leary) had ordered her to break off the relationship. But if the D.A.'s office wants any more information, they are stymied by the fact that Tommy "told all" at his church confessional -- information that Father Jay can not and will not reveal. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
This 90-minute drama was made for British television. The chameleon-like Ben Kingsley stars as an ulcerated movie producer. Jeremy Child co-stars as Kingsley's equally overworked agent. The relationship between these two predators is placed in context with the cutthroat world of showbiz. Diane Keen is featured as the requisite woman in the case. Sleeps Six was first telecast in the U.S. over the A&E cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Kingsley, Diane Keen, (more)
With The Ritz, Terrence McNally's hit Broadway play of the same name is cinematized by director Richard Lester. Jack Weston plays Gaetano Proclo, a minor mob flunky who's been targeted for elimination by his brother-in-law, Carmine Vespucci (Jerry Stiller). Gaetano takes refuge in what he thinks is a Turkish bath. Actually, it's The Pits. That's the name, "The Pits" -- a gay bathhouse (this is the pre-AIDS era), where the exquisitely awful Googie Gomez (Rita Moreno) entertains the homosexual patrons with her ear-splitting renditions of such show tunes as "Everything's Coming Up Roses." Hoping to save his neck by pretending to be gay, Gaetano effusively praises Googie. Assuming that he is a big-time Broadway producer, she plays up to him. Everything would be hunky-dory, except that the bathhouse is owned by the very mob that has put a contract on Gaetano. What follows is an old-fashioned door-slamming farce, except that there are no doors to slam. The supporting cast includes Kaye Ballard, Treat Williams, George Coulouris, F. Murray Abraham, Dave King, and (as one of the patrons) a pre-Cheers John Ratzenberger. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jack Weston, Rita Moreno, (more)
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