John Hurt Movies

In 1975, John Hurt starred in a BBC television adaptation of Quentin Crisp's autobiography The Naked Civil Servant, playing the flamboyantly gay author and actor, and in 2009 Hurt revisits the role in this comedy-drama based on the latter years of Crisp's life. Crisp rose to fame in the UK following the publication of his memoirs and the success of a one-man show, but when a series of typically frank but witty quips during an interview lead to a public scandal, Crisp is approached by an American talent agent, Connie Clausen (Swoosie Kurtz), who says she can get him work in the United States. Crisp relocates to New York City, where he stages a show entitled "How To Be Happy" and gains a new audience. However, the high camp of Crisp's persona and his habit of making deliberately provocative statements (such as calling AIDS "a fad" and calling homosexuality "a terrible disease") earns him the enmity of some gay activists and causes the show to close prematurely. Clausen arranges for Crisp to meet Phillip Steele (Denis O'Hare), the publisher of the Village Voice, and Steele offers Crisp a job as the paper's new film critic. Crisp's witty and acerbic commentary on new movies wins him a new fan base and he and Steele become close friends, but as age and broken relationships begin to take their toll on Crisp, he returns to the stage in a new show created in collaboration with performance artist Penny Arcade (Cynthia Nixon). An Englishman In New York received its world premiere at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival; the film takes its title from a song by Sting, who struck up a friendship with Crisp when they both appeared in the movie The Bride. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Kevin Spacey and Bob Balaban headline Austin Powers director Jay Roach's all-star docudrama examining the events surrounding the most controversial presidential election in United States history. The highest office in the country is up for grabs, and the fate of the free world may hang in the balance. When the initial tallies from Florida voting polls prove inconclusive, the decision is made to hold a recount. But it's a controversial decision to say the least, and one that caused many skeptical voters to suspect foul play. Eventually the case would go all the way to the Supreme Court, and as the trial gets under way charismatic Texas republican James Baker (Tom Wilkinson) attempts to rally public support for the recount. But the Democrats aren't about to lie down and die just yet, because Al Gore's former chief of staff Ron Klain (Spacey) can play hardball with the best of the old elephants. Now, as these two opposing giants come to blows over the fate of the presidency, they gradually begin to develop a grudging respect for one another. Laura Dern, John Hurt, Dennis Leary, and Ed Begley, Jr. round out the cast for the film that blends actual news footage and verbatim dialogue into fictionalized recreations that are both highly entertaining and deeply dramatic. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Producer Julian Lennon collaborates with screenwriter/director Kim Kindersley to offer viewers a rare glimpse into a tribal culture that has endured for centuries and whose detailed creation story revolves around the most majestic mammals to swim the seven seas. Extensive underwater footage serves as the spectacular visual backdrop to ancient legends that gradually unfold to offer a fascinating glimpse into humankind's past, and a potentially dire look into our future. By exploring the connection between the so-called "mothers of the sea" and the ancient civilizations whose very culture was based on their existence, the filmmakers call upon viewers to create peace and unity on Earth by embracing every living being and recognizing that all life forms, no matter how different they may appear, are all intricately linked together. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

As the soothing sounds of Lenny Green on the Radio World Broadcasting Network beam down to earth from satellites orbiting the planet, a series of short order chefs, master chefs, and harried delivery people work out their philosophies about life while savoring the flavor of their favorite dishes. Paulo is the proprietor of The Mediterraneo, and he's eager to get revenge on the man who has almost single handedly destroyed the restaurant business by launching a global trend of dining and dashing. But dispensing with the infamous Bill Dodger isn't this obsessive restaurateur's only goal in life, because before he expires Paulo plans to make a meal of himself as a means of returning his body to the natural food chain. Meanwhile, Paulo's loyal sous chef Pedro could destroy both of their careers by killing a prominent food critic who is currently choking to death on a finger bone found in his Osso Bucco (the house special, featuring a savory secret ingredient taken from Bill Dodging customers). Fiona used to have a passion for cooking, too; at least until she started working as the Short Order Chef at Ishmaels. They say at one point her culinary inventions were so delectable as to prompt orgasms, yet these days she spends most of her days dreaming of lavish musical revues in order to avoid the mundane reality of everyday existence. Ishmaels' delivery girl Catherine longs for bigger things as well, like getting her own talk show, but what she really wants out of life is a kiss from someone near and dear to her. Perhaps if the cigarillo smoking Felix can finally lure Fiona back to work at Shanks, his high profile eatery, her happiness can generate enough positive energy to make everyone's dreams come true no matter how lofty they may be. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

D-Day in Color features vintage footage of Allied forces storming the beaches of Normandy, the turning point of WWII. Actor John Hurt provides narration over these rare images. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Reclusive Britisher Jack Blake (John Hurt) comes to the rescue when motorists Pam Raeburn (Sheila Hancock) and her daughter, Stephanie (Rachael Stirling), are stranded on a lonely road during a heavy rain. Offering the ladies shelter in his stately but rather gloomy mansion, Jack cannot help but notice that Stephanie bears a remarkable resemblance to his own daughter, who had been brutally murdered by an unknown assailant several years earlier. Then and there, Jack decides to use Stephanie as bait to trap the man whom he thinks is his daughter's killer. Made for television, Bait was originally presented on Britain's ITV1 on December 27, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally aired on AMC, this documentary focuses on one of the most horrifying series ever to be committed to celluloid -- the Alien film series. With interviews from most of the main players, including Ridley Scott, James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, and H.R. Giger, the special goes through conception through production of all four films released from 20th Century Fox. Narrated by the Alien's first-ever onscreen victim, John Hurt, The Alien Saga gives insight into various script changes, casting choices, and the series fantastical effects through the eyes of the innovators behind them. The same production team, headed by writer/director Brent Zacky, also produced the equally exhausting horror film series documentary The Omen Legacy. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

A British-Canadian coproduction (seen on ITV in Britain), Watership Down was a serialized TV cartoon version of Richard Adams' classic allegorical novel (previously filmed as an animated feature in 1978). The story concerned a group of rabbits who, after experiencing a vision of their warren's destruction, set out in search of a new home. Led by Hazel and Fever, the not-so-timid woodland creatures ended up in Watership Down, where a Hitler-like rabbit dictator named Gen. Woundwort held the populace in thrall. John Hurt, who provided the voice of Hazel in the 1978 feature, is heard as the villain in this TV version. Watership Down first aired in 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Strongly recalling the film noir feel and labyrinthine plot twists of The Usual Suspects (1995), this German production featuring an all-English cast is a madcap caper flick about a quartet of dull-witted would-be bank robbers. The film opens with the police surveying the bloody aftermath of a botched robbery. The sole survivor, Jo Simpson (Claire Skinner), is carted off not by the cops -- to the surprise of Inspector Badger (John Benfield) -- but by the ultra-secret Cyclops Institute, where she is interrogated. Piece by piece, the investigators learn about her three accomplices, Eddie (Rhys Ifans) and Ian (David Schneider), two young losers who were obsessed with becoming famous, and the older, more experienced con man Michael (John Hurt). The investigators also learn about the mysterious way in which the criminals get caught up in schemes not of their own making, by way of an anonymous package containing a videotape and blueprints of the bank. It is eventually revealed that Simpson's memory is not as reliable as it might appear. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

A romantic drama by first time director John Lynch, Night Train follows a man who has just been released from prison, with a passion for electric trains and the Orient Express. In his attempts at starting a new life, the ex-prisoner finds refuge in the house of a possessive old lady. Things begin to get complicated when he falls for the lady's daughter and he faces the ultimate question of catching the night train or taking charge of his life like an adult. John Hurt delivers an excellent performance in the role of the ex-prisoner, Poole. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide