Rory Jennings Movies
- 2008
Inspired by writer/director Eran Creevy's own teenage experiences, Shifty tells the tale of a man who returns to his old neighborhood on the outskirts of London, ostensibly to attend a party but more specifically to check up on an old friend. It's been a long time since Chris (Daniel Mays) left town, and now that he's finally returned, he's eager to check up on Shifty (Riz Ahmed), the lifelong friend he left behind. As it turns out, things aren't going to well for Shifty; not only has he taken to dealing drugs supplied by local heavy Glen (Jason Flemyng), but the constant struggle to keep his activates secret from his self-righteous brother Rez (Nitin Ganatra) has resulted in some serious family tensions. Over the course of the next twenty-four hours, former best friends Chris and Shifty will not only confront the dark secrets that once drove Chris from town, but also work to free the desperate Shifty from a volatile situation that could spell danger for both of them. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rizwan Ahmed, Daniel Mays, (more)
- 1998
Not to be confused with the 50-minute television documentary of the same name, the made-for-British-TV biopic Diana: The People's Princess stars Amy Seccombe as the title character. Rather than rehash the tumultuous marriage between Diana and Prince Charles (Robert De Newby), the film focuses on the protagonist's last 14 months on Earth, from her divorce in May of 1996 to her tragic death in August of 1997. Adroitly blending heartbreak with triumph, the script details Diana's loss of her royal title, her troubled relationship with sons Harry (Rory Jennings) and William (Freddie Sayers), her ongoing travails with the press and papparazzi, her extensive humanitarian activities (with Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa making token appearances), and her romance with Dodi Ay Fayed (George Jackos), who was fated to die with Diana in that infamous car crash. Seemingly dedicated to bestowing sainthood upon Princess Di, the film manages to make her antagonists as unpleasant and unsympathetic as possible, with an inordinate amount of scorn heaped upon Dodi's former fiancée! First telecast in the U.K. on April 12, 1998, Diana: The People's Princess debuted in the U.S. courtesy of the TNT cable network on August 29, 1999, on the eve of the second anniversary of Diana's death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amy Secombe, George Jackos, (more)
- 1997
The remarkable life and tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales is the subject of this tribute, which explores her humanity and generous nature. This video includes exclusive interviews with friends and family, as well as documentary footage of her life, her times and her solemn farewell to this world. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
The wife of a British army officer falls in love with an African American G.I. in this made-for-cable World War II drama. When her unfaithful husband (Ciaran Hinds) goes off to war, small-town homemaker Maggie Leyland (Kerry Fox) spends her time caring for her young son (Rory Jennings) and helping with the war effort. She's therefore present at a dance the locals throw for a newly arrived platoon of black soldiers from the United States. Despite Maggie's prim and proper demeanor, an unlikely friendship develops between her and Travis Holloway (Courtney B. Vance), a private who works as an army cook and dreams of actually fighting in the trenches for his country. Although the townspeople give the black G.I.'s a pleasant reception, the American brass frets about fraternization between their African-American soldiers and the local lasses. The white soldiers stationed nearby bitterly resent the competition, causing trouble for both participants in any interracial romance. Nonetheless, as the friendship between Travis and Maggie deepens, they're unable to suppress their feelings for one another. Into this clandestine relationship steps Maggie's husband, who returns unexpectedly and promptly accuses Travis of rape when he discovers the couple making love. Based on true events, The Affair was filmed by House of Cards director Paul Seed for HBO. Malcolm X's Leland Gantt co-stars as one of Travis' fellow soldiers who also pays dearly for a romance with a British woman. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Courtney Vance, Kerry Fox, (more)
