Vanessa Redgrave

A mischievous girl accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit, only to find that her words have irrevocably and permanently changed the lives of all involved in a film that re-teams the filmmakers behind Pride & Prejudice to adapt the best-selling 2002 novel by author Ian McEwan. The year is 1935, and as the summer heat takes hold, 13-year-old fledgling writer Briony Tallis watches her older sister, Cecilia (Keira Knightley), get undressed and go frolicking in the garden fountain on her family's country estate. The housekeeper's son, Robbie (James McAvoy), a childhood friend and recent Cambridge graduate, also witnesses the innocent act. When Robbie and Cecilia subsequently cross a particularly sensitive boundary and the scheming Briony accuses Robbie of an unspeakable transgression for which the boy is wholly innocent, the repercussions of her unfounded claim threaten to affect all three for decades to come. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

This Irish comedy focuses on a woman named Ellie, who despite her family reputation as the wild free spirit, is left in charge of her sister Kate's retirement home when Kate is called home to care for their ailing mother. Ellie already has an aversion to responsibility, and she's definitely not prepared for the downright rude "hardcore" residents at Woodlands rest home. Strangely enough, however, Ellie and the people in her care begin to learn from each other, and her unexpected journey doesn't seem like such a terrible burden after all. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

An aging pair of veteran English actors whose success never quite took hold finds their quiet existence suddenly interrupted by the arrival of one of the men's precocious grandnieces in director Roger Michell's affectionate comedy drama. Maurice (Peter O'Toole) and Ian (Leslie Phillips) may still land the occasional paying gig -- Maurice has recently been cast as a corpse in a popular television drama -- but for the most part, their days are spent cataloging their ailments over meals at their favorite café. Though the arrival of Ian's grandniece Jessie doesn't immediately set so well with her curmudgeonly great uncle, Maurice takes an immediate liking to the girl, and makes it a mission to expose the youngster to some of the bustling capitol's best-known sights. As the newly invigorated septuagenarian does his best to teach the wide-eyed youngster a thing or two about life, he soon comes to realize just how little he truly knows about the subject at such a late point in life. ~ 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

A pair of young men living in the 21st century relive the tales of one of their ancient forbearers in this historical drama. Kamran (Adam Echahly) is a 12-year-old boy of Iranian heritage whose older brother, Nader (Puya Behinaein), is slowly dying. Kamran and Nader's family puts a great value on preserving the oral history of their ancestors, and Nader is passing on this responsibility by telling his brother the story of their distant relative, the great scientist and poet Omar Khayyam (Bruno Lastra). In the 11th century, Omar is close friends with Hassan Sabbeh (Christopher Simpson), a passionate Muslim warrior, and they are both infatuated with the lovely Darya (Marie Espinosa). However, in time Omar and Hassan's paths in life diverge; Omar joins the court of the Sultan Malikshah (Moritz Bleibtreu) and uses his considerable wisdom to study mathematics and the stars, while Hassan succumbs to his rage and forms a cult of killers known as the Assassins. The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam was the first feature film for Iranian-American director Kayvan Mashayekh. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The owners of Miami's trendy McNamara-Troy cosmetic surgery clinic face multiple midlife (and other) crises as the FX comedy drama series Nip/Tuck enters its second season. Now that they have both reached the age of 40, longtime business partners Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) must make some crucial decisions that will affect their future lives, to say nothing of their professional futures as expert surgical face-lifters. For Sean, the big four-oh means that he will no longer allow himself to be bullied and cowed by his demanding wife Julia (Joely Richardson) and his insolent teenage son Matt (John Hensley) -- at least not as much as he used to be. One aspect of Sean's newer, bolder outlook on life is his brief romantic fling with a self-reliant blind woman, played by guest star Rebecca Gayheart.
As for Christian, he remains as avaricious as ever when it comes to money and creature comforts, but he is also beginning to exhibit a hitherto well-hidden streak of responsibility, as manifested in his desire to adopt the son of his girlfriend Gina (Jessalyn Gilsig). Major developments this season include the revelation of a devastating secret about Sean's son Matt, one that not only threatens to destroy his marriage, but also to permanently split up the firm of McNamara-Troy. Also, Sean invites New Age life coach Ava Moore (Famke Janssen) into his home to help deal with the personal travails of his wife Julia, only to stand by in shock and awe as Ava inaugurates a romance with Matt. Figuring into this delicate situation is Ava's own son Adrian (Seth Gabel), who has some serious issues of his own. And weaving throughout the proceedings is an elusive serial rapist known only as The Carver, who disfigures the faces of his victims -- and who is willing to slash up both women and men, as both Sean and Christian discover to their horror. Among the more fascinating clients passing through the doors of McNamara-Troy during season two are Julia's mother, played by Joely Richardson's real-life mom Vanessa Redgrave; Jill Clayburgh as a dissatisfied customer who is willing to make a public spectacle of herself to ruin Sean and Chris; Lori and Reba Schappell as a pair of conjoined twins who wish to be separated; and in the season finale, Joan Rivers as herself, insisting upon having her multitudinous face lifts "revoked" for the sake of her grandson! ~ All Movie Guide

The BBC biopic Byron recreates the life and times of early 19th century scribe Lord George Gordon Byron (Jonny Lee Miller of Trainspotting), widely considered one of the finest English-language belletrists in history. Though Byron culled enormous repute for the scandalous, taboo-breaking lead characters in his novels, the author himself led a life so rebellious that it rivaled anything in his fiction - meanwhile sinking ever quickly into a mire of dissatisfaction and lack of fulfillment as he flittered from one escapade to another. And yet Byron personified the zealous spirit of the Romantic Era, with his unapologetic political radicalism and multiple lovers. Here, director Julian Farino and scriptwriter Nick Dear dramatize Byron's experiences onscreen. Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha Little co-star. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

After making a living by providing English subtitle translation to numerous French films, American filmmaker Andrew Litvack makes his debut as a writer/director with the Merchant Ivory production Merci Docteur Rey. Set in Paris, this farcical comedy involves the troubles of young gay man Thomas (Stanislas Merhar). First his opera diva mother, Elisabeth (Dianne Wiest), comes for a visit and she doesn't know he's gay. When he accepts a blind date with someone from an online chat room, he ends up witnessing a murder and possibly discovering the identity of his real father. Eventually he ends up telling his story to a therapist, who is instead replaced by unstable voice-over actress Penelope (Jane Birkin). Also includes cameo appearances by Vanessa Redgrave, Simon Callow, Bulle Ogier, and Jerry Hall. Merci Docteur Rey was shown at the 2002 Mill Valley Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Adapted from the bestselling novel by Richard Paul Evans, the made-for-TV The Locket stars Vanessa Redgrave as Esther Huish, an elderly, embittered resident of a nursing home. Into Esther's life comes young attendant Michael Keddington (Chad Willett), who like Esther has been forced to live a life of self-sacrifice and shattered dreams. Ever since his father deserted the family, Michael has cared for his ailing mother, putting his chances for college on what seems to be permanent hold. Now that his mother is dead, Michael is facing another crisis over which he has no control: The domineering father of Michael's fiancée has refused to bless the approaching wedding. Even so, Michael makes it his mission in life to make Esther's final years as comfortable and rewarding as possible; thus, he dedicates himself to locating Esther's long-lost love, using only a faded picture in a locket as his guide. As it turns out, it is Esther who "saves" Michael when the young man is accused of murdering another nursing-home resident. A CBS "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation, The Locket first aired on December 8, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Wealthy businessman Jack Robinson (Matthew Modine) is building a new casino on the site of the family castle in England when the construction crew makes a startling discovery: They find the skeleton of a gigantic human being. Soon, foul weather and natural disasters occur at an unnatural rate. Countess Wilhelmina (Vanessa Redgrave) tells Jack that he's related to young Jack (J.J. Feild) who, 400 years ago, climbed a vine into the sky and came back with a goose that lays golden eggs and a harp that can play itself. Disbelieving, Jack encounters the lovely Ondine (Mia Sara), a mysterious woman who says she's 10,000 years old and that the evil weather can be stopped -- in fact, the world can be saved -- if Jack goes to the land in the sky with her to stand trial for his ancestor. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide

Twelve-year-old James (Trevor Morgan) is haunted by the car crash that claimed his mother's life two years earlier. Estranged from his father (Ray Liotta) and nurturing a deep hatred of his stepmother (Catherine McCormack), James is none too pleased about the prospect of spending his summer vacation at their Maine beach house. With no one his own age for company, he spends his time exploring the surrounding beaches. One day, while playing in the dunes, James accidentally breaks a fence belonging to Maddy Bennett (Vanessa Redgrave), a cranky old woman with a reputation for loony behavior. James embarks on a mission to fix the fence, and as he works, he and Maddy form a deep friendship. But when the boy's family learns of the friendship, they wrongfully blame Maddy for their own problems, prompting Maddy to react in a manner that profoundly affects the entire family. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide

Erika Mann and her brother Klaus Mann were the oldest children of renowned German author Thomas Mann; while the siblings strove to earn the love and approval of their father, the elder Mann was a cold and distant person, and Erika and Klaus came to depend upon each other for the emotional support they did not receive from their parents -- so much so that they often referred to themselves as twins, even though they were actually born a year apart. As they grew to adulthood, Klaus went on to a successful career as a writer, and Erika also distinguished herself in literature while making a name for herself as an actress. The Mann siblings were also outspoken pacifists and anti-fascists, and both were homosexual, two factors which would complicate their lives in Europe in the 1930s, with little respite when Erika emigrated to England and Klaus to the United States. Escape to Life: The Erika and Klaus Mann Story combines vintage photographs, a rare interview with Erika Mann, and dramatic re-creations of events from the lives of Klaus and Erika, as well as readings from their works by Vanessa Redgrave and Corin Redgrave. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide