Greta Scacchi Movies
The daughter of an English dancer and an Italian painter,
Greta Scacchi was born in Milan, Italy, though she was primarily raised in London. Around the age of 15,
Scacchi moved with her family to Australia, where she held a series of odd jobs; among the most unique were cowgirl and Italian interpreter. Two years later,
Scacchi moved back to London in hopes of establishing an acting career for herself. Her first step was training at the prestigious Old Vic Theatre, to the displeasure of her father, who, by that point, had become estranged from the family. Before long,
Scacchi began appearing in small stage productions and commercials, which were enough to snare the attention of filmmaker
Dominik Graf, who cast her in the 1982 German thriller
Das Zweite Gesicht.
Scacchi learned to speak German strictly for the role.
For nearly eight years,
Scacchi performed almost exclusively for British stage and television productions, though, particularly after her 1984 portrayal of the title role in the TV-movie version of
Camille, she was slowly building a fan following within the U.S. It was her role in a modernized
Chekhov play, however, that would earn her attention from Hollywood. Her first American film was
Presumed Innocent (1990), in which she portrayed the seductive attorney whose liaison with the married
Harrison Ford precipitates her rather nasty murder. Two years later,
Scacchi could be found at her seductive best opposite
Tim Robbins in director
Robert Altman's showbiz comedy
The Player; she would star in a similarly themed film 11 years later (
Henry Jaglom's
Festival in Cannes).
Despite her success on the big screen,
Scacchi continued her work on television rather than pursuing a full-time film career, partly because it provided more opportunities to perform in classic roles -- in addition to co-starring in productions of
Macbeth and
The Odyssey, the young actress won an Emmy for her performance alongside
Ian McKellen and
Alan Rickman in
Rasputin (1996). Her film roles were generally met with praise; in
Emma (1996),
Scacchi was held in very high esteem by both critics and co-star
Gwyneth Paltrow, though her most significant role came in the film
The Red Violin (1998). The Canadian-Italian production was a surprise success, and
Scacchi's portrayal of a novelist embroiled in an affair with a British composer (
Jason Flemyng) certainly contributed to film's numerous Genie awards (a highly prestigious Canadian film honor) and its Golden Globe win for Best Foreign Film. In 1999,
Scacchi appeared in a unique film that took place entirely inside a women's bathroom (the aptly titled
Ladies Room), which also featured
Lorraine Bracco and
John Malkovich.
Scacchi continued her international acting career in 2004, when she starred in both
Baltic Storm and
Sotto Falso Nome. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

- 2008
- PG13
- Add Brideshead Revisited to Queue
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Evelyn Waugh's classic novel of love and the British class system has been given a polished screen adaptation in this film version from director Julian Jarrold. The tale opens during WWII, when Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode), an English military officer, is stationed at a country estate that has been converted into a military base. Jarrold uses this time-frame and setting as a framing device, and then flashes back in time to Charles' days as a scholar in the 1920s. It becomes clear that he was raised in a middle-class household; though he was fortunate enough to have been accepted into Oxford, he doesn't belong to the British upper crust. At Oxford, Charles strikes up a friendship with twentysomething Lord Sebastian (Ben Whishaw). Charles is captivated by the splendor of Sebastian's life at his family's Brideshead Castle, and he finds himself drawn into a web of decadent comfort. For Sebastian, though, the familial estate represents a prison from which he longs to escape, and in desperation, he hits the bottle. Charles develops an infatuation with Sebastian's sister, Julia (Hayley Atwell), but also senses that his bond with Sebastian may be something far deeper than simple friendship. Also present at Brideshead is Sebastian and Julia's mother, Lady Marchmain (Emma Thompson), an ice water-veined woman still reeling from her abandonment some time prior at the hands of her husband. Though bitter, the matriarch perceives Charles as an emotional anchor for the increasingly unstable Sebastian, and therefore suggests that Charles join Sebastian and Julia on a trip to see their father (Michael Gambon) and his mistress (Greta Scacchi) in Venice. Unfortunately, the romantic bond between Charles and Julia deepens, which threatens to destroy Sebastian. This feature constitutes the second major version of Brideshead Revisited to reach viewers; an earlier, 11-hour miniseries adaptation ran on television in 1981. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Hayley Atwell, Ben Whishaw, (more)

- 2008
- R

- 2007
- R
A man is torn between his faith, his family, and his profession in this taut thriller. Tariq Ali (Naseeruddin Shah) was born in Pakistan and raised in a Muslim household by parents who later emigrated to London, but he's been willing to set a certain amount of his cultural identity aside in order to advance his career in law enforcement. Tariq is married to Susan (Greta Scacchi), who is both British and Christian, and they're raising two children, Zara (India Wadsworth) and Imran (Arrun Harker). Tariq's intelligence and professionalism have helped him become a top detective at Scotland Yard, but when a suspected Muslim terrorist is shot and killed by police, Tariq is assigned to investigate in hopes of defusing public anger over the incident. As Tariq looks into the victim's background as well as the actions of the police, the media uncovers evidence of Tariq's friendship with Junaid (Om Puri), an outspoken Islamic leader who is believed to be linked to several terrorist groups. Shoot on Sight also stars Brian Cox, Sadie Frost, and Laila Rouass. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Naseeruddin Shah, Greta Scacchi, (more)

- 2007
-
Screen legend Isabelle Huppert (La Dentellière, Les Soeurs Brontë) headlines acclaimed director Alessandro Capone's gently-spun yet intransigent psychodrama L'Amour caché (2007). Huppert plays Danielle, a middle-aged woman rebounding from the trauma of an unsuccessful suicide attempt, and wrestling resolutely with the inner demons that propelled her into that tragic emotional state. Greta Scacchi (White Mischief) co-stars as Dr. Nielsen, the psychiatrist assigned to guide Danielle through therapy and recovery. Though the patient initially presents herself as unwilling to vocalize, in time she picks up a pen and attempts to write, letting the words flow out of her, cathartically, onto paper. It becomes apparent to both doctor and subject that the source of Danielle's trauma lies in her dysfunctional, estranged relationship with her daughter, Sophie (Mélanie Laurent) - now a contented, healthy wife and mother with a husband and a small child of her own - and that Danielle herself caused the schism by allowing irrational feelings of jealousy and inadequacy to separate her from Sophie. Danielle soon realizes that if she is to make any progress on emotional and psychological levels, she and Sophie must work through the immense obstacle of anger that divides them. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Isabelle Huppert, Greta Scacchi, (more)

- 2007
-
An outwardly confident but unmarried woman on the verge of her fortieth birthday reflects on her past suitors and the choices she once made while attempting to help her marriage minded niece choose between a number of potential suitors in this tale inspired by the life and letters of Jane Austen. Jane Austen (Olivia Williams) is about to turn forty, but she still hasn't found her ideal man. When Jane is approached by her niece Fanny (Imogen Poots) and asked to help select the perfect husband for the young girl, the ageing spinster begins to wonder why it is that she never found a man to share her own life with. Perhaps if Jane had accepted the proposal of a wealthy landowner she could have saved her family from financial ruin, and what of the handsome young physician who once warmed to Jane after tending to her ailing family members? In this speculative tale, director Jeremy Lovering and screenwriter Gwyneth Hughes ponder the potential reasons why the real Jane Austen never found her own Mr. Darcy. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Olivia Williams, Imogen Poots, (more)

- 2006
-
- Add Broken Trail to Queue
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Sideways star Thomas Hayden Church appears alongside Academy Award-winner Robert Duvall in a dramatic mini-series shot in the classic western tradition. The year is 1897. As Print Ritter (Duvall) and his estranged nephew Tom Harte (Church) travel the slow road to reconciliation, they reluctantly find themselves forced to care for five abused and abandoned Chinese immigrants while simultaneously attempting to deliver a herd of horses across the plains. Soon confronted by a gang of malevolent kidnappers who intend to abduct the girls and use them for the own nefarious purposes, Print and Tom determine to keep their young charges out of harms way while ensuring that their valuable delivery reaches its intended destination. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Robert Duvall, Thomas Haden Church, (more)

- 2006
-

- 2006
-
- Add The Book of Revelation to Queue
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A talented dancer who was abducted and tortured by three mysterious women struggles to come to grips with his harrowing experience in director Ana Kokkinos' adaptation of Rupert Thompson's unsettling novel. A beautiful and charismatic dancer who has immersed himself in a dream world of graceful movement, Daniel (Tom Long) maintains an amiable but somewhat detached relationship with his girlfriend, and a passionate relationship with his mentor and choreographer Isabel (Greta Scacci). When Daniel ventures out for cigarettes one day and doesn't return, the women in his life are devastated. Upon returning without explanation eleven days later, the profoundly shaken Daniel is unable to articulate his experience and loses his ability to dance. To make matters worse, Daniel is unable to engage emotionally with even the people who were closest to him before the strange incident. Now, in order to reclaim his identity by confronting his abductors, Daniel sets out to find the three women with only his memories of the ambient sounds that flowed into his window to guide him. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Tom Long, Greta Scacchi, (more)

- 2005
- PG13
- Add Flightplan to Queue
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A woman is forced to prove her own sanity to save the life of her daughter in this taut thriller. Kyle Pratt (Jodie Foster) is a successful aircraft designer who has recently been dealing with the traumatic death of her husband. After traveling to Berlin on business with her six-year-old daughter, Julia (Marlene Lawston), Kyle falls asleep on their flight back to New York, only to discover that her daughter has gone missing. While not knowing where Julia has gone is troubling enough, even more disturbing is the insistence by sky marshal Gene Carson (Peter Sarsgaard) and Captain Rich (Sean Bean) that no records indicate that the child ever boarded the jet. As Kyle becomes increasingly desperate to find her daughter, she must prove to the men in charge that her daughter did in fact board the plane with her, and that this turn of events is not a product of her imagination. But if Julia has gone missing, who has taken her and why? Also starring Erika Christensen and Kate Beahan, Flightplan was the first English-language feature from German director Robert Schwentke. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Jodie Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, (more)

- 2004
- PG13
- Add Beyond the Sea to Queue
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Kevin Spacey serves as both director and star for this biopic based on the life and career of legendary entertainer Bobby Darin, which moves back and forth between his childhood and adult selves to tell the tale of his remarkable life. Born Bobby Cassotto and raised in the Bronx, young Bobby (played as a child by William Ullrich) was raised by his mother, Polly (Brenda Blethyn), his brother-in-law, Charlie (Bob Hoskins), and his sister, Nina (Caroline Aaron). At the age of 15, Bobby contracted a severe case of rheumatic fever, which was expected to take his life; while it left him with a weak heart, Bobby beat the odds and survived. Buoyed by a love of music passed along by his mother, Bobby learned to play several instruments and began singing as he recovered. Displaying a confidence and drive which stopped just short of arrogance, he adopted the stage name Bobby Darin and set his sights on becoming a star. After a string of hits as a rock & roll singer, Darin (played as an adult by Kevin Spacey) takes another gamble, and with the help of manager Steve Blauner (John Goodman) he reinvents himself as a supper-club vocalist in the manner of Frank Sinatra. All the more remarkably, he succeeds, and his swinging version of "Mack the Knife" tops the charts. Now a major singing star, Darin decides to take up acting; on the set of his first movie, he woos his female co-star Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth), and despite the stern objections of her mother (Greta Scacchi), Bobby and Sandra wed. But after a string of successful movies for Dee and hit records and an Oscar nomination for Darin, the shifting tastes of the 1960s throw their careers off-track. Bobby cautiously embraces the new sounds of the day, but his old fans don't want to hear him cover Bob Dylan or the Rolling Stones, while the younger audience isn't interested in his new sound, leaving Darin in a difficult place to make his way back to stardom. Kevin Spacey did his own singing for Beyond the Sea, recreating Bobby Darin's vocal style with uncanny accuracy. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, (more)

- 2004
-

- 2004
-
- Add Baltic Storm to Queue
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In an era when at-sea disasters have grown increasingly rare thanks to "foolproof" naval technology, the September 28, 1994 wreck of the ferry boat M/S Estonia raised more than a few eyebrows. En route from Talinn to Stockholm, via the Baltic Sea, the craft capsized and 852 civilians never reached their destination. In recounting this tale cinematically, writer-director Reuben Leder (brother of Mimi "Deep Impact" Leder) adapted German reporter Jutta Rabe's conspiracy thriller about the event. The picture - like its source - suggests that classified weapons were being smuggled on board the vessel, and that Russia - after learning of this secret - deliberately torpedoed the craft. The picture recalls Costa-Gavras's Z, Alan Pakula's The Parallax View, and other conspiracy thrillers by unfurling most of its story after the fatalistic event; in the vein of those earlier films, it has a suspicious character (here Jurgen Prochnow, as accident survivor and Swedish attorney Erik Westermark) teaming up with investigative reporter Julia Reuter (Greta Scacchi) to determine the truth behind the inferred political cover-ups. Screen vet Donald Sutherland co-stars. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Greta Scacchi, Jürgen Prochnow, (more)

- 2002
-
- Add Daniel Deronda to Queue
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Produced for British television, Daniel Deronda was adapted from George Eliot's final novel, written in 1874 (and first filmed in 1921). As was her habit, Eliot laid bare the hypocrisy and venality of Victorian-era "class culture," at the same time admitting that a certain amount of conformity was necessary if one hoped to survive in a world where nonconformity was not only looked down upon but actively suppressed. Essentially, both the novel and the TV presentation are comprised of two separate stories, linked together by the titular Daniel Deronda (Hugh Dancy), a young man of Jewish heritage. In the main narrative, Daniel is attracted to the spoiled, headstrong Gwendolen Harleth (Romola Garai), who is reluctantly poised to enter into a marriage of convenience with the wealthy, snobbish, and intensely anti-Semitic Henleigh Grancourt (Hugh Bonneville). This romantic intrigue is played against the curious relationship between Daniel and the Zionist visionary Mordecai (Daniel Evans), who tirelessly proselytizes in favor of a permanent homeland for the Jewish people. Things come to a head when Daniel finds himself falling in love with Mordecai's sister Mirah (Jodhi May). Originally telecast in three parts on the BBC beginning December 7, 2002, Daniel Deronda was re-edited as a two-parter for the PBS anthology Masterpiece Theatre, where it first aired on March 30, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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- 2001
- PG13
- Add Festival In Cannes to Queue
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The romance, intrigue, and industry politics of the world's biggest film festival -- which is also the world's biggest film marketplace -- provides the backdrop for this typically understated comedy-drama from director Henry Jaglom. Alice Palmer (Greta Scacchi) is a well-known American actress who has written a screenplay that she'd like to direct, and she arrives a the Cannes Film Festival to look for investors. Alice has her eyes on veteran star Millie Marquand (Anouk Aimee) to play the lead, but while Millie loves the script, she's been offered a better-paying supporting role in an upcoming Tom Hanks project. Meanwhile, Millie's former husband Viktor Kovner (Maximilian Schell) is a director fallen on hard times who is trying to scare up financing for his own film. Producer Rick Yorkin (Ron Silver) wouldn't mind leaving Millie in the lurch if it meant landing Alice for his next project. Kaz (Zack Norman) is a less-than-scrupulous producer hoping to put some sort of package deal together. And Blue (Jenny Gabrielle) is a young woman whose shoestring budget independent film has become an unexpected smash hit. Shot in the midst of the 1999 Cannes Film Festival, Festival In Cannes features cameos from such stars as Jeff Goldblum, Holly Hunter, Faye Dunnaway, and William Shatner. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Jenny Gabrielle, Greta Scacchi, (more)

- 2000
-
- Add Christmas Glory From Westminster to Queue
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Home Vision Cinema presents Christmas Glory From Westminster. This program features poetry and music from celebrities from the worlds of film and opera. Readings include Greta Scacchi reciting William Blake's The Lamb and Joan Plowright reading Kipling's Eddie's Service, while the performances feature Charlotte Church singing Stephen Adams' "The Holy City" and Andrea Bocelli performing "Mille Cherubini in Coro." Released in 2000 and running one hour, Christmas Glory From Westminster also features Bryn Terfel and Trevor McDonald. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
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- 2000
-
The troubled career of blacklisted director Herbert Biberman, who endured a considerable struggle to make the 1954 pro-Labor film Salt of the Earth, provides the centerpiece for this historical drama. The film opens at the 1937 Academy Awards, where Biberman's wife, Gale Sondergaard (Greta Scacchi), wins the first ever "Best Supporting Actress" Oscar. Although the anti-Fascist sentiment in her acceptance speech gets her labeled a "commie" by some observers, she and Biberman (played here by Jeff Goldblum) are placed under contract at Warner Bros. Ten years later, with Cold War paranoia growing, a group of predominantly Jewish Hollywood directors -- Biberman, Sondergaard, Danny Kaye, and Dalton Trumbo among them -- are labeled Communists and questioned before Congress. Refusing to name names, Biberman is thrown in prison for six months; his wife's similar refusal to testify severely threatened her career as well. After his release from prison, Biberman, no longer able to work in Hollywood, strikes out on his own with other blacklistees, producer Paul Jarrico (John Sessions) and writer Michael Wilson (Geraint Wyn Davies), to make Salt of the Earth. Biberman's production is far from easy, however, as it comes under attack from both the FBI and redneck vigilantes. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Jeff Goldblum, Greta Scacchi, (more)

- 2000
-
A teenage girl confronts the crises of growing up -- some typical, some unusual -- in this drama. Josie (Pia Miranda) is the 17-year-old daughter of Christina Alibrandi (Greta Scacchi), a single mother and member of a large extended family of Sicilian immigrants living in Sydney, Australia. While Josie loves her mother, she's grown weary of her strict family, especially her grandmother Nonna Katia (Elena Cotta). The fact that her relatives still have issues with Christina raising her child out of wedlock hasn't made Josie's life any easier. A good student, Josie has earned a scholarship at a top private school, where she has to deal with Carly (Leeanna Walsman), a racist who often taunts Josie for her Sicilian heritage. Josie is also suffering from the tribulations of teenage romance, as she finds herself attracted to both clean-cut John (Matthew Newton) and working class Jacob (Kick Gurry). Meanwhile, the house is abuzz over a visit from Michael (Anthony LaPaglia), who Josie soon learns is Christina's old flame -- and her father. Looking for Alibrandi was based on a novel for young people by Melina Marchetta, which was a major best-seller in Australia. Marchetta also wrote the screenplay for this film adaptation. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Graeme Blundell

- 1999
- R
- Add Cotton Mary to Queue
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Ismail Merchant, best known as a producer for his work with director James Ivory (including Howards End and A Room With a View), takes possession of the director's chair in this drama. In 1954, seven years after India has gained independence from Great Britain, many Indians still feel like second-class citizens in their own country, as the nation's sovereignty has not immediately erased the perception that the British are superior to the Indian-born natives. Such a woman is Cotton Mary (Madhur Jaffrey), who works as a nurse for Lily Macintosh (Greta Scacchi), the wife of a BBC correspondent. Mary claims she's the daughter of a British regiment officer (although she has no firm evidence), and she sees herself as more British than Indian. While she takes offense at racist comments, she often states her belief that most of her people are unclean and dishonest, and her personal philosophy is informed by Christianity as much as the Hindu teachings with which she was raised. When Lily gives birth prematurely, Mary has to find a wet nurse for the child, and she uses this to win greater trust and confidence from Lily; in time, Mary persuades Lily to fire Abraham (Prayag Raaj), the household's loyal but proudly Indian cook, while she hides the fact that her sister Blossom (Neena Gupta) is nursing Lily's child. When not acting, Madhur Jaffrey is an acclaimed Indian chef and author, who has written a series of books on Indian cuisine; her daughter, Sakina Jaffrey, also appears in the film. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Madhur Jaffrey, Greta Scacchi, (more)

- 1999
-
John Malkovich and Lorraine Bracco star in this offbeat drama set in women's restrooms. The first half of the film tells of three actresses forced to prepare for their performance in the same bathroom because their dressing rooms are flooded. Veteran actress Gemma (Bracco) is stunned by the anger and pessimism of her younger counterpart. In the second half, Italian Lauren (Veronica Ferres) goes to the opera with her lover Roberto (Malkovich) only to learn his true nature when she runs into his pregnant wife in the ladies room. Ladies Room was screened at the 1999 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
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- Starring:
- John Malkovich, Lorraine Bracco, (more)

- 1999
- NR
- Add Panstvi to Queue
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In this spoof of old-fashioned murder mysteries, Detective Tomas Hatcher of Scotland Yard (Martin Dejdar) is dispatched to Ravenscroft Manor to investigate the murder of Patrick (Matt Hantley), who has been working at the palatial estate as a stable boy. Hatcher quickly discovers nearly everyone has a secret, even Mr. Ravenscroft (Peter O'Toole), whose recent death doesn't stop him from making an occasional appearance around the house, often in very tasteful drag. It also seems that Patrick is very much missed by the women of the house, including Mrs. Ravenscroft (Greta Scacchi), her daughter Gillian (Laura Harris) and Gillian's governess (Gabrielle Anwar), all of whom were sleeping with Patrick at one time or another. Jealousy may be the killer's motivation, but given's Patrick's fondness for freely sharing his love, how do you narrow the suspects down to only one jealous party? Leading man Martin Dejdar also co-produced The Manor, which was the first Czech-financed film to be shot entirely in English; while little known in America, Dejdar is a major star in his native land. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Martin Dejdar, Greta Scacchi, (more)

- 1999
- R
- Add Love & Rage to Queue
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A drama of romantic obsession turned violent, Love and Rage was inspired by a true story and partially filmed in the home where the actual events occurred. James Lynchahaun (Daniel Craig) works at the estate of Agnes MacDonnell (Greta Scacchi), a wealthy woman who considers her privacy important but shows flashes of a high-spirited nature among those she trusts. When James discovers that a local land agent has been cheating Agnes, he shares the information with her. She's grateful to him and they get to know each other a bit better, leading in time to a romantic relationship. James soon begins displaying a rather unusual bent, appearing at the estate in disguise and meeting Agnes dressed as a priest. Agnes doesn't appear to mind this -- at times, she actively welcomes it -- yet what starts as erotic play-acting grows into something more sinister, and in time James's actions become less amusing and more threatening. In addition to drawing from real-life events, director Cathal Black and screenwriter Brian Lynch adapted their story from the novel The Playboy and the Yellow Lady by James Carney. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Greta Scacchi, Daniel Craig, (more)

- 1998
- NR
This fantasy for younger audiences concerns Tom (Anthony Way), a 14-year-old English boy who in the 1950s is sent to live with his Aunt Gwen (Greta Scacchi) and Uncle Alan (James Wilby) after one of his siblings becomes seriously ill. Late one night, Tom makes a remarkable discovery -- after midnight, Gwen and Alan's clock strikes thirteen, and the dingy alley behind their home becomes a scenic wonderland where he meets Hatty (Florence Hoath), a 12-year-old orphan girl who lived 70 years ago. Tom's Midnight Garden, which was adapted from the novel by Philippa Pearce, also features a supporting performance from Joan Plowright. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Greta Scacchi, James Wilby, (more)

- 1998
- R
- Add The Red Violin to Queue
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Francois Girard directed this drama tracing the history of a musical instrument through five countries and three centuries. In 1681, to keep the spirit of his wife alive, an Italian paints the violin with a red varnish made from her blood. It is later found in the Austrian Alps when a prodigy gives a performance in the court of Vienna in 1792. Taken by gypsies, the instrument is acquired by a Dionysian composer. After a journey by boat to China in 1966, it is hidden during the Cultural Revolution. In contemporary Canada, it is spotted at an auction house by a violin expert (Samuel L. Jackson) who becomes obsessed with it. Scripted by Girard and Don McKellar. Filmed on a $10 million budget in Montreal, China, Italy, Austria, and Oxford. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Samuel L. Jackson, Don McKellar, (more)

- 1997
-
William Shakespeare's famous "Scottish play" gets a new and updated look in this version produced for British television. Macbeth (Sean Pertwee), a brave and bloodthirsty man, has aspirations to political power, and at the urgings of his wife (Greta Scacchi), Macbeth murders Duncan (Philip Madoc) in hopes that this will help ease his way to being crowned King. While Macbeth does win the crown, his gruesome path to leadership comes back to haunt him. Director Michael Bogdanov and producer Sue Pritchard set Shakespeare's historical tragedy against the backdrop of a decaying industrial metropolis, with the characters wearing modern dress that suggests modern-day intrigue among genteel criminals, rather than warring factions in 11th century Scotland. Macbeth was a co-production of the English Shakespeare Company and the British television network Channel 4. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Sean Pertwee, Greta Scacchi, (more)

- 1997
- R
- Add The Serpent's Kiss to Queue
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Haughty and vain British industrialist Thomas Smithers (Pete Postlethwaite) dearly loves his wife Juliana (Greta Sacchi). Since they only have a daughter (Carmen Chaplin), and a strange one at that, Smithers decides that rather than leaving his fortune to his wife and child, he will build a fabulous garden to honor Julianna, who unfortunately, cares little for such things. Hearing of Smithers's plans, Julianna's conniving cousin Fitzmaurice (Richard E. Grant), who has secretly wanted her for himself, suggests that Smithers hire hot young Dutch garden architect Meneer Chrome (Ewan McGregor) to do the work. Chrome's work does not come cheap, but that is fine with Fitzmaurice who is hoping that the project will bankrupt Smithers and cause Julianna to return to him. Unfortunately for Fitzmaurice, Julianna finds herself falling in love with Chrome. Unfortunately for Julianna, Chrome has fallen in love with her daughter Thea. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
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- Starring:
- Ewan McGregor, Greta Scacchi, (more)