Richard Syms Movies
Two-time Oscar-winner Meryl Streep steps into the role of English prime minister Margaret Thatcher in this biopic from director Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!), and screenwriter Abi Morgan (Tsunami: The Aftermath, Brick Lane). Jim Broadbent, Richard E. Grant, and Anthony Head co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, (more)
The true story of John Lennon's troubled childhood and difficult relationship with his family is brought to the screen in this period drama. Young John (Alex Ambrose) is a bright but sharp-tongued boy living in the coastal town of Liverpool during the 1950s with his aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas) and uncle George (David Threlfall). John's father walked out on the family when he was four years old, and the boy was given to Mimi to raise, even though his mother, Julia (Anne-Marie Duff), was still alive. While Mimi's straight-laced nature runs counter to John's more reckless personality, they clearly love one another and the household is thrown into chaos when George dies suddenly. At the funeral, teenage John (now played by Aaron Johnson) sees Julia, and learns to his surprise that she lives only a few blocks away from Mimi. John pays her a visit, and Julia gratefully welcomes him back into her life. Julia's personality is a much closer fit to John than Mimi, and she encourages his love for writing and music, teaching him to play the banjo. However, John's renewed relationship with Julia brings up a number of unanswered questions, and causes new tensions between Mimi and John. And as rock & roll becomes the hot new sound of the day, John falls in love with the bold new music and makes a friend who is interested in forming a band, Paul (Thomas Brodie Sangster). The first feature film from artist-turned-director Sam Taylor-Wood, Nowhere Boy was the closing night attraction at the 2009 BFI London Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kristin Scott Thomas, Thomas Sangster, (more)
A family facing myriad disasters is forced to confront one in the form of their own son in this harrowing psychological drama from British filmmaker Simon Rumley. Donald Brocklebank (Roger Lloyd Pack) is a former British nobleman who has lost his peerage, and with it his fortune. The Brocklebank estate has fallen into disrepair, Donald's wife, Nancy (Kate Fahy), is suffering from an advanced case of cancer that makes nearly any effort an agony, and their son, James (Leo Bill), is a manic depressive with violent tendencies and the mind of a child. Only an operation that Donald cannot afford will save Nancy's life, so he has made plans to sell the estate in order to pay for the surgery and her subsequent care. However, Donald has to travel out of town for several days in order to complete the details of the sale. He has arranged for Mary (Sarah Ball), a nurse who has worked for the family before, to care for his wife while he's away, but Donald is forced to leave before Mary arrives. Determined to show his father that he's a responsible adult, James announces he'll be "looking after Mummy," locks Mary out of the house, disconnects the telephone, and stages a minor siege as Mary is determined to save Nancy's life. Nancy slowly slips into a panic as her brutal and incompetent son nearly claims her life, and matters become uglier when Mary contacts the police about the situation at the Brocklebank mansion. The Living and the Dead won the Jury Award in five categories (including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor) at the 2006 Austin Fantastic Fest. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
A family is forced to confront the personal issues they've been avoiding for years in this powerful, realistic drama. Cynthia (Brenda Blethyn) is a working-class British woman whose life has been a long series of painful disappointments. She's single with no romantic prospects and a dead-end job at a box factory. Her daughter Roxanne (Claire Rushbrook) works as a street sweeper and is chronically bitter. Cynthia helped raise her brother, Maurice (Timothy Spall), who is doing well as a photographer, but she rarely sees him and usually blames his wife, Monica (Phyllis Logan). One day, Cynthia receives a phone call from a woman named Hortense (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), who claims to be the daughter Cynthia put up for adoption years ago. Cynthia initially reacts with panic, but she agrees to meet Hortense and is surprised to discover that she's a successful and soft-spoken eye doctor -- and that she's black. Cynthia is soon convinced that Hortense is just who she claims to be, and they quickly form a friendship that gives Cynthia a new source of emotional strength. However, when Cynthia decides to introduce the family to her new "friend," it forces them to confront the lies and evasions that have kept them apart all these years. Largely improvised by director Mike Leigh and his cast, Secrets & Lies features standout work by Brenda Blethyn (who earned an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (who was nominated as Best Supporting Actress), and Timothy Spall. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brenda Blethyn, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, (more)
Pianist Nina (Juliet Stevenson) and cellist Jamie (Alan Rickman) played together and loved together. When they weren't making music with each other, they made love. It was an idyllic romantic and musical partnership, and when Jamie dies, Nina takes it very hard. The condolences of friends and relatives don't help much when everything in the apartment they shared reminds her of him. She's a real basket case, and can barely get on with her life. One day, while plunking dejectedly on the piano, Nina looks up to discover Jamie, in ghostly form, lively as ever and just as loving. With a few new wrinkles (such as parties which include Jamie's newfound ghost friends), they resume living their relationship almost as before. Nina's friends are puzzled at her change from suicidal despondency to giddy cheefulness, but Jamie has pledged Nina to secrecy about their renewed relationship. For that reason, she cannot find any good excuses for not responding to the romantic advances of a living man, Mark (Michael Maloney). Before long, she will have to choose between the two of them. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Juliet Stevenson, Alan Rickman, (more)
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