Benny Young Movies
This British horror-comedy is set in haunted house and features a series of assorted nuts getting butchered by a hellish clown. Lucky Max, a record producer has just won a decrepit old mansion from the enigmatic Callum Chance in a poker game. To celebrate, Max invites his family and hitchhikers to stay there. The bitter Chance gets revenge by conjuring up the "Funny Man," who immediately begins to slaughter the guests in a variety of interesting ways. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tim James, Christopher Lee, (more)
- 1985
- PG13
Alan (John Gordon-Sinclair), a young British photographer, would like to break off his relationship with live-in girlfriend Mary (Irina Brook). Even as this little domestic drama is played out, Alan's assistant, Ken (David McKay), would like to launch a relationship with the young woman. Trouble is, he has no idea who or where the girl is -- he knows her only by her photograph. The various amorous intrigues are eventually resolved, but the results are surprising for both the characters onscreen and the viewers in the audience. Leading lady Irina Brook is the daughter of famed British theatrical director Peter Brook. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Irina Brook, David McKay, (more)
Out of Africa is drawn from the life and writings of Danish author Isak Dinesen, who during the time that the film's events occured was known by her married name, Karen Blixen-Flecke. For convenience's sake, Karen (Meryl Streep) has married Baron Bor Blixen-Flecke (Klaus Maria Brandauer). In 1914, the Baron moves himself and his wife to a plantation in Nairobi, then leaves Karen to her own devices as he returns to his womanizing and drinking. Soon, Karen has fallen in love with charming white hunter Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford), who prefers a no-strings relationship. A woman who prides herself on her independence, Blixen finds herself unhappily in thrall to a aloof man -- and doubly unhappy for living out such a cliché situation. Although Redford received a lion's share of criticism for his too-American performance, Streep has rarely been better, and the film's perfectly measured pace is offset by David Watkin's stunning location photography. The movie was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 7, including Best Picture, Best Director for Sydney Pollack, Best Adapted Screenplay for Kurt Luedtke, and Best Cinematography for Watkin. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, (more)
The fancy footwork and star appeal of Gregory Hines as Raymond, an exiled American, and the powerful grace of Mikhail Baryshnikov as Nikolai, a defector, combine with a great production design to carry this otherwise thinly-stretched tale of intrigue. With a stellar supporting cast (Isabella Rossellini as Raymond's wife, Helen Mirren as Nikolai's lover, and Jerzy Skolimowski, the Polish director, as a wily KGB agent), the film has a few excellent moments. Nikolai has defected from the former USSR some time in the past. While on a trip, his plane spectacularly crashes on a runway in Siberia. Trapped in the country he had escaped, he is brought to stay with Raymond, an American who defected during the Vietnam war. Nikolai desperately wants to get out of the country, but the Russians have other plans. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, (more)
Shakespeare's tragedy, made for British television, is given a full-blooded rendition here with the great Laurence Olivier in the title role and a stellar cast to support him, in the tale of a king torn apart by the ambition and treachery within his family and by his own pride. ~ Mark Hockley, Rovi
- Starring:
- Laurence Olivier, Anna Calder-Marshall, (more)
Based on a true story, Chariots of Fire is the internationally acclaimed Oscar-winning drama of two very different men who compete as runners in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a serious Christian Scotsman, believes that he has to succeed as a testament to his undying religious faith. Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), is a Jewish Englishman who wants desperately to be accepted and prove to the world that Jews are not inferior. The film crosscuts between each man's life as he trains for the competition, fueled by these very different desires. As compelling as the racing scenes are, it's really the depth of the two main characters that touches the viewer, as they forcefully drive home the theme that victory attained through devotion, commitment, integrity, and sacrifice is the most admirable feat that one can achieve. (Ian Holm was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor in his role as Abrahams' coach), and this powerful film ended up with four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, (more)
