Pino Amenta Movies
- 2001
Culture shock and class consciousness were played for laughs on the Australian sitcom Flat Chat. It all began when snooty socialite Claire Jansen (Jean Kittson), left penniless after the death of her husband, was forced to move into the stables of her former mansion. Meanwhile, the main house was taken over by vulgar self-made millionaire Barry Coyne (Richard Healy) and his young trophy wife, Julie (Alexander Davies). Feeling neglected by her hubby, Julie struck up an acquaintance with the highborn Claire, and the two women became close friends, confidantes, and co-conspirators. Created by Alison Magney-Wall, the 13-episode Flat Chat was telecast by Australia's Nine Network from February 19 to May 15, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
The crew makes the disturbing discovery that the PeaceKeepers have planted a locator beacon -- or tracking device -- somewhere on the living starship Moya. It is now necessary to perform surgery on the vessel, but the only practical anesthetic is located on a hostile planet that has never experienced extraterrestrial contact. In his efforts to obtain the anesthetic, Crichton realizes anew that he is truly a stranger in a strange land. The second Farscape episode filmed, "I, E.T." was the seventh to be shown, making its broadcast bow on May 7, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
During a standard commerce exchange, the duplicitous Dominar Rygel XVI (Jonathan Hardy) steals an important component of Moya -- only to be "stolen" himself by a band of Tavlek pirates. More out of concern for the component than for Rygel, crew members Crichton (Ben Browder), Aeryn (Claudia Black), and D'Argo (Anthony Simcoe) formulate a rescue plan. Unfortunately, the Tavlek have the added advantage of an adrenalin-enhancing drug -- which, in turn, has bizarre side effects on Moya's crew. "Throne for a Loss" originally aired on April 9, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
- R
What happens when baby-boom rock 'n rollers, having had their fleeting moment of fame and notoriety, grow up, get other jobs, and have children of their own? For one thing, if this movie is to be believed, they envy their children's musical abilities and, when the youngsters get involved in their own version of rebel-music, they re-create the famed "generation gap" all over again. Johnny (played by Australian actor John Waters) was a member of a 1960s band called the Chosen Ones and enjoyed the famed trinity of that era: sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. Now the middle-aged man is bored with his "straight" job and wants to see if he can't start a revival of his band's popularity, but his wife wants his career change to be more practical and suggests that they invest in a restaurant. At the same time, Johnny's much more talented son Paul is making waves in his own band. One highlight of this film is the surprisingly skillful music-making of the performers, none of them music pros. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Waters, Rebecca Gilling, (more)
- 1990
In this children's drama, Steven Wilson (Andrew Shephard) has been sent from his country home to stay with his grandmother Pearl (Pat Evison) in Melbourne. She earns her keep working in the boxoffice of a theater, and Steven spends most of his time with her at the theater. For the most part, he has delightful encounters with the actors and theater workers, but the theater owner is a charmless and mean old fellow who only very reluctantly allows him on the premises. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pat Evison, Max Phipps, (more)
- 1988
- R
You don't become a playwright, at least a successful one, without having more than your share of sensitivities. In fact, a goodly proportion of the artists in present-day L.A. are too sensitive for their own good, which causes no end of problems. For Tom, an Australian-born playwright who has "made good" in la-la-land, his success has resulted in serious strains in his relationship with his wife and daughter back in Melbourne, and with himself -- strains which he eases with a succession of mood-altering pills. When a fresh young actress in one of his productions falls for him, he is so emotionally battered that he finds her attentions confusing and unsettling. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Waters, Penelope Stewart, (more)
- 1987
- PG
Not to be confused with the Hong Kong-filmed gangster thriller of the same name, the Philippine-produced True Colors is set during World War II. Noni Hazelhurst stars as a Frenchwoman who is appalled by the Nazi takeover of her village. Running up against indifference and collaboration, Noni struggles to rally her neighbors against the invaders. In lieu of a huge budget, director Pina Amenta concentrates on the personal impact of the war, and succeeds admirably. At 160 minutes, however, True Colors could use just a little snip here or there. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Set during WWII, this Australian miniseries explores the effects of the conflict on the sleepy burg of St. Helens and its inhabitants, who are busy enough sorting out their religious differences. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- 1984
All the Rivers Run is a four-part miniseries set in the Australia of the early 1900s. Sigrid Thornton stars as Philadelphia Gordon, an English artist who undertakes a tragic move to Australia with her family. During their voyage to the new continent, a shipwreck occurs, killing all but Philadelphia and one of the ship's crewmen. She is then shuttled off to live with her aunt and uncle on their farm, and uses her inheritance to fund a paddleship business with the crewman from the vessel who saved her life. Philadelphia's life is forever altered when she meets handsome frontier paddleboat skipper Brenton Edwards (the Australian actor John Waters -- not to be confused with the iconoclastic American director of the same name). Our heroine marries Edwards, but the union begets trouble when their paddlesteamer catches fire, destroying the craft altogether and forcing Brenton to take another job. Later, an accident that renders Brenton lame forces Philadelphia to work hard and support the couple; she then decides to rebuild the vessel while doubling up her efforts as a painter. Scripted by George Miller (the director of Man from Snowy River), All the Rivers Run was released in the U.S. over the HBO Cable service; it first aired January 15 through 18, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sigrid Thornton, John Waters, (more)
- 1980
Premiering June 26, 1981, over Australia's Ten Network, the gritty detective series Bellamy zeroed in on a special crime squad in a big city. The title character, played by John Stanton, was dedicated to his work, but was known to bend rules and tweak the noses of the powerful to get results. The program content was pretty rough, even for its time; in one particularly graphic story line, Bellamy went after a serial killer who preyed on female massage-parlor employees. Produced by Grundy Television, Bellamy lasted 26 one-hour-long episodes, some of which have been packaged on video as "feature films." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Stanton, Timothy Elston, (more)
- 1969
- PG
- Add The Good Guys and the Bad Guys to QueueAdd The Good Guys and the Bad Guys to top of Queue
In this comic western, Flagg (Robert Mitchum) is a veteran marshal forced to retire by the pompous Mayor Wilker (Martin Balsam). McKay (George Kennedy) is a wily gunslinger. The two combine forces to stop a young band of outlaws from robbing the train when it pulls into the station. Flagg warns the mayor of the upcoming attempt but is not taken seriously by the town politician. McKay and Flagg ride out to warn the train of the impending crime, which finds McKay facing members of his own gang in a traditional western showdown. David and John Carradine appear in this feature along with Tina Louise and Lois Nettleton. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Mitchum, George Kennedy, (more)
