Roger Deakins Movies
A frequent collaborator of offbeat visionary auteurs the Coen brothers, cinematographer Roger Deakins' work on such features as The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Fargo (1996), Kundun (1997), and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) -- all Oscar-nominated for Best Cinematography -- has earned him a reputation as one of the premier cinematic visionaries of his generation. Born in Devon, England, Deakins initially studied graphic design, a career path which eventually led him to realize his love for still photography. Following his education at the National Film School, Deakins was commissioned to create a photographic documentary on his hometown, an assignment that found him focusing on documentary filmmaking for the next seven years. Deakins subsequently stepped behind the camera for such television documentaries as Around the World with Ridgeway, Zimbabwe, and Eritrea -- Behind Enemy Lines; and in 1983 National Film School student Michael Radford offered him work on the fiction feature Another Time, Another Place. The mid-'80s found Deakins virtually abandoning documentary filmmaking for work on such strikingly visual efforts as 1984 (1984) and Sid and Nancy (1986); and following his work on the 1988 film The Moon Woman, he worked primarily in the United States.Deakins' remarkable work on the Coen brothers 1991 film Barton Fink proved the beginning of an enduring partnership, and since then, the cinematographer has remained behind the camera for virtually all of the eccentric pair's highly stylized efforts. Increasingly prolific in Hollywood since the mid-'90s, Deakins balanced lensing such blockbusters as Courage Under Fire (1996), Thirteen Days (2000), and A Beautiful Mind (2001) with such lesser-known efforts as The Secret Garden (1993) and Anywhere But Here (1999). Following the millennial turnover, Deakins would once again re-team with the Coen brothers for The Man Who Wasn't There (2001), Intolerable Cruelty (2003), and The Ladykillers (2004). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
This fast-paced thriller examines the amorality of a nation's secret services and the responsibility of journalistic investigations in an era of nuclear tensions and bureaucratic deceit. The film examines an unspooling series of events occurring after a near crash of a nuclear bomber at an American Air Force base in the English countryside. When Dennis Markham (Ian Bannen), a well-respected member of Parliament, is reported by a London paper to have been seen leaving a woman's home, and the woman is found to also be familiar with a dignitary from East Germany, his loyalty to his country is questioned, and he is forced to resign. The author of the newspaper exposé, Nick Mullen (Gabriel Byrne), continues his investigation with his colleague Vernon Bayliss (Denholm Elliott). But when Vernon dies from a mysterious heart attack, Mullen suspects something deeper at work and finds evidence of a complex web of deceit concerning a secret Air Force base. With the help of Vernon's secretary, Nina Beckman (Greta Scacchi), Nick fights the dark forces in order to bring the truth to light. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gabriel Byrne, Greta Scacchi, (more)
- 1985
- PG
This surreal British black comedy tells the tale of poor Oliver Shadey, a mechanic who longs to become a woman but lacks the money for the operation. Oliver is a talented lad and has the rare ability to read the minds of people and put their thought on film. He has the best of intentions when he hooks up with greedy Sir Cyril Landau with a way to earn some money and achieve his goal. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Antony Sher, Billie Whitelaw, (more)
- 1985
- R
This densely-packed film is based on a book by Tom Hart about the struggles of a young Yorkshire boy trying to come to grips with squabbling parents, a doctor who wants to institutionalize him because of his epilepsy, and a mother who refuses to accept that he is different in any way -- and that is only the half of it. The boy, Tim (Andrew Hawley), also acts as a go-between for his friend Carns (Liam Neeson) who is having an affair with a married woman (Miranda Richardson). Eventually, things start to sort themselves out, and Tim sees life getting more interesting when he and his friend Win (Kate Foster) slowly get a relationship going. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Bell, Liam Neeson, (more)
Ray Davies, leader of the group The Kinks and one of the most well-respected songwriters in the history of British rock, made his directorial debut with this film produced for British television. A man (played by Kenneth Colley) boards a commuter train and reads his newspaper, glancing at a story in which a man who looks just like him is wanted for a brutal rape. As the miles roll by, he wonders about the fate of his missing daughter (Dominique Barnes) and the sad state of his relationship with his wife (Valerie Holliman). He also banters with an attractive women (Gretchen Franklin) sitting nearby, watches a group of businessmen cheerfully singing about their careers, and observes a group of older people wondering what became of their lives and the world they once knew. Davies himself has a small role as a singer in a tube station (he wrote several original songs for the project). Also, keep an eye peeled for Tim Roth in a small role as a punk rocker. As a bonus, the DVD release also features eight music videos by The Kinks, including concept videos for "Come Dancing," "Predictable," and "State of Confusion," and live clips of the band performing earlier hits such as "Lola," "You Really Got Me," and "Celluloid Heroes." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kenneth Colley, Valerie Holliman, (more)
- 1984
- R
Directed by British filmmaker Michael Radford, Nineteen Eighty-Four is the second film adaptation of the George Orwell novel. The film is set during April of 1984 in post-atomic war London, the capital city of the repressive totalitarian state of Oceania. Winston Smith (John Hurt) is a government bureaucrat whose job is rewriting history and erasing people from existence. While his co-worker Parsons (Gregor Fisher) seems content to follow the state's laws, Winston starts to write in a secret diary despite the fact the "Big Brother" is watching everyone at all times by way of monitors. He silently suffers and tries to comprehend his oppression, which forbids individual human behaviors such as free thinking and sex. He meets Julia (Suzanna Hamilton), who works for the Ministry of Truth, and they engage in a stoic love affair. They are soon found out, and Winston is interrogated and tortured by his former friend O'Brien (Richard Burton in his final film appearance). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Hurt, Richard Burton, (more)
- 1983
This story of a World War II romance in the Scottish highlands develops in a gradual but lyrical manner as Janie (Phyllis Logan), a Scottish woman married to a cold and remote man, starts an affair with Luigi (Giovanni Mauriello), an Italian confined to Janie's small community until the war is over. Luigi has two other compatriots to keep him company, but none of the Italians speak English, and life in exile is lonely. Although the townspeople continue to distrust the Italians, Luigi and Janie are kindred spirits, so when they meet, their mutual need is unconsciously acknowledged and sparks are ignited. Whether an illicit wartime romance will endure or not, that is another question entirely. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Phyllis Logan, Giovanni Mauriello, (more)
- 1981
Narrated by Julie Christie and banned from television, this is an unflinching look at wildlife abuse - documenting in a graphic way the cruelties imposed upon animals by man in the name of capitalism and science. The graphic violence to animals is examined through interviews, secretly-shot footage and military film clips. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi
- 1980
This British rock documentary covers the first Great Yarmouth Holiday Camp concert. Featured is singer Ray Campi, and the late Bill Haley of Bill Haley and the Comets fame is shown at a 1978 London concert. Film clips of Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and other early rock stars are also shown. ~ Brian Gusse, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bill Haley
- 1979
Van Morrison in Ireland is 60 minutes of Van Morrison belting out 12 songs, in which the quality of the music and the intensity of the singer speak for themselves. Interviews with the rock star (born in Ireland) were recorded, but nixed by him before the film went into final editing. Some shots of the singer in Dublin are the only scenes outside the concert stage, and were meant to underscore the fact that this was his first live performance in his native land in 15 years. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Van Morrison
- 1977
Aside from newspapers, most people in the 1930s got their news from movie newsreels. In this British documentary, the filmmaker makes the case that the generally vague and uninformative coverage of world events by the newsreel companies was a result of government and other pressures. A concerted effort was made to paint a rose-colored picture of the world situation, when in fact, much information was available which could have been used to give viewers a more realistic understanding of the world situation. As an example, by the late 1930s, news companies had on file much filmed footage showing the horrors of Nazi concentration camps. Using interviews with reporters and other important figures, as well as archival film footage, the director makes a strong case for his unpalatable assertions. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
In this erotic drama based on an infamous novel by the Marquis de Sade, two sisters are raised in a convent, where they suffer all manner of abuse. The girls are eventually expelled for misbehavior, and make their way to London, where they find work in a brothel. One is able to adjust to the realities of her new life, but the other rebels and runs away, only to fall victim to an especially cruel fate. Justine, which was also released under the title Cruel Passion, stars Koo Stark, who gained notoriety in 1982 after it became public knowledge that she had a brief affair with Britain's Prince Andrew. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Koo Stark, Martin Potter, (more)
- 1976
This documentary follows the 1975-76 efforts of Reuben Davis, who seeks to ease the difficulties of would-be immigrants, holders of valid British passports, who are denied resident entry permits to the country because of that country's schizophrenic practice of issuing such passports to citizens of former colonies (Pakistan, East Africa, Cyprus) and at the same time refusing them entry into the country. Mr. Davis is shown interviewing the victims of this policy, advising them of options, and is also shown badgering immigration officials and the hapless holder of the post of Minister of Information. His efforts seem to have borne little fruit, as this same difficulty continues through the 1990s. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
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