Gavin Millar Movies
The wartime diaries of Nella Last provide the foundation for this story about a woman who struggled for personal liberation as the world waged a violent war for freedom. Written by a starring popular British comedienne Victoria Wood, this BAFTA-winning drama highlights how a widespread war reflected on the life of a solitary woman. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victoria Wood, David Threlfall, (more)
- 2002
Based on the (somewhat darker) novel by Gregory Maguire, the made-for-TV movie Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister offers a refreshing revisionist spin on the old Cinderella legend. Having squandered her late husband's fortune, 17th century widow Margarethe (Stockard Channing) moves from London to her native Holland, in hopes of snagging wealthy tulip merchant Van Den Meer (David Westhead) as Hubby Number Two. Going along for the ride are Margarethe's two daughters, Iris (Azura Skye) and Ruth (Emma Poole), whom their mother regards as hopelessly homely and awkward -- especially when compared to Van Den Meer's gorgeous, aloof, and chronically agoraphobic daughter Clara (Claire Harrison). Though unattractive by her mother's idiotically exacting standards, Iris glows with beauty from within, especially when her artistic soul is unleashed by a wise old mentor known as the Master (Jonathan Pryce) (who, without giving too much of the game away, bears a remarkable resemblance to the great Rembrandt). When Margarethe selfishly attempts to marry off Iris to a handsome Prince, ignoring the girl's growing fondness for the Master's humble apprentice Casper (Matthew Goode), Iris formulates a plan to draw Clara out of her shell and prepare her unofficial stepsister for a royal marriage. Deftly challenging still-prevalent notions of "ugly," "beautiful," "good," and "evil," Confessions of an Ugly Sister was a Canadian-Luxembourg coproduction, filmed in 2001 and first telecast as part of ABC's Wonderful World of Disney anthology on March 10, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
In this two-part British TV drama, Trina Lavery (Sarah Lancashire) returned to her hometown of Stoke after 20 years, there to look after her ailing mother. Upon her arrival, Trina discovered that Bernard Cleve (Lorcan Cranitch), the man who had been arrested for the murder of Trina's best friend, was likewise living in Stoke, his case having been tossed out of court. Though a free man in the eyes of the lawy, Bernard was unable to escape suspicion when another local girl was killed. This time around, however, Trina had a feeling that Bernard was not responsible -- and in setting out to prove her theory, she risked becoming Victim Number Three. Hampered by an unsatisfying conclusion, My Fragile Heart nonetheless enjoyed a large viewership when it was aired by ITV on September 17 and 18, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sarah Lancashire, Lorcan Cranitch, (more)
In this downbeat drama, Cameron Colley (Jonny Lee Miller) is a journalist whose career has gone into a slump; he's working for a second-rate tabloid and is looking for a story that will help him move on to better things. Colley also has a secret: he's been having an affair with Yvonne (Keely Hawes), the wife of his close friend William (Jason Hetherington). Colley has been getting tip-offs by telephone from a man calling himself Mr. Archer, who claims to be a government intelligence agent and suggests Cameron look into a series of murders that have been occurring in London. Cameron's research suggests that the three victims were all involved in a scandal over the sale of British arms to the Middle East, but police inspector McDunn (Brian Cox) sees things a bit differently; he thinks there could be a link between the murders and a story Cameron wrote suggesting certain public figures who betray the trust of the people might be better off dead. As Cameron tries to prove he's not to blame for the killings, he wonders if someone he knows might be trying to set him up. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonny Lee Miller, Brian Cox, (more)
Director Gavin Miller adapts Scottish author Iain Banks' novel about a troubled young man striving to unearth the secrets of his family past while simultaneously sleuthing to find out what fate really befell his long-missing uncle. Prentice McHoan (Joseph McFadden) is an emotionally confused and self-destructive boy from a family that seems particularly prone to premature death. He resents his father (Bill Paterson), is deeply jealous of his handsome and witty brother, and harbors a secret crush on his pretty cousin. Six years ago, Prentice's uncle Rory went missing without a trace. While some believe Rory is simply wandering, others -- such as Prentice's mother -- suspect that he has in fact died. Though Prentice at first views his father's atheistic apathy toward the situation as a hindrance, he gradually discovers that there may be some merit to the older and wiser man's mindset. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joseph McFadden, Bill Paterson, (more)
Tommy Fawkes (Oliver Platt) is a struggling stand-up comedian who has tried for years to get out from under the shadow of his father, George Fawkes (Jerry Lewis), himself a famous humorist. Tommy finally scores a showcase spot at a major resort in Las Vegas, but when opening night rolls around, Tommy's act is an unqualified disaster, with the failure made even more painful by his father's presence in the audience. In search of a fresh start, Tommy heads to Blackpool, England, where he was born and raised, to look for a new act. Hoping to buy material from local performers, Tommy auditions a large number of acts, most of whom are utterly hopeless, until he sees a hilarious vaudeville team, the Parker Brothers. Their act seems more than a bit familiar, however, and Tommy soon realizes that they're doing his father's old material. But they have every right to be doing George's schtick -- it seems George stole his act from the Parkers ages ago. What's more, the younger and more eccentric of the Parker Boys, Jack (Lee Evans), is actually Tommy's half brother, the product of a fling with a Blackpool showgirl years ago. Veering between comedy and drama, Funny Bones has more than its share of effective moments on either side of the fence, and features fine supporting performances from Oliver Reed, Leslie Caron and Harold Nicholas. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Oliver Platt, Lee Evans, (more)
- 1994
The Dwelling Place is the 1994 made-for-TV adaptation of the best-selling Catherine Cookson novel. In 19th century England, teenager Cissie Brodie (Tracy Whitwell) is left on her own after she loses her parents and the family home. She finds a place to stay in a cave in order to take care of her younger brothers and sisters. She falls in love with the equally poor carpenter Matthew Turnbull (Ray Stevenson), who is burdened with caring for his aging parents. Cissie is raped by aristocrat Clive Fischel (Edward Rowie-Hicks) and ends up having a child that she must fight to keep against the child's biological grandfather, Lord Fischel (James Fox). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Whitwell
A murder investigation at a cloistered boy's school is the subject of this British made-for-television adaptation of John Le Carre's novel. Le Carre's famous detective-hero George Smiley (Denholm Elliott) returns from retirement to look for answers in a mysterious murder at a boarding school, where secret societies, rituals and abuse are the norm. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Danny, the Champion of the World is set in rural England. Nasty country squire Robbie Coltrane, who owns half the land, covets the other half. His principal opponents are a father-and-son team of farmers. The warm relationship between the two "good guys" hardly needs to be forced, since the roles are played by Jeremy Irons and his real-life son Samuel. Cyril Cusack and Jean Marsh also appear in this colorful comedy-drama. Produced for British television, Danny, the Champion of the World was based on a story by Roald Dahl. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Based on the play by actor/playwright Harvey Fierstein, this drama is about a man (played by Fierstein) whose companion dies of AIDS. He then confronts his lover's ex-wife (Stockard Channing) and the two end up building a friendship while coping with the emotional aftermath of the death. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Written by Alan Bennett, the British anthology series Talking Heads consisted of a batch of direct-to-camera monologues, delivered by Bennett and a corps of dependable character actors, all portraying a variety of what the writer referred to as "repressed souls." The first six half-hour programs, telecast by BBC1 in 1987, included "Cream Cracker Under the Setee," "A Chip in the Sugar," "Soldiering On," "A Lady of Letters," "Bed Among the Lentils," and "Her Big Chance." The second and final group of six, broadcast in 1998, included "Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet," "The Hand of God," "Playing Sandwiches," "The Outside Dog," "Nights in the Gardens of Spain," and "Waiting for the Telegram." The 1998 episodes were shown under the official blanket title Talking Heads II. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
- PG
Irreverent British writer Dennis Potter speaks aloud what many literary historians have only postulated in whispers in Dreamchild. The film is set in 1932, on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alice in Wonderland creator Lewis Carroll. The guest of honor at the New York-based celebration is 80-year-old Alice Liddell (Coral Browne), who as a child inspired Carroll's whimsical novels. Amidst the cajoling of both devoted fans and fast-buck hustlers, the grim-faced Alice tries to remain calm and dignified. What none of the idolaters suspect is that Alice harbors a long-suppressed secret concerning her "very special" relationship with Carroll -- a secret revealed in an extremely tasteful fashion during a flashback sequence, featuring Amelia Shankley as young Alice and Ian Holm as Charles Dodgson, the virginal, child-obsessed clergyman whom the world knew as Lewis Carroll. The darkness of Dennis Potter's vision is lightened by Muppeteer Jim Henson's marvelous three-dimensional renditions of the Wonderland and Looking Glass characters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Coral Browne, Ian Holm, (more)
- 1984
Vacillating between the suspense of a thriller and the absurdity of a farce, this uneven story about a demonized telephone company intent on controlling everyone's lives ends up in cinematic limbo -- neither farce nor thriller. When Mavis (Julie Walters) leaves her gay husband to go live in an apartment with her daughter, she receives a call from him saying he is about to come over for a visit. Nothing happens. Then the telephone does other strange things, and as she sets out to discover why, the people she meets are as odd as her phone. She comes across a dwarf with a giant libido and an expert in conspiracy theories who holds his own views (not created jointly with others). The woman would have been better off getting an answering machine, much needed to resolve the plot holes in this story. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julie Walters, David Rappaport, (more)
- 1984
- R
Secrets was produced in 1982 for the British TV anthology series First Love. Anna Campbell-Jones plays a lonely 13-year-old girl who is about to be packed off to boarding school. Just before she leaves, she stumbles upon a packet of secret documents, revealing that her late father was a member of the Freemasons. Shortly afterward, her mother (Helen Lindsay) discovers a cache of condoms in her daughter's room. Mother and daughter confront each other, demanding explanations for what both have found. A slight but enjoyable piece, Secrets was released theatrically in the US by the Samuel Goldwyn Company in 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Lindsay, John Horsley, (more)
Clichéd, slow-paced, and with a well-worn storyline, this melodrama revolves around the sad tale of Olivia (Lisa Eichhorn), a woman who falls in love with Rollo (Michael York), a married man, and then suffers torment when she becomes pregnant and realizes she has no choice but to abort the baby. Predictable from the very beginning, this mediocre film is raised up several notches by Lisa Eichhorn's interpretation of Olivia. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael York, Lisa Eichhorn, (more)
