Phillip Noyce Movies
Australian Phillip Noyce was "movie crazy" from an early age, experimenting with a camera as a teen and producing an independent short, Better to Reign in Hell, before graduating from high school. He entered the University of Sydney's law school, quit to play amateur rugby, then re-enrolled in the University's fine arts department. Noyce continued turning out short documentaries on the more offbeat aspects of Australian life and also ran the University's film society before being accepted at the fledgling Australian Film and Television School in 1972. Two years later, he won the Sydney Film Festival's Rouben Mamoulien award for his documentary Castor and Pollux. With God Knows Why, But It Works, a 1975 docudrama about medical care among the Aborigines, Noyce became a professional filmmaker. His first feature, 1977's Backroads (which he also produced and wrote), expanded on certain race-relations themes explored in God Knows Why etc. Newsfront (1978), a paean to pioneering Australian newsreel cameramen, was Noyce's final nonfiction project. The director's first international success was the minimalist melodrama Dead Calm (1989), which, despite an idiotic slasher-movie ending, was potent enough to gain Noyce entry into Hollywood. His first American film, an adaptation of Tom Clancy's technothriller Patriot Games (1992), showed he knew how to take charge of a big-budget, big-star project. Alas, Noyce's next effort, Sliver (1993) was a misfire Sharon Stone vehicle plagued by in-production indecision and a surprising lack of genuine suspense. He responded to this bomb by reteaming with Harrison Ford for another Jack Ryan film, Clear and Present Danger. After a three year stint he returned with a big screen adaptation of The Saint, starring Val Kilmer. That film earned lukewarm box office and mostly negative reviews. His next film, the serial killer thriller The Bone Collector got by in large part thanks to casting Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.He started the next decade with arguably his biggest success to that point, an adaptation of The Quiet American. The film earned strong reviews, and garnered Michael Caine a well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Actor. That same year he showed his versatility, releasing the well-received Aussie adventure drama Rabbit-Proof Fence. He helped shepherd the television series Tru Calling, but took a break from features until releasing the anti-apartheid drama Catch a Fire, based on the true story of a famous freedom fighter.
~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2010
An FBI agent draws fire after being convicted of murdering an informant whom he had an affair with in this straight from the headlines crime thriller directed by Phillip Noyce from a script by Chris Gerolmo. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 2008
The eventful life of ill-fated Catholic monarch Mary, Queen of Scots is detailed in this lavish biopic directed by John J. Curran and starring Scarlett Johansson. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2008
A woman isolated in the harsh terrain of Australia's Northern Territories (Rachel Weisz) finds her withering passion for life unexpectedly rekindled by the arrival of a mysterious drifter (Colin Farrell) as author Tim Winton's acclaimed novel comes to the screen under the direction of Phillip Noyce. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2006
An Irish-American politician (Jason Clarke) in Providence, R.I., is surprised when his hoodlum brother (Jason Isaacs), thought to be dead, returns to town after seven years and picks up where he left off with his criminal activities. ~ Ray Stackhouse, Rovi
- 2003
Legendary Aboriginal actor and Australian icon David Gulpilil's life has been one of dueling lifestyles, with his jet-setting movie star life on a completely different plane from his life as an Aboriginal village elder, and director Darlene Johnson manages to capture intimate details from both lifestyles in her 2003 biographical documentary entitled Gulpilil: One Red Blood. At the age of 17, Gulpilil made history as the first Aboriginal actor to appear on film -- in Nicolas Roeg's 1971 Walkabout -- which, in turn, led to an historic acting career that culminated in his receiving numerous awards and an Order of Australia medal. All the while, Gulpilil remained true to his culture by accepting his tribal responsibilities, which include living in a primitive house and procuring his household's daily food and water. As Johnson films a number of very candid encounters with the actor in both settings, she also documents the class differences that still exist between the indigenous population of Australia versus the relatively new white population. Gulpilil: One Red Blood was a participating film at the 2003 Rotterdam International Film Festival and was later shown on television by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Gulpilil, Phillip Noyce, (more)
The weekly, 60-minute Fox series Tru Calling was the strange saga of medical graduate student Tru Davies (Eliza Dushku). When her grant money was abruptly terminated, Tru was forced to make ends meet with a night-shift job at a Boston morgue. It was there that our heroine discovered her ability to communicate with certain of her deceased "clients"; she was then able to relive the events of the previous day, and in so doing prevent the death of the person with whom she had communicated -- or, at the very least, to resolve that person's other problems, thereby averting disaster of a more wide-ranging variety. Alas, Tru had plenty of problems of her own, what with her brother Harrison (Shawn Reaves), a chronic gambler, and her sister, Meredith (Jessica Collins), a drug-addicted lawyer. Also, Tru had to deal with her doubting boss, Davis (Zach Galifianakis), as well as a sinister chap named Jack Harper (Jason Priestley), who was introduced halfway through the series' initial season. Jack possessed the same psychic "gift" as Tru -- but instead of saving people from death, he merely wanted to make certain that they stayed dead. Created by Jon Harmon Feldman, Tru Calling deftly balanced its supernatural and sometimes horrific aspects with wry humor and touching humanity. The series debuted October 30, 2003. ~ Rovi
Follow the adventures of a stolen video camera as it constantly changes hands in filmmaker Richard Martini's unhinged entry into the Dogme movement. From landing in the hands of tourists, celebrity stalkers, and even a fearless sky diver, the well-traveled camcorder continues to turn-up in the most unlikely of places. After being pawned, stolen, and lost by a series of well-traveled owners, the camera eventually lands in the hands of a wannabe filmmaker running short on original ideas. When an old friend gives the filmmaker the unique idea of making a movie about the worldly camera's well-documented adventures, the images that appear on the tape serve as the inspiration for a film that promises something special for everyone. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 1986
In this family drama, the life of a woman and her son are severely disrupted when her estranged husband, who abandoned them thirty years before, returns. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Mitchum, Claire Bloom, (more)
Among the first original anthology series to be produced for cable television, The Hitchhiker was a collection of tales of the supernatural and bizarre. The title character, played during the first season by Nicholas Campbell and thereafter by Page Fletcher, was an unnamed drifter who wandered ubiquitously from story to story, sometimes briefly commiserated with the main characters, sometimes acting as a disinterested observer, but always ready with a few pithy and occasional chilling comments of the events which had transpired. Inasmuch as the series carried on pay cable and not "mainstream" commercial TV, the stories contained an abundance of nudity, profanity, and violence. Even so, in most of the half-hour playlets, Evil was severely punished (usually in an ironic "postman always rings twice" fashion) and Virtue more or less triumphed. After 39 episodes on HBO, the series moved to a basic-cable channel, USA, for 46 additional installments. While censorship was somewhat more stringent on USA, The Hitchhiker still managed to serve up rawer and meatier fare than was customary on over-the-air TV of the period. The series was first-run on HBO from November 23, 1983, to May 12, 1987, and on USA from January 4, 1989, to February 22, 1991. ~ Rovi
- 1977
Prominent Australian Aboriginal activist Gary Foley plays a leading role in Backroads. Foley is cast as an Aborigine who links up with boorish, racist Bill Hunter. A wanted criminal, Hunter drags Foley down to his level. Disaster results, with the Aborigine bearing the brunt of the worst life has to offer. Running a scant 61 minutes, Backroads makes its point with the brutal sharpness of a slap. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bill Hunter, Gary Foley, (more)
Graham Greene's allegorical novel about America's role in the Vietnam conflict, and how it was perceived by the rest of the world, is brought to the screen for the second time in this adaptation directed by Phillip Noyce. Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) is a British journalist who in 1952 is covering the early stages of the war in Indo-China for the London Times, not a demanding assignment since few in England are especially interested in the conflict. When not filing occasional reports, Fowler spends his time with Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen), a beautiful woman who shares lovemaking and opium with Fowler and is willing to accept the fact the married journalist will never make her his wife. Fowler becomes friendly with Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser), a cheerful and articulate if seemingly naïve American who is in Saigon as part of a medical mission. As Fowler and Pyle develop a closer friendship, Pyle is introduced to Phuong, and the American soon becomes infatuated with her. When Fowler's editors suggest he return to London, he responds by digging himself deeper in covering the war, and Pyle attempts to take Phuong away; she soon rejects him. Undaunted, Pyle continues with his work, but Fowler discovers that medical help is not what the American is bringing to Vietnam. Pyle is in fact a CIA operative who is helping to organize and finance a "Third Force" who will battle Ho Chi Min's forces as well as the French and their allies. Fowler also learns that Pyle is behind a series of bombings which are believed to have been carried out by Communist extremists, and faces the ugly fact that his American friend is in fact a terrorist killing in the name of Uncle Sam's political interests. While completed in the fall of 2001, The Quiet American went unreleased until late 2002; after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the film's producers felt the film's critical view of America's role in the Vietnam war might be considered especially offensive. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Brendan Fraser, (more)
Filmed on location in Montreal and New York, The Bone Collector is a suspense thriller that combines Rear Window and Seven. Two cops on the trail of a brutal serial killer must see as one, act as one, and think as one before the next victim falls. Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington) is an intelligent forensics detective who was paralyzed in the line of duty. The author of several books, he has a keen eye for detail and nose for clues that have made him a legend in the law enforcement community. Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie) is a street-smart policewoman in her twenties. On her last day as a street cop, before being transferred to a desk job, Amelia discovers a badly mutilated corpse. Rhyme is asked to investigate the case, but he declines. To him, it is an open-and-shut case not worth his time. But when he takes a close look at the evidence, he is intrigued, as the photos reveal complex messages in their details. The lunatic, who might be a taxi driver (a Scorsese allusion), amuses himself by paying homage to legendary murders in his own gruesome acts. Amelia is assigned to assist Rhyme, and she must be the eyes and ears of the quadriplegic detective. And they must capture the killer before he strikes again. Written by Jeremy Iacone and based on a book of the same title by Jeffrey Deaver, The Bone Collector was directed by the Australian thriller specialist Phillip Noyce, who directed such films as Clear and Present Danger and Dead Calm. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, Rovi
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, (more)
Phillip Noyce directed Joe Eszterhas's adaptation of Ira Levin's novel about voyeurism, starring Sharon Stone as Carly Norris, a book editor on the rebound from an emotionless seven-year marriage. Carly decides that a change of location will help her in the healing process, so she moves into a sleek Manhattan high-rise. In her new apartment, she meets a collection of curious neighbors --Vida (Polly Walker), who snorts cocaine along with ingesting all the dark secrets of the building and its tenants; Jack Landsford (Tom Berenger), a successful writer who also wants to also be successful with Carly; and Zeke Hawkins (William Baldwin), Carly's new landlord. Carly is attracted to Zeke, but she sees that he is hiding something from her. Unbeknownst to Carly, Zeke, an obsessive voyeur, watches his tenants from a bank of television screens at his headquarters. But when Carly discovers Zeke's voyeurism, she herself becomes obsessed with the daily lives of her neighbors. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sharon Stone, William Baldwin, (more)
In Patriot Games, Harrison Ford plays former CIA agent Jack Ryan, taking over from Alec Baldwin, who had played author Tom Clancy's brainy protagonist in Hunt for Red October. This time around, Ryan foils an attempted assassination, thereby incurring the wrath of a maniacal Irish radical (Sean Bean). After seemingly neutralizing the villains, and deciding to celebrate the occasion with his wife (Anne Archer) and daughter (Thora Birch), everything appears to be back to normal; then all hell breaks loose. Author Tom Clancy himself bemoaned the liberties taken with his novel in the final sequences; the picture scored with audiences, however, and soon inspired a followup, A Clear and Present Danger (1994), also starring Ford. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, (more)
Rutger Hauer plays a blinded Vietnam vet who also happens to be an expert swordsman. Twenty years after the war, Hauer finds himself waist-deep in gangsters when he tries to help the son (Brandon Call) of an old army buddy. Along the way, he reforms an ex-comrade in arms (Terrance O'Quinn) who was responsible for the accident that blinded him. Based on a series of Japanese films about a blind samurai (released under the blanket title of Zatoichi). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rutger Hauer, Brandon Call, (more)
Grieving over the death of their son, a married couple decide to take a long yachting trip for relaxation's sake. Their journey takes a dark turn, however, when they rescue a young man from a drifting vessel. The couple soon discover that the other ship's crew had been brutally murdered by their new passenger, and find themselves in a battle of wits against this violent sociopath. Interestingly, a previous attempt had been made at adapting the novel that inspired this film by none other than Orson Welles; footage from his unfinished version, known as "The Deep," can be seen in the documentary Orson Welles: The One-Man Band. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman, (more)
- 1986
- R
Maria McEvoy (Wendy Hughes) deals with the death of her beloved father and discovers her attorney husband George (Steven Jacobs) is a philandering louse in this romantic drama. At the suggestion of a friend, Maria takes a vacation in Thailand, where she falls for Raka (John Lone), an exiled dancer from Bali. She also wonders about the sexual ambiguity of fellow Australian Terry (Rod Mullinar), the expatriate who runs the vacation resort. The film gives Hughes ample opportunity to show the full range of human emotions in her role of the grieving daughter and wronged wife. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Wendy Hughes, John Lone, (more)
- 1982
- R
Heatwave is the mildly interesting story of a woman's attempt to stop a redevelopment plot which she thought was the cover-up for fraud and other criminal activity. Kate (Judy Davis), through her own efforts, manages to find some evidence to support her claims and also have a romance. Davis gives an energetic performance as the crusading woman, but the script lacks a convincing plot or characters. While it has some good moments, Heatwave is primarily notable because it was one of the earlier efforts of Australian director Phillip Noyce, who went on to make the very exciting Dead Calm. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Judy Davis, Richard Moir, (more)
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