If you don't mind a heavy dose of schmaltz and sentiment, this romantic comedy has a gentle way of seducing you with its charms. While You Were Sleeping was the first starring role for Sandra Bullock after her blockbuster success in Speed. In a role that nicely emphasises her easygoing appeal, Bullock is the reason the movie works at all. She plays Lucy Eleanor Moderatz, a Chicago Transit tollbooth clerk who's hopelessly smitten with a daily commuter, Peter Callaghan (Peter Gallagher). She saves the object of her affection from certain death after he's mugged and falls onto the train tracks. While Peter is in a coma, she lets his family believe that she is his fiancée, and surprisingly finds herself drawn to his brother (Bill Pullman), for whom the attraction is definitely mutual. How Lucy gets out of this amorous predicament is what makes this pleasant movie less predictable than its familiar ingredients would initially indicate. It's feel-good fluff, with characters and performances that keep you smiling through the drippy plot mechanics. --Jeff Shannon
A tense conspiracy thriller that twists deeper and deeper into the hostile twilight world where politics meets the press, from Emmy-winning writer Paul Abbot (Cracker) and director David Yates (Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts). Featuring an all-star cast including David Morrissey, John Simm, Bill Nighy, James McAvoy and Kelly Macdonald. Stephen Collins is an ambitious politician. Cal McAffrey is a well-respected investigative journalist and Stephen's ex-campaign manager. En route to work one morning, Stephen's research assistant mysteriously falls to her death on the London Underground. It's not long before rumours of an affair between Stephen and the assistant hit the headlines. Meanwhile a suspected teenage drug dealer is shot dead. Revelation upon revelation pile up in the aftermath of these two seemingly unconnected events, ultimately bringing to light shady dealings between the government and major corporate powers. Friendships are tested and lives are put on the line as an intricate web of lies unfolds.
In South London, a young man, Abdullah Asif (Sam Otto), is shot dead delivering a pizza. The detective in charge, DI Kip Glaspie (Carey Mulligan), quickly discovers that the pizza manager Laurie Stone (Hayley Squires), inexplicably sent Syrian refugee Abdullah instead of regular driver Mikey Gowans (Brian Vernel). At the crime scene, KIP dismisses pushy reporter Robert Walsh (Mark Umbers) and is briefed by her partner DS Nathan Bilk (Nathanial Martello-White). The killing seems professional, but the only witness - a young woman strung out on drugs on the street corner - gives the police a false name and address. Local MP David Mars (John Simm) arrives to comfort his ex-wife Karen (Billie Piper), the customer of the fatal pizza delivery. Kip and Nathan track down Abdullah's home, a set of garages, to find his sisters, Fatima (Ahd Kamel) and Mona (July Namir). The sisters are scared and Kip's convinced they're hiding something. Meanwhile, Mikey takes a beating from two men he tries to warn about the police investigation. And manageress Laurie returns home to care for her aging mum... unaware that two shady figures are watching her every move. Features: Includes subtitles for the Hard of Hearing.
In his film debut, hip-hop superstar Curtis 50 Cent Jackson explodes across the screen in this hard-hitting urban drama from acclaimed director Jim Sheridan (In America). Following a near-fatal gun battle, Marcus (50 Cent) recalls his journey from orphaned street kid from the Bronx to making his mark in the drug trade to teaming up with a fellow ex-con (Terrence Howard) for his shot at becoming a successful rap artist. This gripping tale, based on 50 Cent's real life story, is a film with a rich and convincing texture, a drama with power and anger. Roger Ebert.
In South London, a young man, Abdullah Asif (Sam Otto), is shot dead delivering a pizza. The detective in charge, DI Kip Glaspie (Carey Mulligan), quickly discovers that the pizza manager Laurie Stone (Hayley Squires), inexplicably sent Syrian refugee Abdullah instead of regular driver Mikey Gowans (Brian Vernel). At the crime scene, KIP dismisses pushy reporter Robert Walsh (Mark Umbers) and is briefed by her partner DS Nathan Bilk (Nathanial Martello-White). The killing seems professional, but the only witness - a young woman strung out on drugs on the street corner - gives the police a false name and address. Local MP David Mars (John Simm) arrives to comfort his ex-wife Karen (Billie Piper), the customer of the fatal pizza delivery. Kip and Nathan track down Abdullah's home, a set of garages, to find his sisters, Fatima (Ahd Kamel) and Mona (July Namir). The sisters are scared and Kip's convinced they're hiding something. Meanwhile, Mikey takes a beating from two men he tries to warn about the police investigation. And manageress Laurie returns home to care for her aging mum... unaware that two shady figures are watching her every move. Features: Includes subtitles for the Hard of Hearing.
The fifth installment in the Lake Placid franchise. Click Images to Enlarge
Writer/Director Cameron Crowe's affable twentysomething romantic comedy is less a tale of tortured love than a prescient portrait of a culture on the cusp of Generation X--that is Seattle, circa 1991. One-time Rolling Stone journalist Crowe, ever aware of pop trends, lovingly details a society newly beguiled by slackers, answerphones, self-analysis, the coffee-house fetish, post-AIDS safe sex and, most importantly, grunge music--Smashing Pumpkins, Mudhoney and Jane's Addiction pepper the soundtrack, while various Pearl Jam players cameo as members of the film's fictional grunge wannabes Citizen Dick. In the midst of all this sits a cosy residential apartment block, a perfect setting for the emotional crises of on-again, off-again, on-again couples Steve and Linda (Campbell Scott and Kyra Sedgwick) and Cliff and Janet (Matt Dillon and Bridget Fonda). Steve is a sensitive transport engineer whose game-playing backfires when he meets Linda, an environmental activist with a fear of rejection. Cliff is a feckless rock musician, and front man for Citizen Dick, whose inability to commit to Janet is forcing her to take desperate measures. Will the couples split? Will they reunite? And will they learn a little something about life, maturity and commitment along the way? As you'd expect from the man behind the cutesy teen classic Say Anything (his directorial debut), Crowe's relationship resolutions are often simplistic and sentimental ("You rock my world!" and "You belong to me!" are two such vocal denouements). And this, combined with a rambling narrative often makes the movie feel longer than its 95 minutes (an inter-title announcing "The Theory of Eternal Dating" sums it up). Nonetheless, there's enough wit, comic digression and tap-along gaiety elsewhere to make Singles an enjoyably slight romantic placebo. --Kevin Maher
Clint Eastwood's second film as a director (and his first Western) is a variation on the "man with no name" theme, starring Eastwood as the drifter known only as "the Stranger". He rides into the desert town of Lagos and is quickly attacked by three gunmen. Recovering with the aid of a local dwarf (a memorable role for Billy Curtis), the Stranger is hired by the intimidated townsfolk to fend off a band of violent ex-convicts. After teaching the citizens self-defence and instructing them to paint the entire town red and rename it "Hell", the Stranger vanishes. He reappears when the marauding criminals arrive, and delivers justice and teaches the townsfolk a harsh lesson about moral obligation. Is he a figure from their past or a kind of supernatural avenger? Combining humour with action, High Plains Drifter is both a serious and tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Westerns that made Eastwood a household name. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
When George Smiley receives a mysterious letter from Stella Rode a teacher's wife at Carne School intimating that her husband is out to murder her he decides to phone the school only to find that Stella was killed the previous evening... Based on a novel by John Le Carre.
The Fugitive: Vicky and Kevin Gordon find a beautiful ebony horse that has been mistreated and help restore his health. The Hostage: An escaped convict holds Kevin and Black Beauty hostage and forces Vicky to get food and clothing so he can complete his bid for freedom. The Recruiting Sergeant: Black Beauty is in danger of losing his freedom when a unit of British Army soldiers arrives in the village and Kevin is tricked into joining up. Sailor on a Horse: Vicky visits an old cottage believed to be haunted and finds an ex-sailor living there who proves to be a friend indeed when a lawyer threatens to evict the Gordon family from their home. Father and Son: Doctor Gordon tries to sort out a dispute between a grandfather and his son-in-law over the future of little Stan.
Dimples: Temple stars as a young singer who entertains the New York crowds providing the window of opportunity for her pick pocket of a grand father to carry out his work. A rich lady sees the young girl peforming - and after discovering her grim existence with her grand father - offers her an opportunity to rise out of lifestyle... The Littlest Rebel: Shirley Temple's father a rebel officer sneaks back to his rundown plantation to see his family and is arrested. How
Two hilarious short films from British funny man Erik Sykes: 'Rhubarb Rhubarb' concerns a mad game of golf and in 'Mr H Is Late' a coffin is late for a funeral...
Patrick McCardle (High School Musical star Zac Efron) is a typical fifteen year old kid who doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. With pressure from his rather to commit to his baseball career Patrick meets mysterious horse trainer who gives him a shot at riding in the famous Derby Cup. Along with the difficulties and challenges of training Patrick must overcome the malicious intentions of Randy Adams the rich town bully and five-time Derby Cup Champion.
Clint Eastwood's second film as a director (and his first Western) is a variation on the "man with no name" theme, starring Eastwood as the drifter known only as "the Stranger". He rides into the desert town of Lagos and is quickly attacked by three gunmen. Recovering with the aid of a local dwarf (a memorable role for Billy Curtis), the Stranger is hired by the intimidated townsfolk to fend off a band of violent ex-convicts. After teaching the citizens self-defence and instructing them to paint the entire town red and rename it "Hell", the Stranger vanishes. He reappears when the marauding criminals arrive, and delivers justice and teaches the townsfolk a harsh lesson about moral obligation. Is he a figure from their past or a kind of supernatural avenger? Combining humour with action, High Plains Drifter is both a serious and tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Westerns that made Eastwood a household name. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
In a totally unexpected piece of casting, Blue Valley Songbird stars Dolly Parton as a country singer/songwriter with big hair, large breasts and lots of lippy. The comparison ends there, though, because here she plays Leana Taylor, a talented performer hampered by her provincial background (and unpleasant manager/boyfriend) who realises she must escape her small-town roots in order to achieve her true potential. This isn't the most taxing of narratives, but it's the music that counts here. This movie is of the "musical drama" genre--take a star musical performer, give them the lead role in a movie, then furnish them with every excuse to perform therein so long as it can be done as a realistic element within the overall story--and as such it's highly agreeable. Parton not only has buckets of musical talent but also has plausible acting skills, even if the viewer is bound to think that these are mainly to do with being Dolly Parton. In any event, the songs are excellent, so this is well worth watching even if you find yourself fast-forwarding until you see someone picking a guitar up.--Roger Thomas
Wesley Snipes and Dean Cain star in the turbo charged sci-fi thrill ride where the only game is war... The year is 2025 and global tension is rapidly growing between the Hawaiian Liberation Organisation and the North American Alliance. On the brink of war superstar athlete Tre Ramsey (Cain) must fight with all his powers to save himself his team and the fate of his country. The question of the territory is set to be solved by holding a game of futuresport - a violent basketball and skateboarding which requires the utmost skill and agility - hold on to the ball for more than five seconds and electricity shoots through your body. Obike Fixx (Snipes) the creator of the game is coaching the HLO team - who seem willing to play by ""Street Rules"" thus increasing the danger level in the high-stakes game.
The Best Of Series 1 and Series 2.
Shades of Rollerball! Director Ernest Dickerson and executive producer Wesley Snipes ponder the sport of the future and come up with... "Futuresport", a combination of handball, ice hockey, and skateboard hot-dogging begun as an inner-city alternative to gang warfare and transformed into a glitzy media sensation. Dean Cain stars as the reigning Futuresport hero, a cocky glory hound who counts his cash and "popularity index" ratings with a smug grin until his narcissism costs him the championship game. As a ruthless terrorist group pushes the world to the brink of war, the suddenly altruistic Cain hatches a plan to bring Futuresport back to its roots. With the help of reporter (and former flame) Vanessa Williams and the game's creator (a rastah-inflected Snipes, who gives himself the film's best role), Cain proposes a winner-take-all game to settle the territorial dispute. Beefy former TV "Superman" Cain makes a better reformed hero than a snotty superstar and looks great in the game scenes, but Snipes steals the film with his funky turn as the inner-city guru with more on his mind than the game. Dickerson gives this TV film a handsome look and even injects a little grit into the otherwise bland screenplay, but apart from the zippy game scenes (which Dickerson films with an electrified energy), it's a familiar and rather flat bit of science fiction hokum. --Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com
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