Charles (Grant) is witty and charming but at the age of 32 is looking like a serial monogamist. His life has been full of girlfriends but he just can't commit to any of them. The more weddings he and his close circle of friends attend the less they want to get married themselves. Until one particular Saturday at one particular wedding Charles meets Carrie (MacDowell)... Instantly smitten Charles begins to pursue her only to learn that she is ready to take the plunge with som
Set in a fictitious suburb rather like, say, Pinner (only more so), The Thin Blue Line is the wickedly funny story of a rather down-at-heel police station headed by Inspector Raymond Fowler (Rowan Atkinson), a pompous, repressed but well-intentioned anachronism who wants to do the right thing but who is constantly hampered by his own shortcomings, not to mention his blundering CID colleagues. Atkinson expertly balances his character's inflated sense of self-importance with the insight born of old-school police values, for which his galumphing, shiny-suited CID counterpart, DI Grim (David Haig) has no time at all. Strongest among the supporting cast is Sgt Pauline Dawkins (Serena Evans), who also happens to be Fowler's live-in lover--a moral dilemma that his traditional values won't allow him to resolve. He salves his conscience by avoiding sex with her whenever possible, an amusing subplot enhanced by Evans's brilliant performance--she positively vibrates with contained, ladylike lust in a manner only equalled by Penelope Keith in the classic sitcom To the Manor Born. Scripted by Ben Elton, this series manages to satirise provincialism, institutionalised pig-headedness and dated moral values in one fell swoop, while also being chock-full of quick-fire, Blackadder-esque dialogue. --Roger Thomas
Amanda Burton plays Aunt Polly in the prestigious film adaptation of the heart-warming classic 'Pollyanna'. The timeless tale of a little girl who goes to live with her rich but bitter aunt after the tragic death of her beloved father her optimism good humour and determination have an astonishing effect on all around her yet tragedy is never far away... Based on the enduringly popular novel by Eleanor H. Porter and adapted by 'Men Behaving Badly' creator Simon Nye.
The world's greatest detectives have been invited to dinner. But when murder is on the menu who will make it to dessert? You are cordially invited to join an all-star cast featuring Peter Sellers David Niven Peter Falk James Coco Elsa Lanchester Maggie Smith Alec Guinness Eileen Brennan Nancy Walker James Cromwell and Estelle Winwood for Neil Simon's hilarious murder-mystery spoof 'Murder By Death'. The isolated mansion of eccentric millionaire Lionel Twain (Truman Capote
Make every move as if it were your last. Richard Gere portrays Vincent Eastman an award-winning architect whose personal life is on shaky ground. Separated from his beautiful but aloof wife (Sharon Stone) Vincent has an affair with a joyful and passionate writer (Lolita Davidovich) whose love promises a new beginning. But Vincent remains emotionally torn between the two women leaving his future happiness - and that of his thirteen year-old daughter - hanging in the balance. A
When it was released in 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral quickly became a huge international success, pulling in the kind of audiences most British films only dream of. It's proof that sometimes the simplest ideas are the best: in terms of plot, the title pretty much says it all. Revolving around, well, four weddings and a funeral (though not in that order), the film follows Hugh Grant's confirmed bachelor Charles as he falls for visiting American Carrie (Andy McDowell), whom he keeps bumping into at the various functions. But with this most basic of premises, screenwriter Richard Curtis has crafted a moving and thoughtful comedy about the perils of singledom and that ever-elusive search for true love. In the wrong hands, it could have been a horribly schmaltzy affair, but Curtis' script--crammed with great one-liners and beautifully judged characterisations--keeps things sharp and snappy, harking back to the sparkling Hollywood romantic comedies of the 30s and 40s. The supporting cast, including Kristin Scott Thomas, Simon Callow and Rowan Atkinson (who starred in the Curtis-scripted television show Blackadder) is first rate, at times almost too good: John Hannah's rendition of WH Auden's poem "Funeral Blues" over the coffin of his lover is so moving you think the film will struggle to re-establish its ineffably buoyant mood. But it does, thanks in no small part to Hugh Grant as the bumbling Charles (whose star-making performance compensates for a less-than-dazzling Andie MacDowell). Though it's hardly the fault of Curtis and his team, the success of the Four Weddings did have its downside, triggering a rash of far inferior British romantic comedies. In fact, we had to wait until 1999's Notting Hill for another UK film to match its winning charm--scripted, yet again, by Curtis and starring Grant. --Edward Lawrenson
Tom's a regular guy, a utilities lineman, married, with a young son, his wife is pregnant; he hangs out with long-time pals in a Chicago neighborhood.
Paul Hogan's hilarious endearing performance made 'Crocodile Dundee' the biggest box-office comedy smash of 1986! Michael J. 'Crocodile' Dundee (Hogan) is a free-spirited Australian who hunts crocodiles with his bare hands stares down giant water buffaloes and drinks mere mortals under the table. But he's about to face the ultimate torture test - a trip to New York City. Beautiful and tenacious reporter Sue Charlton (Linda Kozlowski) gets more than just a story as the ""wonder fr
In the inner city ganglands of 1960's Glasgow urban decay is rife territory is all and woe betide those who break the boundaries. On one side the Glens led by the suavely sinister Charlie (Garry Sweeney) and on the other the Tongs headed by mental Malky (Kevin McKidd). In between are the brothers Maclean. When the youngest Lex (Iain Robertson) a thirteen-year-old with ideas above his station inadvertently shoots Malky in the face with an air-pistol the brothers become irreversibly embroiled in a gang war beyond their control.
Emma (Dir. Douglas McGrath 1996): In the lush countryside of 19th century England there's a young woman so devoted to meddling in the affairs of others that she fails to recognise the longings of her own heart. Her name is Emma (Gwyneth Paltrow) and although she's ""never one to interfere "" Emma manages to make a mess out of every romance she sets up. But her biggest blunder may lie ahead when she discovers her own feelings for her handsome brother-in-law a man she can't d
Starring Paul Hogan as the eccentric Australian crocodile poacher who becomes the subject of an article by an investigative journalist from New York the Crocodile Dundee 1 & 2 Boxset is a superb package of two of the funniest films of the 1980's. The original story of the outback crocodile wrangler who is taken back to America by the journalist doing an expos on him is a hilarious example of what can happen when two diverse cultures collide. Hogan's Mick Dundee is a fascinating
The stunning BBC production of Charlotte Bronte's inspiring story is available for the first time on DVD. Jane Eyre (Zelah Clarke) is a mistreated orphan who learns to survive by relying on her independence and intelligence. Her first job in the outside world is governess to the ward of Mr. Rochester (Timothy Dalton) a man of many secrets and mercurial moods. The tentative trust between them slowly develops into romance but their hopes for happiness will soon be jeopardized by a te
When a bus breaks down in the desert the passengers decide to stage a production of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' to pass the time until they are rescued. However jealousies and divisions between members of the group threaten the security of all... Intellectual and offbeat horror film from acclaimed Danish director Kristian Levring adhering to the 'Dogme95' principles of film making.
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.
When the police force can't be trusted... CIB: the police for the police. Loathed by fellow officers and treated with suspicion by the public their's is a grey world of corruption and one that leaves rising star Superintendent Tony Clark cold. Reluctantly involved in the beginning he finds that now there is no going back. As the taste of his promotion turns sour he finds himself well and truly caught between the lines...
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.
The series was influenced by the internationally successful Charlie Chan detective films of the 1930s and '40s but in line with industry attitudes of the time that particular Chinese detective was invariably played by a white actor in 'yellow-face'. The BBC's update of the archetype cast the British-born Chinese actor David Yip as Detective Sergeant John Ho. Instead of the barely intelligable English typically spoken by Chinese actors in British drama Yip's accent has a strong Cockney influence. Ho fits the pattern of the maverick detective prepared to use unorthodox methods to solve his cases which emerged in series like Z Cars (BBC 1962-78) and further developed in The Sweeney.
Audacious cat burglar Grant Henry (David Warbeck Hammer's Twins of Evil) steals more than just wealthy women's diamonds in this riotous 1973 British sex comedy. The dashing gentleman thief becomes the talk of London but a pretty insurance investigator (Diane Keen) and breast-obsessed policeman (Michael Armstrong) are hot on his heels. The Sex Thief was the directorial debut of New Zealand-born Martin Campbell - who would later graduate to Hollywood blockbusters like Goldeneye and Casino Royale - but the film gained notoriety after being released in a hardcore porn version in America in 1976.
Steve Martin plays Jonas Nightingale a travelling preacher who performs 'miracles' for paying converts. Martin's portrayal of a con man posing as an evangelical preacher is suitably dry and manic creating a uniquely vibrant character who colours the whole film with energy and verve. 'Leap Of Faith' is a well-constructed satire about the phenomenon of miracles and the unwavering belief people place in others. Jonas's manipulation of unsuspecting innocents is superb and Martin rel
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