Halifax, Yorkshire, 1832. Charismatic, swashbuckling Anne Lister (Suranne Jones) determines to transform the fate of her ancestral home Shibden Hall. To do this, she must re-open her coal mines and marry well. But Anne has no intention of marrying a man. True to her own nature she plans to marry a woman and embarks on an epic, unconventional love story. Gentleman Jack brings all the warmth, wit and complexity of the writing of Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax) to the remarkable true story of Anne Lister.
Emma Thompson scores a double bull's-eye with Sense and Sensibility, a marvellous adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Not only does Thompson turn in a strong (and gently humorous) performance as Elinor Dashwood--the one with "sense"--she also wrote the witty, wise screenplay. Austen's tale of 19th-century manners and morals provides a large cast with a feast of possibilities, notably Kate Winslet, in her pre-Titanic flowering, as Thompson's deeply romantic sister, Marianne (the one with "sensibility"). Winslet attracts the wooing of shy Alan Rickman (a nice change of pace from his bad-guy roles) and dashing Greg Wise, while Thompson must endure an incredibly roundabout courtship with Hugh Grant, here in fine and funny form. All of this is doled out with the usual eye-filling English countryside and handsome costumes, yet the film always seems to be about the careful interior lives of its characters. The director, an inspired choice, is Taiwan-born Ang Lee, here making his first English-language film. He brings the same exquisite taste and discreet touch he displayed in his previous Asian films (such as Eat Drink Man Woman). Thompson's script won an Oscar. --Robert Horton
Harry must compete in the prestigious Triwizard Tournament in this fantasy smash.
Emma Thompson scores a double bull's-eye with this marvellous adaptation of Jane Austen's novel . Not only does Thompson turn in a strong (and gently humorous) performance as Elinor Dashwood--the one with "sense"--she also wrote the witty, wise screenplay. Austen's tale of 19th-century manners and morals provides a large cast with a feast of possibilities, notably Kate Winslet, in her pre-Titanic flowering, as Thompson's deeply romantic sister, Marianne (the one with "sensibility"). Winslet attracts the wooing of shy Alan Rickman (a nice change of pace from his bad-guy roles) and dashing Greg Wise, while Thompson must endure an incredibly roundabout courtship with Hugh Grant, here in fine and funny form. All of this is doled out with the usual eye-filling English countryside and handsome costumes, yet the film always seems to be about the careful interior lives of its characters. The director, an inspired choice, is Taiwan-born Ang Lee, who brings the same exquisite taste and discreet touch he displayed in his previous Asian films (such as Eat Drink Man Woman). Thompson's script won an Oscar. --Robert Horton, Amazon.com
In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.
One of the last of the classic-era widescreen epics, Zulu was also one of the last war movies to celebrate the virtues of the famous British stiff upper lip. At Rorke's Drift in 1879 a handful of British soldiers, hopelessly outnumbered by 4,000 Zulu warriors, fought one of the most celebrated defensive actions in military history. Zulu tells the story on an epic scale, bringing to life the heroism, courage, loyalty and sacrifice of those desperate hours. This is truly cast-of-thousands filmmaking, with vast action wonderfully captured in widescreen Technirama. John Barry, who also scored Goldfinger in the same year, provides a telling musical accompaniment. The superb cast includes Stanley Baker and Jack Hawkins, but Zulu's final claim to fame is that it made an instant international superstar of a young actor whose name is Michael Caine. A belated sequel arrived in 1979 in Zulu Dawn, which despite even more spectacular action and a great cast died at the box-office. It is nevertheless well worth seeing. On the DVD: Zulu on disc has excellent prologic stereo considering the age of the film, while the anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 transfer is crystal-clear, boasting rich colours, strong contrast and detail and only occasional minor print flaws. The original American trailer, also presented anamorphically enhanced at 2.35:1, is a worthwhile addition. There is a very good new 45-minute "making of" (1.77:1 anamorphic, in stereo), curiously split into two parts. The heart of the programme consists of interviews with survivors from the film, focusing on Stanley Baker's widow. The only let down is lack of input from Michael Caine and composer John Barry. The commentary by film historian Sheldon Hall, author of a forthcoming book on the movie, and Second Unit Director Robert Porter is serious and packed with information. --Gary S Dalkin
Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling lead an all-star cast in Crazy Stupid Love. Fortysomething straight-laced Cal Weaver (Carell) is living the dream-good job nice house great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart Emily (Julianne Moore). So when Cal learns that his wife has cheated on him and wants a divorce his 'perfect' life quickly unravels. Cal who hasn't dated in decades stands out as the epitome of un-smooth so handsome player Jacob Palmer (Gosling) takes him on as wingman and protégé opening Cal's eyes to the many options before him: flirty women manly drinks and a sense of style. Despite Cal's makeover and his many new conquests the one thing that can't be made over is his heart which seems to keep leading Cal back to where he began. Brimming with inspired performances critics are calling this gem of a romantic comedy 'a movie that understands love' (Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly).
William Hurt and Katherine Parkinson lead an all-star cast in the drama series set in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for a busy family is a Synth - a life-like humanoid
KEN LOACH COLLECTION (3-DVD set) This new collection brings together three of Ken Loach's finest films from the 1990s, titles linked by the director's career long drive to tackle social injustice and contemporary political issues. In Riff Raff Glaswegian jailbird Stevie (Robert Carlyle) heads to London to find work but discovers a world of corruption and degradation. Inner-city poverty is brought to the fore in Raining Stones, as unemployed Bob's (Bruce Jones) desperate attempts to afford a communion dress for his daughter results in a succession of disasters. Inspired by real events, Ladybird Ladybird is an emotional and harrowing story of a woman's fight to keep her children and relationship intact in the face of bureaucratic interference. Special Features Fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the film and full credits Other extras TBC UK | 1991 - 1994 | colour | 90 + 90 + 102 mins | English language, with optional hard-of-hearing subtitles | cert 18
In this third instalment in the blockbusting series a notorious prisoner escapes from the prison for wizards, and young wizard Harry Potter is believed to be his target for death.
Harry must compete in the prestigious Triwizard Tournament in this fantasy smash.
Three people, three extraordinary stories. All lived out within a hundred London streets
An adaptation of Jane Austen's first novella Lady Susan', Love & Friendship follows the beautiful Lady Susan as she attempts to find a husband for herself and her long-suffering daughter Frederica.
Welcome to PhoneShop. How is your day today, please? Come inside, feel free to browse and spend some time with our elite sales professionals Ashley, Jerwayne, Janine, Lance, Christopher and of course the original 5ft 2in badman, Little Gary Patel. Here for the first time are all six hilarious, laugh-out-loud episodes from Series One - and the original Ricky Gervais script edited pilot episode, plus exclusive never before aired additional scenes, waste scenes, a riotous must watch PhoneShop team commentary and a host of hilarious hidden extras. All this and a soundtrack from the likes of Roots Manuva, DJ Zinc & JME, Wiley, Omar, Modeselektor, Toddla T, Skream, TC and SBTRKT. If you've ever set foot in a mobile phone store, this show is for you…
Year 1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - The magical adventure begins when Harry Potter is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Year 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Cars fly, trees attack and a mysterious house-elf warns Harry of great danger as he returns for his second year. Year 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry must confront soul-sucking Dementors, outsmart a werewolf and learn the truth about the escaped prisoner of Azkaban - Sirius Black. Year 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Harry must overcome a deadly dragon, fierce water demons and an enchanted maze only to find himself in the cruel grasp of He Who Must Not Be Named. Year 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - When few believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, Harry must secretly train his friends for the wizarding war ahead. Year 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - As Lord Voldemort tightens his grip on both Muggle and wizarding worlds, Harry and Dumbledore work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses. Year 7 - Part 1: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 - Harry, Ron and Hermione set out to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort's power - the Horcruxes. On their own and on the run, the three must rely on one another more than ever...but Dark Forces threaten to tear them apart. Year 7 - Part 2: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 - In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.
The jewel in the Thames TV crown this BAFTA award winner for Best Comedy Drama was watched by 18 million viewers per episode! The box set includes all the episodes from series 2. Contains the following episodes: 1.National Pelmet (11 Sep 80) 2.Whose Wife Is It Anyway? (18 Sep 80) 3.You Lose Some You Win Some (25 Sep 80) 4.Don't Tell Them Willie Boy Was Here (2 Oct 80) 5.Not A Bad Lad Dad (9 Oct 80) 6.The Beer Hunter (16 Oct 80) 7.A Nice Little Wine (23 Oct 80) 8.All Mod Cons (30 Oct 80) 9.Diamonds Are A Girl's Worst Enemy (6 Nov 80) 10.The Old School Tie (13 Nov 80) 11.All About Scoring Innit? (20 Nov 80) 12.Caught In The Act Fact (27 Nov 80) 13.A Lot Of Bull And A Pat On The Back (4 Dec 80) Series 2 is also available as individual volumes. The most entertaining tightly scripted inventively comic and sharply directed series to be found on any of our television channels. - Daily Telegraph
Rocketman is an epic musical story about Elton John's breakthrough years. The film follows the fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into international superstar Elton John. This inspirational story set to Elton John's most beloved songs and performed by star Taron Egerton tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture.
First appearing on our screens in late 1979, Minder was a vehicle for ex-Sweeney sidekick Denis Waterman, but its lasting contribution to TV culture was rehabilitating George Cole, whose lovable but unscrupulous "entrepreneur" (an older version of the spiv he portrayed in the St Trinians films) mockingly reflected the values of 1980s Thatcherite Britain. The series is fondly set in a rough demimonde of small-time gangsters and ageing dolly birds, and against a backdrop of seedy London pubs and dubious business dealings. Waterman plays Terry McCann, ex-boxer and ex-con trying to stick to the straight and narrow, but persuaded against his better judgement to become involved in murky capers set up by his employer, "Arfur", who regularly sublets him to dodgy associates of his. In this, the first series, Arthur Daley is more in control, not quite the figure of fun he would later become. In the opening episode, for instance, as Terry is held hostage by wannabe black militants in a launderette, Arthur is negotiating his "exclusive" story to a tabloid. Though aspects of these episodes are a little creaky and dated--Terrys flares especially--the interplay between the too softhearted hard man Terry and his dapper but slippery boss is both priceless and timeless. This DVD has a scene selection feature and individual episode guides. --David Stubbs
Wilde could easily have been nothing more than another well-dressed literary film from the British costume drama stable, but thanks to a richly textured performance from Stephen Fry in the title role, it becomes something deeper--a moving study of how the conflict between individual desires and social expectations can ruin lives. Oscar Wilde's writing may be justifiably legendary for its sly, barbed wit, but Wilde the film is far from a comedy, even though Fry relishes delivering the great man's famous quips. It takes on tragic dimensions as soon as Wilde meets Lord Alfred Douglas, known as Bosie, the strikingly beautiful but viciously selfish young aristocrat who wins Oscar's heart but loses him his reputation, marriage and freedom. Fry is brilliant at capturing how the intensity of Wilde's love for Bosie threw him off balance, becoming an all-consuming force he was unable to resist. Jude Law expertly depicts both Bosie's allure and his spitefully destructive side, there are subtle supporting performances from Vanessa Redgrave, Jennifer Ehle and Zoe Wanamaker, and the period trappings are lavishly trowelled on. But this is Fry's show all the way: from Oscar the darling of theatrical London to Wilde the prisoner broken on the wheel of Victorian moralism, he doesn't put a foot wrong. It feels like the role he was born to play. --Andy Medhurst
At fortysomething, straight-laced Cal Weaver is living the dream, good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal learns that his wife has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his 'perfect' life quickly unravels.
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