The 10th-anniversary-concert video of the international musical sensation Les Misérables might be the best thing to appease fans until a full-fledged movie comes along. Or it might be even better, as feature films are often subject to extra musical casting considerations and this 1995 dream cast is superb. Reprising their roles from the original London company are Colm Wilkinson (Valjean), Michael Ball (Marius) and Alun Armstrong (Thenardier). From Broadway come Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Lea Salonga (Eponine) and Michael Maguire (Enjolras); from a later London production comes Ruthie Henshall (Fantine); and from Australia comes Philip Quast (Javert). Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score vividly captures the passion of Victor Hugo's epic tale of pre-Revolutionary France, combining tear-jerking ballads ("I Dreamed a Dream", "Bring Him Home") and rousing anthems ("Do You Hear the People Sing"). The format of this concert is closer to that of a dramatic cantata rather than a fully staged production; the singers stand at their microphones with an orchestra and chorus behind them, but they do wear costumes and participate in some movement. At certain points, such as the climax of the barricade scene, the video switches to action from a stage production. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra sounds great, and it can be thrilling when 200 choristers (dressed in logo T-shirts) rise to their feet for a full-company number such as "One Day More". Also, subtitles provide date and scene information and help move the story along. This 147-minute version contains footage not seen before, most notably the encore in which a progression of 17 actors who have played Valjean around the world share "Do You Hear the People Sing?" Each sings a line in his native language, a testament to the enduring power of this show to audiences everywhere.--David Horiuchi, Amazon.com
Michael Douglas stars as a feckless middle aged literary professor struggling to live up to his own successful past and sort out his chaotic present in this ensemble comedy that also stars Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand and Robert Downey Jr.
Asian American director Ang Lee sums up America in the early 1970s by focusing on the arrival of the sexual revolution in the 'burbs. Isolationism within a family, consumerism, and selfishness are personified by a cast that captures the self-obsession within two New England families. As the children struggle awkwardly with adolescence, their parents stumble through sexual experimentation. In the days of Watergate and Vietnam, society is breaking boundaries and ignoring convention. Following suit, these families are eschewing polite barriers and social taboos, with disastrous results. The Ice Storm of the title refers not only to a natural phenomenon but is a (rather heavy-handed) metaphor for a pervasive emotional temperament. The entire cast delivers textured, finely nuanced performances. This movie lingers in the psyche not only for the scope of the tragedy at its conclusion, but for Lee's often humorous and stingingly accurate assessment of pop culture. Based on Rick Moody's novel, this won the best-screenplay award at Cannes in 1997. --Rochelle O'Gorman
His wife just left him for another man; and so did his boyfriend.... Ben (Bates) is a man full of energy that he doesn't know what to do with. He's lost a grip on what gives his life purpose he's not sure that teaching is of any use or that he's even meant to be a teacher and he's feasting off the dregs of his relationships. In this first American Film Theatre Collection release Harold Pinter makes a very impressive directorial debut creating intricate characterisations in a movi
The Adventures Of Hal 5: Hal 5 is a very old Austin with great character owned by the Hayward family. A wicked garage owner plots to steal the car to sell for a great deal of money but the Hayward children are out to stop him... Egghead's Robot: 'Eggheaed' Wentworth adapts his father's robot to perform the chores but forgets to programme him to stay out of trouble...
Michael Douglas stars as a feckless middle aged literary professor struggling to live up to his own successful past and sort out his chaotic present in this ensemble comedy that also stars Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand and Robert Downey Jr.
Sent to Transylvania on an errand for the U.S. administration Washington Press Secretary Jack Whittier who previously was engaged in an affair with the President's daughter is attacked by an unseen beast. Seemingly having recovered Whittier returns home. However upon his return to the Capitol Whittier transforms into a bloodthirsty werewolf and commits a series of grisly murders that terrorize the city. Police are convinced the killings are the work of a common criminal and Jack's spree of mayhem is blamed oniracial unrest. Yet when a full moon rises on the eve of a national address even the President may not be safe! Either a horror spoof or a political satire 'Werewolf Of Washington' draws on the paranoia of the Watergate scandal and the hipster humor of 'The Second City'.
The Werewolf of Washington (Dir. Milton Moses Ginsberg 1973): A White House aide bitten by a Hungarian werewolf returns to Washington to wreak havoc in the corridors of power and get his teeth into some presidential provisions senatorial snacks and congressman canape's! Find out what happens when a vicious heartless and callous monster with no regard for human life (the President) meets a wicked and wily Whitehouse werewolf in this uproarious comedy in the tradition of Amer
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