Atonement 2007 R, 126 min. Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Joe Wright Cast: James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Brenda Blethyn, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave, Benedict Cumberbatch, Harriet Walter, Daniel Mays, Juno Temple, Nonso Anozie, Julia West
The story begins in Surrey, England, during 1935 when an aspiring writer, 13-year-old Briony Tallis, falsely accuses her sister Cecilia's (Keira Knightley) boyfriend Robbie (James McAvoy) of a rape that he did not commit. Robbie is sent to prison. Five years later, World War II has begun, Robbie is released from prison and sent to fight in France, and Robbie and Cecilia have not forgotten each other. Briony is now an 18 year old in nurses training, realizes the mistake she made in her accusation five years ago, and will spend most of the rest of her life trying to atone for that mistake. Vanessa Redgrave takes the role of the older Briony as she suffers because of her earlier action. The film received an Academy Award for Best Original Score; six other nominations nominations included Best Picture and Supporting Actress (Saoirse Ronan).
|  | |
The Bank Job 2008 R, 110 min. Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Roger Donaldson Cast: Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays, James Faulkner, Alki David, Michael Jibson, Georgia Taylor, Richard Lintern, Peter Bowles, Alistair Petrie, Angus Wright, David Suchet, Rupert Frazer, Christopher Owen
This story is based on a 1971 bank heist in London that begins when Martine (Saffron Burrows) tells Terry (Jason Statham) that the alarms have been shut down temporarily at the Baker Street branch of Lloyds Bank while the security system is being changed. Terry is a car dealer who has been having financial problems. He listens to Martine and then rounds up his friends (Stephen Campbell, Daniel Mays, James Faulkner, and Alki David) to tunnel in for a bank heist. After four days of digging, while Eddie (Michael Jibson) is stationed on a nearby roof with his walkie-talkie, they open the vaults and find cash and valuable jewelry–along with incriminating secrets involving the Royal Family, the British government, and notorious gangsters. What they do not know is that because a ham radio operator (Angus Wright) has been listening in on Eddie's conversations and has alerted the authorities, the heist is doomed.
|  | |
The Secret Life of Words 2005 N/R, 115 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Isabel Coixet Cast: Sarah Polley, Tim Robbins, Javier Camara, Sverre Anker Ousdal, Steven Mackintosh, Eddie Marsan, Julie Christie, Daniel Mays, Dean Lennox Kelly, Danny Cunningham, Emmanuel Idowu, Reg Wilson, Leonor Watling, Peter Wright
After working in a factory for 10 years, insecure and hearing-impaired Hanna (Sarah Polley) finally takes a vacation. Hanna has always kept to herself and chooses an out-of-season, Northern Ireland seaside town for her break from work. While she is visiting Ireland, there is an accident on an offshore oil rig, and Hanna offers to take care of burn victim Josef (Tim Robbins). She meets an eccentric band of workers on board the rig but keeps to herself. However, as Hanna tends to Josef's needs, he breaks through her shell, and they come together through the healing experience.
|  | |
Vera Drake 2004 R, 125 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Mike Leigh Cast: Imelda Staunton, Philip Davis, Peter Wight, Adrian Scarborough, Heather Craney, Daniel Mays, Alex Kelley, Eddie Marsan, Richard Graham, Ruth Sheen, Helen Coker, Allan Corduner
In 1950s' England, devoted wife/daughter/mother/housekeeper Vera (Imelda Staunton) also works on the side as an abortionist helping women in need of her services in her blue-collar town. When one of her "patients" ends up in the hospital, Vera and her family pay the consequences. Three Academy Award nominations were received, including Best Actress (Imelda Staunton) and Director.
|  | |
| 1. Atonement (2007)
2. The Bank Job (2008)
3. The Secret Life of Words (2005)
4. Vera Drake (2004)
In The News
|