 1984 1984  R, 123 min.
Genre: Sci-Fi / Drama / Romance / Thriller
aka: Nineteen Eighty-Four
Director: Michael Radford
Cast: John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, Cyril Cusack, Gregor Fisher, James Walker, Peter Frye, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Andrew Wilde, Phyllis Logan, David Trevena, David Cann, Anthony Benson, Corinna Seddon, Rupert Baderman
"Big Brother is watching you." That is the theme of George Orwell's story of life in a totalitarian society. The lack of incentive for improving the quality of life is vividly depicted in this thought-provoking story in which Winston Smith (John Hurt) is a Party official in the Ministry of Propaganda. He meets and falls in love with Party member Julia (Suzanna Hamilton), and they engage in a sexual affair. Sex is forbidden in this society, and when they are caught, Winston is beaten and starved under the orders of his former friend O'Brien (Richard Burton). Later, Winston is exposed to rats that gnaw at his face, and Winston admits to his affair with Julia. Meanwhile, Julia, has also confessed and turns against Winston. Previously made in 1956.
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Another Time, Another Place 1983  R, 101 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Radford
Cast: Phyllis Logan, Giovanni Mauriello, Gianluca Favilla, Claudio Rosini, Paul Young, Gregor Fisher, Tom Watson, Jennifer Piercey, Denise Coffey, Yvonne Gilan
In Scotland during World War II, a local woman, Jamie (Phyllis Logan), falls in love with an Italian POW, Luigi (Giovanni Mauriello).
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Kidnapped 2005  TV, 150 min.
Genre: Adventure / Drama
Director: Brendan Maher
Cast: James Pearson, Iain Glen, Adrian Dunbar, Paul McGann, Gregor Fisher, Kirstin Smith, John Bach, Gilbert Goldie, Gavin Richards, Alexander Gandar
This "Masterpiece Theatre" production of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel compares favorably with previous filmings of the story of David Balfour (James Pearson) who is kidnapped to keep him from claiming his inheritance, and he is held on a slave ship on its way to the "New World." But Scottish outcast Alan Breck (Iain Glen) rescues Balfour, and the two race across Scotland with bounty hunters in hot pursuit.
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Lassie 2005 PG, 100 min.
Genre: Family / Drama / Adventure
Director: Charles Sturridge
Cast: Peter O'Toole, Samantha Morton, John Lynch, Steve Pemberton, Jonathan Mason, Hester Odgers, Jemma Redgrave, Peter Dinklage, Gregor Fisher, Edward Fox, Kelly Macdonald, John Standing, Robert Hardy
After the financially troubled Carracloughs–Joe (Jonathan Mason), Sarah (Samantha Morton), and son Sam (John Lynch)–sell their pet dog, Lassie, to the Duke of Rudling (Peter O'Toole) on the eve of World War II, the Duke takes Lassie to his castle in Northern Scotland. With help from the Duke's niece Cilla (Hester Odgers), Lassie breaks free and takes off on an incredible 500-mile journey to reach the Carraclough family in Yorkshire in time for Christmas.
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Love Actually 2003 R, 130 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Richard Curtis
Cast: Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Billy Bob Thornton, Rowan Atkinson, Martine McCutcheon, Keira Knightley, Gregor Fisher, Sienna Guillory, Kris Marshall, Heike Makatsch
Love in many forms is the subject of this film, which takes place during the weeks before Christmas and involves intertwined stories concerning love and friendship. Several couples' stories are told, but the Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) and a member of his household staff, Natalie (Martine McCutcheon), present one of the better scenarios.
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The Merchant of Venice 2004 R, 131 min.
Genre: Drama / Comedy
aka: William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
Director: Michael Radford
Cast: Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Joseph Fiennes, Lynn Collins, Zuleikha Robinson, Kris Marshall, Charlie Cox, Heather Goldenhersh, Mackenzie Crook, John Sessions, Gregor Fisher, Ron Cook
Al Pacino takes on the role of Jewish moneylender Shylock who loans a Christian, Antonio (Jeremy Irons), money to help friend Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes) woo Portia (Lynn Collins). There is one stipulation in the deal: if, after three months, Antonio cannot repay the loan, he must sacrifice one pound of his flesh. Shylock prepares to collect on the debt.
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The Railway Children 2000 TV, 100 min.
Genre: Family
Director: Catherine Morshead
Cast: Jenny Agutter, Michael Kitchen, Jack Blumenau, Clare Thomas, Jemima Rooper, Valerie Minifie, Melanie Clark Pullen, Gregor Fisher, Clive Russell, Richard Attenborough
This made-for-TV remake of the popular 1970 version is every bit as good as the former film, with Jenny Agutter–the "leader" of the three children in the first film–as the mother. After the father is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, the family, now poor, must move to cheaper surroundings in the country. The children become enamored with trains and with the characters of the area and, with the help of their new-found friends, set out to prove their father's innocence.
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| 1. 1984 (1984)
aka: Nineteen Eighty-Four
2. Another Time, Another Place (1983)
3. Kidnapped (2005)
4. Lassie (2005)
5. Love Actually (2003)
6. The Merchant of Venice (2004)
aka: William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
7. The Railway Children (2000)
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