Absolute Beginners 1986 PG-13, 107 min. Genre: Musical / Drama / Romance
Director: Julien Temple Cast: Patsy Kensit, Eddie O'Connell, David Bowie, James Fox, Ray Davies, Mandy Rice-Davies, Steven Berkoff, Bruce Payne, Anita Morris, Paul Rhys
This musical is based on Colin MacInnes' popular novel and revolves around young Colin's efforts to get into London's pop world during the late 1950s.
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Anna Karenina 2000 TV, 230 min. Genre: Drama
Director: David Blair Cast: Helen McCrory, Kevin McKidd, Stephen Dillane, Douglas Henshall, Mark Strong, Amanda Root, Paul Rhys, Paloma Baeza, Abigail Cruttenden, Sara Kestelman
This made-for-TV miniseries features Helen McCrory in the title role of the married woman whose passionate affair with wealthy army officer Count Vronsky (Kevin McKidd) leads to scandal, which isolates Anna from her family and friends and, ultimately, to her death.
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Chaplin 1992 PG-13, 144 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Richard Attenborough Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Geraldine Chaplin, Anthony Hopkins, Paul Rhys, Dan Aykroyd, Marisa Tomei, Penelope Ann Miller, Kevin Kline, Diane Lane, James Woods, John Thaw, Moira Kelly, Maria Pitillo, Milla Jovovich, Kevin Dunn
Screen pioneer Charlie Chaplin (Robert Downey Jr.) discusses events of his life with his editor George Hayden (Anthony Hopkins) concerning his professional as well as his controversial personal life–as covered in Chaplin's autobiography. Through flashbacks, Chaplin's childhood in London, his vaudeville days, many marriages, and accusations of anti-American sentiments are told in this enjoyable film, which features Chaplin's real-life daughter Geraldine in the role of his mentally ill mother Hannah.
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From Hell 2001 R, 137 min. Genre: Drama / Mystery / Thriller
Director: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes Cast: Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm, Jason Flemyng, Robbie Coltrane, Lesley Sharp, Susan Lynch, Terence Harvey, Katrin Cartlidge, Estelle Skornik, Ian Richardson, Paul Rhys, Nicholas McGaughey, Annabelle Apsion, Joanna Page
Life is not easy in 1888's London for Mary Kelly (Heather Graham) and her group of fellow prostitutes who roam the Whitechapel streets. But things could always get worse as the women learn when, one after the other, they turn up dead. In this rendition of a theory behind legendary Jack the Ripper exploits, Scotland Yard calls out opium addicted Inspector Aberline (Johnny Depp) to solve the case.
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King Lear 1998 TV, 150 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Richard Eyre Cast: Ian Holm, Barbara Flynn, Amanda Redman, Michael Bryant, David Lyon, Michael Simkins, Adrian Irvine, Paul Rhys, Timothy West, Finbar Lynch, David Burke, Martin Chamberlain, Victoria Hamilton, Nicholas R. Bailey, William Osborne
This made-for-TV film stars Ian Holm in the title role of King Lear, and Barbara Flynn, Amanda Redman, and Victoria Hamilton play his daughters Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. When Lear decides to leave his kingdom to the daughter who proves that she loves him most, tragedy lies in wait. Meanwhile, Gloucester (Timothy West) and his sons Edmund and Edgar (Finbar Lynch and Paul Rhys) have their own family problems to deal with. Tragedies lie ahead for both families. This is one of the better productions of Shakespeare's tragedy.
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Little Dorrit 1988 G, 360 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Christine Edzard Cast: Derek Jacobi, Sarah Pickering, Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Cyril Cusack, Amelda Brown, Paul Rhys, Miriam Margolyes, Robert Morley, Michael Elphick, Max Wall, Patricia Hayes, Luke Duckett, Daniel Chatto, Bill Fraser
Charles Dickens' novel is told in two parts revealing perspectives of both cold businessman Arthur Clennam (Derek Jacobi) and the innocent Amy Dorrit (Sarah Pickering). Part I is told through the eyes of Clennam who returns home to London after a 20-year absence and becomes interested in William Dorrit (Alec Guinness) who is serving time in debtor's prison. Dorrit's daughter Amy is a seamstress working for Clennam's mother (Joan Greenwood), and Clennam sets out to help the Dorrits reclaim a fortune. In Part II, Amy's side of the story is told as her life crosses that of Clennam. This six-hour film is a well-acted adaptation of Dickens' tale and received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Guinness) and Best Writing.
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| 1. Absolute Beginners (1986)
2. Anna Karenina (2000)
3. Chaplin (1992)
4. From Hell (2001)
5. King Lear (1998)
6. Little Dorrit (1988)
7. Vincent & Theo (1990)
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