Anna Karenina 1997  PG-13, 108 min.
Genre: Drama / Romance
aka: Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina
Director: Bernard Rose
Cast: Sophie Marceau, Sean Bean, Alfred Molina, Mia Kirshner, James Fox, Fiona Shaw, Danny Huston, Phyllida Law, David Schofield, Saskia Wickham, Anna Calder-Marshall, Niall Buggy, Petr Shelokhonov, Jennifer Hall, Valerie Braddell
This version of Leo Tolstoy's 1878 novel was filmed entirely in Russia and stars Sophie Marceau as the beautiful wife and mother Anna Karenina who leaves her passionless marriage to Karenin (James Fox) when she falls in love with Count Vronsky (Sean Bean). Karenin will not grant her a divorce–even when Anna becomes pregnant with Vronsky's child–and depression and suicidal thoughts set in when Anna finds that happiness is elusive.
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Before the Rain 1994  N/R, 115 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Milcho Manchevski
Cast: Katrin Cartlidge, Rade Serbedzija, Gregoire Colin, Labina Mitevska, Jay Villiers, Silvija Stojanovska, Phyllida Law, Josif Josifovski, Kiro Ristevski, Petar Mircevski, Ljupco Bresliski, Igor Madzirov, Ilko Stefanovski, Suzana Kirandziska, Katerina Kocevska
Three episodes link together showing hatred, violence, and war. The story centers on the civil wars that Macedonia has endured and is told from the point of view of three different characters. The effect is stunning as events are not in chronological order, and the viewer must put puzzle pieces together. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
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Brush with Fate 2003  TV, 100 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Brent Shields
Cast: Glenn Close, Thomas Gibson, Ellen Burstyn, Phyllida Law, Kelly Macdonald, Patrick Bergin, Jan Decleir, Thekla Reuten, Kieran Bew, Betty Shurrman, Roef Ragas, Laurien Van den Broeck, Daniel Boissevain, Paul Muller, Carly Wijs
History teacher Cornelia has a picture hanging on her wall that may be a 300-year-old painting by Dutch artist Vermeer. It is seen by fellow historian Richard (Thomas Gibson) who states that, though it certainly looks like a Vermeer painting, it couldn't possibly be. Thus the history of the picture is presented by Cornelia, tracing how it affected the lives of owners throughout the centuries. A "Hallmark Hall of Fame" TV presentation.
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Copying Beethoven 2006 PG-13, 104 min.
Genre: Drama / Musical
Director: Agnieszka Holland
Cast: Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Matthew Goode, Phyllida Law, Joe Anderson, Nicholas Jones, Ralph Riach, Bill Stewart, Angus Barnett, George Mendel
In 1824, Ludwig van Beethoven (Ed Harris) is rushing to complete his now-famous Ninth Symphony, which is scheduled for its first public performance in a few days. But, he desperately needs a copyist to transcribe his work into something readable by the musicians. Young Anna (Diane Kruger), an aspiring musician, is hired for the job by his manager. The cantankerous Beethoven and Anna have their problems at first, but they learn to work together to complete the Symphony. Highlight: the performance of a 15-minute segment of the Ninth Symphony.
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Danny the Dog 2005 R, 103 min.
Genre: Action / Drama / Thriller / Musical / Romance
aka: Unleashed
Director: Louis Leterrier
Cast: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon, Vincent Regan, Dylan Brown, Tamer Hassan, Michael Jenn, Phyllida Law, Carole Ann Wilson, Scott Adkins, Mike Lambert, Jaclyn Tze Wey, Puthirith Chou, Tony Theng
Danny (Jet Li) lives in a cage, wears a collar and leash, and works like a dog for his owner, Bart (Bob Hoskins), who commands him to make money for him by fighting in illegal clubs. When Bart falls into a coma following a car crash, Danny escapes and meets blind, piano teacher Sam (Morgan Freeman) and his stepdaughter Victoria (Kerry Condon). Through music, they teach Danny the kinder side of life. But watch out! It won't be long before Bart comes hunting for his "dog."
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Emma 1996 PG, 111 min.
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Director: Douglas McGrath
Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Toni Collette, Greta Scacchi, Alan Cumming, Juliet Stevenson, Ewan McGregor, James Cosmo, Denys Hawthorne, Sophie Thompson, Kathleen Byron, Phyllida Law, Edward Woodall, Polly Walker, Rebecca Craig
Based on Jane Austen's novel, this is the story of Emma Woodhouse (Gwyneth Paltrow) who is obsessed with interfering in others' lives. She delights in playing matchmaker for her friends Harriet (Toni Collette) and Reverend Elton (Alan Cumming) and even brings together her governess (Greta Scacchi) and Mr. Weston (James Cosmo). Emma is so obsessed with matchmaking that she is clueless about the fact that she is falling in love with Mr. Knightly (Jeremy Northam). Will she wake up in time to learn some things about herself before it is too late?
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I Want You 1998 R, 87 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Cast: Rachel Weisz, Alessandro Nivola, Luka Petrusic, Labina Mitevska, Carmen Ejogo, Ben Daniels, Graham Crowden, Geraldine O'Rawe, Des McAleer, Phyllida Law
Honda (Luka Petrusic) is a mute teenager is smitten by the sexy Helen (Rachel Weisz), but, instead of revealing his affection, Honda sends flowers and secretly tapes Helen's conversations. When a mysterious stranger (Alessandro Nivola) arrives in town, it becomes obvious that he shares a past with Helen. Honda gets it all on tape.
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A Little Trip to Heaven 2005 R, 90 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Thriller
Director: Baltasar Kormakur
Cast: Forest Whitaker, Julia Stiles, Jeremy Renner, Peter Coyote, Philip Jackson, Anne Reid, Alfred Harmsworth, Joanna Scanlan, Iddo Goldberg, Vladas Bagdonas, Phyllida Law, Kharl Anton Leigh
Insurance agent Abe Holt (Forest Whitaker) is sent from the scene of a bus crash miles away to Hastings, Minnesota, to investigate another crash: a fatal car accident that left only charred remains. If the claim goes through, the beneficiary of a $1,000,000 death benefit is the victim's sister Isold (Julia Stiles) who lives in a run-down cabin with her husband Fred (Jeremy Renner) and son Thor (Vladas Bagdonas). During the investigation, Fred becomes the prime suspect in what Holt has now determined to be a murder case in which the car victim's identity was forged. But, as he gets to know Isold, Holt's professionalism wavers.
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Much Ado About Nothing 1993 PG-13, 110 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Robert Sean Leonard, Keanu Reeves, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Briers, Brian Blessed, Patrick Doyle, Imelda Staunton, Jimmy Yuill, Andy Hockley, Chris Barnes, Phyllida Law
Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), Don John (Keanu Reeves), Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), and Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) return home from battle and arrive in the village of Messina. Governor Leonato (Richard Briers) greets them, and Claudio falls in love with Leonato's daughter Hero (Kate Beckinsale), but Don John turns her against Claudio. Meanwhile, Beatrice (Emma Thompson) tries to gain the reluctant Benedick's love. Don Pedro steps in bringing both couples together under a false premise, and love blooms. This film will make Shakespeare fans out of even the most dubious. The sound track lingers long after viewing, and the two couples provide insight into two different styles of love.
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Nanny McPhee 2005 PG, 98 min.
Genre: Family / Comedy / Fantasy
Director: Kirk Jones
Cast: Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Kelly Macdonald, Celia Imrie, Imelda Staunton, Thomas Sangster, Angela Lansbury, Derek Jacobi, Patrick Barlow, Eliza Bennett, Phyllida Law, Adam Godley, Jennifer Rae Daykin, Raphael Coleman, Samuel Honywood
Nanny McPhee's (Emma Thompson) special powers are just what Cedric Brown (Colin Firth) needs. His wife has died, his seven children are uncontrollable brats, and his wife's Aunt Adelaide (Angela Lansbury) has given the ultimatum: find a new wife before month's end or she will stop the needed financial assistance. In the nick of time, Nanny McPhee appears at the door and attempts to bring order to the household.
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Peter's Friends 1992 R, 100 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, Rita Rudner, Hugh Laurie, Imelda Staunton, Richard Briers, Alex Scott, Phyllida Law, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Edward Jewesbury, Hetta Charnley, Ann Davies, Alex Lowe
When Peter (Stephen Fry) inherits an estate in the English countryside, he invites his friends from Cambridge University to visit. It has been 10 years since they were all together, and their revelations and new thoughts on how to live their lives fill the weekend. By the end of the reunion, many issues have been discussed, but when Peter shares his secret that he has been found HIV positive, all are shocked.
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Saving Grace 2000 R, 94 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Nigel Cole
Cast: Brenda Blethyn, Craig Ferguson, Martin Clunes, Tcheky Karyo, Jamie Forman, Bill Bailey, Valerie Edmond, Phyllida Law, Clive Merrison, Leslie Phillips, Tristan Sturrock, Diana Quick, Linda Kerr Scott, Denise Coffey, Paul Brooke
"Saving Grace" is a British comedy that travels well across the sea into America's mainstream. The plot revolves around the proper, middle-aged, widow Grace Trevethan, who turns her greenhouse into a hydroponic marijuana farm in order to pay off family debts.
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The Time Machine 2002 PG-13, 95 min.
Genre: Sci-Fi / Action / Adventure
Director: Simon Wells
Cast: Guy Pearce, Samantha Mumba, Sienna Guillory, Jeremy Irons, Orlando Jones, Mark Addy, Phyllida Law, Omero Mumba, Laura Kirk, Josh Stamberg, Alan Young, Yancey Arias, John W. Momrow, Max Baker, Jeffrey M. Meyer
Adapted from H.G. Wells' 1895 novel, this version of "The Time Machine" is directed by Simon Wells, the great-grandson of the author. This time around, the time machine inventor, Alexander Hartdegen (Guy Pearce), is changed from an English scientist into an absent-minded, NYC professor who manages to reach the future in his quest to understand why he cannot change the past.
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The Winter Guest 1997 R, 106 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Alan Rickman
Cast: Emma Thompson, Phyllida Law, Gary Hollywood, Arlene Cockburn, Sheila Reid, Sandra Voe, Douglas Murphy, Sean Biggerstaff, Tom Watson, Alan Rickman
Set in a Scottish hamlet one cold winter's day, this film is based on Sharman MacDonald's play, consisting of four stories–each about relationships between people learning to accept each other.
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| 1. Anna Karenina (1997)
aka: Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina
2. Before the Rain (1994)
3. Brush with Fate (2003)
4. Copying Beethoven (2006)
5. Danny the Dog (2005)
aka: Unleashed
6. Emma (1996)
7. I Want You (1998)
8. A Little Trip to Heaven (2005)
9. Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
10. Nanny McPhee (2005)
11. Peter's Friends (1992)
12. Saving Grace (2000)
13. The Time Machine (2002)
14. The Winter Guest (1997)
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