Body of Lies 2008  R, 129 min.
Genre: Action / Drama / Thriller
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, Oscar Isaac, Ali Suliman, Alon Abutbul, Vince Colosimo, Simon McBurney, Mehdi Nebbou, Michael Gaston, Kais Nashif, Jamil Khoury, Lubna Azabal, Ghali Benafkin
CIA agent Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio) arrives in Jordan on a mission to prevent future terrorist attacks. With help from Jordanian intelligence official Hani (Mark Strong), Ferris comes up with a plan to infiltrate the network. Ferris makes regular phone contacts with his superior, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), who then arrives for a face-to-face meeting. But, as paranoia sets in, how much trust will Ferris put in Hoffman and Hani as he activates his plan?
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The Duchess 2008 PG-13, 110 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Saul Dibb
Cast: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Simon McBurney, Aidan McArdle, John Shrapnel, Alistair Petrie, Patrick Godfrey, Michael Medwin, Justin Edwards, Richard McCabe, Calvin Dean, Hannah Stokely
In the 18th century, Lady Spencer (Charlotte Rampling) arranges for her beautiful 17-year-old daughter Georgiana (Keira Knightley) to marry the Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish (Ralph Fiennes), and Georgiana becomes the Duchess. The couple produces two daughters, but Georgiana finds herself living with a husband who entertains mistresses. Meanwhile, Georgiana has adapted well to the royal lifestyle and has become an admired royal figure. Problems lie ahead when the duke takes Georgiana's best friend Bess Foster (Hayley Atwell) as his live-in lover, and an unhappy Georgiana begins an affair with the Earl of Grey (Dominic Cooper). The affairs cause conflicts and could become the items for scandal. The film received an Oscar for Costume Design and was nominated for another Oscar.
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Friends with Money 2006  R, 88 min.
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Frances McDormand, Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, Greg Germann, Simon McBurney, Jason Isaacs, Scott Caan, Ty Burrell, Bob Stevenson, Romy Rosemont, Timm Sharp, Hallie Foote, Mitch Rouse
High-school teacher Olivia (Jennifer Aniston) quits her job and goes to work as a maid. Her action causes much concern among her friends who are wealthy, married couples–millionaire Frannie (Joan Cusack) and Matt (Greg Germann), fashion designer Jane (Frances McDormand) and Aaron (Simon McBurney), and scriptwriter Christine (Catherine Keener) and David (Jason Isaacs). Although her friends pity Olivia, will their money really buy happiness for any of them?
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The Last King of Scotland 2006 R, 121 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Cast: Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Simon McBurney, David Oyelowo, Abby Mikiibi Nkaaga, Adam Kotz, Sam Okello, Stephen Rwangyezi, Barbara Rafferty, David Ashton
While on a medical mission to Uganda, young Dr. Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) is chosen by new President Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker) to serve as his personal physician. Amin is impressed with Garrigan's medical abilities and also with his Scottish heritage. Garrigan enjoys his new position and apparently is oblivious to the tortures and murders of those opposed to Amin–until he is clued in by British Agent Nigel Stone (Simon McBurney). Garrigan now sees the error of his ways and tries to escape from Uganda alive. Forest Whitaker received an Academy Award Best Actor.
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 The Manchurian Candidate 2004 R, 130 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller / Mystery
Director: Jonathan Demme
Cast: Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber, Kimberly Elise, Vera Farmiga, Jon Voight, Jeffrey Wright, Sakina Jaffrey, Ted Levine, Miguel Ferrer, Bruno Ganz, Simon McBurney, Pablo Schreiber, Dorian Missick, Anthony Mackie
In this updated version of "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962), Gulf War veteran Captain Ben Marco (Denzel Washington) is still in the Army, but his squad sergeant, Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber), left the Army a hero and is now running for Vice President. Marco is having nightmares over what happened to their platoon while under the leadership of Shaw and tries to contact him. But, a big player in Shaw's campaign is his mother, Eleanor (Meryl Streep), who is determined to keep Marco away from her son. She wants him to be Vice President–no matter what!
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Mesmer 1994   N/R, 107 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Cast: Alan Rickman, Amanda Ooms, Gillian Barge, Anna Thalbach, Peter Dvorsky, David Hemblen, Simon McBurney, Heinz Trixner, Petra Koberl, Peter Janisch
In the late 18th century, modern hypnosis originated in the work of Viennese physician Franz Anton Mesmer (Alan Rickman) who claimed he could cure illnesses by transmitting a form of energy he called "animal magnetism." Unpopular among his fellow physicians, Mesmer really overstepped his bounds when he engaged in a love affair with a patient. He was exiled, left for France, and became the rage of Paris and the toast of King Louis XVI's Court. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | Brilliant | Anonymous 01/20/2008 | | Absolutely thrilling. Although the movie itself may be bad in quality, the acting is ridiculously, excuse the expression, mesmerizing. Alan Rickman is flawless as always and his co stars are, although minor in comparison, great as well. If you are a fan of costume dramas and/or Alan Rickman, this movie is a must see. |
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 The Reckoning 2004 R, 110 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Paul McGuigan
Cast: Paul Bettany, Willem Dafoe, Simon McBurney, Gina McKee, Brian Cox, Vincent Cassel, Ewen Bremner, Tom Hardy, Stuart Wells, Matthew Macfadyen, Elvira Minguez, Luke de Woolfson
Set during the medieval era in England, this tale involves a disgraced monk, Nicholas (Paul Bettany), and a band of actors who act out a morality play in which they recreate a real murder and try to uncover the murderer.
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| 1. Body of Lies (2008)
2. The Duchess (2008)
3. Friends with Money (2006)
4. The Last King of Scotland (2006)
5. The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
6. Mesmer (1994)
7. The Reckoning (2004)
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