English Films
The English Movies that always charmed me
'Shawshank Redemption' (1994)
Dir: Frank Darabont
Cast: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman
An unforgettable saga about the free human spirit under the most ghastly conditions.
Review by Tim Dirks...from www.filmsite.org
'The English Patient' (1996)
Dir: Anthony Minghella
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Naveen Andrews
An intimate epic based on Michael Ondaatje's Booker Prize-winning novel, the movie is set in North Africa and Italy during the late 1930's and early 40's and explores the basic questions of love, loyalty, friendship, nationality and betrayals in a backdrop of war. It earned 12 Oscar nominations and won 9, including one for best director.
"Herodotus and The English Patient" by Thomas Harrison...from www.ucd.ie
'Born on the Fourth of July' (1989)
Dir: Oliver Stone
Cast: Tom Cruise, Willem Dafoe, Kyra Sedgwick
Based on a true story of Ron Kovic, an American Marine soldier to Vietnam, this movie unveils the pointlessness in the romantic ideas about war heroes. Tom Cruise proves himself with his stunning acting skill in the role of the war-veteran and anti-war activist.
More...from www.suntimes.com
'The Talented Mr. Ripley' (1999)
Dir: Anthony Minghella
Cast: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett
Based on 1950's rich and ornamented Italian cities, the film deals with a person's changing identities,internally as well as literally . Matt Damon wonderfully portrays the character of Tom Ripley, an innocent, mysterious and confused person who changes himself and adopts a new identity when attracted by the Flamboyance of the rich.
Official website
'The Laramie Project' (2002)
Dir: Moises Kaufman
Cast: Steve Buscemi, Dylan Baker, Joshua Jackson, Laura Linney, Jeremy Davies
Not just a movie, this is a protest against Homophobia in specific and Hate Crime in generic. Based on the real-life incident of the killing of Matthew Shepard in the clam town of Laramie and the trial of the two convicted, this movie is more like a docu-feature. A must-see for anybody irrespective of whether one is film-lover or not.
More...from time.com
'The People vs. Larry Flynt' (1996)
Dir: Milos Forman
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, Edward Norton
This is an epic of a rebel who fought his never-ending war against the sexual hipocricy and false flowery image his country always wanted to project about herself. It describes the journey of Larry Flynt from Ohio strip-clubs to the publishing empire for "Hustler", a raw and raunchy magazine. Produced by Oliver Stone, this movie explored the superb actor in Woody Harrelson, and earned him the Academy Award nomination as Best Actor.
More...from movieweb.com
'Good Will Hunting' (1997)
Dir: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgard
Drama about a young exceptionally talented young guy who works as a janitor at MIT, it shows the life of the working class and the circle of students at the renouned university. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck wrote the script for this well-acclaimed film.
Everything you wanted to know about the film (plus the Script!!)
'Closer' (2004)
Dir: Mike Nichols
Cast: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen
Based on Patrick Marber's highly acclaimed stage play, "Closer" is the story of four strangers and their chance meetings, instant attractions and casual betrayals set in contemporary London. A brilliant film portraying the best of acting and fabulous soundtrack.
Closer Fan Site
'The Matrix' (1999)
Dir: Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne
A whole new world .... are not YOU inside this??
What is the Matrix....
The Matrix as Messiah Movie
'Usual Suspects' (1995)
Dir: Bryan Singer
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Pollak, Benicio Del Toro
Five criminals grouped initially as suspects of a crime end up exploding a boat with $91 million in cocaine. US Customs Special Agent David Kujan conducts his grueling inquisition with only 2 witnesses, one in the death bed, another a crippled con-man named Kint. The mystery of Keyser Soze, a criminal who is fabled and feared among the criminals, is revealed slowly. Kint wavers and, finally, breaks. In the end, a pathetic, low-life con-man is outwitted by a smart, shrewd U.S. government agent. Then comes the BIG twist !!! Do anything to see this edge-of-the-seat thriller if you haven't seen it yet.....
Everything about the suspects PLUS the Script !!!
'L.A. Confidential' (1997)
Dir: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, Danny De Vito
A slick and stylish thriller set in the glamorous backdrop of 1950's Los Angeles, this movie describes the hidden corruption and crime behind the glossy image of the city and its Police associated with the glamour of Hollywood industry. Book and film review: L.A. Confidential
'Scent of a Woman' (1992)
Dir: Martin Brest
Cast: Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell
The movie is about the hedonistic trip of a retired blind army officer who is egotist, rude and stylist, and a young student who accompanies him. In the process the youth grows up and the embittered officer learns to live life with a new perspective.
Review by James Berardinelli
'Angels in America': TV Mini-Series by HBO
Dir: Mike Nichols
Cast: Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Justin Kirk, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeffrey Wright, Ben Shenkman, Patrick Wilson
An absolute classic on the suffering and pain the human race is going through today, in forms of racial and sexual discremination, AIDS, loneliness and loss of faith. Though the script deals with too much of dream sequences and visions at times, the idea is brilliant and the philosophy is thought-provoking.
Website from HBO
Actors whose works I liked...
Woody Harrelson -
Ralph Fiennes -
Matt Damon -
Meg Ryan
