Ryall, David

House of Cards Trilogy (House of Cards / To Play the King / The Final Cut)

Connoisseurs of political chicanery will relish House of Cards, the mordantly funny story of Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson), a British politician with his eye on the top job. Urquhart is the chief whip of the Conservative Party and his job is to maintain party discipline, or, as he likes to say, "put a bit of stick about." This means that he has intimate knowledge of his colleagues' foibles, knowledge that he uses to further his own political ambitions. Aided by his equally ruthless wife and drawing on a network of accomplices, Urquhart forces the prime minister to resign then sets out to discredit each of his rivals for the party leadership. Although it is strongly cast throughout, House of Cards belongs to Ian Richardson. Without his perfectly balanced performance, Urquhart might have become no more than a two-dimensional villain, but Richardson finds exactly the right tone to make his character as attractive as he is wicked. Thanks to Richardson, and a superb script by Andrew Davies, this brilliant political satire is sure to delight anyone who has wondered what might be going on in the darker corners of our democratic institutions.

In To Play the King, Urquhart appears to have everything he wants. He is the prime minister, he has no immediate rivals, and everyone who knows of his crimes is either on his side or dead. But a new challenge arises when the queen dies and the new king (Michael Kitchen doing a perfect Prince Charles) proves to be a thorn in Urquhart's side. Urquhart may be a staunch defender of the monarchy as a concept, but an individual sovereign is fair game if he proves to be a threat. With a Davies script that pokes fun at British politics and the antics of the royal family as well as a terrific cast led again by Ian Richardson, To Play the King maintains the high standard set by House of Cards.

The Final Cut, the last installment of the trilogy, strikes a more somber note than its predecessors. Urquhart has almost overtaken Margaret Thatcher to become Britain's longest serving postwar leader, but the public is tiring of him and there are rumblings of dissent in the Conservative Party. Urquhart and his wife plot to secure both their place in history and their financial future. Once again, writer Andrew Davies has created a satire to relish, one that confirms all of our doubts about the motives of politicians. Ian Richardson's wonderful performance--filled with sly asides and winks to the camera--makes Francis Urquhart as fascinating as he is wicked, and we find ourselves rooting for this terrible man. The world would certainly be a duller place without him. --Simon Leake

Ian Richardson (From Hell, M. Butterfly) leads an all star cast in this malevolent satire of greed, corruption and ambition in the highest realms of government. As Machiavellian monster Francis Urquhart, he schemes and backstabs his way to the top until he is standing on a pile of broken promises, betrayals and the bodies of those who oppose him. Every step of the way, Urquhart lays out his plans with horrifying wit and venomous charm. But the ranks of his enemies are growing, and they intend to bring him down, whatever the price. Brilliantly adapted by Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones's Diary), from Michael Dobbs's best-selling novel, this satirical trilogy took home a primetime Emmy, a Peabody, two BAFTAs and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award.

The Singing Detective

The late Dennis Potter was a master at mining the popular songs of the 1930s and '40s for dramatic effect, but he never did it better than in this British miniseries starring the inestimable Michael Gambon. Gambon plays a mystery writer named Philip E. Marlow, who is suffering a torturous bout of psoriatic arthritis in a British hospital, where he is a victim of both his disease and the national health plan. Unable to move without pain, he escapes into his imagination, plotting out a murder tale in which he is both a big-band singer and a private eye. But Potter and director Jon Amiel also mix in flashbacks of Marlow's youth and his unhappy marriage to explain how the real Marlow reached this sorry pass. Flawlessly, intricately, kaleidoscopically assembled, the six one-hour episodes of this British miniseries fly by like some fantastic fever dream. --Marshall Fine

A gripping murder mystery. A lavish musical. An intense psychological thriller. A warped romance. Dennis Potter's legendary award-winning mini-series is all this and more. Hailed by the Chicago Sun Times as "The greatest production in the history of television" this genre-deying masterpiece is soon to be a major motion picture starring Robert Downey Jr. and Mel Gibson.Running Time: 415 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSICALS/MUSICALS Rating: NR UPC: 794051169921

Around the World in 80 Days (Widescreen Edition)

The 2004 version of Around the World in 80 Days is an entertaining hodge-podge of adventure, comedy, and scenery from across the globe. Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan, 24 Hour Party People), an obsessively precise inventor, bets that he can circumnavigate the planet in 80 days--considered impossible in the Victorian era. In this version, Jackie Chan plays a Chinese peasant who retrieves a stolen idol from the Bank of England, then convinces Fogg to hire him as a French valet so that Chan can get back to his village. Chan supplies numerous spectacular fights against the forces trying to stop Fogg or get the idol, while Coogan is both funny and a surprisingly appealing romantic lead (he flirts with a fetching French painter who joins them). The various episodes--featuring cameos by Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Cleese, Owen Wilson, and Sammo Hung--are uneven, but a goofy good cheer prevails. --Bret Fetzer

Get ready for phenomenal fun, spectacular adventures, and nonstop action as hilarious megastar Jackie Chan (SHANGHAI NOON, SHANGHAI KNIGHTS) dares to do what no one has done before — beat the clock in a race around the world. Traveling the globe by land, sea, air, and even in-line skates, Chan and his buddies are greeted with impossible obstacles at every planned and unplanned stop along the way, making their fantastically speedy voyage more frantic and heart-pounding than ever! Filled with amazing stunts, humor, and the importance of friendship and following your dreams, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS is one trip the whole family will enjoy taking together.

Truly Madly Deeply

Truly Madly Deeply is an intelligent, moving, and deeply funny story about love and death. Nina (Juliet Stevenson), a scatterbrained professional translator, has lost the love of her life, Jamie (Die Hard's Alan Rickman). As her life (and her flat) slowly falls to pieces, she's inundated by an endless stream of repair men and eligible suitors. But rather than go on with life, Nina dwells on her dead love, slumped at her piano, endlessly playing half of a Bach duet. Then, in a truly magical sequence, his cello suddenly joins her melody ... and Jamie's back from the dead.

At first it's bliss. (Think of the superficially similar blockbuster Ghost--only with real people instead of pretty faces Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze.) But Nina gradually realizes it's a thoroughly real Jamie who's back, complete with every annoying, argumentative fault she'd conveniently forgotten. (He might be dead, he explains, but he still attends political meetings.) Moreover, he has to hide whenever any of the living are around. And he's constantly ice-cold. And he invites his dead pals to her place at all hours. What's a living woman to do?

Director Anthony Minghella went on to create the melodramatic period piece The English Patient--but in this film, he shows a far more sensitive, subtle touch. The photography is brilliant, capturing the simple beauties of suburban London. And the wonderfully acted characters, quirky and all too real, will keep you laughing--and always guessing what will happen next. --Grant Balfour

Carrington

Life among the Bloomsbury group in post-Victorian England, as seen through the relationship between writer Lytton Strachey (Jonathan Pryce in a well-wrought, if mannered performance) and painter Dora Carrington (Emma Thompson). Carrington won't give herself to any of the men in her life (including her husband)--at least not emotionally. Instead, this woman has found her soulmate in Strachey, a homosexual who, in fact, has a crush on Carrington's husband. They try to maintain a friendship outside their various romantic liaisons but keep winding up with each other. Still, despite an intriguing performance by Pryce and a cooler, less accessible one by Thompson, this film never quite takes off. Once you get the point--that this is a love that will never be consummated--you begin to wonder if, in fact, there is a larger point to be had. There isn't. --Marshall Fine

Written and directed by Academy AwardÂ(r) winner* Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) and starring two-time Academy AwardÂ(r) winner** Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility) and Jonathan Pryce (Evita), Carrington is an "emotionally complex, moving" (Los Angeles Times) tale of lifelong love with unorthodox compromises, that is utterly enthralling entertainment! Amid the trendy, bohemian scene of London's famed Bloomsbury group, DoraCarrington (Thompson), a talented young artist, first meets bon vivant and writer Lytton Strachey (Pryce). The two creative souls are instantly attracted, although Strachey's desires clearly lie elsewhere. The unlikely pair joyously spends colorful days pursuing their artsand discovering that love works in mysterious ways. But their blissful existence hangs in the balance when Carrington brings home a lover and they suddenly find themselves caught within a bizarre love triangle. As conflicting passions heat to a boiling point, will true love triumph or will Carrington lose her one and onlysoul mate forever? *1988: Adapted Screenplay, Dangerous Liaisons **1995: Adapted Screenplay, Sense and Sensibility; 1992: Actress, Howard's End

The Woman in Black

Around the World in 80 Days (Full Screen Edition)

The 2004 version of Around the World in 80 Days is an entertaining hodge-podge of adventure, comedy, and scenery from across the globe. Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan, 24 Hour Party People), an obsessively precise inventor, bets that he can circumnavigate the planet in 80 days--considered impossible in the Victorian era. In this version, Jackie Chan plays a Chinese peasant who retrieves a stolen idol from the Bank of England, then convinces Fogg to hire him as a French valet so that Chan can get back to his village. Chan supplies numerous spectacular fights against the forces trying to stop Fogg or get the idol, while Coogan is both funny and a surprisingly appealing romantic lead (he flirts with a fetching French painter who joins them). The various episodes--featuring cameos by Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Cleese, Owen Wilson, and Sammo Hung--are uneven, but a goofy good cheer prevails. --Bret Fetzer

Get ready for phenomenal fun, spectacular adventures, and nonstop action as hilarious megastar Jackie Chan (SHANGHAI NOON, SHANGHAI KNIGHTS) dares to do what no one has done before — beat the clock in a race around the world. Traveling the globe by land, sea, air, and even in-line skates, Chan and his buddies are greeted with impossible obstacles at every planned and unplanned stop along the way, making their fantastically speedy voyage more frantic and heart-pounding than ever! Filled with amazing stunts, humor, and the importance of friendship and following your dreams, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS is one trip the whole family will enjoy taking together.

Bless Me, Father - The Complete Collection

If you don't know the difference between a Catholic and a Protestant, then the denominational humor of this affectionately reverential British sitcom will be lost on you. Yet you may still be won over by both Peter de Rosa's captivating writing, based on his real-life experiences, and by the actors' utterly believable performances and comic timing.

Set in the small suburban London parish of St. Jude in the 1950s, Bless Me, Father revolves around the blustery veteran priest, Father Duddleswell (Arthur Lowe); his inexperienced young curate, Father Boyd (Daniel Abineri); and their comically unflappable housekeeper, Mrs. Pring (Gabrielle Daye). While Neil bumbles earnestly through new professional situations such as counseling couples with marital problems or dinner with an eccentric and wealthy parishioner, Father Duddleswell handles the duties of priesthood with patient aplomb and an amusing eye on the parish coffers' bottom line. Among the series' 21 episodes (the last three of which never aired) are "The Parish Bazaar," in which Duddleswell is convinced God will provide good weather for the annual fundraiser; "The Seal of Confession," in which Duddleswell learns that confessions are being overheard; and "The Tennis Match," in which a Catholic becomes Mayor and Duddleswell seeks his favor. Other amusing topics range from practical jokes in the priests' residence and unfinished weddings to a tricky burial at sea--what should they do if the deceased turns out to be a Protestant? While some may find the pace a little slow or the humor quaint, others will find Bless Me, Father a program to enjoy with the whole family. --Tara Chace

In this hilarious Britcom classic, a newly minted priest learns the ropes from a crusty veteran with a gentle brogue and a sharp eye on the bottom line. Arthur Lowe (Dad's Army) stars as Father Duddleswell, wily pastor of St. Jude's parish in suburban London. Daniel Abineri is the eager young priest who gets on-the-job training in the finer points of sustaining and supporting the flock. A tart-tongued housekeeper (Gabrielle Daye) and imperious Mother Superior (Sheila Keith) add to the fun. It's an affectionate send-up of 1950s Catholicism written by Peter de Rosa and based on his popular autobiographical novels.

National Lampoon's Blackball

Try as he might, Cliff Starkey just can't keep out of trouble. With a dead-end career, there's not much that makes him want to get out of bed in the mornings… except his one passion: Lawn Bowls. Almost as soon as he learned how to walk, he displayed a genius for the sport. To the dismay of the elderly, uptight bowls fraternity in town, Cliff honed his mastery of the game alone, playing by no one's rules but his own. Now, the time has come for his skill to be recognized, and Rick Schwartz (Vince Vaughn), an American sports agent, is going to ensure that this `Bad Boy' of bowls gets the spotlight he deserves. Cliff's rock `n' roll attitude and army of screaming female fans soon take England by storm, and he finds himself on the way to super-stardom! But can he take on the stuffy, business-like attitude of the Bowls Association and his senior arch-rival, Ray Speight? Starkey is only one match away from super-stardom as he joins forces with Ray in a ball-busting championship showdown!

Two Men Went To War

Based on a true story Sergeant Peter King (Kenneth Cranham) of the Army Dental Corps too old to fight and Private Leslie Cuthbertson (Leo Bill) a trainee dental mechanic in the Corps are thrown together by their passionate desire to see active service. Armed with just two revolvers and a dozen grenades King persuades Cuthbertson to join him on a mission to occupied France.In a letter to Winston Churchill King explains their intention to invade France and fight the Germans. After a number of failed attempts they finally arrive by boat and stumble across a German radar station. They succeed in blowing-up what they believe to be the main Operations Room but are soon forced to make their escape as the entire compound unexpectedly erupts with gunfire and explosions. After narrow escapes from the Germans and a stray mine in the Channel the two men are picked up at sea and interrogated as spies.Identified as deserters they are returned to their barracks to be court martialed. At the eleventh hour King and Cuthbertson are saved by the arrival of Major Merton (Derek Jacobi) Churchill s Chief Intelligence Advisor. Their letter has been received in Whitehall and Merton corroborates their heroic story. Exonerated of lying King and Cuthbertson are nevertheless reprimanded by the Court for their behaviour but receive an invitation to tea with the Prime Minister should they ever be in Whitehall.System Requirements:Running Time: 109 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/BUDDY FILMS UPC: 825284200065 Manufacturer No: 00122K4D