Year: 1999
Character: Sabé
Runtime: 2 hrs 16 mins
Synopsis: The first of three prequels to George Lucas’s celebrated STAR WARS films, EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE is set some 30 years before the original STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE in the era of the Republic. Naboo, a peaceful planet governed by the young but wise Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), is being threatened by the corrupt Trade Federation, puppets of an evil Sith lord and his terrifying apprentice, Darth Maul (Ray Park). Jedi knights Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor, performing an amazing vocal imitation of Alec Guinness, the older Obi-Wan) are called on to intervene in the trade disputes. Along the way, they acquire an apprentice of their own in the form of young prodigy Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), or as STAR WARS fans know him, the future Darth Vader. They also encounter Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best), a goofy, lizardlike creature who has been banished from his underwater world for clumsiness. When the Trade Federation launches an attack on Naboo, the queen and her allies must battle hordes of robot troopers while Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan face off against the sinister Darth Maul. One of the most anticipated films of all time, THE PHANTOM MENACE sets the stage for the tumultuous events to come. Lucas fills the screen with detailed sci-fi creatures and locations, revealing the most creative and exquisite sets, costumes, and character designs to hit the screen since the original trilogy.
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Starring: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Oliver Ford Davies, Terence Stamp, Pernilla August, Frank Oz, Ahmed Best, Adrian Dunbar, Hugh Quarshie, Kenny Baker, Warwick Davis, Brian Blessed, Ray Park, Ralph Brown, Anthony Daniels, Silas Carson, Keira Knigthley
Director: George Lucas
Screenwriter: George Lucas
Producer: Rick McCallum
Composer: John Williams

Character: Frances 'Frankie' Almond Smith
Year: 2001
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins
Synopsis: This British thriller stars Thora Birch as Liz, a teenager at a private school who has been through a harrowing experience with three of her classmates. Telling the story in flashback, Liz reveals that she and three friends traveled to an abandoned bomb shelter to party and get away from school for a weekend. Unfortunately, the quartet find themselves trapped inside the shelter and the mood among the four begins to turn sinister. High school politics, sexual attraction, and anger begin gnawing at the group even as they struggle to simply make it out of the shelter with their lives. [Less]
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Starring: Thora Birch, Keira Knightley, Desmond Harrington, Daniel Brocklebank, Laurence Fox, Embeth Davidtz
Director: Nick Hamm
Composer: Clint Mansell

Character: Juliette 'Jules' Paxton
Year: 2002
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Synopsis: Like most everyone else in England, Jess Bahmra (Parminder Nagra) idolizes professional British football player David Beckham. But Jess is different from most fans; she's a talented player in her own right. Unfortunately, her traditional Indian parents (Anupam Kher and Shaheen Khan) have other plans for their youngest daughter. They expect Jess to follow in the footsteps of her sister, Pinky (Archie Panjabi), who is preparing to marry in a traditional Indian wedding. When Jess meets Jules (Keira Knightley), who plays for a local female football team, she pursues her own dream and begins to play, keeping her participation a secret from her parents and often leading to disastrous results. To complicate matters even more, both Jess and Jules are enamored with their coach, Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Ultimately, Jess has to decide whether to live life on her terms or act in accordance with her parents' wishes. This charming coming-of-age tale is also an intriguing look at Indian culture in England. Juliet Stevenson is superb as Jules' tarty, ultra-feminine mother. BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is directed, written, and produced by Gurinder Chadha (BHAJI ON THE BEACH, WHAT'S COOKING?), and marks the first English feature film appearance from Bollywood icon Anupam Kher. DRUMLINE: Charles Stone III's crowd-pleasing drama spotlights the previously unheralded world of university marching bands--more specifically, the cutthroat world that energizes Southern black campuses. Devon Miles (Nick Cannon) is a Harlem teenager who receives a full scholarship to attend Atlanta A&T University based on his excellent percussion talents. However, making the transition from hip-hop street drumming to the drumline of the school's legendary marching band is more challenging than Miles expected. For one, the band director, Dr. Lee (Orlando Jones), is determined to reclaim the national championship using old-school tactics, even though his traditional beliefs appear to be leaving A&T in the dust. And then there is Sean (Leonard Roberts), the current drum leader, who is threatened by Devon's skills and frustrated by his fierce individuality. These antagonistic forces, as well as the addition of a cheerleading love interest (Zoe Saldana), combine to test Devon's previously unshakeable confidence. As the season builds toward the BET Big Southern Classic and a showdown with rival Morris Brown University, Devon must swallow his pride and learn to be a team player if he wants his band to win the championship. DRUMLINE proves that any subject can make for an invigorating work of entertainment, if handled properly.
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Keira Knightley, Parminder Nagra
Director: Gurinder Chadha

Character: Elizabeth Swann
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 3 hrs 32 mins
Theatrical Release: Jul 9, 2003
Box Office: $305,343,252
Synopsis: Loosely inspired by the time-honored Disney theme-park ride, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL is a swashbuckling high-seas tale directed by Gore Verbinski. When Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), an eccentric rogue, arrives at Port Royal, he barely avoids going down with his ship. Soon enough, he's in the market for a new one, but not before he saves the life of Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), the beautiful daughter of the governor (Jonathan Pryce). This act of bravery sets into motion a sweeping adventure involving Elizabeth's childhood friend, blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom); a mysterious medallion; and a legendary pirate ship, the Black Pearl. The Pearl's mottled Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) wants Elizabeth's doubloon necklace, and when she's kidnapped by the ol' salty dog and his crew, Sparrow and young Will must rescue her and find out the truth behind the ship's curse. Verbinski's PIRATES is a welcome throwback to Hollywood offerings of yesteryear, filled with rope-swinging heroes, crusty villains, treasure hoards, swift swordplay, and even wittier wordplay. Screenwriters Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott have crafted one of the most clever action-movie scripts in many moons, and this gives the filmmakers and cast (especially Depp) plenty of room to cut loose. Although the skeletal pirates may be a bit frightening for small children, there's lots of humor to temper the scary moments, making PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL a nearly flawless fun film.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Geoffrey Rush, Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport, Mackenzie Crook, Lee Arenberg, Zoe Saldana
Director: Gore Verbinski
Screenwriter: Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Composer: Klaus Badelt

Rated: R
Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins
Theatrical Release: Nov 7, 2003 Wide
Box Office: $59,365,105
Synopsis: General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed – but I don’t see that – seems to me that love is everywhere. Igniting laughter, wreaking havoc, breaking hearts, daring commitments, forcing choices, catapulting spirits, forging inroads, creating risks—ecstatic, exciting, unexpected, unwelcome, inconvenient, inexplicable, inelegant, unequalled. Love actually is all around. From the new bachelor Prime Minister (HUGH GRANT) instantly falling in love with a refreshingly real member of the staff (MARTINE McCUTCHEON) moments after entering 10 Downing Street… To a writer (COLIN FIRTH) escaping to the south of France to nurse his re-broken heart who finds love in a lake… From a comfortably married woman (EMMA THOMPSON) suspecting that her husband (ALAN RICKMAN) is slipping away… To a new bride (KEIRA KNIGHTLEY) mistaking the distance of her husband’s best friend for something it’s not… From a schoolboy seeking to win the attention of the most unattainable girl in school… To a widowed stepfather (LIAM NEESON) trying to connect with a son he suddenly barely knows… From a lovelorn junior manager (LAURA LINNEY) seizing a chance with her long-tended, unspoken office crush… To an aging “seen it all, remember very little of it” rock star (BILL NIGHY) jonesing for an end-of-career comeback in his own uncompromising way… Love, the equal-opportunity mischief-maker, is causing chaos for all. These London lives and loves collide, mingle and climax on Christmas Eve—again and again and again—with romantic, hilarious and bittersweet consequences for anyone lucky (or unlucky) enough to be under love’s spell. Acclaimed screenwriter RICHARD CURTIS (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’s Diary) now steps behind the camera for his directorial debut on his latest project, Love Actually—the ultimate romantic comedy that weaves together a spectacular number of love affairs into one amazing story. Curtis is re-teamed with producers DUNCAN KENWORTHY and Working Title’s TIM BEVAN and ERIC FELLNER—the filmmakers responsible for some of the most popular looks at modern love in all its guises, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones’s Diary. The powerhouse cast brought together for this look at love and laughter also includes ROWAN ATKINSON, ANDREW LINCOLN, MARTIN FREEMAN, KRIS MARSHALL, THOMAS SANGSTER, JOANNA PAGE, LUCIA MONIZ, BILLY BOB THORNTON and many others. Joining Curtis and producers Kenworthy, Bevan and Fellner are an esteemed group of behind-the-camera talent, including director of photography MICHAEL COULTER, B.S.C. (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Sense and Sensibility), production designer JIM CLAY (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin), editor NICK MOORE (Notting Hill, The Full Monty, About a Boy), costumer JOANNA JOHNSTON (The Sixth Sense, Contact), composer CRAIG ARMSTRONG (William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!, The Quiet American) and casting director MARY SELWAY, C.D.G. (Notting Hill, Gosford Park).
Genre: Comedies
Starring: Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Bill Nighy, Rowan Atkinson, Martine McCutcheon
Director: Richard Curtis
Screenwriter: Richard Curtis
Producer: Duncan Kenworthy, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Composer: Craig Armstrong

Character: Guinevere
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hrs 19 mins
Theatrical Release: Jul 7, 2004
Box Office: $51,726,421
Synopsis: From producer Jerry Bruckheimer ('Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,' 'Black Hawk Down') and director Antoine Fuqua ('Training Day') comes Touchstone Pictures' / Jerry Bruckheimer Films' 'King Arthur,' a spectacular, epic tale of one man's destiny to become a king. 'Let me sing with inspiration Of the man born of two nations, Of Rome and of Britain... ... Arthur the blessed Led his assault from the Great Wall...' by the 6th century Welsh poet, Taliesin For centuries most historians believed that King Arthur was only a legend, but that legend was based on a real hero whose actions changed the face of Britain and the world forever. Clive Owen, is 'Artorius' or Arthur, the hero of Roman and British parentage eulogized in the ancient Celtic poem. Like his loyal Knights, he sees only chaos and devastation will follow Rome's final pullout of Britain. Although, as a dedicated Christian he is desperate to return to Rome to influence the budding religion, his first loyalty is to his pagan Knights. Arthur sees his duty is to free them from their servitude to Rome so they may return to their ancestral homeland in Sarmatia. However, before he can, he must lead his Knights of the Round Table on one last mission, deep into enemy territory on a quest of adventure and profound enlightenment. Here, Arthur, Lancelot, Galahad, Bors, Tristan, Dagonet and Gawain are forced to confront their traditional enemy: Merlin and his indigenous guerilla armies. Disdainfully called 'Woads' by the Knights for the Woad plant they use to dye their bodies, Arthur and his Knights will see these guerillas are the soul of Britain, devastated by generations of Roman rule. Now, with Rome gone, and without the help of Arthur and his knights, the invading Saxons will roll over the people like an avalanche. Under the guidance of the shaman, Merlin and the beautiful, courageous Guinevere (Keira Knightley), Arthur will struggle to find the strength to fors ke his dreams of Rome to 'become a leader in this land,' and to change the face of history. Thrilling adventure, edge-of-your-seat action and historical grandeur come together in this unique look at the origins of one of the greatest legends ever told.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: Clive Owen, Stellan Skarsgard, Keira Knightley, Ioan Gruffudd, Hugh Dancy, Stephen Dillane, Ray Winstone, Til Schweiger, Joel Edgerton, Mads Mikkelsen, Ray Stevenson, Sean Gilder, Ivano Marescotti, Ken Stott
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Screenwriter: David H. Franzoni
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Composer: Hans Zimmer

Character: Jackie Price
Rated: R
Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins
Theatrical Release: Mar 4, 2005
Box Office: $6,282,106
Synopsis: Oscar-winner Adrien Brody (THE PIANIST) stars in THE JACKET, an intense psychological thriller about a Gulf War veteran who finds himself trapped inside another terrifying scenario. Shot in the head while in Iraq, Jack Starks (Brody) has returned home only to be convicted of a murder that he didn't commit. Still reeling from his wartime trauma, Jack is found not guilty by reason of insanity and is committed to an institution for the criminally insane. Once there, he is drugged by the evil Dr. Becker (Kris Kristofferson) and placed into a coffin-like drawer on a nightly basis. Inside the drawer, after being tormented with horrific war flashbacks, Jack is mysteriously transported to the future, where he forms a tender relationship with the hardened, beautiful Jackie (Keira Knightley). Aware that he is destined to die in four days, Jack must use his new gift to figure out what happened to him, with the hopes of altering the course of history. Directed by John Maybury (LOVE IS THE DEVIL), THE JACKET features another electrifying performance from Brody. Acclaimed artist Brian Eno contributes a transcendent score, which contrasts beautifully with Peter Deming's stark cinematography. As the weary Jackie, Knightley proves once again that she's more than just a pretty face.
Genre: Thriller
Starring: Adrien Brody, Keira Knightley, Daniel Craig, Kris Kristofferson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kelly Lynch, MacKenzie Phillips, Brad Renfro
Director: John Maybury
Story: Marc Rocco
Screenwriter: Massy Tadjedin, Tom Bleecker
Producer: Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney, Peter Guber
Composer: Brian Eno

Character: Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Bennet
Runtime: 2 hrs 9 mins
Theatrical Release: Nov 11, 2005
Box Office: $38,251,759
Synopsis: The glorious world of Jane Austen is at last brought back to the big screen in all its romance, wit, and emotional force in Pride & Prejudice. Faithful to the setting and period of the beloved novel and filmed entirely on location in the U.K, this is the first movie version of the story in 65 years. The classic tale of love and misunderstanding unfolds in class-conscious England near the close of the 18th century. The five Bennet sisters – Elizabeth, or Lizzie (Keira Knightley), Jane (Rosamund Pike), Lydia (Jena Malone), Mary (Talulah Riley), and Kitty (Carey Mulligan) – have been raised well aware of their mother’s (two-time Academy Award nominee Brenda Blethyn) fixation on finding them husbands and securing set futures. The spirited and intelligent Elizabeth, however, strives to live her life with a broader perspective, as encouraged by her doting father (two-time Golden Globe Award winner Donald Sutherland). When wealthy bachelor Mr. Bingley (Simon Woods) takes up residence in a nearby mansion, the Bennets are abuzz. Amongst the man’s sophisticated circle of London friends and the influx of young militia officers, surely there will be no shortage of suitors for the Bennet sisters. Eldest daughter Jane, serene and beautiful, seems poised to win Mr. Bingley’s heart. For her part, Lizzie meets with the handsome and – it would seem – snobbish Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen), and the battle of the sexes is joined. Their encounters are frequent and spirited yet far from encouraging. Lizzie finds herself even less inclined to accept a marriage proposal from a distant cousin, Mr. Collins (Tom Hollander), and – supported by her father – stuns her mother and Mr. Collins by declining. When the heretofore good-natured Mr. Bingley abruptly departs for London, devastating Jane, Lizzie holds Mr. Darcy culpable for contributing to the heartbreak. But a crisis involving youngest sister Lydia soon opens Lizzie’s eyes to the true nature of her relationship with Mr. Darcy. The ensuing rush of feelings leaves no one unchanged, and inspires the Bennets and everyone around them to reaffirm what is most important in life. Focus Features presents in association with StudioCanal a Working Title production. Pride & Prejudice. Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Tom Hollander, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, and Judi Dench. Casting by Jina Jay. Music Supervisor, Nick Angel. Music by Dario Marianelli. Hair and Make-Up Designer, Fae Hammond. Costume Designer, Jacqueline Durran. Editor, Paul Tothill. Production Designer, Sarah Greenwood. Director of Photography, Roman Osin. Co-Producer, Jane Frazer. Executive Producers, Debra Hayward, Liza Chasin. Based on the novel by Jane Austen. Screenplay by Deborah Moggach. Produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster. Directed by Joe Wright. A Focus Features Release. -- © Focus Features.
Genre: Romance
Starring: Keira Knightley, Donald Sutherland, Brenda Blethyn, Matthew MacFadyen, Judi Dench, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Claudie Blakley, Kelly Reilly, Pip Torrens, Sabrina Matthews, Roy Holder, Tom Hollander, Penelope Wilton, Peter Wright, Moya Brady
Director: Joe Wright
Screenwriter: Deborah Moggach
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster
Composer: Dario Marianelli

Character: Domino Harvey
Rated: R
Runtime: 2 hrs 8 mins
Theatrical Release: Oct 14, 2005
Box Office: $10,137,232
Synopsis: The already larger-than-life story of Domino Harvey, a former Ford model turned bounty hunter, takes on mythological proportions in Tony Scott's (TRUE ROMANCE, MAN ON FIRE) fast-paced thriller. Unfolding in a nonlinear fashion as a bloodied Domino (Kiera Knightley) is interrogated by iron-faced Officer Taryn Miles (Lucy Liu), the film traces the trajectory of Domino's tumultuous life. Beginning with the death of her beloved father, the actor Laurence Harvey (THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE), Domino develops into a hard-nosed, scrappy young woman who trains with nunchucks beside her mother's luxurious pool and responds violently to anyone who crosses her. Bored with the runway and the glamorous LA life, Domino shows up for a bounty-hunter seminar. Catching the "teachers" of the seminar as they try to cut and run with the proceeds, she manages to win their respect and joins their team. This consists of Ed Mosbey (Mickey Rourke), the tough-as-nails leader and Domino's surrogate father, and Choco (Edgar Ramirez), an impulsive Venezuelan who harbors a not-so-secret love for Domino. The three form a kind of family, working under Claremont Williams (Delroy Lindo), who "plays Charlie to their three angels." For a time they are unstoppable, even agreeing to let the slimy Mark Heiss (Christopher Walken) produce a reality-TV show about them, which is hilariously hosted by Ian Ziering and Brian Austin Green (BEVERLY HILLS 90210). But when Claremont orchestrates a complicated inside job in order to raise the money for his granddaughter's doctor bills, the precarious balance within the trio is disturbed. Tom Waits stands out in a cameo as a wise wanderer who advises the lost bounty hunters.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: Keira Knightley, Mickey Rourke, Lucy Liu, Mena Suvari, Christopher Walken, Riz Abbasi, Delroy Lindo, Ian Ziering, Brian Austin Green, Macy Gray, Dabney Coleman, Kel O'Neill, Jacqueline Bisset, Dale Dickey, Jerry Springer, T.K. Carter, Tom Waits, Stanley Kamel
Director: Tony Scott
Screenwriter: Richard Kelly, Toby Emmerich
Producer: Samuel Hadida, Victor Hadida, Tony Scott

Character: Elizabeth Swann
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hrs 30 mins
Theatrical Release: Jul 7, 2006 Wide
Box Office: $423,032,628
Synopsis: The second part of a trilogy, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST is a fantastic tale of pirates, love, and the supernatural. Blacksmith Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and his upper-class love Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) are preparing to wed when they are confronted with a warrant for their arrests because they helped the notorious pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) escape the authorities. Their only choice for a pardon is to find Jack and return to Lord Cutler Beckett (Tom Hollander) with the flamboyant captain’s compass. Will’s attempt to track Jack down, however, becomes an adventure unto itself: Jack is being held captive on an island where the natives think he is a god. To make matters worse, the infamous Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) and his Flying Dutchman crew are after Jack, seeking his soul to repay a debt. With his beard of tentacles and a lobster claw for a hand, heartless Jones is no mere mortal. He and his men are slowly evolving, taking on the attributes of various sea creatures, and with the help of a giant sea monster, the Kraken, they rule the waters. Seeking respite from his fate with Davy Jones, Jack enlists the aid of Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), a practitioner of the supernatural, in an effort to locate the Dead Man’s Chest that supposedly contains Jones's still-beating heart. Whoever possesses the heart controls Jones, and thereby controls the seas. And so the adventure continues as Jack, Will, and the Black Pearl crew track down the Flying Dutchman in search of redemption. This rollicking summer adventure, directed by Gore Verbinski (THE WEATHER MAN, THE RING), features multiple intersecting storylines, unique stunts, and a pithy script that lets each main character shine, while the costumes and makeup for Jones and his sea creature crew are nothing short of spectacular.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Stellan Skarsgaard, Jack Davenport, Kevin R. McNally, Jonathan Pryce, Naomie Harris, Tom Hollander, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook, David Bailie, David Schofield, Martin Klebba, Peter Badalamenti
Director: Gore Verbinski
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenwriter: Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio
Producer: Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Bruce Hendricks, Eric McLeod
Composer: Hans Zimmer

Character: Elizabeth Swann
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hrs 49 mins
Theatrical Release: May 25, 2007
Box Office: $309,404,152
Synopsis: After the action of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST, anti-hero Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is trapped in the netherworld of Davy Jones’s locker. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) has returned from the dead to aid Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) in their quest to rescue the beloved captain. They journey to Singapore to ask for help from notorious pirate Sao Feng (Chow Yun-Fat), and with this new alliance, they travel to the edge of the earth to find Jack. Then they will join forces with the world’s most powerful pirates to unite against Lord Brackett (Tom Hollander) and the East India Company. AT WORLD’S END is an exercise in excess, boasting a running time of nearly three hours and a labyrinthine map of double- and triple-crosses. Characters return from the dead and change allegiances with ease, thanks to the magic of Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris) and the pirate code of ethics--or lack thereof. Though the third film in the series is filled with action and special effects befitting any blockbuster, it’s the performances that make the movie memorable. Depp has earned an Oscar nod for his role as Jack, but he’s not the only one who shines. With Jack locked away, the film sits on the strong shoulders of Rush, as well as Stellan Skarsgard as Bootstrap Bill and the brilliant British actor Bill Nighy as Davy Jones. Despite having to act behind a mess of CGI tentacles, Nighy nearly steals the show, as in the previous films UNDERWORLD and LOVE ACTUALLY. This is literally and figuratively the darkest entry in director Gore Verbinski’s trilogy, as the film trades the sunny skies of the Caribbean for the world’s most treacherous seas. There’s plenty of rum-soaked humor, but it’s balanced by betrayal and sacrifice.
Genre: Action/Adventure
Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley
Director: Gore Verbinski
Screenwriter: Terry Rossio, Ted Elliott
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Composer: Hans Zimmer

Character: Cecilia Tallis
Rated: R
Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins
Theatrical Release: Dec 7, 2007
Box Office: $45,209,036 S
Synopsis: On a sultry summer day in 1935, an upper-class British family prepares for a dinner party at their country estate. The players: Briony Tallis (newcomer Saoirse Ronan), a precocious preteen writer; her older sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley), Cambridge graduate and femme fatale; Robbie Turner (James McEvoy), the housekeeper's mensch-y son, who carries a torch for Cecilia; and various visitors and family members. A series of misperceptions, fueled by the summer heat and Briony's childish hurts and fevered imagination, lead to a dramatic false accusation that lands Robbie in jail. We meet all three characters five years later in the thick of World War II, as foot soldier Robbie prepares for the Dunkirk evacuation and the two estranged sisters train as nurses in London. Director Joe Wright (PRIDE AND PREJUDICE) deserves high praise for translating Ian McEwan's highly internalized, multilayered tale of guilt, redemption, and the power and limits of the artistic imagination, into a sumptuous visual feast that not only conveys the intricate plot points of the novel, but dives headfirst into the emotional subtleties that make the story so wrenching. Whether any of the characters' actions are ultimately atoned for by the end of the film is a matter of perception, but Wright's sympathetic eye ensures that every player gets a fair trial. The young director favors long, lingering close-ups that trace every flicker of feeling--Ronan's luminous blue eyes clouding over with righteous gravity; the tremors of hurt and anger and love in McEvoy's sensitive face; the defiant jut of Knightley's jaw as it melts into tender affection. The honey-drizzled look of the first two thirds of the film contrasts achingly with the tension and seriousness of the action unfolding (and the grim intensity of the wartime sections), and the scenes on the beach at Dunkirk include some of the most masterly camera work of any recent film. ATONEMENT is a powerful story, retold in a way that even diehard fans of the book will appreciate.
Genre: Romance, Drama, British, Young Love, Period Piece, Family Crises, Based On A Novel
Starring: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronan, Vanessa Redgrave, Brenda Blethyn
Director: Joe Wright
Screenwriter: Christopher Hampton
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster
Composer: Dario Marianelli

Character: Hélène Joncour
Rated: R
Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins
Theatrical Release: Sep 14, 2007
Box Office: $990,439
Synopsis: With SILK, director François Gerard (THIRTY TWO SHORT FILMS ABOUT GLENN GOULD, THE RED VIOLIN) brings Alessandro Baricco’s bestselling novel to sumptuous life. Michael Pitt stars as Herve Joncour, a Frenchman who lives in a small town that has hit hard times. A local silkworm magnate (Alfred Molina) stumbles upon a solution for his town’s troubles, and enlists Herve to travel to a hidden corner of Japan in order to smuggle back a boundless supply of rare silkworms. Traveling in disguise so that he won’t be exposed, Herve succeeds in his mission. Upon returning home, he reunites with his beautiful, supportive wife, Helene (Keira Knightley). While Herve and Helene have a loving relationship, their inability to produce a child creates an undercurrent of distance between them. This is compounded when Herve meets a beautiful concubine (Sei Ashina) during one of his subsequent journeys, sparking a passionate encounter that will haunt him for the rest of his life. Gerard’s adaptation of Baricco’s novel spans several continents and many years. The production is aided by the lush imagery of cinematographer Alain Dostie and the haunting score from acclaimed composer Ryuichi Sakamoto (THE LAST EMPEROR). Featuring yet another standout performance from Molina, SILK tells an epic tale of love and loss in the 19th century.
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Michael Pitt, Keira Knightley
Director: Francois Gerard