Actor Tom Hollander (1967)

The King’s Man (2021), a spy action film directed by Matthew Vaughn, is the third installment in the British Kingsman franchise. Based on the comic book The Secret Service, it serves as a prequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle. Set in 1902 during the Second Boer War, British aristocrat Orlando, Duke of Oxford, and his family visit a refugee camp in South Africa while working for the British Red Cross. Tragically, Orlando’s wife Emily is fatally wounded in a sniper attack on the camp and makes her husband promise to keep their son away from ...

Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018) is an adventure drama film, directed by Andy Serkis. The screenplay, written by Callie Kloves, is based on tales from All the Mowgli Stories by Rudyard Kipling. In the Indian jungle, the wise Indian python seer Kaa witnesses Shere Khan, a cruel Bengal tiger, breaking ‘jungle law’ by attacking a human family. After finding a surviving infant, Bagheera takes him to an Indian wolf family led by Nisha and Vihaan. However, their presence is noticed by Tabaqui, Shere ...

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) is a biographical drama film that follows the story of Freddie Mercury – the legendary lead singer of British rock band Queen. Spanning from 1970 when the band was formed, to their iconic 1985 Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium, the film captures Mercury’s journey and struggles. As he waits to take the stage at Live Aid in ’85, we see a flashback to his humble beginnings. In 1970, Farrokh Bulsara had a job as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport and lived with his family. A chance encounter with the band Smile at a pub led him to meet Mary Austin – whom he was immediately attracted to. Despite encountering some obstacles, ...

Breathe (2017) is a biographical drama film, marking Andy Serkis’ first time directing. The screenplay was written by William Nicholson. In 1958, Robin Cavendish falls ill with polio at the age of 28 while in Kenya. Shortly after marrying his wife Diana, he becomes paralyzed from the neck down and relies on a respirator to breathe. The doctors give him just three months to live and he is flown back to Britain. Initially, Robin is despondent and refuses to see his wife or newborn son, Jonathan. He even expresses a desire to be taken off life support. Through ...

Tulip Fever (2017), a historical romantic drama directed by Justin Chadwick and written by Deborah Moggach and Tom Stoppard, is based on Moggach’s novel of the same name. It follows the story of Sophia, an orphan raised in a Dutch convent during the time of tulip mania in the 17th century. She is offered a marriage proposal from Cornelis, a much older spice merchant, which allows her to leave the convent and provide dowries for her sisters to emigrate to New Amsterdam. ...

Taboo (2017) is a BBC television drama series that premiered on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2017 and on FX in the United States on 10 January 2017. The eight-episode series, created by Steven Knight and Tom Hardy along with his father, Chips Hardy, is based on a story written by the two Hardys. After spending twelve years in Africa, adventurer and merchant James Delaney returns to England following his father’s death in 1814. Set against the backdrop of ...

The Promise (2016) is an American epic historical war drama film directed by Terry George, co-written by Robin Swicord. It follows the story of Mikael, a young Armenian with aspirations to study medicine. While in Constantinople pursuing his dream, he meets Ana, another Armenian who captures his heart. However, she is involved with an American photographer named Chris who has been sent to document the Turkish genocide of the Armenians. Amidst the atrocities of war, a love triangle develops. Mikael, a pharmacist from the village Sirun in the Ottoman Empire’s ...

Susanne Bier’s British television serial, The Night Manager (2016), follows the story of Jonathan Pine, an Englishman working as a night manager in a Cairo hotel. When he becomes entangled with the girlfriend of a local gangster, he discovers information that connects illegal arms sales to wealthy English billionaire Richard Roper. Shortly after, the woman is found dead, prompting Pine to flee for his own safety. Four years later, he encounters Roper at a remote Swiss hotel, reigniting his thirst for revenge. With the help of British Intelligence, Pine is recruited to spy on Roper and sets off a treacherous game ...

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) is a fast-paced American action spy film written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, collaborating with Drew Pearce on the script. In the film, IMF Agent Ethan Hunt thwarts The Syndicate’s attempt to transport nerve gas, a group of rebel field operatives from different intelligence agencies whom he has been pursuing. During his briefing at an IMF facility in London, Ethan is ambushed by The Syndicate itself, revealing that they have infiltrated both him and the organization. As he falls unconscious from being exposed to ...

About Time (2013), a romantic science fiction comedy-drama film written and directed by Richard Curtis, follows Tim Lake as he grows up in Cornwall. He lives with his father James, mother Mary, absent-minded uncle Desmond, and free-spirited younger sister Katherine (‘Kit Kat’) in a house by the sea. On his 21st birthday, Tim discovers that the men in his family can travel back in time to relive past moments. Although James warns him against using his gift for personal gain, Tim decides to use it to improve his love life. During the summer, Charlotte, Kit Kat’s friend, comes to visit. Tim falls for her ...

Hanna (2011), an action thriller directed by Joe Wright, follows the story of fifteen-year-old Hanna Heller and her ex-CIA operative father, Erik, who live in rural northern Finland. Raised and trained by her father since she was two, Hanna is a highly skilled assassin with expertise in hand-to-hand combat and target shooting. However, their peaceful life is disrupted when Marissa Wiegler, a senior CIA officer, seeks to eliminate Erik for knowing a dangerous secret. In response, Erik has taught Hanna everything she needs to know to kill Marissa. One night, after proving her readiness to face their enemies, Hanna ...

The Soloist (2009), directed by Joe Wright, features Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. in lead roles. The film tells the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless man who struggles with schizophrenia and is also an exceptionally talented musician. In 2005, Steve Lopez works as a journalist for the Los Angeles Times under his ex-wife Mary, who is now his editor. After being involved in a biking accident, Lopez is hospitalized. It is during this time that he hears the beautiful sound of a violin being played. Intrigued, he ...

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur released a biographical historical drama called Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007). During this time, Catholic Spain, under the rule of King Philip II, held immense power in Europe. Despite multiple Catholic plots against Queen Elizabeth’s life in the 1570s, all were ultimately unsuccessful. Pope Sixtus V then turned to King Philip and convinced him to use his formidable naval force for invading and re-Catholicizing England. This plan would result in the overthrow of Elizabeth and give control of England to Philip with the pope’s approval. As part of this plot, Philip plans to have his ...

The Company (2007) is a three-part serial based on the best-selling 2002 novel by Robert Littell, following the activities of the CIA during the Cold War. Ken Nolan penned the teleplay adaptation and received a Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Long Form – Adapted. The story begins in 1950 as Jack McAuliffe, Leo Kritzky, and Yevgeny Tsipin graduate from Yale and venture down different paths. While Jack and Leo join the CIA under Frank ‘The Wizard’ Wisner’s guidance, Yevgeny returns to Moscow where he is recruited by KGB spymaster Starik and ...

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007), an American epic fantasy swashbuckler film directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, follows the story of Lord Cutler Beckett’s tyrannical rule over the seas. He orders Davy Jones to destroy all pirate ships and executes anyone affiliated with piracy in Port Royal. In response to this threat, nine Pirate Lords are called upon to convene at Shipwreck Cove for the Brethren Court. However, due to Jack Sparrow’s absence and lack of a named successor, Barbossa, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, ...

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) is a swashbuckling adventure directed by Gore Verbinski, written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. At the wedding of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, their celebration is cut short when Lord Cutler Beckett arrives at Port Royal with arrest warrants. These charges stem from their involvement in freeing Captain Jack Sparrow. However, they are not the only ones on Beckett’s list. ...

The period drama film, The Libertine (2004), marked the directorial debut of Laurence Dunmore and was adapted by Stephen Jeffreys from his play of the same name. Set in 1675, it follows the tale of John Wilmot, Second Earl of Rochester, as he delivers a prologue filled with themes of his love for alcohol, his sexual desires, and his disdain for his audience. Despite being banished by King Charles II, Rochester is brought back to join the House of Lords due to the king’s need for him. Upon returning to London, he reunites with his ‘Merry Gang’ friends ...