American Friends

Set about one hundred years ago, in Europe and England, this tale of repressed love initially feels like a re-working of 'A Room with a View', with the list of who fell for whom slightly re-arranged. But its portrait of Victorian... Full review

This was screened late last night on the BBC and provided another chance to see this excellent film written by and starring Michael Palin who based the story on his own great-grandfather who left Oxford to marry a woman he met... Full review

I confess that I've never found Michael Palin very funny. His desperate mugging in "A Fish Called Wanda" marked a particular low. And his many, many travel documentaries have at times stretched to breaking point his ability to say something interesting... Full review

Before I saw this, I had only known Michael Palin as a comedic actor (from his work with as part of the Monty Python team, etc). I was really blown away by his dramatic turn. Palin wrote the screenplay for this... Full review

There is plenty of atmosphere in this film. It portrays the conflict that occurred in the universities of the day (1866) between the traditional and the newer blood that was required to bring the universities into the modern world. It is... Full review

A lovely, thoughtful look at love between a professor and a young woman. Has a nice sense of period without stuffiness or artifice, good humorous observations, nice subtle acting. A great alternative to those overstuffed, melodramatic Merchant-Ivory type films. Also check... Full review

This film, based on the journals of Michael Palin's great-grandfather, is of course humorous, but also teaches a valuable lesson. The script is fantastic, the camera work is beautiful, the acting is superb, and the story, while entertaining, is also quite... Full review

American Friends" is a very thoughtful film that should not be overlooked by the local art house crowd. Palin is excellent, giving his character a surprising amount of depth. ... Full Review

American Friends" is not rated but is suitable for general audiences. Heretofore unopposed, the don is surprised to find that he has a rival in Oliver Syme (Alfred Molina), a young liberal whose reputation as a womanizer doesn't sit well with the monkish majority. ... Full Review

American Friends" offers no cheap jokes of the Woody-Soon-Yi variety, just a journey to another time done with fond humor and grace. Palin acts with remarkable delicacy and is matched by the striking Alvarado. ... Full Review

The British are invading New York on horseback again! Prince Harry, heir to the British throne, will play in a polo game at New York City's Governors Island on May 30, according to People. ... Full Article

In her capacity as chairman and president of the Annenberg Foundation after her husband's death in 2002, Leonore Annenberg, known as Lee, gave away billions of dollars to cultural and medical institutions. ... Full Article

We got out the cold asparagus left over from the night before, and I really exerted myself and doctored some mayonnaise with lemon juice and curry powder. ... Full Article

Those familiar with Michael Palin's post-Monty Python efforts know that he has chosen projects that sometimes go far afield from the off-the-wall wackiness of the Python pictures. ... Full Article