Reviews (4)

Warm and Enjoyable, if sad.
Opening like a charming and lightweight Irish comedy, A Man of No Importance eventually proves to be more of a pathos-laden drama. Along the way however, it never fails of be warm, with Albert Finney a joy as the kind yet internally tortured ticket collector Alfie, who is inspired to mount a production of Salome, by his idol Oscar Wilde. Throughout the film we are treated not only to Finney, but also loveley turns by Tara Fitzgerald as Alfie's idealised Princess Salome, and Rufus Sewell as the bus driver, dubbed "Bosie," the object of ALfie's unrequited affections. The story could deteriorate into a weepy drama, but it never does, and the conclusion, although sad, is somewhat life-affirming. A great way to spend an evening.

importance is subjective
This debut from Suri Krishnamma is quite wonderful. Set in Dublin in 1963, it opens with Eartha Kitt singing "Let's Do it" and Albert Finney reading Oscar Wilde, so we know something particular is in the wind. Finney is a bus conductor who is inspired to mount a production of Salome after meeting Tara Fitzgerald. The film shows the rehearsals in the local church hall, and slowly reveals Finney's closeted sexual preference, secretly in love with someone he calls his "Bosie". What is interesting is the Vertigo relationship that develops between Finney and Fitzgerald. As her director, he recreates her the way he wishes to see her, which can be a common dynamic between certain men and the women they are obsessed with, and the situation is all the more resonant since Fitzgerald is so touching. Time allows the audience to like Finney, since at first his accent and face are off-putting. It seems he is trying too hard, but by the time he is dressed as flamboyantly as Wilde, we are won over. Brenda Fricker plays Finney's sister and is funny, but Rufus Sewell as the bus driver is unfortunately Method-y. However Krishnamma wisely removes him for a time and when he returns, we have Finney's idiot grin of happiness as a payoff.

brilliant film
This film is a truly unique and enchanting experience. From the Wilde poem, "The Harlot's House" recited by Alfie(Albert Finney)to his bus passengers to Alfie's sweet and kind obsession with Wilde by dressing like him when he goes out to the bar, you will be delighted by the deep sensitivity of Finney to the role. The video is one I watched several times and enjoyed each time. It is absorbing, funny, tender and best of all respectful to Oscar Wilde.

Finding the Humor in Sad Situations
To say I loved this movie is an understatement. Mr. Finney displayed his true acting expertise as the delightful director in search of his one exceptional performance. The very thought that man or woman could fall in love with Robbie (Rufus Sewell) makes the movie even more believable. Mr. Sewell can speed up the heart with just a wink. Sprinkled with light humor "we could die your hair blonde... like an angel," enables the viewer to accept those scenes that depict how life is not always grand but the few chuckles we get along the way make it worth living. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Warm and Enjoyable, if sad.
Opening like a charming and lightweight Irish comedy, A Man of No Importance eventually proves to be more of a pathos-laden drama. Along the way however, it never fails of be warm, with Albert Finney a joy as the kind yet internally tortured ticket collector Alfie, who is inspired to mount a production of Salome, by his idol Oscar Wilde. Throughout the film we are treated not only to Finney, but also loveley turns by Tara Fitzgerald as Alfie's idealised Princess Salome, and Rufus Sewell as the bus driver, dubbed "Bosie," the object of ALfie's unrequited affections. The story could deteriorate into a weepy drama, but it never does, and the conclusion, although sad, is somewhat life-affirming. A great way to spend an evening.

importance is subjective
This debut from Suri Krishnamma is quite wonderful. Set in Dublin in 1963, it opens with Eartha Kitt singing "Let's Do it" and Albert Finney reading Oscar Wilde, so we know something particular is in the wind. Finney is a bus conductor who is inspired to mount a production of Salome after meeting Tara Fitzgerald. The film shows the rehearsals in the local church hall, and slowly reveals Finney's closeted sexual preference, secretly in love with someone he calls his "Bosie". What is interesting is the Vertigo relationship that develops between Finney and Fitzgerald. As her director, he recreates her the way he wishes to see her, which can be a common dynamic between certain men and the women they are obsessed with, and the situation is all the more resonant since Fitzgerald is so touching. Time allows the audience to like Finney, since at first his accent and face are off-putting. It seems he is trying too hard, but by the time he is dressed as flamboyantly as Wilde, we are won over. Brenda Fricker plays Finney's sister and is funny, but Rufus Sewell as the bus driver is unfortunately Method-y. However Krishnamma wisely removes him for a time and when he returns, we have Finney's idiot grin of happiness as a payoff.

brilliant film
This film is a truly unique and enchanting experience. From the Wilde poem, "The Harlot's House" recited by Alfie(Albert Finney)to his bus passengers to Alfie's sweet and kind obsession with Wilde by dressing like him when he goes out to the bar, you will be delighted by the deep sensitivity of Finney to the role. The video is one I watched several times and enjoyed each time. It is absorbing, funny, tender and best of all respectful to Oscar Wilde.

Finding the Humor in Sad Situations
To say I loved this movie is an understatement. Mr. Finney displayed his true acting expertise as the delightful director in search of his one exceptional performance. The very thought that man or woman could fall in love with Robbie (Rufus Sewell) makes the movie even more believable. Mr. Sewell can speed up the heart with just a wink. Sprinkled with light humor "we could die your hair blonde... like an angel," enables the viewer to accept those scenes that depict how life is not always grand but the few chuckles we get along the way make it worth living. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Oh dear...
Does not follow the book in the least. If it's supposed to be made from a classic story the least that could have been going on is trying to follow the book at least a little bit closer. Don't buy this. If I could give it zero stars, I would.

I bet Emily Bronte is rolling over in her grave! Poor thing. I would too.

No comparison to the book. At all.
I feel generous giving it simply one star...

This MTV interpretation focuses mostly on bland, mediocre romance and doesn't even hint at the original, dark themes of the book. The characters have been malformed into stereotypes, especially Heathcliff. Instead of a dark, unkempt boy, "Heath" is a Californian blonde who likes wearing dirty shirts but remains good-looking at the same time. Also note that he's not shown as violent or callous at all; they save all of that for Hindley, erm, "Hendrix." I wasn't impressed by the score, which amounted to about three or four unremarkable songs being played over and over.

In my opinion, it's not even worth renting. Watching a few pop videos will give you a pretty good idea of what it was like, without wasting as much time as the movie does.

Emily Bronte MTV Makeover!
I don't know what Emily Bronte, one of the best literary minds of all times, would have made of MTV's adaptation of her classic Wuthering Heights! Almost everything would have appeared alien to her, and imaginative guess work can only offer a very modest speculation about what she would have thought of fancy cars and rock music.But one thing is for sure, she would have certainly known the difference between mediocrity and creativity! And alas this newest and loosest of interpretations of her classic masterpiece of love, passion and betrayal would have made her wish she never wrote it in the first place.
Modern interpretations of classics are by no means a bad venture, as the examples of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo+Juliet and Alfonso Cuaron's Great Expectations clearly demonstrate,but the problem with the MTV's version of Bronte's classic is its mediocrity..just a plain, lifeless and average direction and acting. Had the film had a different title, and had MTV did not market it in an 'in your face hip, cool, trendy and young' way, then maybe it would have been much more bearable.
MTV's venture into the world of movie making has not been a glorious success so far, and simply because they are following the same approach and mental frame that they take in their musical and reality TV productions, and this is a big mistake.
Anyway, the overbearing and passionate Victorian world of Bronte and her dramatic but sadly short life were very much part of her work, yet her stories with their universal themes do indeed belong to all the ages, and make good movie material, if only the script, direction and acting are good enough to retain the spirit of the book, while infusing it with a modern outlook. The only success of MTV's Wuthering Heights was probably to turn one of the best writers of all time in her grave. Avoid!

good movie
Well this movie didn't follow the book at all, but it was enjoyable. The actors and actresses are good, and I like how they incorperated music into the story. If you are looking for a modern young love movie, than than this is for you. If you are looking for an exact replica of the book, than stay away from this. Over all it was enjoyable, and beautifully done.

MTV Need Assistance by Major Film Makers to Pilot Films
MTV I feel can generate great movies, but all they need to do is just get the help from the Major Film Makers from Hollywood USA.
I can just imagine if this Re-Make of Wuthering Heights was done by Steven Spielberg, Mel Gibson, or even Steven Soderbergh; i think that the results were going to be something else.

Erika Christensen is talented but she alone can't do it, she needs the Fine Director Starship in order to take the projects that she is in to new Heights. I would not mind watching this even though it is still not available where i am from.

It be nice if Swimfan 2 were made by MTV Films, i wonder how that would end; the conclusion to Madison Bell, and her pursuit for Benjamin Cronin.

As for this, i am going to go get it(wuthering heights CA) and see it, and i do hope it is good. If it is good, great if not well i am not going to bash it, but just accept it, besides Erika is in it.

Mike Vogel is on here too[on wuthering heights CA], he is a good actor, And he is also in Texas ChainSaw Massacre(the re-make 2003). A movie that did so well at the box office, i believe 80 million dollars.

Others movies that i recommend to all who read this review are the following: blue car[agnes bruckner-one beautiful voloptuous blonde], in hell[van damme], open range[kevin costner], dr schivago[remake with hans matheson and the beautiful slender keira knightley], reanimator[jeffrey combs], beyond reanimator[jeffrey combs], and home room[with the beautiful erika christensen].

great day from odessa. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In 18th-century England, the slave trade was a popular get-rich-quick scheme, and it is the heart of darkness that pulses through the Mobil Masterpiece Theatre production of A Respectable Trade. Philippa Gregory wrote the screenplay based on her novel, in which a well-bred but penniless young woman named Frances (Emma Fielding) marries a Bristol shipping merchant (Warren Clarke). Josiah Cole is boorish and unsophisticated, but Frances sees a simple honesty in him that convinces her to leave her uncle's manor for a leaky warehouse on the wharf and wifely duties she did not anticipate. Her husband's "respectable trade" turns out to be human cargo, and he expects Frances to train the slaves for service in upper-class households. But Frances must learn hard lessons as she develops an affection for Mehuru (Ariyon Bakare), an educated, compassionate man who is one of the slaves in her care. Thankfully, the plot is far more complex than the historical romance this quick summary might suggest. A Respectable Trade is as much the story of a greedy man reaching too high as it is the tale of a forbidden passion. The dramatic tension between all of the major characters makes for compelling viewing--it's quite easy to watch all four hours in one sitting. Gregory's screenplay and the performances elicit sympathy for each character's plight as the video approaches its memorable conclusion. --Larisa Lomacky Moore ... Read more

Reviews (7)

An underappreciated performance
After coming across this film quite accidentally on PBS, I found it thoroughly gripping, and agree completely with the other reviewers' high praise. I am adding my own words merely to encourage viewers not to overlook the extraordinary performance by Anna Massey as Sarah Cole. It is tempting to dismiss Sarah as a simple villain in this tale. However, I found Massey's stark performance deeply moving and expressive of Sarah's profound experience of displacement and loss. She is clearly the brains in her brother's business, for example, and depends on it for her own welfare, but is helpless to prevent its decline when Josiah begins to exclude her from his decisionmaking process. She is forced to abandon her lifelong home and lifestyle in pursuit of her brother's social pretensions. A proud and stoic worker, she is asked to curry favor with shallow and spoiled members aristocracy. I sympathized deeply with her scorn for unearned luxury.

Female in 18th century England, Sarah--like Frances, and like Mehuru--enjoys tragically little opportunity to guide her own fate.

Britain, the Slave Trade and Impoverished Ladies
Quite a combination, right? I had mixed feelings about watching this video because I knew the combinations were deadly. There was a white impoverished woman, who is also a poor relation to the aristocracy, who is married off by them to the merchant class and who then then falls in love with one of the slaves her husband has her teaching. Hardly a Jane Austen piece! It was going to be difficult to resolve this drama on an "up" note but it did its best in that direction. It is an engrossing drama and I now know more about Britain's involvement in the slave trade from this very well done production. However, it is every bit as problematic romantically as "Romeo and Juliet"!

Outstanding script, superb acting, and Emma Fielding...
This is not the typical 18th century romance. The central themes are beautifully woven into a single strand, and the characters show a range and depth rarely seen in American cinema. Warren Clarke (remember him as "Dim", the slow-witted droog from "A Clockwork Orange"?) delivers an outstanding performance as Josiah Cole, a slavetrader and simple man who turns into a social climber. Aariyon Bakare puts the viewer squarely into the emotion of the story with his evocative, understated elegance. And Emma Fielding as Frances Scott absolutely steals this movie. This enormously talented London stage and RSC actress brings the whole package: extraordinary beauty, emotional range, presence, and a wondrous voice that is itself sheer theatrical viagra (forget about Nicole Kidman's bare bottom). I would love to see Ms. Fielding in full-length feature films, and fervently wish that Hollywood had enough intelligence and imagination to find star vehicles for this brilliant young actress. I'm thinking of starting an Emma Fielding Fan Club on this side of the herring-pond, if only for the pleasure of seeing more of her work here in the US. The book by Philippa Gregory is just as powerful and moving, and I highly recommend it as well.

Sweet, sour, brutal, raw, unforgettable viewing.
A Respectable Trade was a fabulous book (go read it now!) and it was made into a fabulous film. All of the actors are superb - and Philippa Gregory herself wrote the screenplay, which gives the production the same magic the book had. The story begins in 1787, when ambitious trader Josiah Cole tries to cilmb the social ladder by asking the well blooded but dirt poor Frances Scott to marry him. Frances, thirty four and desperate, agrees to marry him. If only she'd known what she was getting herself into! It turns out that Josiah makes a good deal of his money trading slaves. Frances learns about the horrors of slavery, and learns about true love - from the kind and clever Mehuru - one of her husband's slaves. Yikes! Sounds like things could get complicated... and they do! It certainly makes for compelling watching.

A Colorful and Dark Romantic Drama
I absolutely LOVED this movie!!!! The screenplay and direction were phenomenal. The costumes, sets, and actors were so authentic, at times I felt I was actually in 18th century England watching this story unfold. I am always interested in movies with slavery themes because I believe it is a crucial part of the history of people of African decent. This movie did not glamorize or down play the slavery element. It showed it in its true, brutal, sadistic form. If you are a sensitive viewer, I would say proceed with extreme caution.

Overall, I found this movie to be about forbidden love and about looking beyond race as in "color", and seeing race as in "human". There are plenty of unexpected surprises so be prepared to run the gamut of emotions.

Masterpiece Theater's production are always superb and this is no exception. I am sure anyone who watches this movie will love it as much as I did. ... Read more

Description

Set in 18th century England, A Respectable Trade is a poignant adaptation of Philippa Gregory's controversial novel of love, greed and ambition.

Frances Scott (Emma Fielding), a well-bred governess, is left penniless after the death of her father. Unmarried and no longer in the first bloom of youth, she accepts a marriage proposal from the awkward, uneducated Josiah Cole (Warren Clarke).

Josiah is a ship owner in the bustling port of Bristol, and to him, the slave trade is a highly respectable one. Unknown to Frances, he is planning to import slaves to England and expects her to train them to serve the rich. But Josiah could not anticipate the attraction his wife would find in Mehuru (Ariyon Bakare), one of the African "cargo," a man of learning, power and dignity--everything Josiah is not. ... Read more