The Sam Neill Home Page will no longer be updated as of 15 January 2005 and is no longer be the Official Sam Neill Website. For more information, visit the main page. |
![]() Films A-Z 1974-79 1980-84 1985-89 1990-94 1995-99 2000-04 |
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![]() Sir |
Bicentennial Man (Buena Vista Pictures)Directed by Chris Columbus Based on The Bicentennial Man by Isaac Asimov (Doubleday, 1976) |
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A tale of a talented robot named Andrew and his struggles to gain the recognition of mortals whose response to him, was only human. "I have to say I've laughed more on this film than I have on the last ten films combined. When we'd do a scene ... with Robin you never really know where it's going to go. It can go ways that are absolutely hilarious but completely unprintable." -- Sam Neill |
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Molokai: The Story of Father Damien (ERA Films)Directed by Paul Cox Based on Het zieke paradijs : de biografie van Damiaan by Hilde Eynikel (Standaard, 1993) |
![]() Walter Murray Gibson (Picture from Honolulu Star Bulletin; Thanks, Katya) |
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The true story of the Belgian priest Father Damien who chose to respond to Walter Gibson's written challenge for a member of a religious order to come and bring order out of chaos at the leper colony on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. Father Damien became famous for his sacrifice and devotion to his people, dying of leprosy himself. He was beatified in 1994. Synopsis. "It's a wonderful story about a wonderful man and a great role, but I'm afraid Mr. Gibson is not a very sympathetic character." -- Sam Neill |
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![]() Merlin |
Merlin -- TV Mini-Series (NBC)Directed by Steve Barron Based on Arthurian legends Screenplay: Merlin: The Shooting Script by Ed Khmara and David Stevens (Newmarket Press, 1998) Soundtrack: Merlin by Trevor Jones (Varese Sarabande 0-30206 59292-4) |
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Based on traditional Arthurian myths, this is the story of the last of the great magicians: his quest for the Holy Grail; his battles against Morgan le Fey and Mab, the Queen of Darkness; his relationship with King Arthur; and his love for the lady Nimue. Synopsis. "There's a very good reason why the whole Merlin mythology is alive and thriving fifteen hundred years after the Dark Ages. [It's a] great story about extraordinary people living in extraordinary times." -- Sam Neill |
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The Horse Whisperer (Touchstone)Directed by Robert Redford Based on The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans, published by Dell Also available: The Horse Whisperer: An Illustrated Companion to the Major Motion Picture by Gretel Ehrlich (Dell, 1998) Soundtracks: The Horse Whisperer by Thomas Newman (Hollywood 7-20616 21372-3) and The Horse Whisperer, Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture by Various (MCA 0-08817 00252-1) |
![]() Robert MacLean |
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Tom Booker, a horse whisperer, is hired by Annie Graves to calm her daughter's horse after a riding accident in which her daughter loses a leg and the horse loses its senses. Booker finds himself trying to heal the family as well as the horse. "There's something to be said for actors directing, because Bob is involved with every aspect of what he's doing. What a marvelous guy to work with. And Kristin Scott Thomas? Talk about a great woman -- Capable of anything." -- Sam Neill |
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![]() Henry Bell |
The Revengers' Comedies a.k.a. Sweet Revenge (J&M Entertainment)Directed by Malcolm Mowbray Based on the play "The Revengers' Comedies" by Alan Ayckbourn |
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One night, preparing to leap into the Thames, a recently sacked middle manager and an eccentric heiress meet; she conceives of an insane plan to swap revenges and convinces him to participate. The stakes escalate until he is entangled in a web he barely understands. Synopsis. "I play a kind of Everyman Hapless Harry." -- Sam Neill |
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The Games: Transport -- TV Series (Beyond Productions and Australian Broadcasting Corporation)Directed by Bruce Permezel Screenplay: The Games, by John Clarke & Ross Stevenson (ABC Books, 1999) |
![]() Sam, CEO of City TransWorld (Cameo) |
Satirical show about preparations in Sydney for the 2000 Olympics. Neill's cameo is episode 1.13, "Transport". |
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Event Horizon (Paramount)Directed by Paul Anderson Novelization: Event Horizon by Steven McDonald (Tor, 1997) Soundtrack: Event Horizon by Michael Kamen (London 0-422-828 939-2-5) |
![]() Dr. William Weir |
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A rescue mission is sent to the outer reaches of our solar system to salvage the Event Horizon, a prototype spaceship designed by Dr. Weir. It disappeared during its first mission and then suddenly reappears after seven years. As the crew members search for survivors, they discover the terrifying secrets that lie within. "We've got great actors, and that's rare. When you think of an ensemble cast, you don't necessarily think Larry Fishburne or Sam Neill. They're the type of actors who can floss their teeth and the audience will watch it because it's good." -- Philip Eisner, Event Horizon screenwriter |
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![]() Lord Frederick Hoffman |
Snow White: A Tale of Terror (Polygram)Directed by Michael Cohn Based on the story of Snow White as told by the Grimm Brothers |
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Lord Hoffman's wife dies giving birth to their daughter Lilli. After several years of mourning, he marries the beautiful Claudia. His daughter Lilli does not approve of her step-mother and the battle between the two women for his affection has tragic consequences. "This is about a lot of things that still lurk beneath our 20th century veneer: fear of the dark, fear of the forest, fear of aging, fear of youth, fear of sexuality. It's pretty much an Uncle Walt-free zone." -- Sam Neill |
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![]() Al Dewey |
In Cold Blood -- TV Mini-Series (CBS)Directed by Jonathan Kaplan Based on In Cold Blood by Truman Capote |
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The brutal murder of a family at home in rural Kansas results in a manhunt for the two killers. Based on a true story. "I felt it might be a landmark television event, one that happens only rarely, one of those milestones that you remember." -- Sam Neill |
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Forgotten Silver -- TV Broadcast (WingNut Films)Directed by Peter Jackson |
![]() Himself |
A "serious account of the first New Zealand film maker in 1888" who made his own film stock from raw egg whites -- Sam Neill makes an appearance commenting on his importance, lending authenticity to this exceptionally elaborate hoax. "A spoof that enraged a lot of New Zealanders." -- Sam Neill |
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![]() King Charles II |
Restoration (Miramax)Directed by Michael Hoffman Based on Restoration by Rose Tremain Soundtrack: Restoration by James Newton Howard (Milan 7-31383 57072-8) |
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Merivel, a doctor in 17th century Britain, is summoned by the king to cure the king's favorite, suffering from a debilitating malady. When he is successful, he is invited to join the royal court; soon after he is married to the king's mistress and given a title and land. But when he falls in love with his wife, which he has been forbidden to do, Merival is stripped everything and must again find his true calling in medicine. "The part was like putting on a really well-made glove. It seemed to fit me." -- Sam Neill |
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Cinema of Unease: A Personal Journey |
![]() Himself ![]() Director/Writer/Editor |
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Using his own life as a backdrop, Neill narrates the history of New Zealand cinema beginning with how New Zealanders in the 50s and 60s almost never saw themselves on screen; instead they saw British and American movies. The documentary then looks at the renaissance of NZ film in the 1970s and the celebrated achievements of New Zealand filmmakers in the late 1980s and the 1990s. "A love-hate letter to his adopted New Zealand and its dark, quirky cinema, Neill's docu continues to resonate long after the final fade." -- Variety |
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![]() Mr. Jones |
Victory (Miramax)Directed by Mark Peploe Based on Victory by Joseph Conrad |
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Axel Heyst is living alone on a remote island by choice. On a rare visit to a seaport, he meets a violinist who is also a virtual prisoner, tied to a contract. He helps her escape and back on his island they fall in love. Unfortunately, their idyll is interrupted by the arrival of a trio of villains. ''I play what may be best described as a psychopathic, aristocratic, gay, very unpleasant villain. A wonderful character." -- Sam Neill |
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In the Mouth of Madness (New Line)Directed by John Carpenter Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft Soundtrack: In the Mouth of Madness by John Carpenter and Jim Lang (DRG 0-21471-2611-2-7) |
![]() John Trent |
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Private Investigator John Trent is called in to find reclusive author Sutter Kane, who has disappeared with the text of his latest horror thriller; his waiting fans are going mad. Suspecting a publicity stunt, Trent is joined by Kane's editor in a visit to New Hampshire to track him down. Instead, they land in the supposedly fictional town of Hobb's End where reality has no meaning. "I liked the fact that John was mixing genres: the supernatural thriller and the private-eye mystery. This movie really is ambitious. It's also witty, cool and not unintelligent ... one of my favorites." -- Sam Neill |
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Final Update: January 15, 2005