"Plots With a View is a good example of an English trifle; rich with a variety of different ingredients and textures, colourful and quite tasty, faintly alcoholic even, but definitely in the underclass of desserts." Andrew L Urban URBANCINEFILE "Brenda Blethyn and Alfred Molina are gold-class actors and in this film they're appropriately funny and likeable." Mark Adnum FILMINK "A crowd-pleasing comedy about love, death and fitting revenge, Plots with a View strikes a near-miraculous balance between the silly and the morbid... far fetched but consistently funny." VARIETY "The British are old hands at quirky comedy and this tale of rival funeral directors in a sleepy Welsh village exudes all the usual charm and gentle humour." Richard Jinman THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

"A superlative cast make this macabre yet slapstick romantic comedy a lot of fun. Watts, murderous in red suspenders and blonde corkscrew curls, is more confident than ever, but the best is Walken, another great actor and one who can't not be chilling and malevolent even when he's doing comedy." Mark Adnum FILMINK "Plots With A View has plenty of charm, some fun ideas, and a splendid turn by Christopher Walken, as a visionary and flamboyant funeral director. From director Nick Hurran (Virtual Sexuality, Girls’ Night) comes this fable that’s liberally spiked with black humour. It’s about unrequited love, fulfilling fantasies and its moral is that it’s never too late for anything." Louise Keller URBANCINEFILE "Hilarious! There's got to be great courage to handle the theme of death with a smile, specially when two funeral parlors are battling for control of the market: a classic parlor and a revolutionary one where every funeral's a show, lead by Christopher Walken, a treat in the role of the visionary american mortitian." IMDB

At A Glance If you're a lover of British films then look no further than "Plots With A view", a film many fans are dying to see. In the tradition of "The Full Monty", "Brassed Off", "Billy Elliot" and "Last Orders" comes this very British film, set in a beautiful Welsh village [aptly named Wrottin Powys], featuring love, comedy, twists and turns plus dance scenes reminiscent of those big Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers numbers. Definately aimed at the 'mature' market this film will have plenty of appeal to those theatre fans aged fourty plus. The cast assembled for "Plots With A View" features many familiar faces including Golden Globe and BAFTA Award winner Brenda Blethyn ["Secret's and Lies "], Alfred Molina ["Frida"], Academy Award winner Christopher Walken ["The Deer Hunter"], Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts ["21 Grams"] and BAFTA winner Miriam Margoyles ["The Age of Innocence"].There are many highlights in the film but one must be careful not to reveal too much about this charmer as to do so would spoil the experience.
The guts of "Plots With A view" hangs on two themes. The first is the long harboured love Boris Plotz has for childhood sweetheart Betty Rhys-Jones. The second is the competition for the dearly departed inhabitants of the welsh village of Wrottin Powys between Boris Plots and hi-tech american undertaker Frank Featherbed. These two really are opposites and when it comes to funerals are worlds apart. Boris is a traditional undertaker providing dignified funerals that haven't changed for generations whereas Featherbed wants to move into the 21st century believing dying should be fun. Molina plays Boris as a dry, shy and typically what you'd envisage as an old style undertaker. Contrast that to Walken respledant with a very flambouyant hairstyle and who, as Featherbed boasts a white stretch limo, snappy suits, special offers and a ruthless business approach. Some may think this all a little macabre, but don't worry, it's all good fun and at least you'll get a lot of good laughs. While competition and love is a big factor in "Plots With A View", so is lust. That comes in the shape of a sexy little wench named Meredith played lustfully by a nealy unrecognisable Naomi Watts. Naomi in a tight black, short skirted mourning dress showing plenty of breast, or in bedroom mode and ready for a romp in wickedly red top, suspender belt and stockings with curly blonde locks will have the pulses racing and the old pace-maker working overtime [and these days not just for the male viewers]. Finally there's those dance sequences featuring not only Molina and Blythen but also Walken and former boxer turned successful comedian Lee Evans ["There's Something About Mary"]. These little turns snugly fit into place adding another dimension and feel to the movie. In the case of Betty and Boris it brings us closer to them and we feel a sense of loss, of sympathy for a lot of wasted years apart. Now we want them to fulfill their love, to somehow be brought together. We want something to happen so that they will be happy. That's what makes "Plots With A View" so much fun. Us 'oldies' will find plenty to connect with here. Personally the fear I have is this, that "Plots With A View" may be overlooked by those more mature thinking 'youngsters' in the 25 plus group which would be a real pity, for they too could find plenty to enjoy here. Cast& Crew Bytes "PLOTS WITH A VIEW" was directed by Nick Hurran ["Remember Me?", "Girls Night" and "Virtual Sexuality"], the Producers include Michael Cowan ["New Blood", "Out Of Bounds" and "One Perfect Day"] and Jason Piette ["Road to Redemption", "Redemption Road", "Moonlight" and "The Statement"] Written by Frederick Ponzlov ["Turner & Hooch"] with Original music by Rupert Gregson-Williams ["Urban Ghost Story", "Virtual Sexuality", "Thunderpants" and "What A Girl Wants"] and Cinematography by James Welland ["Caught Looking", "Beautiful Creatures" and "The Last Minute"].
"PLOTS WITH A VIEW" stars Brenda Blethyn ["The Witches", "Lovely & Amazing", "Girls' Night" and "Pumpkin" ], Alfred Molina ["Species", "Chocolat", "Frida" and "Identity"], Christopher Walken ["Pulp Fiction", "Sleepy Hollow", "Catch Me If You Can" and "Welcome To The Jungle"], Robert Pugh ["Nighthawks", "Old Scores", "Eating Bitter" and "Enigma"], Naomi Watts ["For Love Alone", "Flirting", "The Ring" and "Le Divorce"] and Lee Evans ["Funny Bones", "The Fifth Element", "Mouse Hunt" and "The Medallion"] as Delbert Butterfield. The Story Boris Plots is in love. Well he's always been in love and only with Betty. Trouble is Betty married someone else because Boris was too shy to tell her how he really felt. Now, after carrying the burden of a secret love all these years, Boris Plots, of Plots of Plots Funeral Homes is under siege from a brash American undertaker who has moved into the small Welsh town of Wrottin Powys. Frank Featherbed is an entrepreneur who believes in two for one offers, theme funerals and putting the 'fun' back into 'fun'erals. It's no sectret, Featherbed, unashamedly wants all the towns business. Then an opportunity comes his way, thanks to Boris Plot's undying love for Betty. The funeral business will never be the same! The town will never be the same! Dying will never be the same! As for Betty and Boris, perhaps happiness may still come their way. The Verdict "It's sweet, goofy, romantic, chaotic, adorabley British and best suited to those aged fourty and over who have come to the realization that life is short, laughter is important, love is everything and that we all die one day. Of course, if you love those typical little British numbers [and who doesn't?], "Plots With A View" will be a real treat. Wildly romantic, delightfully entertaining. "Plots With A View", a film where all the pieces fit snuggly together. Very Recommended." The Cast

Brenda Blethyn Alfred Molina Christopher Walken Robert Pugh Naomi Watts Lee Evans Jerry Springer Ena Cohen Howell Evans Maggs Harries Beverly Hotsprings Dafydd Hywel Padrig Owen Jones Pat Kane Miriam Margolyes Robert Page Dawn Pritchard Dafydd Wyn Roberts Stan Stennet s Menna Trussler Noel Williams

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Betty Rhys-Jones Boris Plots Frank Featherbed Clr Hugh Rhys-Jones Meredith Delbert Butterfield Himself Candace Dr Owen Pianist Andrea Cass Gravedigger Willie Kindly Old Lady Thelma & Selma Bob Murdock Vegas Showgirl Pharmacist Albert Edwards Dilys Rhys-Jones Rev Price

The Crew Directed by Nick Hurran Written by Frederick Ponzlov Original Music by Rupert Gregson-Williams Cinematography by James Welland Film Editing by John Richards Production Design by Keith Maxwell Costume Design by Ffion Elinor Production Manager Dyfed Williams Run Time 96 minutes Rated M15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2004 - Miramax Films - All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2004 - Impact Internet Services & The Movie Pages - All Rights Reserved