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Defense of the Realm (1986)
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Movie Info
In the politically charged atmosphere of Margaret Thatcher's Britain, newspaper reporters are hungry for the big story that will make them stars and t...(read more...)
heir newspapers famous. Nick Mullen (Gabriel Byrne in his first starring role) is one such reporter for the London Daily Dispatch. A top member of Parliament (Ian Bannen) is the focus of the latest political scandal: he has been photographed with a prostitute who is known to have Russian contacts. Nick barrels into the scandal full-bore, despite warnings from his mentor (a deft Denholm Elliott). Nick receives a tip that makes his story a front-page item and he quickly becomes a celebrity himself. But as he soon discovers, there is much more to the story than he imagined. Director David Drury (Prime Suspect 3) keeps this highly complex, John le Carré-esque story moving swiftly. The clues are hard to find at times, but it is not because the story is told unclearly; rather, the filmmakers have decided that audiences can think for themselves and piece together the information along with Nick. An overlooked and truly entertaining thinking person's film. --Doug Thomas
Director:
David Drury
MPAA: PG
Running Time: 96 min.
Release Date: Nov 21, 1986
Cast:
Annabel Leventon,
Bill Paterson,
David Calder,
Denholm Elliott,
Frederick Treves,
Fulton Mackay,
Gabriel Byrne,
Greta Scacchi,
Greta Schacci,
Ian Bannen,
Robbie Coltrane
Ratings
| All Flixster |

(105)
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| My Friends |
Not rated.
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