Movie Classification Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sandra Bullock

As well as Sandra Bullock this 1996 film starred Samuel L Jackson, Kevin Spacy and Matthew McConaughey. As it was based on a novel by John Grisham, you won't be surprised to know that it had a legal setting with Spacey and McConaughey playing prosecutor and defence lawyers respectively and Bullock as a law student on the defence team.

The plot involves the rape and attempted murder of a ten year old black girl and the killing of the white culprits by her father (played by Jackson) when he realises that they are unlikely to be convicted. The involvement of the Ku Klux Klan causes riots and more deaths before the end of the film.

Sandra's work has been varied with other dramas being 'The Net' (1995) and 'Premonition' (2007).

Answer: Sandra Bullock

This romantic comedy dates from 2002 and also stars Hugh Grant who plays a feckless real estate agent and playboy named George Wade. Bullock's character, Lucy Kelson, is much more altruistic and meets him in an effort to dissuade him from destroying a building which formed part of her childhood. Wade decides to offer Lucy a position as his legal adviser which she accepts, despite their very different views on life.

As this is a romcom, various complications ensue before Lucy decides to leave her employment, giving the notice period which gives the film its title. Of course, they both realise that they belong together and the film ends happily with George, in particular, vowing to change his ways.

In her long career, Sandra has made other comedies such as 'Miss Congeniality' (2000) and 'Minions' (2015), lending just her voice for the latter movie.

Answer: Sandra Bullock

This 2006 romantic film also starred Keanu Reeves, Sandra's co-star from 'Speed' in 1994. It was based on a South Korean film called 'Il Mare' from 2000 with the plot following the source closely.

The film begins with Kate (Bullock) leaving a rented house next to a lake. She leaves a note asking the new tenant to forward any letters addressed to her. The note is found by Alex (Reeves) but some of the details make no sense. After some time of exchanging letters, the two realise that they are living in different timelines - Kate in 2006 and Alex in 2004. By using the time difference, Kate is able to save Alex from dying in a traffic accident and the pair eventually manage to meet.

Other romance films Sandra has starred in are 'The Proposal' (2009) and 'While You Were Sleeping' (1995).

Answer: Meryl Streep

The film came out in 1997 with the screenplay written by Carrie Fisher. She adapted it from her book of the same name, loosely based on her own life, which included addiction to drugs.

The plot of the film involves actress Suzanne Vale (Streep) who has recently left rehab following an overdose. She discovers her agent has embezzled her money, the man she has been dating (played by Dennis Quaid) has been sleeping with someone else and her mother (Shirley MacLaine) is too overbearing to be much help. Before being offered work, Suzanne has to remain sober and have a responsible adult in her life, both of which are challenging. After her mother has a car crash while drunk, both women face reality and the film ends with Suzanne performing in a new film.

Meryl's long career has many films which could have been included, from early work such as 'Kramer v Kramer' (1979) to musical films like 'Mamma Mia!' (2000).

Answer: Meryl Streep

Released in 1995 the film was adapted from a novel of the same name by Robert James Waller. Meryl's co-star was Clint Eastwood who also directed and produced the movie.

The film opens with two adult children arriving in Iowa to arrange their mother's funeral. Distressed by her wish to be cremated rather than buried with their father, they find her notebooks which detail a short, but deeply felt, affair with a photographer who had come to take pictures of the covered bridges of Madison. The film then goes back in time to show Francesca (Streep) meeting Robert Kincaid (Eastwood) and their falling in love. Francesca makes the decision to stay with her husband for the sake of their children and she and Robert never meet again. Her wish to have her ashes scattered from Roseman Bridge, where Robert's were thrown after his earlier death, is honoured by her offspring.

Other films on similar themes in which Meryl appeared are 'Out of Africa' (1985) and 'Falling in Love' (1984).

Answer: Meryl Streep

Venturing into Meg Ryan territory, Meryl stars in this romantic comedy with Alec Baldwin. Released in 2009 it was directed by Nancy Meyers and also starred Steve Martin.

Streep plays Jane who has been divorced from Jake (Baldwin) for ten years. After meeting up at their son's graduation the pair end up in bed together and begin an affair. The marriage ended as Jake had cheated on Jane with Agness (Lake Bell) to whom he is now married. An additional complication is Jane's attraction to Adam (Steve Martin) the architect who has drawn up plans for changes to her home. Jane eventually ends the affair, though her children and Adam find out about it, and the film ends with a hint that she and Adam will begin a relationship.

Other romcoms which have featured Meryl are 'Hope Springs' (2012) and 'Manhattan' (1979).

Answer: Meg Ryan

If asked to name a star from the 1986 'Top Gun' film, Meg Ryan probably wouldn't be the first name you'd come up with as Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis and Anthony Edwards played much more prominent roles. Meg appeared as the wife of Edwards' character Nick Bradshaw, better known as 'Goose'.

The film itself depicts the training of pilots at the Marine Corps Air Station. Tom Cruise portrays Pete Mitchell, dubbed 'Maverick', with Edwards as his friend and colleague. Mitchell's main rival is 'Iceman', played by Val Kilmer, while McGillis plays an instructor who becomes Mitchell's love interest. Mitchell's somewhat reckless flying leads, indirectly, to the death of Goose and a loss of confidence, but he recovers this and the film ends with Maverick and Iceman finding respect for each other's abilities.

Meg is primarily known for her romantic comedies but she has made the occasional drama, including 'Courage under Fire' (1996) and 'Restoration' (1995).

Answer: Meg Ryan

This film is the kind in which Meg Ryan specialised - a romantic comedy which also starred Kevin Kline. It was released in 1995 and proved a popular film.

The plot involves an American woman named Kate (Ryan) who is, at the start of the film, engaged to a Canadian doctor, played by Timothy Hutton. Having refused to accompany him to France, Kate is shocked when he tells her he has met another woman and has no intention of returning to her. This prompts Kate to fly to France, finding herself seated next to a rather shady Frenchman named Luc (Kline) on the plane. Luc hides stolen property in Kate's bag on the, correct, assumption that she is unlikely to be searched. As this is a romcom, the film ends with Kate and Luc realising they are in love with each other.

Meg Ryan is well known for her roles in various romantic comedies with 'When Harry Met Sally' (1989) perhaps the best known. Others include 'Sleepless in Seattle' (1993) and 'You've Got Mail' (1998).

Answer: Meg Ryan

This romantic comedy, mixed with elements of fantasy, dates from 2001 and includes elements of time travel. Other actors in the film are Liev Schreiber and Breckin Meyer.

The film begins in 1876 when Leopold (Jackman) sees Stuart (Schreiber) using a type of camera that doesn't exist in his era. Stuart has discovered a time portal which has taken him back to 1876 and his return to the present day accidentally brings Leopold with him. Leopold meets Kate (Ryan), a former girlfriend of Stuart's, and the pair begin to fall in love. Stuart realises that Leopold has to return to his own time as he (Stuart) will not be born unless he does, since Leopold is his ancestor. Kate then sees herself in a portrait from the nineteenth century and realises that she needs to travel back in time too, which she manages in the nick of time.

'City of Angels' (1998) is another romantic fantasy featuring Meg Ryan and 'Prelude to a Kiss' from 1992 also falls into this category.

Answer: Julia Roberts

The film has several stars along with Julia, including Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin and Kiefer Sutherland. Directed by Joel Schumacher, 'Flatliners' was released in 1990.

The plot involves a group of medical students who decide, at the instigation of Nelson Wright (Sutherland), to see if there really is life after death. By stopping their hearts, 'flatlining' in medical jargon, for a minute or so before their friends resuscitate them. The three men go first, but will say only that 'something' exists - what they actually see is shameful events from their past: bullying and poor treatment of women. Rachel goes ahead with the experiment too, nearly dying for real in the process, and relives her father's suicide for which she feels tremendous guilt. All of them suffer hallucinations as a result. The film focuses on making amends and the friends survive as better people.

Other dramas featuring Julia are 'Mona Lisa Smile' (2003) and 'The Pelican Brief' (1993).

Answer: Julia Roberts

Another romantic comedy co-starring Hugh Grant, 'Notting Hill' dates from 1999 with the screenplay written by the master of romcom, Richard Curtis. Apart from Julia, the cast was primarily British and included Hugh Bonneville, Rhys Ifans and Emma Chambers.

In the film Julia plays Anna Scott, a famous Hollywood actress who buys a book in Will Thacker's (Grant) shop in Notting Hill in London. Will accidentally spills juice on her and she visits his flat to clean up. The pair tentatively begin seeing each other but part when Will discovers she has a boyfriend - a brief, uncredited, appearance by Alec Baldwin. Various misunderstandings lead to their separation, but all ends well in true romcom style.

Top of the list of Julia's romcoms must be 'Pretty Woman' from 1990 with 'My Best Friend's Wedding' (1997) being high on the list too.

Answer: Julia Roberts

This 2010 film is an adaptation of a book written by Elizabeth Gilbert describing her search for new meaning in her life having become dissatisfied with her marriage, job and life in general. The film version follows the pattern of the book with Julia Roberts playing the role of Gilbert.

Having divorced her uncomprehending husband, played by Billy Crudup, and having another failed relationship behind her, Gilbert decides to travel the world. The 'Eat' part of the book takes place in Italy, where she learns to enjoy food before departing to India to embrace the next part of her plan, 'Pray', in an ashram. The 'Love; is found in Bali, where she meets, and eventually marries, a Brazilian man who is played by Javier Bardem.

Other Julia Roberts films in which she plays real people include 'Erin Brockovich' (2000) and 'Michael Collins' (1996).