British author John Mortimer, likely known best for writing the TV series Rumpole of the Bailey, has died at the age of 85, his agent says. Agent Anthony Jones said Mortimer died Friday of unspecified causes in Buckinghamshire county following a bout of poor health, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday. Mortimer's personal training as a lawyer likely helped him create the title lawyer character of Rumpole, which was adapted for short stories and the radio following its TV run.

By Liz Hoggard The surprisingly wicked Emily Mortimer tells Liz Hoggard that after working with Martin Scorsese and David Mamet she's no longer a posh English rose Emily Mortimer is telling me about Martin Scorsese. "The conversation goes on for hours, because he can't stop talking.

FILMS OF THE WEEK RIGHTEOUS KILL (15) Jon Avnet (100 mins) ** STARRING Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Donnie Wahlberg REDBELT(15) David Mamet (99 mins) ** STARRING Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Emily Mortimer In the police procedural thriller Righteous Kill, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro play what must be the two oldest homicide cops on the beat in New York City.

By Alan Little LARS AND THE REAL GIRL (12) **** 1/2 WRITTEN by Nancy Oliver, Craig Gillespie's funny yet moving love story revolves around painfully shy Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) and his infatuation with a life-size love doll.

By Stephen Holden Transsiberian Directed by Brad Anderson Reviewed by Stephen Holden * 'Transsiberian" is a handsomely remodeled variation of a cherished genre you might call the mystery-train movie.