Lauren Holly Movies
American actress Lauren Holly has herself admitted that turning down the female lead in the Jim Carrey vehicle Ace Ventura, Pet Detective (1994) may not have been the wisest career move. Holly was acting on instinct, having co-starred with another highly individual comedian, Andrew Dice Clay, in 1990's forgettable The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. But when profits from Ace Ventura soared, Lauren was more than willing to sign on for the subsequent Carrey vehicle, Dumb and Dumber (1995), during the filming of which she and Carrey became an item. The actress has kept busy ever since her first important TV role as Betty in Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again (1990) and a stint on the ABC soap opera All My Children. Prior to her recent film success, Holly was perhaps best known for her role as Deputy Maxine Stewart on the CBS drama Picket Fences . ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is more than just an action drama. With liberal doses of humor, it's a show that focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), a former Marine gunnery sergeant, whose skills as an investigator are unmatched, formerly led this troupe of colorful personalities. Gibbs, a man of few words, only needs a look to explain it all. The team includes NCIS Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), an ex-homicide detective who may come off as the world's oldest frat boy, but whose instincts in the field are unparalleled; forensic specialist Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), a talented scientist whose dark wit matches her Goth style and eclectic tastes, NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), an MIT graduate whose brilliance with computers far overshadows his insecurities in the field and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), a former Moussad agent who shares a bond with Gibbs over the death of his arch nemesis, Ari, the terrorist who killed former NCIS Special Agent Kate Todd. Assisting the team is medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum), who knows it all because he's seen it all, and he's not afraid to let you know. Rounding out the team is NCIS director Jennifer Shepard (Lauren Holly) who has a romantic history with Gibbs. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents travel the globe to investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties. The 19 episodes of Season 5 aired from 2007-8 on CBS.
- Starring:
- Mark Harmon, David McCallum, (more)
Still not completely recovered from the serious injuries incurred during the near-apocalyptic Season Three finale of NCIs, Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) has at the outset of Season Four retired from his position as head of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service comprised of Ziva David (Cote de Pablo, Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly, Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette), Tim McGee (Sean Murray) and Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum). Now the team is under the command of hotheaded DiNozzo--but not for long. Emerging from his self-imposed exile when his coworker Ziva is placed in jeopardy in the season opener "Shalom", Gibbs has assumed command of the team by the next episode "Escape", and within a few weeks he's working at full throttle. However, despite the tantalizing revelations throughout Season Three, the intensely private Gibbs still remains something of an enigma to the other NCI-ers--a fact that proves most frustrating to the unit's director Jennifer Shepard (Lauren Holly, who also happens to be Gibbs' former lover. (Among the "clues" to Gibbs' former life this time around is the unexpected appearance of his sister Sarah, played by Troian Bellisario, daughter of series producer Donald P. Bellisario). Newcomers to the recurring-character roster this year included Scottie Thompson as Tony's girlfriend Jeanne Benoit, a DC-based doctor; and Susanna Thompson as Lt. Col. Hollis Mann, Gibbs' counterpart in the Army CID, with whom Gibbs implicitly begins a romance as the season winds down. Season Four concludes with the cliffhanging "Angel of Death", in which all the team members are ordered to take a Homeland Security polygraph tests. Can it be that the many secrets long withheld by Gibbs and his cohorts are at last to be exposed for the world to see? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Harmon, David McCallum, (more)
An elderly community handyman and notorious curmudgeon effectively isolates himself from his friends and neighbors by suing his lifelong best friend over a minor transgression in director Neal Miller's character-driven comedy drama. Flagg Purdy (Alan Arkin) is a cantankerous old coot who prides himself on principle. Despite Flagg's gruff exterior, his longtime wife, Ada (Barbara Dana), still cherishes her husband, and knows that his heart has always been in the right place. The pair's six grown children know too that their father has always meant well, even in times when his questionable parenting skills may have fallen a little on the heavy-handed side. One day, while playing his weekly game of checkers with friend and neighbor Gus Falk (Austin Pendleton), Flagg angrily accuses his nonplussed opponent of cheating. Though Gus is initially able to laugh off the accusation, the conflict soon escalates when Flagg storms into Gus' general store complaining that his friend's sheep have been relieving themselves a little too close to the well that supplies the Purdys' drinking water. When Gus retorts by pointing out that it is his well, and that the sheep are also his, the enraged Flagg responds by suing his neighbor. Though a surprise witness nets Flagg an unexpected win in the courtroom, the resulting effect that his litigious actions have on the family's already tenuous community relations soon leave his family in the lurch. Subsequently retiring to his "deathbed" and requesting the presence of his children before he bids the cruel and uncaring world a final farewell, Flagg is forced to consider that he may be more like his stubborn father than he would care to admit as, one by one, his offspring fail to bring their father back from the "brink." ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Arkin, Austin Pendleton, (more)
Season Three of NCIs opens on a melancholy note, as the Naval Criminal Investigate Service team headed by the iconoclastic Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) mourns the death of team member Caitlin "Kate" Todd (Shana Alexander) at the hands of ruthless terrorist Ari (Rudolf Martin) (though actress Alexander had left the series, she would return in "ghostly" form once or twice). Gibbs' response to the loss is encapsulated in the title of the two-part season opener, "Kill Ari", which introduces Cote de Pablo as new NCI member Ziva David, a former Mossad officer who also has a score to settle with Ari. Another new regular is introduced in the episode "Silver War": Lauren Holly as NCIs director Jenny Shepard, who replaces former director Tom Morrow (Alan Dale) when the latter joins the Homeland Security department. Jenny's arrival adds a whole new dimension to the series, inasmuch as she had previously been the partner--and lover--of Leroy Gibbs. In addition to these newcomers, together with longtime series stalwarts Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo), Pauley Perrette (Abigail Sciuto), Sean Murray (Tim McGee) and David McCallum (Donald "Ducky" Mallard), the third season also marks the debut appearances of recurring characters Stephanie Mello as Cynthia Summer and Muse Watson as Michael Franks. Throughout the season, the viewer is offered seconds-lasting flashbacks to the jealously guarded past of NCI team head Gibbs, culminating in the revelation that the first of his three wives was murdered, along with his daughter. This information comes to surface during the two-part finale "Hiatus", wherein Tony DiNozzo is put in charge of the team while Gibbs is recovering from a serious injury which may rob him of his memory--a tragedy that could not happen at a worse time, inasmuch as Gibbs is the only person who knows the modus operandi of a vicious terrorist group which threatens the lives of everyone whom the viewer cares about! Incidentally, there's a bit of benevolent nepotism afoot during NCI's third season. Appearing in key roles as Michael Bellisario and Troian Bellisario--the real-life offspring of series producer/creator Donald P. Bellisario. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, (more)
- 2005
- PG
A handful of men begin behaving like children when their kids enter a Boy Scout competition in this family-friendly comedy. Ever since he was in fifth grade, Phil Davis (Greg Germann) has been coming in second place to Ace Montana (Marc Raymond) whenever they've been in some sort of competition together, and now that Phil and Ace are both middle-aged fathers, history seems to repeat itself when Brady (Adam Hicks), Phil's son, loses the city junior basketball championship to a team featuring Ace's boy. When Phil learns that Brady will be going up against Ace's son again in his Boy Scout troop's annual Pinewood Derby race, Phil decides it time to end the Davis family's losing ways once and for all, and with help from his childhood friends Blaine (Ross Brockley) and Jimmy (Perry Anzilotti), Phil sets out to build the perfect Pinewood derby car -- whether or not that's what Brady has in mind. Produced with the cooperation of the Boy Scouts of America, Down and Derby also stars Lauren Holly, Pat Morita, and Hunter Tylo. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Greg Germann, Lauren Holly, (more)
The death of a troubled teen throws a suburban neighborhood into chaos in this darkly satirical comedy. Dean (Jamie Bell) is a disaffected teenager living in a California suburb that's beautiful on the surface but populated by families who live emotionally vacant lives, with the parents often too wrapped up in their own problems to pay attention to their children. One day, Dean discovers his best (and only) friend, Troy (Josh Janowicz), has killed himself. While Troy's mother (Glenn Close) hasn't figured out her son is dead just yet, Dean opts not to tell her, and besides, his own parents (William Fichtner and Allison Janney) don't appear very concerned. Dean, however, does have reason to worry -- Billy (Justin Chatwin), Lee (Lou Taylor Pucci), and Crystal (Camilla Belle) are three bullies who used to buy drugs from Troy, and they want Dean find Troy's remaining stash and give it to them. When Dean refuses to cooperate, the bullies decide to get tough and kidnap Dean's little brother; however, they end up taking the wrong child and Dean grudging finds himself trying to rescue a child he doesn't know. Meanwhile, as the adults in the neighborhood begin to emotionally implode, "the Chumscrubber" becomes a common presence in town -- a comic book and video game character represented by a decapitated post-apocalyptic teenager who has become an unavoidable pop-culture icon. The Chumscrubber also features Ralph Fiennes, Carrie-Anne Moss, John Heard, and Rita Wilson. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jamie Bell, Camilla Belle, (more)
A hard-line junior senator with a tough anti-terrorism policy finds her outspoken politics have made her the target for a determined sleeper cell of murderous terrorists in a tense political thriller starring Lauren Holly, Lacey Chabert, and Angus MacFadyen. Maggie Davidson is a politician on a mission to make the American public feel safe on their own soil. When Davidson's plan to stomp out terrorism raises the ire of a dangerous group of terrorists just waiting for the right moment to strike, their plan to quiet her with a "dirty bomb" planted in the Mall of America leaves the entire city of Bloomington, MN, on high alert. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lauren Holly
A longtime comedian who has repeatedly failed to break big finds his one last shot at stardom thwarted by his toughest crowd yet in director Pete Schwaba's tale of love and failure on the standup circuit. Despite being singled out for stardom early on in his comedy career, L.A. comic Joe Keegan (Schwaba) never really managed to find his footage in the ultra-tough world of show business. Informed by his best friend, Kenny (Lance Barber), that Tonight Show talent scout Harvey Skoric will be attending the upcoming "Rocktober" festival in Pine Lake, WI, Joe reluctantly decides to take a break from the West Coast and pull out all the stops for one final all-or-nothing audition. Initially dejected when his set is sabotaged by local emcee Dug (Thomas Lennon), Joe finds inspiration in the form of his former high-school English teacher Molly Mahoney (Lauren Holly), herself attempting to overcome the recent pains of a failed marriage. Concerned that he may have been wasting his life but convinced by Molly that he has simply been living his dream, Joe takes the stage once again to face a formidable crowd filled with hunters, Packers fans, and former high-school football star-turned-drug dealer Big Jake Norquist (Tony Goldwyn) -- the so-called "Godfather of Green Bay," who also has eyes for the lovely Molly. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pete Schwaba, Lauren Holly, (more)
Lauren Holly, Lacey Chabert, Billy Zane, Angus Macfadyen, and Meatloaf all star in Cube 2 director Adrzej Sekula's darkly comic tale of interconnecting lives. The setting is the City of Angels, the players: a deranged kidnapper, a ruthless lesbian assassin, a sociopath call-girl, and a demented cult leader. Daphne (Holly) is an empathetic caregiver who has been tending to the needs of sever head-trauma patient Tom (Angelo Spizzirri). Tom's father is the head of a highly-profitable cult-like church. Though the shady religious sect proves highly profitable, it turns out that the greedy guru has been keeping most of the profits to himself while paying Daphne such a meager wage that she isn't even able to afford Tom's medicine. Frustrated after being refused a raise by the mysterious religious fanatic, Daphne eventually resorts to kidnapping Tom's mentally deficient sister (Steffany Huckaby) as a means of raising the funds needed to care for her helpless patient. Meanwhile, after a neurotic college professor (MacFadyen) is abandoned by his wife for another woman, he sets out on the road with a sexy student (Chabert) who's willing to do whatever it takes to maintain her GPA. When cold-blooded killer Marcy (Jill Bennett) is hired to take out Daphne and put an end to the well-intended kidnapping plot, all three stories come crashing together through a series of shocking coincidences. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angus MacFadyen, Lauren Holly, (more)
- 2004
Southern housewife Jodie Colter (Lauren Holly) suspects that her loutish hubby Buck (Max Martini) is cheating on her, and hires a seedy private detective to gather evidence. But when the detective skips town with her money , Jodie takes over the "assignment" herself. Adopting a multitude of clever disguises to keep her errant husband under surveillance, Jodie finds she has a real talent for gumshoe-ing, thus she becomes a full-time P.I., devoted to helping other women who've been hosed by their spouses. Set in Tennessee, but filmed in Belgium (!), the made-for-cable Caught in the Act premiered over the Lifetime network on May 10, 2004, presumably as a pilot for a proposed series starring the estimable Lauren Holly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The Bronx bakery owned by the family of Marco Poloni (Costas Mandylor) is on the verge of bankruptcy, and Marco's Uncle Fab (David Proval) is poised to sell the place to a nationwide donut chain. To save the establishment and keep it in the family, Marco enters the "Golden Whisk Dessert Competition," hoping to win the 250,000-dollar grand prize. He further persuades the restaurant's brilliant pastry baker Grace Carpenter (Lauren Holly) to be his partner in the contest, to which she agrees, even though she's fed up to the gills with Marco's explosive temper. Grace isn't the only person who's annoyed at Marco; one of the competing contestants is his former food academy classmate (and now his bitterest enemy) Jacques du Jacques (Andrew Lauer), while among the judges is Marco's onetime teacher and mentor Emile Fragonard (Jean-Pierre Bergeron), who had washed his hands of his contentious student years earlier. And then there's the matter of Grace's jealous boyfriend. A joyous reunion for ex-Picket Fences co-stars Lauren Holly and Costas Mandylor, the made-for-cable Just Desserts premiered February 8, 2004, on the Hallmark Channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lauren Holly, Costas Mandylor, (more)
As Hitler's grip of fear continues to tighten during World War II, the capture of the U.S.S. Swordfish by a German U-boat leads to a brutal struggle for survival between axis and allies deep beneath the ocean surface. Following the capture of the U.S.S. Swordfish, the German crew soon begins to fall ill to a particularly powerful strain of meningitis, leaving the American prisoners-of-war obligated to work with the remaining German crew to keep the vessel from descending to the bottom of the ocean. Though they are able to cast aside their differences in the name of survival, the discovery that the ship has been located by a U.S. carrier forces the prisoners into a harrowing struggle for survival. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William H. Macy, Til Schweiger, (more)
A woman endures the painful birth of her child. Two doctors argue about the ethics of saving the horribly malformed child's life. Years later, a nurse is found brutally tortured and murdered, hundreds of syringes plunged into her, and Buckley Clarke (Lauren Holly), a tough homicide cop, is assigned the case. The victim's brother, Sam Brown (Robert Patrick), is a reclusive wilderness tracker living in Alaska. He gets word of the crime and goes to San Francisco to undertake his own investigation. At first, Clarke is dismissive of Brown, but she's soon forced to acknowledge his skill at finding clues and tracking his prey; seeing that she can't get rid of him anyway, she allows him to participate in the investigation. Soon, other victims turn up in similar conditions, and the FBI becomes involved, convinced that there's a serial killer on the loose. But Clarke eventually realizes that the victims are not being chosen at random. They all share a terrifying connection. Despite their disparate backgrounds, Clarke and Brown grow increasingly attracted to one another as they combine their talents to determine the killer's identity. But the killer soon learns that the intrepid pair is closing in, and the hunters become the prey. Pavement was directed by Darrell James Roodt (Cry, the Beloved Country) from a script by Charles Hansen. The film was shot in Cape Town, South Africa. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Patrick, Lauren Holly, (more)
Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear is transplanted to 19th century Texas in this made-for-cable drama. Patrick Stewart stars as John Lear, the wealthiest and most powerful rancher in the territory. Failing in body and mind, Lear decides to divide his vast property among his three daughters -- Suzannah (Marcia Gay Harden), Rebecca (Lauren Holly), and Claudia (Julie Cox) -- giving the most land to the girl who most persuasively professes her love and loyalty. While her mercenary sisters fawn all over John, the headstrong Claudia refuses to feed false compliments to her father, and as a result, she is banished from his ranch. But when Lear's spread is threatened by usurpers and landgrabbers, the enfeebled patriarch realizes that Claudia is the only one of his offspring truly worthy of his affection. All of the Shakespearean highlights are intact, albeit retranslated within the genre expectations of the Western. For example, Lear's blinding is done with a branding iron. An uneasy mixture of British theatricality and John Ford-like cinematic spectacle, King of Texas (filmed in Mexico despite its title) originally aired June 2, 2002, on the TNT cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patrick Stewart
A shared affliction -- namely, breast cancer -- forges an unlikely friendship between two Southern women, ebullient young Amber Collins (Lauren Holly) and crabby, reclusive oldster Betty Miller (Faye Dunaway). As they join forces to battle and cope with their disease, Amber and Betty also end up helping one another with their respective romantic entanglements. Tom Skerritt is cast as Betty's faithless former flame, Johnny Pinkley (now the self-styled Lothario of a nursing home), while Ian Somerhalder plays Amber's troubled -- and much younger -- amour Jason Kelly. Daniel Wright adapted the script of this independently produced movie from his own award-winning play Colored Eggs (the film's working title), retaining the original's sizeable supporting cast of lovable eccentrics. Decked out with musical highlights by Rita Coolidge, Earl and Randy Scruggs, Jan Howard, and Jeannie Seely, Changing Hearts was given scattered theatrical release in 2002 before it was picked up for TV play by the Lifetime cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lauren Holly, Faye Dunaway, (more)
The title character in this made-for-cable comedy is a youthful slacker (Nick Stabile) who has long been a source of disappointment and embarrassment for his famous jolly-old-elf father. Anxious to prove his worth, Nick (as our hero is known) decides to clamber down a few chimneys just prior to Christmas Eve. Alas, his efforts coincide with a string of burglaries, and Nick is promptly arrested by cops Daryl Bedford (Judd Nelson) and Norm Potter (George Wallace). As Nick frets away the hours before Christmas under house arrest, Bedford grows attached to Nick's court-appointed attorney, Susan Flynn (Lauren Holly) -- and inevitably, the real burglar strikes again. Santa Jr. was first telecast over the Hallmark Channel on November 30, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Master animation director Hayao Miyazaki follows up on his record-breaking 1997 opus Princess Mononoke with this surreal Alice in Wonderland-like tale about a lost little girl. The film opens with ten-year-old Chihiro riding along during a family outing as her father races through remote country roads. When they come upon a blocked tunnel, her parents decide to have a look around -- even though Chihiro finds the place very creepy. When they pass through the tunnel, they discover an abandoned amusement park. As Chihiro's bad vibes continue, her parents discover an empty eatery that smells of fresh food. After her mother and father help themselves to some tasty purloined morsels, they turn into giant pigs. Chihiro understandably freaks out and flees. She learns that this very weird place, where all sorts of bizarre gods and monsters reside, is a holiday resort for the supernatural after their exhausting tour of duty in the human world. Soon after befriending a boy named Haku, Chihiro learns the rules of the land: one, she must work , as laziness of any kind is not tolerated; and two, she must take on the new moniker of Sen. If she forgets her real name, Haku tells her, then she will never be permitted to leave. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, (more)
In response to the public's insatiable fascination with the Kennedy family, the NBC network brought forth this two-part miniseries, based on a book by Randy Taraborelli. Described by the author as "Knot's Landing goes to Capitol Hill," Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot covers a time span of 25 years, from the marriage of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier to the 1980 presidential bid of JFK's brother Teddy. To many observers, the film seemed to consist primarily of TV news bulletins announcing various and sundry Kennedy tragedies, punctuated by long, long discussions between the wives of JFK, Bobby, and Teddy regarding their husbands' various infidelities. Some of the intrigues are based on fact, notably the uneasy relationship between Jackie and Bobby's wife Ethel, and the drinking problems shared by Teddy and his wife Joan. Other segments, however, fall back on rumor and hearsay, notably the scenes involving Marilyn Monroe. At the very least, the three actresses chosen to play the title roles -- Jill Hennessy (Jackie), Lauren Holly (Ethel), and Leslie Stefanson -- looked, sounded, and behaved exactly like their real-life counterparts. Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot originally aired on March 4 and March 5, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jill Hennessy, Lauren Holly, (more)
The Last Producer stars Burt Reynolds (who also directed) as burned-out Hollywood movie mogul Sonny Wexler. Once the fair-haired boy of Tinseltown, Wexler finds himself persona non grata in a city now run by younger, leaner, hungrier, and more ruthless studio CEOs. In a last-ditch comeback effort, Sonny tries to purchase a script from a novice scrivener that bids fair to be the hottest property in years. Unfortunately, the hero may be beaten to the punch by a nasty upstart executive who will stop at nothing -- not even murder -- to get his hands on the script. Most of the film is devoted to Sonny's frantic efforts to raise the necessary 50,000 dollars from his alleged friends, his estranged family members, and a handful of raffish-looking types with mob connections. And believe it or not, this is a comedy. Evidently intended for theatrical release, The Last Producer made its first appearance via the home-video market in Europe in 2000. The film was not widely shown in America until its USA Network cable-TV debut on February 6, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds
A man finds himself getting an unexpected crash course in the psychology of contemporary women in this romantic comedy. Nick Marshall (Mel Gibson) is a successful advertising executive living in Chicago who has long fancied himself a ladies' man, though he has precious little understanding of women beyond figuring out how to seduce them. One day, Nick receives a substantial electric shock in an accident in his bathroom; while he's not seriously injured, when he comes to, he discovers something remarkable has happened -- he can suddenly hear what women are thinking. At first, Nick finds himself learning all sorts of things he didn't want to know, but he also realizes how this can be used to his advantage -- especially after his old boss, Dan Wanamaker (Alan Alda) is replaced by a woman, Darcy Maguire (Helen Hunt). But Nick begins to feel differently about his unusual gift when he discovers Darcy is infatuated with him, and he finds himself falling for her. What Women Want also features Bette Midler as Nick's analyst, Delta Burke and Valerie Perrine as two of his co-workers, and Marisa Tomei as one of Nick's significant others. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt, (more)
- 1999
- R
A filmmaker tries to sort out the scattered emotional baggage of his love life in Entropy. Jake Walsh (Stephen Dorff) is a film director who attends a fashion show with some friends and meets a French model named Stella (Judith Godreche). The attraction between the two is immediate, and after a brief courtship they're living together. However, between his career in film and her career as a model, they don't spend as much time together as they'd like, and they begin to drift apart; when Stella one day announces she's pregnant, Jake displays no particular enthusiasm for the idea of raising a child, and Stella ends up having an abortion. Eventually, the two break up and Jake finds himself married to a woman he barely knows, not quite sure what happened. As he muddles through his romantic problems, Jake also has to deal with the often puzzling hierarchy and the bizarre office politics of Hollywood. A rare independent effort from Phil Joanou, who previously directed State of Grace, Final Analysis and a wealth of popular music videos, Entropy was the opening night attraction at the 1999 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Dorff, Judith Godrëche, (more)
Peter Falk, Lauren Holly, Timothy Hutton, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Tyne Daly star in this gritty crime drama. Falk plays the owner of a local bar who has taken bets for a Mafia gambling ring for years, watching out for his customers and never letting them get in too far over their heads. But that all changes when a mobster appoints his hot-headed, drug-abusing nephew (Prinze) to be his new collection agent. The young gangster takes a huge bet from an out-of-work alcoholic (Hutton) who has been forbidden from gambling in the past, and when he can't pay it off, he demands the man's wife (Holly) give him her body as payment. The barkeep knows his new partner has gone too far -- but what can he do to stop him without endangering the lives of his family? ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Oliver Stone takes on professional football, a sport whose grace and delicacy are a good match for his filmmaking style. Tony D'Amato (Al Pacino), the head coach of the Miami Sharks, won back-to-back championships four years ago. But new team owner Christina Pagniacci (Cameron Diaz) has little enthusiasm for the finer points of the game and is concerned only with the bottom line. The longtime strongman of Tony's team has been "Cap" Rooney (Dennis Quaid), a 39-year-old quarterback, but Christina balks at renewing his contract. When Cap is injured during a game, third-string rookie quarterback Willie Beaman (Jamie Foxx) goes on in his place and becomes a major star. But Beaman is mostly interested in fame and money, and he has little regard for Tony and his teammates. Any Given Sunday also stars James Woods as the team's doctor, LL Cool J as a star running back, Jim Brown as a former football great turned Sharks' defensive coordinator, Ann-Margret as Christina's alcoholic mother, Bill Bellamy as a wide receiver, Elizabeth Berkley as Tony's favorite prostitute, and Charlton Heston as the football commissioner. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, (more)
- 1998
- R
Writer-director-actor Edward Burns (The Brothers McMullen, She's the One) looks at small-town ex-lovers in this low-key, blue-collar drama with atmospheric, muted-color cinematography by Emmy-winner Frank Prinzi (Northern Exposure). To the tune of Sheryl Crow's "Home", Charlie (Burns) returns to his quiet seaboard hometown to win back his ex-girlfriend Claudia (Lauren Holly), whom he abandoned three years earlier. He quickly learns that she's now engaged to Michael (Jon Bon Jovi), his best buddy since elementary school. Claudia has a dull job as a waitress at a slow-paced diner, while Michael repairs autos at a local garage. Michael loves her, but Charlie's return forces her to re-examine her life. Burns commented, "I wanted to do a drama about a working-class community, about the kind of people I grew up with, and take a look at what their lives are like as they hit their 30s and start to put their adolescent dreams aside. Their old hopes and dreams get rekindled, so they try and go for it one more time. And in the end they discover that you can't relive your past." Songs relate literally to the onscreen action, with tunes by Lynryd Skynryd, Glen Campbell, Pete Yorn, Georges Gasguy & Saveur Mallia, Macy Gray, Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen, Local H, Sponge, and the Allman Brothers. Filmed on location during the off-season at Rockaway Beach, Queens, not far from New York's JFK Airport. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lauren Holly, Edward Burns, (more)
