Mark Feuerstein Movies
A comic actor who enjoyed his greatest success in television, Mark Feuerstein also made his mark on the legitimate stage. Born June 8, 1971, and raised in New York City, his father was a lawyer and his mother a school teacher. As a teenager, Feuerstein was a gifted wrestler and won a state championship title. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in Princeton, intending to study International Relations. But after being cast in a student drama, Feuerstein decided that acting was his true ambition, changed his emphasis to Theater Arts, and later received a Fulbright scholarship to study his craft at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Upon returning to New York, he worked extensively in off-Broadway theater and appeared in a handful of television commercials before landing a recurring role on the daytime drama Loving. In 1996, Feuerstein was cast in an eight-episode run of the situation comedy Caroline in the City as a veterinarian who was dating cartoonist Caroline (Lea Thompson). NBC, encouraged by the enthusiastic response to Feuerstein's performance on the show, cast him as a philosophical bartender on a new sitcom called Fired Up; the show, however, was not well received, and lasted less than half a season. The network gave Feuerstein a third shot at sitcom stardom by giving him the title role on the show Conrad Bloom; but it proved to be an especially high-profile failure, and Feuerstein began to focus his attention elsewhere. He appeared on Broadway in Alfred Uhry's The Last Nights Of Ballyhoo, and made his feature-film debut with a small role in Practical Magic in 1998. Feuerstein balanced film work with recurring roles on Once and Again and The West Wing for several years until he finally struck small-screen gold with his fourth sitcom, Good Morning, Miami, in which he was cast as a television producer brought in to save a hapless morning news show. ~ All Movie Guide
Inspired by a true story, director Edward Zwick's epic World War II drama Defiance tells the tale of three Jewish Eastern European brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, and Jamie Bell) who narrowly escape certain death at the hands of the Nazis, subsequently vowing to avenge the deaths of their loves ones by launching a desperate battle against the forces that seek to exterminate their entire race. The year is 1941, and the setting is Nazi-occupied Poland. The Final Solution is in full effect, and the Jews of Eastern Europe are being slaughtered wholesale. Tuvia (Craig), Zus (Schreiber), and Asael (Bell) have miraculously managed to escape into the dense surrounding forest. Having played in these woods since childhood, the brothers have a distinct advantage over their adversaries, and soon decide that simply surviving is not enough. In order to make a difference, they must take action, but in order to take action they will need support. As whispers of their bravery take wind, others like them appear determined to lay their lives on the line for the cause of freedom. Tuvia has become the de facto leader of the group, but he's still somewhat reluctant to take on such a heavy responsibility and his brother Zus expresses concern that his idealistic plan will ultimately bring about the group's downfall. With winter setting in, everyone works to create a functioning community that will help them endure the frigid months that lie ahead, and Asael reluctantly finds himself caught in the crossfire of his older siblings' rivalry. Is it possible to keep faith alive in a time when the world seems devoid of humanity and survival becomes a way of life? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, (more)
- 2006
- R
When a once-successful a cappella singing group reunites to perform at a fellow singer's wedding, regrets from the past and hopes for the future all come pouring out into the open in director Bruce Leddy's nostalgic reunion film. In college they were treated like rock stars, but these days life isn't so glamorous for the singers whose fleeting taste of fame preceded a humbling fall into relative obscurity. It's been 15 years since the group has performed together, but when one of their own prepares to take his wedding vows and requests that the group back him up, no one can resist the opportunity to recapture a little bit of that old magic. From the recently downsized Ted and the newly divorced Richard to music-studio peon Will and frustrated tech support guy Dave, the future just didn't turn out how these golden-voiced crooners had hoped; only the mellow Spooner and Los Angeles-based TV producer Steven seem truly fulfilled in their current status. But now their buddy Greg is getting married, and the time has come to celebrate his nuptials in song. As the largely frustrated but still talented lot arrives at Spooner's sprawling family beach house in order to rehearse for their performance, these longtime friends will finally have the opportunity to lay to rest longtime grudges, reveal longstanding secrets, and test the strength of their powerful bond on the eve of a life-altering event that promises to bring them closer together than ever before. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Molly Shannon, Mark Feuerstein, (more)
- 2006
The title of this CBS medical drama referred to the average weight of the human brain. Clearly inspired by the success of Fox's House, 3 lbs, like the Fox series, was built around the exploits of a brilliant but arrogant and witheringly sarcastic medico, in this case waspish neurosurgeon Doug Hanson (Stanley Tucci), who headed his own foundation. Wasting no time suffering fools (or at least, people whom he regarded as fools) and periodically plagued by mysterious visions which suggested that he suffered from more than his share of personal demons, Dr. Hanson was both mentor and tormentor of his idealistic new partner Jonathan Seger (Mark Feuerstein), better known to the Hanson Foundation staff as "The Sorceror's Apprentice." Also in the cast were Indira Varma as Hanson's gorgeous associate surgeon Dr. Adrienne Holland and Griffin Dunne as Hanson's equally prickly rival Dr. Cole. The cases at hand were generally "illustrated" with animated sequences, in which the protagonist's description of the brain as "wires in a box" was literalized. Debuting November 14, 2006, 3 lbs was made available to certain markets in both English- and Spanish-language versions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stanley Tucci, Mark Feuerstein, (more)
Curtis Hanson's adaptation of Jennifer Weiner's novel In Her Shoes stars Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz as a pair of very close but very different sisters. Free-wheeling irresponsible Maggie Feller (Diaz) gets through her life thanks to her remarkable looks and her lack of scruples. She constantly goes to her straight-laced, plain-Jane successful lawyer sister Rose (Collette) for financial help. The two sisters have been very close to each other in part because their troubled mother died when they were girls. Right about the same time that Maggie discovers hidden letters that reveal she and Rose have a grandmother, Maggie does something to betray Rose's trust. Maggie sets off for Florida to find the grandmother. A failed workplace romance forces Rose to rethink her career, a career that has been the center of her life. As Rose tentatively begins a new relationship and Maggie gets to know her grandmother (played by Shirley MacLaine), the two learn a dark family secret that helps smooth the path toward reconciliation. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, (more)
- 2002
The NBC sitcom Good Morning, Miami was co-created by Max Mutchnick (Will & Grace) and David Cohen, who drew upon their own experience while working on a local TV news-and-variety program. Mark Feuerstein starred as hotshot young TV executive Jake Silver, who dedicated himself to "rescuing" Miami television's lowest-rated morning show. Initially, Jake balks at the assignment, figuring that the show's overly unctuous station manager Frank Alfonso (Jere Burns) and terminally stupid co-anchors Gavin (Matt Letscher) and Lucia (Tessie Santiago) are beyond redemption. Even worse, the show's only real selling card is its zany "weather nun," Sister Brenda Dillman (Brooke Dillman). But spurred on by his affection for the show's hairstylist Dylan Messigner (Ashley Williams) -- not to mention his fear of his trash-mouthed grandmother Claire (Suzanne Pleshette) -- Jake agrees to make the best of a deplorable situation. Good Morning, Miami debuted September 26, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Feuerstein, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
A woman finds herself attempting to foil one office romance while debating if she should take a chance on another in this romantic comedy. Lucy Kelton (Sandra Bullock) is a top-flight attorney who has risen to the position of Chief Legal Counsel for one of New York's leading commercial real estate firms, the Wade Corporation. However, Lucy's job has one significant drawback -- George Wade (Hugh Grant), the eccentric and remarkably self-centered head of the firm. George seems entirely incapable of making a decision without Lucy's advice, whether it actually involves a legal matter or not, and while she's fond of George, being at his beck and call 24 hours a day has brought her to the end of her rope. In a moment of anger, Lucy gives her two weeks notice, and George reluctantly accepts, under one condition -- Lucy has to hire her own replacement. After extensive research, Lucy picks June Carter (Alicia Witt), a Harvard Law graduate determined to make a career for herself. Lucy soon begins to suspect, however, that June plans to hasten her rise up the corporate ladder by winning George's hand, leaving Lucy to wonder if she should warn George about his beautiful but calculating new attorney -- and whether she should tell George that she has finally realized she's in love with him. Two Weeks Notice was written and directed by Marc Lawrence, who had previously scripted two other box-office hits for Sandra Bullock: Miss Congeniality and Forces of Nature. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant, (more)
A young woman is faced with the disturbing reemergence of a man she once loved in this psychological thriller. Embry Langan (Charlie Hunnam) was a wealthy but reckless student at an exclusive private college until he mysteriously vanished, with airline tickets to Europe left unused and plenty of money still in the bank. Two years later, Katie Burke (Katie Holmes), Embry's girlfriend, is still dealing with his disappearance as she goes into the home stretch of her college career. With exams, a thesis, and job interviews to think about, Katie is already walking an emotional tightrope when Wade Handler (Benjamin Bratt), a police detective, enters the picture. Handler, a recovering alcoholic, has been ordered to reopen the Langan case, and as he questions Katie about the missing man, she finds her obsession with her former beau taking over her life, which leaves her all the more unnerved when she begins seeing Embry around the campus. Meanwhile, Handler's investigation begins to suggest Langan's disappearance may have been more sinister than imagined, and could be connected with other cases of missing students. Abandon marked the directorial debut for screenwriter Stephen Gaghan, who won an Oscar for his script for Traffic. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Katie Holmes, Benjamin Bratt, (more)
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)
Love, sex, and food combine in this sensuous romantic comedy. Isabella (Penelope Cruz) is a master chef who suffers from severe motion sickness, requiring her to be in control of her movements at all times. This need extends to the bedroom, but her husband Tonino (Murilo Benicio), who owns the restaurant where she works, doesn't like to make love in the fashion suggested by the title. This is hardly the only thing about their relationship that she finds stifling, and when Isabella discovers Tonino in bed with another woman, she leaves for America, where with the help of cross-dressing friend "Monica" (Harold Perrineau Jr.), she becomes a star as the host of a TV cooking show, Passion Foods Live. Woman on Top was the first American film from Venezuelan director Fina Torres. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Penélope Cruz, Murilo Benicio, (more)
Adapted from the stage comedy by Wendy Wasserstein, the made-for-cable An American Daughter was clearly inspired by the "Nannygate" imbroglio surrounding President Bill Clinton's political appointees Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood. Christine Lahti stars as Lyssa Dent Hughes, the daughter of a prominent U.S. Senator and a descendent of no less than Ulysses S. Grant. Just when it seems as if Hughes' appointment to the office of U.S. Surgeon General is a done deal, her husband Walter (Tom Skerritt) accidentally reveals a skeleton in Lyssa's closet: It seems that, years earlier, she'd had the temerity to ignore a summons for jury duty. This, coupled with several newly exposed inconsistencies concerning Lyssa's "official" biography, seriously jeopardize her political future, leaving her at the mercy of the horrible juggernaut of peer persecution and public opinion. Highlights of this timely tome include a brief spoof of the daytime TV interview series The View. Produced just in time to cash in on the upcoming presidential elections (not to mention the myriad of scandals attending the Clinton administration), An American Daughter (aka Trial by Media) made its Lifetime Network bow on June 5, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christine Lahti, Tom Skerritt, (more)
In this drama, two U.S. Marines who stood side by side on the field of battle are reunited in a court of law. Attorney Hayes Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones) once aspired to a career as an officer, but a serious injury in Vietnam put an end to his military future, leaving him bitter and resentful. Col. Terry L. Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) fought alongside Hodges and once saved his life; when Childers is threatened with a court martial for ordering his troops to fire on civilians during a raid on an American embassy, Hodges is the only lawyer that he can trust, and the case gives Hodges a chance for revenge against the military system that he feels has wronged him. Rules of Engagement also features Kim Delaney, Ben Kingsley, Blair Underwood, and Anne Archer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, (more)
- 1999
Writer-director Aaron Harnick debuts with this quirky romantic comedy set in New York. Jordan (Ben Shenkman) works in his father's upscale liquor shop. Over the years, he has honed both his wine-tasting skills and a deep fear of commitment. One day, he goes on a blind date with Sarah (Arija Bareikis), a television casting director. Before he knows it, he is engaged to her, and she is introducing him to her parents. Meanwhile, Jordan's childhood buddies are themselves starting to settle down, especially Brad (Thomas McCarthy), who is marrying Sarah's friend Lauren (Catherine Kellner). As the wedding plans plod along, Jordan's panic mounts. This film was screened at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Shenkman, Arija Bareikis, (more)
Rising advertising executive Ralph (Mark Feuerstein) is irresistible to women and he to them – he can even bed Lesbians. But when he falls for a new co-worker (Amy Redford) Ralph decides to change his ways by becoming celibate, and finds it harder than he thought to stay out of strange beds, including Amber’s (Ali Larter), a super model and Ralph’s lifelong fantasy woman. ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Feuerstein, Amy Redford, (more)
Actor/writer/director Albert Brooks turns his satiric gaze on the film industry in this comedy about a screenwriter who has hit a rough patch. Steven Philips (played by Brooks) has enjoyed a celebrated career in Hollywood, but one day he has a meeting with his agent, who informs him his career is suddenly going nowhere. Steven quickly finds himself at the end of his rope and is unable to put a decent sentence on paper. Desperate, he hears that there's a bona fide muse in Hollywood, Sarah (played by Sharon Stone), who might be able to help with his problems. The writer contacts Sarah, hoping a good, stong dose of inspiration will get his career back on track. However, Sarah's late hours and endless demands don't do much to help Steven's relationship with his wife (Andie MacDowell). The Muse features an original musical score by Elton John, and cameos by several notable film figures, including Martin Scorsese, Rob Reiner, and James Cameron. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Brooks, Sharon Stone, (more)
- 1998
This TV sitcom probes the personal problems of New York City ad copywriter Conrad Bloom (Mark Feuerstein), a single guy surrounded by women, including his ex-girlfriend Molly (Lauren Graham), sister Nina (Ever Carradine), co-worker Shelley (Jessica Stone), demanding boss Faye (Paula Newsome), and Conrad's irritating widowed mother Florie (Linda Lavin). In the pilot episode, Conrad struggled to get attractive Allison (Christina Moore) into bed. Premiered September 21, 1998 on NBC. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Feuerstein, Lauren Graham, (more)
Griffin Dunne directed this romantic fantasy adapted from the 1995 Alice Hoffman novel about the Owens family of witches, regarded as outcasts in the town where they live. Aunt Frances (Stockard Channing) and her sister Aunt Jet (Dianne Wiest) tried to pass on practical magic skills to their nieces, subdued Sally (Sandra Bullock) and fiery Gillian (Nicole Kidman), brought up by the two aunts after their parents died. The aunts concoct spells for the lonely and the lovelorn, but the family's use of witchcraft unfortunately invokes a curse that spells doom to the family's menfolk. Denying her powers, Sally attempted to lead a life minus magic. Her marriage to fish merchant Michael (Mark Feuerstein) brought two daughters -- and Michael's death. Moving into the aunt's seaside mansion, the widowed Sally warns the aunts not to influence her daughters. Sally intervenes when Gillian suffers at the hands of her abusive Bulgarian boyfriend Jimmy (Goran Visnic), and Arizona detective Gary Hallet (Aidan Quinn), investigating Jimmy's disappearance, turns up in town, eyeing Gillian and Sally as the leading suspects. Filmed in Washington (San Juan Island, Whidby Island, Coupeville, Friday Harbor). ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, (more)
