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Joseph Gordon-Levitt Movies

Born in Los Angeles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt grew up in front of the camera as a child and teen actor. Winning his first major role at age seven in the TV movie Stranger on My Land (1988), Gordon-Levitt appeared in a number of TV movies and series during the late '80s and early '90s, including a recurring role on the hit sitcom Roseanne from 1993 to 1995. After making his feature film debut as the young version of Craig Sheffer in A River Runs Through It (1992), the young actor garnered further notice as the boy whose prayers are answered in the sleeper Angels in the Outfield (1994) and as Demi Moore's son in The Juror (1996). Gordon-Levitt achieved considerable TV fame, though, when he was cast in NBC's critical and popular hit Third Rock From the Sun (1996-present). As old/young alien Tommy Solomon, he cracked wise with multiple Emmy-winner John Lithgow and attracted teen fans. Making the most of the late-'90s teen movie resurgence during the series' hiatuses, Gordon-Levitt appeared in the teen slasher sequel Halloween: H20 (1998) and starred as one of the romantic schemers in the popular Shakespeare-via-high school comedy 10 Things I Hate About You (1999). After voicing the lead in the expensive animated flop Treasure Planet, Levitt made a conscious decision to shed his TV image. He appeared in a series of challenging indie films including Mysterious Skin, Brick, and The Lookout, and succeeded in redefining his public image. He appeared in Spike Lee's Miracle At St. Anna and the Iraq War drama Stop-Loss in 2008. The next year he starred in the big-budget action film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, but earned better reviews and more respect as the lead in the hit indie romantic comedy (500) Days of Summer. He was cast opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Inception the next year, and earned arguably the best reviews of his career in 2011 when he starred in the cancer comedy 50/50 as a young man learning to cope with an unexpected, and possibly lethal, illness. He would team with director Chriotpher Nolan again in 2012 as part of the cast in The Dark Knight Rises, and Steven Spielberg cast him as Robert Todd in the director's long gestating biopic Lincoln. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi
2013  
 
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes his feature directorial debut with this funny yet earnest psychological drama about a womanizer named Jon Martello (Gordon-Levitt) who earns the nickname "Don Jon" for his ability to charm beautiful women, but remains unable to forge a meaningful connection with the opposite sex due to his all-consuming internet porn addiction. Meanwhile, as Jon struggles to free himself from the realm of virtual debauchery, he connects with two disparate women (Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore) who teach him the true value of intimacy. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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2008  
 
Add Uncertainty to Queue Add Uncertainty to top of Queue  
Responsibility clashes with freedom as a young New York City couple experiences two decidedly different holidays in this drama from filmmaking duo David Siegel and Scott McGehee (Suture, The Deep End). It's the Fourth of July, and Kate (Lynn Collins) and Bobby (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) are struggling to make a decision: do they stick with tradition and spend the weekend with Kate's family, or do they set out on their own for a spontaneous adventure? After making their initial decision, an alternate narrative emerges to show just what would have happened had they chosen to do otherwise. While the decision-making process may seem mundane, the implications of each choice are profound. Sure, a holiday with the family doesn't seem nearly as exciting as an impromptu romantic trip, but that doesn't mean it will be any less dramatic. As the stories diverge and a "what if" scenario becomes reality, it soon becomes apparent how much one seemingly minor decision can ultimately affect the rest of our lives. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Starring:
Joseph Gordon-LevittLynn Collins, (more)
 
2000  
 
Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 06 to Queue Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 06 to top of Queue  
Compared to the zany opening episodes of previous seasons, the sixth and final season of the fantasy sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun boasts a rather innocuous opener, with alien-in-human-form Dick Solomon (John Lithgow) helping his human-in-human form fiancée Mary Albright (Jane Curtin) teach a lesson to Mary's imperious sister Renata (Megan Mullaly). In a subsequent episode, extraterrestrial scientist Tommy Solomon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), trapped in the body of a gawky 18-year-old boy, tries to choose a college appropriate to his advanced intelligence--thus compelling Harry and his second-in-command Sally Solomon (Kristen Johnson) to interview a host of potential alien replacements for Tommy. Later still, the Solomons toy with the idea of becoming American citizens (after all, you can't get more "alien" than they already are!); a psychic threatens to reveal Dick's true identity; and the strained relationship between Mary and her overbearing mother (Elaine Stritch) becomes even more so when Dick becomes fond of the old lady. The series ends with a brace of two-part stories. In "Mary Loves Scootchie", John Cleese returns as Dick's otherworldly romantic rival Dr. Liam Neesam--only to be transformed into a monkey by the disgruntled Dick, whereupon Mary at long last figures out that her fiancée is from WAY out of town! And in the two-part series finale "The Thing That Wouldn't Die", Mary seriously considers accompanying Dick as he and the other Solomons return to their home planet, while Elvis Costello performs at the family's farewell party (Money, of course, is no object--how can Costello send a bill to a PO Box that's millions of light years away?) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
John LithgowJane Curtin, (more)
 
1999  
 
Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 05 to Queue Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 05 to top of Queue  
The riotous conclusion of the fantasy sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun's fourth season has a big spillover effect at the beginning of Season Five. The Solomon "family", a group of aliens in human form who've come to earth on a fact-finding mission, are relieved to discover that the baby borne by Harry Solomon's (French Stewart) earthling girl-friend Vicki (Jan Hooks) is human, despite her having been impregnated by the Solomon's extraterrestrial leading, the Big Giant Head (who in his own human form is a dead ringer for William Shatner!). But things haven't quite returned to normal yet: Overwhelmed by her experience, Vicki has threatened to take her story about the Solomons' alien status to the tabloids (too bad she didn't give birth to a bat-baby, or she'd make Page One). Season highlights include such episodes as "Dial M for Dick", in which the Solomons takes an interactive murder mystery staged at a mansion a bit too seriously; "Dick Who's Coming to Dinner", wherein the aliens come face to face with the ugly specte of racism for the first time; "Sex and the Sally" which finds Harry Solomon and his teenaged-looking cohort Tommy Solomon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) becoming novice panhandlers for fun and profit; and a shameless a spoof of the 1973 PBS documentary An American Family, in which the Solomons become the subjects of a documentary filmed by Dick's human lady friend Mary Albright (Jane Curtin)--forcing them to concoct bizarre "cover stories" for their otherworldy behavior. Best of all, William Shatner makes two encore appearances in "The Big Giant Head Returns", in which he is determined to reclaim his son from Vicki whether she likes it or not; and in the season finale, wherein the Big Giant Head and Vicki have somehow become man and wife (much to his dismay!), Harry prepares to re-enter the dating scene, and Sally helpfully tries to repair the alien-human romance between Tommy and his sweetie Alyssa (Larisa Oleynik). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
John LithgowJane Curtin, (more)
 
1998  
 
Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 04 to Queue Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 04 to top of Queue  
Resolving the cliffhanger ending of Season Three, Season Four of 3rd From the Sun finds the Solomon family--actually a team of aliens who've assumed human form while on a fact-finding mission on Planet Earth--desperately searching for their kidnapped colleague Harry Solomon (French Stewart), handicapped by the loss of their extraterrestrial powers at the behest of their disgruntled leader The Big Giant Head. Once this crisis is resolved, we have time enough to become acquainted with the newest member of the cast, Larisa Oleynik, cast as Alissa Strudwick, the new human girlfriend of alien scientist Tommy Solomon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) (who is still confined to his teenaged body despite his advancing years). The off-and-on romance between group leader Dick Solomon (John Lithgow), who has taken a job as a teacher at Pendleton College, and Dick's colleague Dr. Mary Albright (Jane Curtin), undergoes more "offs" than "ons" this season. That's because Mary has been promoted to college dean, making her Dick's boss--and he doesn't like the situation one teeny tiny bit. Season Four's better episodes include "Collect Call for Dick", a broad spoof of the current Beanie Babies craze in which Dick becomes obsessed to the point of addiction over accumulating a huge collection of "Fuzzy Buddy" toys; "I Am Dick Pentameter", featuring Laurie Metcalf (Roseanne) as an airheaded eccentric who comes between Dick and Mary; "Indecent Dick", wherein Sally Solomon (Kristen Johnson) has become so comfortably in her earthly "female" form that she's willing to pose for a nudie magazine, much to the chagrin of her human beau Officer Don (Wayne Knight); and "Two Faced Dick", an all-stops-out laff riot in which Sally requests a "gender reassignment" and is allowed to exchange bodies with Dick. Also: The Solomons are threatened with being exposed as aliens when forced to file their first IRS form in "Dick and Taxes"; another near-exposure occurs in "Alien Hunter", with Kathy Bates playing the highly suspicious title character; and as the "family" comes to face to face with the Internet for the first time, Harry Solomon and his human sweetie Vicki discuss the possibility of having children, in "Y2dicK". The fourth season ends with the long-awaited arrival on earth of the Big Giant Head, who calls himself "Stone Philips" but whose human form very closely resembles that of William Shatner. Having shown up to rake the Solomons over the coals for failing to fulfill their mission, the Big Giant Head not only demotes Dick as high commander, but also manages to impregnate the hapless Vicki--who, in the process, becomes the first human on the series to tumble to the Solomons' alien status. 3rd Rock from the Sun wrapped up its fourth year on the air with two more Emmy Awards, as John Lithgow collected his third statuette and Kristen Johnson received her second. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
John LithgowJane Curtin, (more)
 
1997  
 
Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 03 to Queue Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 03 to top of Queue  
Season Three of the fantasy sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun opens with another dilemma for the group of space aliens who have assumed the human form of the "Solomon" family for the purpose of gathering intelligence on the planet earth: It seems that group leader Dick Solomon (John Lithgow) has been ordered to marry Janet (guest star Roseanne), the niece of his superior back on his home planet, the Big Giant Head. Dick somehow manages to wriggle out of this because of his loyalty to his earthling sweetheart Mary Albright (Jane Curtin)--a loyalty that unfortunately proves to be a one-way street when Mary (still unaware that Dick is an alien) breaks off their relationship, thus launching a recurring motif wherein both Dick and Mary would like to get back together, but are too stubborn and prideful to admit it. In another story strand, Janet's arrival on earth proves so unnerving to Officer Don (Wayne Knight) that he immediately begins suspecting that an alien invasion is imminent--never dreaming that his own girlfriend Sally Solomon (Kristen Johnson) is herself Not Of This World. As for the other two members of the alien team, scientist Tommy Solomon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)--a middle-ager trapped in the body of a human teenager--yearns to date someone closer to his "real" age (such as Mary) and later "retires" to a nursing home, while doltish crew member Harry Solomon (French Stewart) undergoes an offbeat reunion with his former pet, who has likewise taken on human form. Midway through the third season the Solomons must themselves fend off extraterrestrials when the earth is invaded by Venusians disguised as buxom females (including models Angie Everhart and Cindy Crawford) in the two-part episode "36!24!36 Dick". And in a later two-parter, "Just Your Average Dick", John Cleese does a screamingly funny turn as nutty professor Dr. Liam Neesam, who turns out to be an alien-in-disguise himself--not to mention a worthy adversary for Dick in the war to win Mary's hand and heart. The traditional season-ending cliffhanger finds a romantic "kiss and make up" dinner being ruined when the volatile former boyfriend of Harry's human girlfriend Vicki (Jan Hooks) bursts in and kidnaps Harry--just in time for the Solomons to miss an extremely vital transmission from their home-planet superior officer, The Big Giant Head. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
John LithgowJane Curtin, (more)
 
1997  
 
Add Sweet Jane to Queue Add Sweet Jane to top of Queue  
Drug user Jane (Samantha Mathis) lives on the streets, but Jane's addiction puts her in the hospital after she overdoses. A doctor determines she's HIV-positive and plans tests, but she slips away and returns to the streets. She's followed by sick teen Tony (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who sees her as a substitute mother. The two assist each other and use stolen cash to move into a nice hotel. However, Jane is helpless once Tony begins dying of AIDS. Shown at the AFI/Los Angeles Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Starring:
Samantha MathisJoseph Gordon-Levitt, (more)
 
1996  
 
Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 01 to Queue Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 01 to top of Queue  
Upon assuming human form, the team of extraterrestrials calling themselves the Solomon family begin developing human emotions and character faults, as Season One of the fantasy sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun begins its first season. Despite the difficulties inherent in adjusting themselves to their new bodies (for one thing, they no longer swivel their heads to lick their backs!), the Solomons immediately go to work on their intelligence-gathering mission on Earth on behalf of their home-planet leader, the omnipotent Big Giant Head. "High Commander" Dick Solomon (John Lithgow) manages to land a job teaching at Pendleton College, where he finds himself strangely attracted to his colleague Dr. Mary Albright (Jane Curtin), who has nary a clue as to Dick's "alien" status. The team's scientific genius Tommy Solomon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a middle-aged alien trapped in the body of an adolescent earthling, must endure his first childhood disease, and also begins dating a pre-teen girl named August (Shay Astar). Military officer Sally Solomon (Kristen Johnson)--outwardly a girl, inwardly gosh-knows-what--suddenly and to her initial embarrassment develops a yen for men and seeks the advice of Dick's sarcastic secretary Nina (Simba Khali). And dimwitted alien crew member Harry Solomon (French Stewart) develops a fondness for liquor and other such guilty pleasures. And although they're under orders to kill any human who might come close to learning their true identities, the Solomons find themselves incapable of doing so: Earthlings may be dull, backward jerks, but they make great company! Season One ends on a cliffhanger (the first of many), as the "higher-ups" on the Solomons' home planet decide that they've failed in their mission and demand that they return home--and Dick suddenly develops a split personality! During its inaugural season on the air, 3rd Rock from the Sun was nominated for several Emmy Awards, with John Lithgow copping the prize as "outstanding lead actor in a comedy series." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
John LithgowJane Curtin, (more)
 
1996  
 
Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 02 to Queue Add 3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 02 to top of Queue  
Season two of the fantasy sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun begins where Season One left off, with Dick Solomon (John Lithgow), the leader of a group of space aliens who've assumed human form to gather intelligence on the planet earth, still locked in the basement of his home, while his alien clone Evil Dick fiendishly prepares to render pregnant every woman in Ohio. But fear not, fans! Coming to the rescue is...Dennis Rodman? Once the tone of the season is thus set, anything goes! In later episodes, the Solomon "family" tries to counterract the negative image of extraterrestrials in horror movies--but when they get the chance to write an episode of The X-Files, they pull out every monster-movie cliché in the book; Dick's second-in-command Sally Solomon (Kristen Johnson) finds a new human boyfriend in the rotund form of Officer Don (Wayne Knight, who was then also showing up as Newman on Seinfeld); for reasons best known to herself, Dr. Mary Albright (Jane Curtin) doesn't want people to know that she's dating her college colleague Dick, one of several obstacles in the path of true romance for this truly odd couple; the Solomons get a crash course in democracy when the dumbest member of the alien team, Harry Solomon (French Stewart) runs for city councilman; and Harry meets and falls in love with his Vicki (Jan Hooks), daughter of his landlady Mrs. Dubceck (Elmarie Wendel), during the Solomons' first Thanksgiving dinner. This quaint celebration proves to be quite an eye-opener for the "visitors", as does their first taste of Christmas. Finally, Tommy Solomon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), outwardly the youngest of the aliens but actually the oldest, must suffer the raging hormones of his adolescent human body, not only in his pursuit of girlfriend August (Shay Astar), but also when experiencing a wave of sexual ambivalence when he develops a talent for flower-arranging! In the season's two-part finale, Dick impulsively asks Mary to marry him, an act which precipitates his first-ever nightmare, which spills over into the subconscious of both Sally and Tommy and prompts Harry to seek out emergency aid from his superior, the Big Giant Head--and which may force the Solomons to return post-haste to their home planet. Closing out its third season as America's 27th top-rated program, 3rd Rock from the Sun also garnered five Emmy Awards, two of them going to series regulars John Lithgow (his second Emmy) and Kristen Johnson (her first). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
John LithgowJane Curtin, (more)
 
1995  
 
Filmed on location in Kenya, this made-for-TV movie tells the story of a boy's fight to save an elephant. Stephanie Zimbalist stars as Beverly Cunningham, a mother who takes her son to live with her in Africa. When her son and a pal befriend an abandoned elephant, a Safari chase ensues as they try to save the animal from the hands of an uncaring businessman. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi

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1994  
 
The Road Flower was given a limited release in 1993, then reissued two years later under the title The Road Killers. Essentially a rehash of the old drive-in perennial Hot Rods to Hell, the film stars Christopher Lambert as the taciturn head of a vacationing family. While motoring somewhere in the middle of Nevada, the family man and his loved ones are terrorized by a looney gang of hot-rodders, headed by wild-eyed Craig Sheffer (he did get better). Political correctness be hanged: these dysfunctional drivers must be dealt with, deprived childhoods or no deprived childhoods. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1993  
 
Darlene has to decide between going to art school in Chicago and staying with David (Johnny Galecki) in Lanford. Meanwhile, D.J. makes a new friend in the neighbor George (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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1993  
 
Dr. Mike (Jane Seymour) and Sully (Joe Lando) come to the rescue of Zack (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a mentally challenged youth who has suffered ill treatment at the hands of his guardian. The rest of the community shuns Zack, not only because he is "simple-minded," but because he is apparently the son of a prostitute. Only Brian (Shawn Toovey) is willing to befriend Zack -- thereby tapping the boy's hitherto unrecognized artistic abilities. This poignant episode ends with a startling revelation regarding Zack's parentage. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Joe LandoChad Allen, (more)
 
1992  
 
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In this drama, 12-year-old Gregory decides he prefers living with his foster parents and so launches his own custody battle to get away from his birth parents. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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Starring:
Joseph Gordon-LevittBill Smitrovich, (more)
 
1991  
 
Add Danielle Steel's 'Changes' to Queue Add Danielle Steel's 'Changes' to top of Queue  
In this made for TV movie based on Danielle Steele's novel, Cheryl Ladd portrays a successful New York television anchorwoman. When she marries a successful surgeon in Los Angeles, romance becomes difficult with their careers on opposite ends of the country. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi

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Starring:
Cheryl LaddMichael Nouri, (more)
 
1991  
 
A rude entrepreneur is transformed into an average Joe by his guardian angel in this comedy. ~ Rovi

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1991  
 
In this sci-fi movie, the residents of a Northwest logging town go to the moon after their hometown is destroyed by accidentally released toxins. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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1990  
 
15 years ago, Jessica's cousin Anne (Shirley Jones was about to be married when her fiancé was murdered, ostensibly by Anne's mentally unbalanced brother, who was promptly locked up in an institution. Now, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is in attendance when Anne decides to give matrimony a second chance. Unfortunately, Anne's new fiancé dies in a similar manner as her earlier beau--and by a bizarre coincidence, her brother has just been released from confinement! Look for a pre-3rd Rock from the Sun Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a bit role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1989  
 
In this suspenseful drama, a Chicago policewoman remains haunted by the memory of the man who raped her two decades before and decides to return to her hometown to find him. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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1988  
 
In this drama, a Vietnam vet takes a stand when government agents attempt to take his ranch so they can build a missile base there. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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2012  
R  
Add Looper to Queue Add Looper to top of Queue  
A hired gun from the future discovers that his greatest adversary is himself in this twisting sci-fi mindbender starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom). In the year 2047 time travel has yet to be invented. Thirty years later, however, it has. Though immediately outlawed, time-travel technology is quickly appropriated by the mob, and used to cleanly dispose of anyone deemed a threat. The process is simple: When the mob wants someone to disappear, they simply send them back to the year 2047, where an assassin known as a "looper" quickly carries out the hit, and disposes of the body. Joe Simmons (Gordon-Levitt) is one of the most respected loopers around. Each kill earns him a big payday, and he's got big plans to retire to France. Then, one day, as Joe patiently awaits the appearance of his next target near the edge of a remote corn field, he's shocked to come face-to-face with his future self (Bruce Willis). When the younger Joe hesitates, the older Joe makes a daring escape. Now, in order to avoid the wrath of his underworld boss (Jeff Daniels), young Joe must "close the loop" and kill his older counterpart. Meanwhile, the revelation that a powerful crime boss in the future has set the underworld ablaze pits the two Joes on a violent collision course, with the fate of a devoted mother (Emily Blunt) and her young son hanging in the balance. Paul Dano and Piper Perabo co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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2011  
R  
Add 50/50 to Queue Add 50/50 to top of Queue  
Written by Will Reiser who based the film on his own experiences fighting cancer, Jonathan Levine's poignant comedy 50/50 stars Joseph Gordonn-Levitt as Adam, a 27-year old public radio employee who discovers he has cancer. As his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) tries to help out, his girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) proves to be a less than ideal life partner for this particular crisis. All the while, Adam's overprotective mother Diane (Anjelica Huston) tries to overcome her son's continued attempts to keep her out of his life. As Adam begins to discover how hard it is to deal with his situation, and to maintain various relationships in his life, he begins seeing a young counselor (Anna Kendrick) who might prove to be just as helpful personally as she is professionally. Matt Frewer and Philip Baker Hall co-star as Adam's fellow chemotherapy patients. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

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Starring:
Joseph Gordon-LevittSeth Rogen, (more)
 
2010  
R  
Add Hesher to Queue Add Hesher to top of Queue  
A bullied little boy grieving the death of his mother strikes up an unlikely friendship with a Metallica-loving anarchist in this tender yet unsentimental childhood drama. In the wake of his mother's recent death, 13-year-old TJ (Devin Brochu) finds the bumpy road to emotional recovery all the more difficult due to the dual facts that he’s bullied at school and that his father (Rainn Wilson) has become a vacant pill-head. Just when it seems like things couldn’t possibly get any worse, TJ strikes up an unusual friendship with Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a greasy-haired anarchist with a beat-up van, homemade tattoos, and a soft spot for explosions. The next thing TJ knows, Hesher is sitting in his living room and watching porn on the family television. Later, though, just as TJ summons the courage to pursue a friendship with Nicole (Natalie Portman), a kindly grocery-store clerk who came to his aid in a time of need, an explosive discovery threatens to propel the embattled teen down a dangerous path of self-destruction. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Starring:
Joseph Gordon-LevittNatalie Portman, (more)