Erik Knudsen Movies
Jericho returned for a second astounding season thanks to unprecedented and impassioned support from its legion of loyal fans, many of whom sent peanuts (reportedly totaling thousands of pounds) to the CBS offices in New York and Los Angeles. Why peanuts? That was a reference to the Season 1 cliffhanger finale, which ended with a character uttering "Nuts." CBS responded by bringing the series back for this concluding seven-episode Season 2 run in the spring of 2008. In the aftermath of a devastating nuclear explosion, and a battle with neighboring New Bern, the once peaceful town of Jericho begins to rebuild itself as it attempts to communicate with the outside world. The newly formed Cheyenne government strives to establish its stronghold in the region, but Jericho's citizens become suspicious of these new leaders as they question their true intentions.
- Starring:
- Skeet Ulrich, Ashley Scott, (more)
Director Eric Canuel and producer Kevin Tierney collaborate on Canada's first "completely bilingual" film, a buddy cop murder mystery starring Colm Feore and Patrick Huard. When a body is discovered on the border between Ontario and Quebec, a street-savvy Ontario cop and a steely Montreal detective must join forces to solve the crime and catch the killer. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Colm Feore, Patrick Huard, (more)
Jigsaw, the diabolical criminal who captured the imagination of horror fans in the 2004 hit Saw, returns in this equally bloody sequel. Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) is a police detective who, after discovering the aftermath of a particularly gruesome murder, is convinced that Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is up to his ugly tricks again. Matthews's hunch turns out to be correct, but the master criminal proves to be disconcertingly easy to capture. As it happens, Jigsaw is eager to be put behind bars in order to throw the authorities off his trail as he once again punishes people who in his eyes have transgressed the boundaries of acceptable moral behavior. But instead of trapping two people in a filthy dungeon where they must engage in a terrible contest in order to win their freedom, eight people have been locked away by Jigsaw, and they must torture their bodies and minds to achieve the terrible justice Jigsaw seeks. Saw II was written by Leigh Whannell, who also scripted the first film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donnie Wahlberg, Tobin Bell, (more)
- 2003
The made-for-cable biopic Full Court Miracle is the true story of Lamont Carr, here played by Richard T. Jones. A college basketball star, Lamont seems to be a shoo-in for the Philadelpha 76ers until he is permanently sidelined by a knee injury. Seeking out employment in his chosen profession, Lamont is invited to be head coach of the Philadelphia Hebrew Academy Lions, a Yeshiva team captained by Alex Schlotsky (Alex D. Linz). Despite the obvious cultural schism between the African-American Carr and his Jewish players, Jason is determined to pull the Lions out of the cellar and lead them to victory at the Liberty Basketball Tournament -- and as part of his strategy, he invokes the heroic example of Judah and the Maccabees. First telecast on the Disney Channel, Full Court Miracle was originally shown on November 21, 2003 -- coincidentally during Hanukkah week. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard T. Jones, Alex D. Linz, (more)
- 2000
This made-for-TV drama was inspired by a true story that occurred in Carleton, Ontario during Christmas Week of 1999. Disguised as a nurse, a bipolar woman named Margaret Wheeler (Nola Auguston) kidnaps a premature infant, the first male child of Karen and Phil Lewis (Marnie McPhail, Hugh Thompson). Though profoundly disturbed, Margaret has covered her tracks well, and has even secured the silence of her boyfriend Darryl (Alan Van Sprang), a former convict who can't go to the authorities without casting blame upon herself. As the Lewises anxiously await news of their missing baby, dedicated police sergeant Jane McKinley (Leslie Hope) follows the trail of clues and ultimately attempts to break down Margaret's wall of lies. The film also brings into play the not inconsiderable domestic problems endured by McKinley herself as she endeavors to bring hope to the biological parents. Despite the grimness of its subject matter, Stolen Miracle is a heartwarming, life-affirming firm which proved ideal Holiday fare when it first aired in Canada on December 18, 2001. It was subsequently picked up for US cable play (again as a "Christmas picture") by the Lifetime channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
