Scott Roberts Movies
The initials in this animated series' title stood for "DNA Integrated Cybernetic Enterprises", which was also the name of the PlayStation 2 game upon which the series was based. The D.I.C.E. organization was designed to solve the weightier problems of the Sarbylion galaxy; the organization had several units all over the galaxy, with the DICE F-99 unit being the only one comprised entirely of children. Whenever they were unable to rely upon their own brains or experience to get out of a jam, the youngsters of DICE F-99 could always depend on their "Dinobreakers", which alternated between vehicle and dinosaur form. The first anime production of Bandai North America to be primarily geared for U.S. rather than Japanese viewers (with boys aged 5 to 11 as the target audience), D.I.C.E. premiered as part of Cartoon Network's "Toonami" lineup on January 1, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Scott Roberts, Carol Anne-Day, (more)
Three brothers who would argue that crime does pay have a hard time getting their fair share of the proceeds in this witty action thriller from Australia. Dale Twentyman (Guy Pearce) and his brothers, Mal (Damien Richardson) and Shane (Joel Edgerton), are serving time together in prison for robbery. Dale is the brains and the cool head of the group, Mal is the eager-to-please nice guy, and Shane is something of a loose cannon. Dale and his siblings are eager to get out of jail, and their lawyer, Frank Malone (Robert Taylor), has pulled a deal that could pare some time off their sentences, though the arrangement is strictly off the books. Mick Kelly (Vince Colosimo) and Jack O'Riordan (Paul Sonkkila) are a pair of crooked police detectives who have arranged with Malone to give the Twentyman brothers day passes from jail in order to pull bank robberies, with the siblings' share held in escrow until they're released. Dale thinks something a bit off in this operation, and his suspicions are confirmed when Malone tells the brothers after they're granted their early release that they won't get their money until they pull one last job -- an ambitious robbery at a Melbourne race track on the day of the nation's biggest horse race. Dale is convinced he smells a rat -- especially since he has good reason to suspect that Malone is having an affair with his wife, Carol (Rachel Griffiths). The Hard Word marked the directorial debut for writer/director Scott Roberts. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Guy Pearce, Rachel Griffiths, (more)
Two single guys try to figure out women (and come up short) in this independent comedy. After getting his walking papers from his girlfriend, Jack (Aaron Priest) decides to throw himself back into dating, though soon he has more women trouble than he knows what to do with -- he can't get rid of his former flame Heather, he's not sure what to make of psychobabble-spouting Rhonda, and he can't reconcile the fact that he's in love with his close friend Kelly. Meanwhile, Rod (Scott Roberts), Jack's metalhead roommate, can't land a date to save his life; a pass at a stranger at a party leads to a fight with her boyfriend, and a dinner with Kelly and his best friend ends in chaos. Chicks, Man was the first feature film from writer and director Jeremy Wagener. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1992
- R
A pair of climbers attempts to scale the world's second-largest and most dangerous mountain in this visually impressive but dramatically weak adventure. Skirt-chasing lawyer Taylor Brooks (Michael Biehn) and sedate family man Harold Jamison (Matt Craven) share a love of risky mountain climbing and embark on numerous collaborative expeditions. During one of these climbs, they encounter a team of fellow mountaineers preparing to tackle the legendary Pakistani mountain K2. Brooks immediately becomes obsessed with this task, and he convinces the reluctant Jamison to join the team. The bulk of the film centers on the dangerous climb and even more challenging descent, beset with challenges both natural and human. Though adapted from a stage play by Patrick Myers, the schematic personal dramas take a back seat to cinematographer Gabriel Beristain's overwhelming landscapes, filmed both on location at the real K2 and on a smaller Canadian peak. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Biehn, Matt Craven, (more)
- 1992
- R
Doctor Mordrid (Jeffrey Combs) is an interdimensional sorcerer whose earth cover consists of acting as a super for a Manhattan apartment building. He gets word from his contact that a rival sorcerer, Kabal (Brian Thompson), has escaped and is coming to earth to take over the planet. Framed by Kabal for murder, Mordrid is sent to jail where his girlfriend (Yvette Nipar) is the only one who can help him escape -- and prevent the destruction of Earth. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jeffrey Combs, Yvette Nipar, (more)
A group of radical Vietnam vets become broadcasting pirates and take on a Presidential candidate in this crazy comedy. The vets and their leader, "Captain," are television raiders flying all over the country in a B-29 they turned into flying broadcasting station S&M TV, jamming the airwaves wherever they go. Their self-assigned mission for the past 20 years is to keep the public informed about government activity to stop them from launching another foolish war like Vietnam. To do this they monitor the broadcasts of other television stations and when they don't like what they hear, they bust in and expose the lies. The bulk of the story centers around their final mission: an all-out attempt to keep Mrs. Willa Westinghouse, an ultra-conservative Presidential candidate and strong proponent of the Cold War and military strength, from winning the election. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dennis Hopper, Michael J. Pollard, (more)
