Elisabeth Moss Movies
A talented and attractive actress who has managed to wrangle a remarkable number of affecting roles despite her youthful age, Elisabeth Moss may be best known to television viewers as the President's daughter on the acclaimed series The West Wing, though thoughtful characterizations in such features as Girl, Interrupted and Imaginary Crimes have been a testament to an actress not afraid to court more challenging and emotionally demanding roles unusual for an actress of her age.Born to music manager Chick Corea and a mother who specialized in the blues harp in 1983, Moss spent her childhood in Los Angeles and was inspired to pursue acting at an early age by screen idol Bette Davis. Working with some of the most respected actors in the industry by the age of 16, Moss made her acting debut at the age of seven in the television miniseries Lucky Chances. Continuing through the mid-'90s with numerous television roles (including a stint on the popular series Picket Fences), Moss' early film roles range from both lightly comical (Suburban Commando [1991]) to increasingly dramatic (Imaginary Crimes [1994]). A humorous bit-part as a conservative 12-year-old facing the wrath of a group of lethal liberals in 1995's The Last Supper dropped a dollop of humor in the mix before Moss returned to more dramatic roles in Separate Lives (1995) and A Thousand Acres (1997), and the talented young actress continued her winning streak with roles in such diverse films as The Joy Riders and Mumford (both 1999). The year before the new millennium proved to be a successful period for Moss as she gained wide recognition for her roles in television's The West Wing and as a sympathetic, mentally disturbed teen in the psychological drama Girl, Interrupted. Moss' personal connection with her Girl, Interrupted persona's inability to relate to others brought a warmth to the role that shined through the screen. Touching audience's sympathies and drawing them into her personal destruction, the talented actress lent the film a performance worthy of praise and recognition. An avid reader in her free time, Moss fancies Shakespearian fare and finds motivation in roles that inspire her and challenge her to be the things that she might not be in real life. With a confident stance in regard to her transition from child star to adult actor, Moss has every reason to be assured given her impressive range of abilities. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
A feminist farm belt version of William Shakespeare's King Lear, this film is based on Jane Smiley's novel about an aging farmer and his three daughters. The Lear-like farmer, Larry Cook (Jason Robards), decides to divide up his thousand-acre farm among his three daughters, but he disinherits his youngest, Caroline (Jennifer Jason Leigh), an attorney, when she expresses hesitancy. The other sisters, Ginny (Jessica Lange) and Rose (Michelle Pfeiffer), take up the offer, even though they were sexually abused by their father as children. They also take up romantically with the hippie son of a neighboring farmer, Jess Clark (Colin Firth), after their own drunken, demented father moves out to live with Clark's father Harold (Pat Hingle). When Rose's husband Peter (Kevin Anderson) learns of her betrayal, he gets drunk, crashes his truck, and dies. Ginny's husband Ty (Keith Carradine) enlists Caroline's help and sues Ginny and Rose on behalf of their father, whom he feels has been treated badly by the daughters. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michelle Pfeiffer, Jessica Lange, (more)
Three men come face to face with their concerns about war when they're drafted in this independent drama set in the near future. As the United States becomes more deeply mired in wars around the world and the threat of major terrorist attacks looms large, the federal government decides to reinstate conscription, and three friends face conflicting emotions as they wait out their last few days before entering the Army under the new draft. George Rifkin (Chris Klein) is a lawyer who has been helping his wife, Molly (Ginnifer Goodwin), get through her recent cancer treatment; he would prefer to stay home with her as she recovers, but despite his legal know-how he can't find a loophole out of his current dilemma. Aaron Feller (Elijah Wood) is a slight and sensitive writer who doesn't feel physically or emotionally prepared to serve in the military, despite his sense of moral obligation, and he turns to a therapist, Dr. Reynolds (Ally Sheedy), to help him cope. And James Dixon (Jon Bernthal) is a cabbie who feels reasonably strong and confident about his future as a soldier until he meets Patricia (Elizabeth Moss), a college student who challenges his beliefs and assumptions about the war and each man's place in it. Day Zero was the first feature film from veteran editor Bryan Gunnar Cole, and received its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elijah Wood, Chris Klein, (more)
Susan Sarandon stars in this made-for-cable-TV adaptation of Anne Tyler's novel about a housewife who thinks her life is going nowhere. However, she suddenly gets a lot more adventure than she bargained for when she's taken hostage during a bank robbery. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Sarandon, Stephen Dorff, (more)
Human disconnect, frailty, and redemption serve as the predominant themes in director Erik Weigel's drama about a man who learns that his childhood friend is dying, and sets out for Washington, D.C. on a mission to record the man's final farewells. The last time that Elliot (Leo Fitzpatrick) saw Matthew they were foster kids living in the nation's capitol. Now Elliot has received word that Matthew is dying, so he hits the road with his trusty video camera in hand, determined to capture his long-lost friend's last words for posterity. Later, at Matthew's funeral, Elliot meets Matthew's former girlfriend Lily (Elizabeth Moss), and his cynical, self-absorbed pal Gray (Christopher Denham). Impulsively stealing Matthew's ashes, Gray and Lily decide to make their way south of the border with Elliot in tow, and scatter the remains of their old friend in the Pacific Ocean. But upon hitting the open road, all three quickly realize that this is no ordinary mission, and that they will all be forced to contend with some weighty questions about life before accomplishing their ultimate goal. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leo Fitzpatrick, Elisabeth Moss, (more)
- 1995
This made-for-television remake of Disney's popular feature tells the tale of two orphan twins with special powers who go looking for their origins. The two are hindered by an avaricious tycoon who only wants to exploit their abilities. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Erik Von Detten, Elisabeth Moss, (more)
In 1967, 19-year-old Susanna (Winona Ryder) feels that "reality is becoming too dense" and is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. The doctor suggests to her parents that she be committed to the Claymore Hospital, and she spends the next 18 months struggling with her troubled psyche and the bizarre world of the institution. Susanna bonds with several other patients, including Lisa (Angelina Jolie), Polly (Elizabeth Moss), and Georgina (Clea DuVall). As she realizes that Lisa is potentially dangerous and truly needs help, Susanna begins to work harder with her psychiatrist (Vanessa Redgrave) and the nurse on the ward (Whoopi Goldberg). But Susanna soon learns that getting out of the hospital is not as easy as getting in. Girl, Interrupted was based on the autobiography of Susanna Kaysen, who really did spend a year-and-a-half in the McLean Psychiatric Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, (more)
- 2007
Suffering from the mother of all hangovers, George (T.R. Knight) is in no shape to meet his new father-in-law (Hector Elizondo)--especially after spending the night with a woman other than his wife. Alex (Justin Chambers) helps Jane Doe (Elizabeth Reaser) select her "new look" after she completes her surgery. Izzie finds out about Meredith's (Ellen Pompeo) drinking problem, all the while keeping mum about a secret of her own. And the arrival of Cristina's (Sandra Oh) former lover Colin Marlow (Roger Rees) seriously compromises her relationship with Burke (Isaiah Washington). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Based on a Broadway play and featuring the Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim score, this is a remake of the 1962 movie which was based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, a stripper, depicting her life growing up in "show biz." ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bette Midler, Cynthia Gibb, (more)
Uwe Boll's Heart of America: Homeroom is a drama about a massacre on the final day of the school year. The last day of school contains many problems for teachers and students alike. The principal must discipline an English teacher (Michael Paré) who has let his professional frustrations get the better of him, student Dara needs to score from the drug dealing Wex (G. Michael Gray), and a foursome of cruel athletes continues to torment the losers and nerds. Unbeknown to everyone else at the school, the eternally picked upon Daniel (Kett Turton) and Barry (Michael Belyea), as well as a third accomplice, are extensively armed and plan to unleash their fury on the school right after final bell. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jürgen Prochnow, Elisabeth Rosen, (more)
Usually cast in showy or unsympathetic supporting roles, Harvey Keitel here gets the rare chance to play a leading role as a "nice guy" -- albeit a nice guy with some serious problems -- in this family drama. Ray Weiler (Keitel) is the widowed father of two girls, high school senior Sonya (Fairuza Balk) and her younger sister Greta (Elizabeth Moss). Ray is full of get-rich-quick schemes that never quite pan out and often skirt the edges of the law. While it's obvious that he loves his daughters, he's hardly a healthy role model, and Sonya and Greta both know it -- dealing with bill collectors and angry investors who've dumped money into one of their father's schemes is just a part of life at the Weiler household. Ray has enrolled Sonya in a private school that he can't actually afford, but he's certain his latest mining venture is going to bring him some real money. Mr. Webster (Vincent D'Onofrio), one of Sonya's teachers, thinks she has a real gift as a writer and should go on to college. Sonya, however, knows that Ray would be against it -- and even if he did approve, how would they pay for it? Meanwhile, Ray seems to have found a backer for his latest mining project -- a man named Jarvis (Chris Penn) -- but one of his partners starts to get cold feet, and Jarvis looks like a man who does not take disappointment well. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harvey Keitel, Fairuza Balk, (more)
The debut season of Matthew Weiner's intense and stylish drama follows the lives of Madison Avenue advertising executives (so-called "Mad Men") in 1960. The series centers on Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the dashing and brilliant creative director for ad agency Sterling Cooper (Season 1 accounts include Richard Nixon's presidential campaign and, appropriately, Lucky Strike, given the cigarettes are smoked in nearly every scene). Don's charms extend well outside of the boardroom and into the bedroom: The married man has a free-spirited lover, Midge Daniels (Rosemarie DeWitt), who's his polar opposite, and a second mistress, Rachel Menken (Maggie Siff), a client whose independence challenges Don's views on women. Don's wife, Betty (January Jones), meanwhile, dutifully fulfills her role as housewife. But when she develops a mysterious ailment that causes her to lose feeling in her hands, she's sent to a psychiatrist to work through her problems. Over at Sterling Cooper, new secretary Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) tries to adjust to life in the boys club with guidance from seen-it-all bombshell secretary Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks). Young account exec Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser) also has his eyes on Peggy and quickly begins pursuing her, despite his upcoming nuptials. There's even more bad behavior at the office from skirt chasers Ken Cosgrove (Aaron Staton) and Paul Kinsey (Michael Gladis), loving but imperfect Harry Crane (Rich Sommer) and stuck-in-the-closet art director Sal Romano (Bryan Batt). Partner Roger Sterling (John Slattery) does little to set an example for his employees as he happily indulges in an array of vices and an affair with Joan. Senior partner Bertram Cooper (Robert Morse) is mostly out of touch with the staff, preferring to remain within the sanctuary of his giant office. In the midst of this workplace frivolity, Don learns that the picture-perfect life he's created for himself could be threatened by a secret from his past. ~ Brie Hearn, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, (more)
Following a first-season finale in which housewife Betty Draper (January Jones) comes to the realization that her ad-exec husband, Don (Jon Hamm), may be having an affair, Season 2 dives headlong into the couple's marital strife. Professionally, Don is flying high as a junior partner and creative director at the Sterling Cooper ad agency, but his home life is rapidly deteriorating. After Betty kicks him out for apparent infidelity, Don moves into a hotel and is only able to see his children with Betty's permission. At Sterling Cooper, the long-simmering power struggle between Don and Herman "Duck" Phillips (Mark Moses) reaches a boiling point, as the impetuous director of account services negotiates a deal with a British firm that he believes will finally give him the upper hand. A subtler power play is made by Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss), who seems to have recovered nicely from the shocking birth of her child by married account exec Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser). The product research that Peggy conducted while serving as Don's secretary during Season 1 eventually leads to her promotion as the agency's first female copywriter, and even her own office. Other employees also confront emerging social issues of the day: Creative copywriter Paul Kinsey (Michael Gladis) breaks social taboos by dating a black woman, while art director Salvatore Romano (Bryan Batt) secretly struggles with his homosexuality. And romance remains tricky for secretary Joan Holloway (Christina Hendricks) -- whose doctor fiancé proves controlling and abusive-and her ex, Sterling Cooper partner Roger Sterling (John Slattery), who embarks on yet another extramarital love affair with yet another young secretary. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, (more)
- 1993
A woman involved in a satanic cult (Olivia D'Abo) is looking for the devil's new bride. She takes a job as a nanny to find the victim. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia D'Abo, Marcy Walker, (more)
Lawrence Kasdan wrote and directed this comedy about a young psychologist named Mumford (Loren Dean), who arrives in a small town and sets up a practice. Mumford's style is short on analytic mumbo-jumbo and long on practical advice, and he soon finds that he has a long list of satisfied clients in his new home town, including many of the city's most prominent citizens. Mumford's advice also helps love bloom among the city's single residents. However, the city already had a psychologist, Ernest Delbanco (David Paymer), who is quickly losing business to Mumford. So Ernest starts asking questions: who is this Mumford, and just what are his qualifications? Mumford's supporting cast includes Ted Danson, Martin Short, Alfre Woodard, Hope Davis, Jason Lee, and Pruitt Taylor Vince. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Loren Dean, Hope Davis, (more)
- 1995
The struggle of country music's mother-daughter duo The Judds is told in this made-for-television drama. Kathleen York stars as Naomi Judd (then known as Diana Judd) a single mother of two daughters, who turned to music as way to help positively influence her increasingly belligerent and rebellious eldest daughter Wynonna (then known as Christina). The movie chronicles Naomi's struggle to provide for her daughters (the youngest is actress Ashley Judd), the singing duo's rise from Nashville fame to national celebrity, the ups and downs that accompanied a working family relationship, and Naomi's eventual retirement from the music business. The movie was based on Naomi's autobiography Love Can Build A Bridge. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 2008
An affluent surgeon from New Orleans finds his attempt to piece his life back together after Hurricane Katrina unexpectedly unraveling with the appearance of an old flame in this drama from director Michael Almereyda. Dr. Henry Jekyll (Christopher Eccleston) is a socialite and surgeon whose once-happy home was shaken to the core by his affair with the young and beautiful Hyde (Elisabeth Moss). Now, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Jekyll has returned to town to work for an anarchist relief organization dedicated to rebuilding the city. As the tireless aid workers put all of their energy into making New Orleans livable again, Dr. Jekyll makes a concerted effort to get his own life back together by remarrying his ex-wife. But resisting temptation is easier said than done, and when Hyde walks back into his life Dr. Jekyll finds his willpower put to the ultimate test. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Eccleston, Elisabeth Moss, (more)
Set in a charming forest wonderland, this ecologically-conscious animated adventure tells the tale of a badger who inhales toxic fumes and nearly dies. Fortunately, her pals, a mouse, a hedgehog, and a mole are willing to risk their lives to find a cure. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Crawford, Ben Vereen, (more)
- 1995
- R
This psychological thriller was cowritten by Steven Pressfield, who went on to become a successful novelist with The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) and historical fiction such as Gates of Fire and Tides of War. Linda Hamilton stars as Lauren Porter, a well-regarded professor of psychology who fears that she may be suffering from multiple personality disorder. As a young girl, she received psychological scars when her mother murdered her stepfather and then committed suicide. She approaches one of her students, Tom Beckwith (James Belushi), a former cop who has quit the force in order to study psychology, and tells him of her concerns. Although he is struggling with his own relationship with his daughter, Beckwith agrees to trail Porter, and before long she has indeed slipped into a totally different personality, that of Lena, a club-hopping swinger. When Lena gets into trouble with a man she's picked up, Beckwith intervenes and receives a brutal beating. Soon, the murder of an investigator and the death of Porter's ex-husband are laid at her feet. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Belushi, Linda Hamilton, (more)
- 2001
Not long after the death of her mother in a car accident, Kelly (Elisabeth Moss) and her father Jesse (Greg Evigan) move to New Orleans. Their new house is reportedly haunted--and Kelly is convinced that the ghost is begging for her help. Jesse, however, is more skeptical, and with the assistance of Kelly's troublesome friend Cole (Austin O'Brien) he tries to prove that the "haunting" is actually a manifestation of Kelly's own guilt feelings. As it turns out, however, both Kelly and Jesse are right! Evidently intended for theatrical release, Spirit was first seen in the US as a cable-TV offering on the Lifetime channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A vehicle for popular wrestling celebrity Hulk Hogan, Suburban Commando is an inoffensive science-fiction fantasy. Hogan plays Shep Ramsey, a well-sculpted if somewhat dimwitted intergalactic hero. On vacation from fighting crime on other planets, he has a fight with an alien enemy and his spaceship is damaged. He seeks refuge on Earth until his ship can be revived. Trying to look inconspicuous as an ordinary human being without special powers, he is befriended by a suburban family headed by Charlie Wilcox (Christopher Lloyd) and his wife Jenny (Shelley Duvall). Ramsey's stay isn't peaceful because he has such a keen sense of justice, which he dishes out to muggers, reckless drivers, and even smart-aleck paper carriers. In the end, he has to defend the family against his bold nemesis. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hulk Hogan, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
American independent filmmaker Kim Caviness makes her directorial debut with the satirical comedy drama Temptation, made according to the rules of the film movement parody "Dogme 69." Nora (Annette O'Toole) and Phil (producer/co-writer Lyn Vaus) are a married couple who make sex-positive pornography in the Valley. Just when the money stops coming in and they're about to call it quits, they discover some old raunchy video footage of the latest trendy young television star. The media frenzy surrounding the tapes threatens to overtake their values with the promise of easy money while they struggle to maintain their integrity. Includes cameos by XXX stars Randy West, Bridget Powerz, and Kiki Daire. Shot on Digital Video. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annette O'Toole, Lyn Vaus, (more)
John Savage and Mary Catherine Stewart star in Pet Sematary director Mary Lambert's foreboding tale of a mysterious Victorian home, and one particularly vengeful doppelganger. Shortly after moving into a sprawling Victorian home with her controlling father (Savage) and former beauty-queen mother Stewart), frightened teen Emma (Elisabeth Moss) begins seeing ghastly visions of her deceased twin sister. As the visions become increasingly vivid Emma begins to wonder if she is slowly going insane, eventually confiding her dark secret in her mentally handicapped older brother Frankie (Tom Malloy). When Frankie proves unable to comprehend the true depth of his sister's fear, Emma gradually begins to suspect that her parents have begun practicing a diabolical form of Wicca in order to resurrect their deceased child. Now the only one who will listen to Emma is kindly local police detective John Trevor (Jason Lewis, yet while the attic of the her picturesque Victorian home may finally provide an answer to all of Emma's questions, it could also prove the very place she meets a grim demise. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Lewis, John Savage, (more)
