Sebastian Spence Movies

The great achievement of The Boys of St. Vincent is not that it deals with the controversial subject of pedophilia among Catholic clergy, but that it deals with that subject so honestly, without resorting to melodramatics. At the core of this powerful film lies Henry Czerny's searing performance as Brother Peter Lavin. Czerny deftly shows in the film's first half how Lavin used the double-edged sword of adult and religious authority to intimidate his charges. And in the second half, when Lavin is confronted with the monstrousness of his crimes, Czerny's ability to construct a plausible set of denials (if you had seen only this part of the film, you might be tempted to believe him) lifts the film above a simple case study. Lavin's character, a man who translated his own troubled childhood into pain and affliction for others, is one of the most fascinating psychological studies in contemporary film. Co-writer and director John N. Smith is also to be praised for tamping down the urge to embroider this story with unnecessary flourishes. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide

This Canadian film is director Mina Shum's second feature. Nadine (Moira Kelly) is on her first day at a new job, working in a bank, when there's a holdup. But the job also brings about a romance with co-worker Jonathan (Sebastian Spence). Five years later, the romance has gone sour, and Nadine is attracted to a newcomer in town, Tass (Josh Hamilton). When Tass robs the bank, Nadine is abducted. With the cops and Jonathan in pursuit, they skip town, heading for China City so Tass can visit his hospitalized mother. Moira Kelly provides the voiceover narration. Shum shot in British Columbia. The title is a reference to Drive He Said, directed by Jack Nicholson in 1970. Shown at 1997 film festivals (Toronto, Vancouver). ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

A priest has been murdered in the neighborhood of Inspector Paul Fein's youth, and it's up to the seasoned cop to crack the case in director David Greene's entry into the tense Family of Cops series. It's not going to be easy going back to the streets of his childhood, but despite the demons that linger in the shadows of every corner, this is one case he's not willing to let slip through the cracks. With all evidence pointing to the Russian Mafia as being responsible for the crime, Inspector Fein searches desperately for a witness who's willing to talk. As fear tightens its grip on the scared Russian community of Milwaukee, bodies continue to pile up and an unspoken code of silence threatens to stonewall the investigation. Now, with both his life and the lives of his family hanging in the balance, Inspector Fein must make the decision to pull back, or press forward and pray that the killer won't get to him before he gets to them. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

To those who have grown up with the radio and TV versions of the old Lone Ranger series, this retro TV-movie adaptation will appear as if it has just landed from another planet. Gone are such familiar trappings as "The William Tell Overture," the bushwhacking Butch Cavendish Gang, the title character's backstory as a genuine Texas Ranger, and faithful Indian companion Tonto's Pidgin English. Instead, the viewer is offered a wall-to-wall rock score; a twentysomething hunk of a Boston law student named Luke Hartman (Sebastian Spence) who morphs into the Lone Ranger; an equally youthful and remarkably articulate Tonto (Nathaniel Arcand) who dabbles in mysticism and has a hottie sister named Alope (Anita Brown); authentic 19th century dialogue such as "I love you guys!"; and even a skinny-dipping sequence. Yes, the Lone Ranger still rides a white stallion named Silver and fills his guns with silver bullets; yes, he still sports a mask; and yes, he dedicates his life to being a "champion of justice" after the brutal murder of his Ranger brother. Otherwise, it's "Hi Yo, Dude!" in this radical rethinking of The Lone Ranger, which debuted February 26, 2003, on the WB network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The third and final season of the adult-oriented anthology Bliss offers eight titillating tales of erotica, crafted for and about women by several of Canada's best and most prolific female writers and directors. The season begins with "Tango," one of several series entries written by the prolific Laurie Finstad-Knizhik, in which an Argentinian woman (Larissa Gomes) moves to Montreal to escape a romantic relationship with a married man -- only to fall for a seductive tango instructor. In "Penelope's Suitors," the title character, played by Stephanie Morganstern, is a single woman living in a suburban neighborhood teeming with handsome and desirable delivery men. Shary Guthrie stars in "Tying Up Gerald" as a conservative businesswoman who tries to understand her husband's obsession with S&M -- especially since he prefers to be the submissive one. "Badness" takes place in a courtroom, where the plaintiff (Zoie Palmer) is attracted to the pertinacious defense lawyer who is determined to win the case by any means. Female hockey goalie (Jessica Greco) ponders a romance with a man who doesn't like forceful women in "Amazon." "The Arrangement" features an independent-minded Indian woman (Pamela Sinha) who is dead set against her parents' choice for her husband. In "Les Petits Mots," a freewheeling nightclub DJ (Patricia McKenzie) is drawn to a bookstore owner who prefers the quiet life. And in the series finale "Steph's Life," a woman trapped in a dull, conventional lifestyle tries to kick over the traces by web-casting her sex life. ~ All Movie Guide

The theft of an ancient sword unleashes the fury of one of the most feared mythological creatures ever in Malevolent director John Terlesky's tale of ancient evil turned modern terror. Attila the Hun's legendary sword has been stolen by a rampaging band of marauding mercenaries, and now the powers of hell are about to be awakened. In ancient times, tales of Cerberus struck fear into the hearts of man. A three-headed dog with jaws of steel and a hunger for human flesh, Cerberus was an unstoppable force of hellish destruction. Now, with Attila the Hun's sword missing, the carnivorous canine has been resurrected and modern man must find a way to slay the monstrous beast before the forces of darkness plunge the world into chaos. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The traditional crime thriller gets a modern twist with this sequel to Third Man Out following the further adventures of gay detective Donald Strachey (Chad Allen). Hard boiled private investigator Donald Strachey has just found the lifeless body of his latest client, and now in order to catch the killer he'll be forced to rely on his straight-laced husband Tim and overenthusiastic assistant Kenny. As the investigation leads Strachey straight into Dr. Trevor Cornell's dark world of "conversion therapy,' where psychology and religion combine with the singular goal of turning average everyday homosexuals "straight," the stage is set for a climactic showdown with more than a few surprising twists and turns. Sebastian Spence and Morgan Fairchild co-star in an adaptation of author Richard Stevenson's best-selling series of books that will have viewers of all sexual pursuasions on the edge of their seats. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

When an elderly lesbian couple refuses to sell their home to a powerful developer their house is covered in homophobic vandalism, but is this apparent hate crime motivated by genuine distain for gay culture or simple corporate greed? All the homeowners in the neighborhood have agreed to sell except for a committed lesbian couple with no interest in money nor intentions of moving. A local investigator suspects that the attack is simply a way of convincing the couple to bend to big business, and as he delves further into the case he comes to terms with his feelings for an old boyfriend. Inspired by the strength of the lesbian couple he is working for, the investigator finally learns how to love again. Chad Allen, Margot Kidder, and Gabrielle Rose star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide