Jay R. Ferguson
- 2006
A loner with a secret life discovers that someone wants to intrude on his solitude in this independent drama. Carter (Lukas Haas) is a shy and introspective young man who works as a repairman at an auto garage alongside Leroy (Lee Weaver) and his son, Bobby (Chris Williams). When he's not fixing cars, Carter devotes most of his time to following Ann (Brianne Davis), a pretty girl who plays the violin and doesn't seem to have any interest in him. Despite this, Carter trails her wherever he goes and regularly hides beneath her window so he can hear her play. While Carter worships Ann from afar (or not so afar), he has a stalker of his own, Darla (January Jones), a girl who waits tables at a diner near the auto shop and is obviously fascinated with him. A misplaced astronomy text makes Carter aware that Darla has been following him, and they edge into a cautious romance. Swedish Auto was the first feature film from writer and director Derek Sieg. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lukas Haas, January Jones, (more)
Some critics labeled the weekly, hour-long series Surface as NBC's spin on the ABC hit Lost, though in fact it more closely resembled the theatrical feature The Abyss. The basic plotline involved a curious new form of sea life that had appeared variously in the South Antarctic Sea, San Diego harbor, the coast of Monterey, and the Gulf of Mexico. The first person to see this phenomenon was oceanographer Laura Daughtery Carstarphen (Lake Bell), from the vantage point of a bathysphere 5,000 feet below the ocean's surface. Others taking a special interest in the strange life forms included a CIA man, a sinister foreign scientist, a pair of fisherman, and a couple of teenagers, one of whom brought the warm, friendly looking creature's egg onto dry land, hiding it in his mom's fish tank, where it promptly hatches and a creature pops out. As the series' multitude of story arcs were played out, a number of disturbing questions were raised: What is this odd sea creature? Where did it come from? The answers, of course, were not immediately forthcoming, but one thing was clear regarding the creature: First impressions were very, very, very deceiving!!! Featured in the cast were Rade Serbedzija as Dr. Aleksander Cirko, Jay R. Ferguson as Richard Owen, Carter Jenkins as Miles, Leighton Meester as Savannah, and Bobby Coleman as Jesse. Created by Josh and Jonas Pate and originally titled Fathom (until another producer staked a prior claim on that moniker!), Surface debuted on September 19, 2005, with one of the most expensive pilot episodes in network TV history. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lake Bell, Jay R. Ferguson, (more)
American independent filmmaker Jay Craven directs the Vietnam-era coming-of-age drama The Year That Trembled, based on the novel by Scott Lax. Using stock footage along with a traditional narrative, the film takes place in Ohio following the 1970 student murders at Kent State. Right after high school, best friends Casey (Jonathan Brandis), Jim (Charlie Finn), and Phil (Sean Nelson) move into a cottage with activist-on-the-run Judy Woods (Meredith Monroe). The cottage is next door to their former teacher Helen (Marin Hinkle), who gets fired for her antiwar activities. Her husband, Charlie Kerrigan (Jonathan M. Woodward), is a lawyer torn between his moral opposition to the war and his own ambitions. Also starring Fred Willard, Martin Mull, and Henry Gibson. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Brandis, Meredith Monroe, (more)
A young woman gets a startling perspective on how the other half lives in this teen-oriented thriller. Adrien Williams (Lori Heuring) is a troubled working-class college student who on the advice of her doctor takes a summer job at a posh country club. Brittany Foster (Susan Ward) is one of a group of wealthy students who while away their summer break with nighttime parties and days at the beach. Brittany takes a liking to Adrien and introduces her to her social circle, to the displeasure of her close friend Kelly (Laurie Fortier). Adrien also gets to know Matt Curtis (Matthew Settle), a tennis pro with whom Brittany is infatuated; when Adrien and Matt begin a relationship, Adrien learns the hard way that the rich kids can quickly turn vengeful and deadly. Along with Orpheus and In Between, The In Crowd was one of three films directed by Mary Lambert scheduled for release in 2000. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lori Heuring, Susan Ward, (more)
A teenager finds himself torn between his loyalty to his friends and possibly destroying his own future in this drama. Danny (Peter Facinelli) is a high school senior who has been offered a chance to play football for a college scholarship; while the offer is tempting, at the same time he doesn't want to leave his girlfriend behind. However, all the bets in his life are off when one of his best friends shoots his father, who had a history of violence. Danny and his friends know their buddy would not survive in prison, so they steal the body and try to hide all the evidence before the police get wise. Their plan proves to be neither as simple or as effective as they hoped. End of Innocence features a strong supporting cast, including Amy Irving, Chris Isaak, and Tom Arnold. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Facinelli, Rodney Eastman, (more)
A group of teenagers telling ghost stories while stranded in the middle of nowhere sets the scene for this collection of horror tales. A girl is terrorized by a psycho she "met" on the internet, a biker makes the mistake of visiting a haunted farmhouse, and some folks in an RV finds monsters along the highway. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
This drama examines the personal, political, and racial dilemmas facing a group of college freshmen as they begin their first semester at Columbus University. Malik (Omar Epps) is an African-American student attending on a track scholarship; academics are not his strong suit, and he goes in thinking that his athletic abilities will earn him a free ride through college. Fudge (Ice Cube), a "professional student" who has been at Columbus for six years so far, becomes friendly with Malik and challenges his views about race and politics in America, while Professor Phipps (Laurence Fishburne), a black man who teaches political science, firmly tells Malik that he will not be graded on a different standard either because of his race or his ability to run quickly. With Deja (Tyra Banks), Malik finds a girlfriend, a tutor, and a training partner all rolled into one. Meanwhile, Kristen (Kristy Swanson), a somewhat naive young woman from California, meets a boy named Billy (Jay R. Ferguson) after both have had too much to drink at a beer blast; Kristen soon becomes a victim of date rape and becomes involved with a campus feminist group to deal with the painful experience. While working with the women's group, Kristen gets to know Taryn (Jennifer Connelly), a strong but understanding woman who is also a lesbian, and she finds herself becoming attracted to her. And Remy (Michael Rappaport) is a confused young man from the Midwest who feels lost in the multi-cultural atmosphere of Columbus. He is approached by Scott (Cole Hauser), a member of a group of racist skinheads, who believe that Remy is a perfect candidate to help carry out his group's violent goals. Keep an eye peeled for Gwyneth Paltrow, who has a bit part as a student; rap stars Busta Rhymes, D-Knowledge and Mista Grimm also appear in supporting roles. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson, (more)
In this slasher movie, a bullied youth exacts revenge upon his tormentor. The tale centers on poor traumatized John, a seven-year-old genius who became mute after his father abandoned his family. Because he is so different, he is the perfect patsy for cruel children who constantly torment him. His only friend is young Gretchen. The story then jumps ahead ten years as John breaks out of the asylum he has been in since he suffered brain trauma at the hands of the bullies. Blood flows and violence ensues as he begins murdering and hacking up his tormentors. As a twisted gesture of friendship, he presents poor Gretchen with grisly souvenirs from each kill. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Loretta Leigh Bowman, Elizabeth Greene, (more)
