Jesse Collins Movies

Wendy Crewson won the Canadian Gemini award for her towering performance as the title character in this made-for-TV biopic. Terminally ill with cancer, Sue Rodriguez wants to exercise the option of ending her own life, primarily to spare her family the trouble and expense of caring for her in her final months. The story explores the effects of Sue's decision on her loved ones, particularly her grief-stricken son who is determined to talk her out of suicide. Throughout, details of Sue's pre-illness existence are filled in via the time-honored "interior monologue" technique. Based on a true story, previously chronicled in the documentary Who Owns My Life?, At the End of the Day: The Sue Rodriguez Story aired in Canada in 1998, then was unveiled October 19, 1999 on the American Lifetime cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Darkman is up to his old tricks. He's robbing from the criminals and keeping for himself so he can further perfect his synthetic skin which dissolves after 99 minutes in the light. His old arch-nemesis, Robert Durrant (Larry Drake) returns, having survived the helicopter crash in the first film. Durant attempts to rebuild his crumbling empire by devising a new particle gun to sell on the market. After Durant kills a young scientist for his warehouse, Darkman goes on a rampage, vowing to destroy Durant once and for all. Darkman concocts masks of his enemies and infiltrates Durant's gang, turning everyone on themselves. This sequel is above the typical direct-to-video quality and director May has captured Raimi's comic-book style, but the energy that propelled the original is sorely missing here. Welcome back is Drake who once again astonishes with a gleefully maniacal performance, rightfully stealing the show. Replacing the title character is Arnold Vosloo, who coolly plays Darkman without the enraged melodramatics Liam Neeson brought to his portrayal of the tormented hero. This sequel was actually filmed after Darkman III: Die, Darkman, Die but was released on video first despite the fact that Universal thought it looked good enough to release into theaters. ~ Sean D. MacLaggan, Rovi

A pair of American pilots are forced to cooperate with their Soviet counterparts on a mission to destroy a Middle Eastern nuclear weapons site in this predictable, low-budget action sequel. The first Iron Eagle's rebellious fly boy Cooper (Mark Humphreys) has returned, as has his gruff mentor Chappy (Louis Gossett Jr. as yet another military man). They must work with two Russian pilots, one of whom is a beautiful woman that handsome young Cooper naturally sets out to woo. An extended build-up, including the requisite government conspiracy, leads to the climactic final battle. Average-at-best production values fail to elevate the film above a derivative screenplay, although the film did find enough success to produce further installments in the series. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi