Martin Henderson Movies
In the early 2000s, New Zealand helped Hollywood find some of the film industry's new and exciting talent. In addition to offering high-profile efforts by such visionary directors as Peter Jackson and Lee Tamahori, the South Pacific island country was also the birthplace of talented actor Martin Henderson. A native of Auckland who stumbled into acting when a popular local TV show held a casting call at his school, the 13-year-old soon realized his true calling. He landed the part on Strangers and soon thereafter was cast in the popular hospital drama Shortland Street -- a role which earned the up-and-coming star a Best Male Dramatic Performance award at the 1993 New Zealand Film and Television Awards. Henderson moved to Sydney, Australia, where he stepped into the lead as an athlete with Olympic aspirations in Sweat. By this point, he was beginning to court international recognition, and made his feature debut with a supporting role in 1999's Kick. Henderson opted to hone his craft further at the New York Playhouse, where he appeared in a number of stage productions. Though he was lost in the shuffle with a small supporting role in John Woo's ill-fated World War II drama Windtalkers (2002), things soon began to look up for Henderson in Hollywood. With the release of The Ring later that year, the actor had both more screen time and a character that afforded him a better opportunity to exhibit his talent. Indie romance followed when Henderson was cast opposite Piper Perabo in the 2002 drama A Piece of My Heart (adapted for the screen by playwright Matt Cooper). Then, in an unpredictable move, the rising star received positive notice for his role in the Swedish romantic drama Skagerrak (aka Sweet Dreams). In 2004, Henderson rode fast and furious in the motorcycle action thriller Torque, which offered him his first lead in a large-scale Hollywood production. He also appeared later that year in the U.K. musical comedy Bride and Prejudice, a Bollywood-style adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. AFI nominated for a "Best Supporting Actor" trophy as a result of his affecting role as a disabled man drawn into a dangerous crime sceme in the 2005 Australian crime drama Little Fish, Henderson could next be seen taking to the sides as an American pilot helping his French allies fight the good fight in the World War I adventure Flyboys. He had a small part in Smokin' Aces, and had a major role in the political drama Battle in Seattle. He also had a major part in the 2010 WWII film Home By Christmas. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Actor-turned-filmmaker Stuart Townsend makes his screenwriting and directorial debut with this ensemble film set during the 1999 World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle and presenting the riots that swept through the streets during the five-day conference from the perspectives of police, protestors, and city officials. A typically laid-back Northwestern city, Seattle would erupt into violence when, for five days in 1999, tens of thousands of protestors flooded the streets to voice their disapproval of the high-profile World Trade Organization conference. Among that sea of protestors are Django (André Benjamin), Sam (Jennifer Carpenter), Jay (Martin Henderson), and Lou (Michelle Rodriguez) -- each convinced that the stakes go beyond politics and equally determined to make a difference by ensuring that their voice of dissent is heard by the masses. At first the demonstration is peaceful, but in an instant the streets explode and the WTO is paralyzed. As a full-scale riot commences and a state of emergency is declared, the residents of Seattle are caught in the crossfire between protestors and police. With beleaguered mayor Jim Tobin (Ray Liotta) scrambling to diffuse tensions and riot cop Dale Anderson (Woody Harrelson) racing to protect his pregnant wife, Ella (Charlize Theron), everyone involved is forced to make difficult decisions that are sure to change their lives forever. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charlize Theron, André Benjamin, (more)
When a shifty magician turns state's evidence against a Las Vegas underworld heavy, the high price placed on his head sparks a fevered race to rub the snitch out and collect a tidy paycheck in Narc director Joe Carnahan's dark action comedy. Buddy "Aces" Israel (Jeremy Piven) is a small-time scammer who has somehow managed to get the goods on big-time mobster Primo Sparazza. Upon discovering that Buddy is about to deliver the evidence needed to get him thrown in jail for life, Primo takes out a sizable contract on Buddy that entices every two-bit thug, grizzled bounty hunter, deadly vixen, skilled assassin, and ladder-climbing Mafioso within a hundred-mile radius into taking a shot at the prize. Now holed up in his luxurious Lake Tahoe hideout with only two FBI agents (Ryan Reynolds and Ray Liotta) standing between him from a virtual army of money-hungry rogues, Buddy is about to find out just how far this motley crew of killers is willing to go in order to take him out and hit the jackpot. Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys, and Martin Henderson co-star in a bullet-strewn, ensemble crime comedy that never stops to reload. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, (more)
As World War I rages in Europe and Allied forces in France, Italy, and England find their resolve quickly diminishing due to the overwhelming force of the German juggernaut, a handful of brave American soldiers volunteer to join their French counterparts in learning to fly and fighting for freedom from above as the true story of the legendary Lafayette Escadrille comes to the screen in a breathtaking war adventure from Academy Award-winning director Tony Bill and famed producer Dean Devlin. They have come from all over the United States, ready and willing to put their lives on the line despite their country's initial pledge to not get involved with the all-consuming war that rages throughout Europe. Few could have foreseen the challenges faced by the world's first fighter pilots, however, and upon arriving at their aerodrome in France, the aspiring aviators are assigned to a new squadron under the command of war-ravaged Captain Thenault (Jean Reno) and battle-weary American pilot Reed Cassidy -- the sole survivor of his devastated former air brigade. With little encouragement from their fellow aviators and nothing to drive but their unifying goal of taking to the skies and offering up their lives in the name of freedom, the determined airmen of the Lafayette Escadrille set out to make history by embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. James Franco, Martin Henderson, and David Ellison star in a script penned by Phil Sears, Blake T. Evans, and David S. Ward. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Franco, Martin Henderson, (more)
A former drug-addict in her early thirties attempts to put her shady past to rest while paving the way for a brighter future in director Rowan Woods' tale of love, trust, and redemption in modern-day Australia. Tracy Heart (Cate Blanchett) hasn't lived her 32 years so much as she has simply survived them. Ravaged by the drug-addiction and determined to redeem herself in the eyes of her overworked single-mother Janelle (Noni Hazelhurst), Tracy makes a personal vow to open her own business and turn her life around before it's too late and life has passed her by. Tracy's plan is complicated, however, when three men from her past reappear with their own plans for the future. In addition to the troubling re-appearance of her ex-boyfriend Jonny (Dustin Nguyen), her criminal-minded brother Ray (Martin Henderson) seems hell-bent on making a name for himself in the underworld, and the emotional demands of troubled family friend and ex-football star Lionel Dawson (Hugo Weaving) have left the emotionally vulnerable Tracy shaken and confused. When Tracy's modest dreams of a happy life catch the attention of feared criminal kingpin Bradley "The Jockey" Thompson (Sam Neill), she is forced to place her fragile trust in the hands of her skeptical mother and take one last trip into the past to confront her greatest fear.
~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cate Blanchett, Sam Neill, (more)
Shelved for almost a full year, the feature-film debut of acclaimed music video director Joseph Kahn, Torque is an action thriller set in the fast-paced, high-adrenaline world of biker gangs. Martin Henderson (The Ring) stars as Cary, a biker who is framed for the murder of a gang leader Trey's (Ice Cube) brother by Henry (Matt Schulze). Now, Cary finds himself on the run from both Trey's gang and the FBI, headed by the wise-cracking Agent McPherson Adam Scott. From Neal H. Moritz, producer of The Fast and the Furious and XXX, Torque co-stars Jaime Pressly and Monet Mazur. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Martin Henderson, Ice Cube, (more)
The temptations of Hollywood living test the foundation of a young couple's blossoming relationship in this heartfelt romantic drama from director Matt Cooper. Just two months before graduating from a Midwestern college, law school student Drew (Martin Henderson) falls hopelessly in love with captivating coed Julia (Piper Perabo). Though Julia agrees to follow Drew to Los Angeles following graduation and the couple quickly makes friends with their collection of lovably quirky neighbors, their relationship hits a rocky patch when Julia begins to notice Drew's increasing infatuation with the wild and risqué Hollywood nightlife. As the passion of newfound love begins to give way to the realities and compromises of a long-lasting relationship, Drew and Julia strive to understand one another and use their experiences to build the foundation for a lasting love. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Martin Henderson, Piper Perabo, (more)
The very British sensibilities of Jane Austen are introduced to the exotic flavors of the Bollywood musical in this romantic comedy with songs from the director of Bend It Like Beckham, Gurinder Chadha. Lalita Bakshi (Aishwarya Rai) is the lovely and eligible daughter of her socially ambitious mother and father (Nadira Babbar and Anupam Kher). Mother and father want to be sure that Lalita, the most beautiful of their four daughters, settles down with a man worthy of her, but she has proven resistant to matchmaking, announcing that she will choose her own husband, and will choose him for love. While mother is keen on the profoundly annoying Kholi (Nitin Chandra Ganatra), Lalita has had her head turned by a handsome vagabond from England, Johnny Wickham (Daniel Gilles). But while attending the wedding of a friend, Lalita meets Will Darcy (Martin Henderson), a college buddy of family friend Raj (Naveen Andrews) who is the son of a wealthy hotel magnate. Lalita finds that Will makes a strong impression on her -- she can't stand him, but she also can't get him out of her mind. Will feels the same way about her, and as they inadvertently chase one another over three continents, will morbid fascination grow into true love? Bride and Prejudice marked the first English-speaking role for Aishwarya Rai, who had firmly established herself as India's leading female star when this film was made. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson, (more)
A teen learns that all the gadgets in the world can't help him overcome his awkwardness around the opposite sex in this big-budget family entertainment. In Agent Cody Banks, Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz plays a young man plucked from suburban obscurity to be trained as a CIA super-agent. His mission? Get friendly with his classmate Natalie (played by another teen TV star, Lizzie McGuire's Hilary Duff) so that he can uncover her father's diabolical scheme to create indestructible robots. To compound his problems, Cody also has to deal with the same stresses as any adolescent: nagging parents, insufferable classwork, and a fragile sense of self-esteem. Agent Cody Banks was produced by MGM, not coincidentally the studio responsible for another popular spy franchise, the venerable James Bond series. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frankie Muniz, Hilary Duff, (more)
- 2003
Two female drifters search for their next short-term jobs and for the reasons their lives have been filled with such wanderlust in Søren Kragh-Jacobsen's modern-day romantic fable Skagerrak. Best friends Marie (Iben Hjejle) and Sophie (Bronagh Gallagher) land on the Scottish mainland after a stint working on an oil rig, eager to move on to their next adventure. Just as Sophie decides to head to Glasgow to track down her mechanic boyfriend, the pair are set back after a one-night stand leaves Sophie severely beaten and robbed. While tending to Sophie at the hospital, Marie encounters a strange older man (James Cosmo) who later invites her to his estate while proclaiming to have an irresistible proposition for her. The old man, Sir Robert Lumley, offers to pay several thousands of pounds to Marie if she will agree to become a surrogate mother for his childless son and daughter-in-law. Initially disgusted, Marie reluctantly consents but struggles with the decision throughout her pregnancy. When a worse tragedy strikes the wanderers, Marie is forced to confront a number of issues in her life as she also finds both an unexpected love interest and an unexpected ally from the Scottish estate she has grown to hate. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bronagh Gallagher, Martin Henderson, (more)
A disturbing videotape appears to hold the power of life and death over those who view it in this offbeat thriller. A strange videotape begins making the rounds in a town in the Pacific Northwest; it is full of bizarre and haunting images, and after watching it, many viewers receive a telephone call in which they are warned they will die in seven days. A handful of teenagers who watched the tape while spending a weekend at a cabin in the mountains scoff at the threat, but as predicted, they all die suddenly on the same night. Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts), the aunt of one of the ill-fated teens, is a journalist who has decided to investigate the matter and travels West with her young son, Aidan (David Dorfman), a troubled child who has been drawing pictures of strange and ominous visions. Rachel managed to find the cabin in the woods and watches the video herself; afterward, she receives the same phone call, and realizes she must solve the puzzle of the video and the person or persons behind it within a week. Rachel turns to her ex, Noah (Martin Henderson), an expert in video technology, who at first is convinced the story is a hoax until he digs deeper into the mystery. The Ring was adapted from a 1996 Japanese film by Hideo Nakata, which became a massive box-office success in Asia and spawned two sequels. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Naomi Watts, Martin Henderson, (more)
Loosely based on a real-life operation during World War II, this action-adventure from director John Woo stars Nicolas Cage as Joe Enders, a Marine traumatized by the loss of his entire platoon in the Solomon Islands during an ambush he believes was deadlier than necessary due to his indecision. Suffering from eardrum damage in Hawaii, Joe manages to be declared fit for duty once again thanks to a sympathetic nurse (Frances O'Connor), but his new assignment isn't what he expects. Joe is ordered to safeguard a Navajo soldier named Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach) because the military has developed a new secret code based on the near-dead Navajo language that is proving unbreakable to the Japanese. Any soldier that speaks Navajo is an immediate asset, including Ben and his pal, Charlie Whitehorse (Roger Willie). Joe's orders are to "baby sit" Ben during the invasion of Saipan, protecting him if possible, but -- if the code-talker's capture becomes imminent -- to kill him before he falls into enemy hands. Meanwhile, Charlie is to be guarded by affable harmonica player Ox Henderson (Christian Slater). Joe reluctantly accepts this new duty as a way to get back into the war, and in the ensuing carnage, his nearly suicidal acts of bravery make him a hero while Ben becomes paralyzed by fear. Determined to live up to Joe's example, Ben musters up his courage, even in the face of racism from a fellow soldier (Noah Emmerich), and ends up rescuing his own protector behind enemy lines by briefly posing as a Japanese soldier. Despite their growing mutual respect, Joe is eventually forced to take an action that threatens to shatter his bond with Ben, as the war's tragic losses strike closer to home for both men. Windtalkers co-stars Peter Stormare, Jason Isaacs, and Mark Ruffalo. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, (more)
- 1999
- NR
What would happen if the hero of your high school football team decided he'd rather be a ballet dancer? That's the dilemma in this Australian drama, in which Russell Page plays Matt, a working-class teenager who is accepted into an upscale private school. While many of the students are cool to Matt at first, he gains popularity when he proves he's a demon on the rugby field. But Matt has a secret -- he spent most of his childhood studying ballet, and while it wouldn't be good for his image, a love of dance still burns in his heart. When he finds out a local ballet company is holding auditions for "Romeo and Juliet," Matt throws caution to the wind and tries out, winning the lead role. However, Matt has rugby finals, school examinations and a college scholarship presentation to prepare along with his rehearsals, and as the tension starts to get to Matt, his best friend Tom (Martin Henderson) wonders if his buddy is making a mistake. Matt's girlfriend Tamara (Radha Mitchell) is also none too pleased, especially since Matt seems to be enjoying his rehearsals with his dance partner Claire (Rebecca Yates). Paul Mercurio, who plays the choreographer for Matt's dance company, won his role honestly enough -- he also served as choreographer for the film's many dance numbers. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Russell Page, Rebecca Yates, (more)
- 1995
The daily, 30-minute Australian soap opera Echo Point was set in the fictional town of the same title. Created by John Edwards, Sandra Levy, and Christopher Lee (not the horror film actor), the series divided its time equally between the "young" and "old" characters, whose individual trials and tribulations somehow always managed to converge. The cast included onetime child star Sean Scully (Almost Angels, The Prince and the Pauper) and the ubiquitous Rowena Wallace. A Southern Star production, the 130-episode Echo Point was seen on Australia's Ten Network from June 5, 1995 to December of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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