Michael Petroni Movies
- 2003
Debuting January 27, 2003, the weekly, hourlong supernatural-drama series Miracles starred Skeet Ulrich as Paul Callan, a sincere, self-effacing young seminarian whose job it was to investigate "miraculous phenomena" on behalf of the Catholic church. At first, Paul adhered to the party line, declaring that most miracles could be logically explained. All this changed when, after a near-fatal accident, Paul was brought back to life by the mysterious healing powers of a boy named Tommy -- who paid for his act of grace with his life. Just before his recovery, Paul had seen the words "God Is Now Here," scrawled in his own blood. Galvanized by this sign from above, Paul quit his job and became a freelance investigator of miracles, hoping not only to prove beyond doubt the authenticity -- or lack of authenticity -- of those miracles, but also to ascertain the reason that his life was spared and Tommy's was not. Paul was joined on this mission by ex-Harvard professor Father Alva Keel (Angus MacFadyen), an expert in the paranormal -- and like Paul, the sort of true believer who demanded complete verification of his beliefs. Alva also headed a strange Boston-based organization called "Sodalitas Quaerito" ("Brotherhood in Search of Truth"), whose acolytes seemed to be preparing for an as-yet-undetermined "large event" that might well have culminated with the end of the world. The two investigators were occasionally assisted by a sympathetic former policewoman, Evelyn Santos (Marisa Ramirez), likewise a member of Sodalitas Quaerito. A presentation of the ABC network, Miracles might have lasted longer than its six episodes had the series not been constantly pre-empted by news coverage of the unrest in the Middle East. The show was canceled on March 27, 2003, but not before it had attracted a sizeable cult following. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Skeet Ulrich, Angus MacFadyen, (more)
The second and third novels in author Anne Rice's popular book series The Vampire Chronicles provide the inspiration for this horror sequel starring ill-fated actress and recording artist Aaliyah, who was killed in an airplane crash before the film's release. Stuart Townsend is the vampire Lestat, who has awakened from a century-long slumber and turned his considerable energy to rock music. His vampirism identity mistaken for a gothic hard rock publicity stunt along the lines of Kiss or Marilyn Manson, he quickly becomes a pop music sensation. Lestat's powerful music reaches the ear of the slumbering Akasha (Aaliyah), the millennia-old "queen of the vampires" who was the first immortal bloodsucker. Akasha is soon free and embarking on a quest to seize control of the world with Lestat at her side. In the meantime, Lestat becomes an object of fascination for Jesse Reeves (Marguerite Moreau), member of a secret order studying the supernatural called the Talamasca, and a band of ancient vampires come together in an effort to stop Akasha, even though her destruction could potentially cause their own deaths. Queen of the Damned co-stars Lena Olin and Vincent Perez. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aaliyah, Stuart Townsend, (more)
- 2002
- R
- Add The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys to QueueAdd The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys to top of Queue
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys brings Chris Fuhrman's well-received, posthumously published teen novel to the screen. Set in the 1970s, the film concerns two rebellious Catholic schoolboys -- bashful, pensive Francis (Emile Hirsch) and whip-smart, impulsive Tim (Kieran Culkin) -- who spend their free time pulling elaborate pranks and creating a comic book featuring themselves and their friends, Wade (Jake Richardson) and Joey (Tyler Long), as superheroes. Their alter egos are brought to life in animated sequences by Spawn creator Todd McFarlane. Their grim, strict, one-legged teacher, Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster), is drawn as a motorcycle-riding supervillain. Vincent D'Onofrio plays the more easygoing Father Casey. Egged on by Tim, Francis admits that he has a crush on Margie Flynn (Jena Malone). Tim encourages Francis to pursue Margie, at one point even sending her a mash note and signing his friend's name. Francis and Margie eventually begin seeing each other. But when Margie reveals a terrible, painful secret to Francis, it sets off a chain of events that leads to tragedy. The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys marks the feature debut of director Peter Care. It was screened at several festivals, including the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. The film sparked a small controversy at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, where it was rejected, allegedly in retaliation for producer Foster's decision to forego heading up the fest's jury in order to replace Nicole Kidman in Panic Room. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kieran Culkin, Jena Malone, (more)
Young adolescent Sam Franks (Lindley Joyner) spends his summers away from school with his physician father (Peter Curtin), whose schedule barely allows for quality father-son time. Therefore, Sam idles away most of his time with neighbor Maurie Lewis (Frank Gallacher) and Maurie's handicapped daughter Silvy (Brooke Harman), who also happens to be Sam's best friend. One night following a dance, Sam and Silvy kiss for the first time, and go down to the nearby river. As the two are lazily floating in the river and watching the night sky, Silvy disappears underwater and her body is never found. Several years afterwards, an adult Sam (Guy Pearce) -- who has gone on to become a psychiatry instructor -- journeys back to the same town for the funeral of his recently deceased father. While en route, Sam encounters Ruby (Helena Bonham Carter), a mysterious young woman he is forced to rescue from the same river that Silvy had disappeared in. After bringing Ruby to his father's house to calm her down after the incident, Sam begins to feel a strangely familiar comfortableness with her and the two begin to visit all of Sam's and Silvy's old stomping grounds. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Guy Pearce, Helena Bonham Carter, (more)
Sylvester Stallone is a tough but essentially decent convict in a relatively humane prison. He's on such good terms with the authorities that he's occasionally allowed a weekend furlough. This idyllic situation ends abruptly when he's transferred to a nasty prison run by sadistic warden Donald Sutherland (remember way back when Sutherland played good guys and Stallone played secondary hoodlums?) Harboring a grudge against Sly over an unfortunate incident at another prison, Sutherland does everything he can to make Stallone's term a Hell on Earth. But in the end, it is Sutherland who is Stallone's prisoner--and, since Sly's name comes first on the credits, it is Sutherland who blubberingly confesses to a string of crimes perpetrated on the helpless inmates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sylvester Stallone, Donald Sutherland, (more)
