Peter Von Berg Movies
This remake of the classic 1975 science fiction film follows the same basic story line but focuses far more on the sports action of the fictional game at its center. Chris Klein stars as all-American athlete Jonathan Cross, the most popular player of "Rollerball," a violent 21st century sport mixing elements of basketball, hockey, roller derby, and extreme sports, along with the development of live wagering that tracks each game's action. Along with his friends and teammates Marcus (L.L. Cool J) and Aurora (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), Jonathan is living the life of a media celebrity and millionaire, enjoying the adoration of fans and all of the perks that his fame brings. When the creator of Rollerball, Alexi Petrovich (Jean Reno), realizes that the sport's ratings spike during the on-court accidents that are de rigueur for the game, he schemes to create the bloody incidents that are popular with viewers but put the athletes in mortal jeopardy. Soon, Jonathan and his friends find themselves pawns in a vast corporate conspiracy in which their lives are far less important than profits. Rollerball (2002) also stars pop singer Pink in her acting debut. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Klein, Jean Reno, (more)
- 1999
In this conclusion of a two-part story, the detectives and the lawyers vow to avenge the slaying of a woman whose son witnessed a Russian Mafia hit. Relentlessly digging up every possible lead, the forces of law and order endeavor to expose a widespread money-laundering scheme -- and to prevent any more killing of witnesses or destruction of evidence. As ADAs McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Carmichael (Angie Harmon) risk violating the civil liberties of witnesses by keeping them in protective custody, detective Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) is hit with a tragedy in his own household. Both parts one and two of "Refuge" were broadcast May 25, 1999, as the finale of Law & Order's ninth season -- and, incidentally, as the swan song of series regular Benjamin Bratt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
A group of party cruisers is besieged by a gunman, resulting in several fatalities. The subsequent investigation leads to a man who is leading a double life. When D.A. Adam Schiff (Steven Hill) refuses to seek the death penalty, he is removed from the case, leading to a tense judicial showdown between Schiff and the Governor of New York. This final episode of Law & Order's seventh season culminates in a devastating personal tragedy for the beleaguered Adam Schiff. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The seven-year-old daughter (Madeline Zima) of prominent Broadway producer Gary Silver (Barry Primus) is kidnapped. As it turns out, the girl's abductor is her own natural mother. But things get even more complex -- and more unsavory -- when charges of sexual molestation enter the picture, leading to the requisite Law & Order surprise ending. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Woody Allen blurs the the boundaries between the real and unreal in this unique comic fantasy. The scene is a small town in the mid-1930s. Trapped in a dead-end job and an abusive marriage, Cecelia (Mia Farrow) regularly seeks refuge in the local movie house. She becomes so enraptured by the latest attraction, an RKO screwball comedy called The Purple Rose of Cairo, that she returns to the theatre day after day. During one of these visits, the film's main character Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels), pauses in his dialogue, turns towards the audience, and says to Cecelia, "My God, how you must love this picture." Then he climbs out of the movie, much to the consternation of the rest of the audience and the other characters on screen. Liberated from his customary black-and-white environs, he accompanies Cecelia on a tour of the town, eventually falling in love with her. Meanwhile, the other Purple Rose characters, unable to proceed with the film, carry on a discussion with themselves. Desperately, the RKO executives seek out Gil Shepherd, the actor who played the hero of Purple Rose. Shepherd (also played by Daniels), is sent to Cecelia's hometown to see if he can repair the damage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, (more)
