Wendy Crewson Movies

When the former best friend of a now-successful writer suddenly appears following an extended absence, the confrontation that follows will alter their views of the past and forever transform the future in a simmering tale of lost friendship from director Matt Bissonette. It's been five long years since Daniel Bloom (Adam Scott) has heard from his longtime friend Will Morrison (Lukas Haas). After growing up together and even seeing Daniel serve as best man at Will's wedding to the beautiful Maggie (Molly Parker), no one would have suspected that the pair would part ways on such awkward terms. Now, after half a decade away, Will has suddenly appeared on the doorstep of Mary (Wendy Crewson) and Arthur's (R.H. Thompson) remote island cottage. Subsequently summoned back to his childhood haunt by a concerned phone call from his mother, Daniel departs from New York to finally find what became of the long-missing Will. But quite a bit has changed since those innocent days of youth, and just as the harsh words exchanged between the pair suddenly erupt into physical violence, Mary receives word that Maggie is waiting to be picked up at the local dock. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Created by Christina Jennings, the Canadian sci-fi suspenser ReGenesis tackled the up-to-date subject of bioterrorism--specifically bioterrorism generated by the fantastic scientific advances made during the early 21st century. Peter Outerbridge starred as David Sandstrom, chief scientist and molecular biologist for the North American Biotechnology Advisory Commission. Popularly known as NorBAC, this commissioned had been created to investigate (and in some cases terminate) examples of questionable biotechnology. Though mankind had advanced to the point of being able to create "perfect" food, luxury items and even babies in the lab, not everyone was motivated by altruism,and there were plenty of madmen and terrorists with deep pockets who intended to use high-tech science for evil purposes. Though the series was essentially an action thriller, several hot-button ethical and political questions were raised in the course of events (though few were actually resolved). Other members of the multinational NorBAC team included Conrad Pla) as geneticist-medical doctor Carlos Serrano, Dmitry Chepovetsky as biochemist Bob Melnikov and Mayko Nguyen as bioinformatics researcher Mayko Tran. Sarah Strange was seen during the first season as NorBAC's lead viroligist (and David Sandstrom's erstwhile lover) Jill Langston; she was replaced beginning with the second season by Wendy Crewson as Rachel Woods. Similarly, Maxim Roy was originally cast as NorBAC's executive director Caroline Morrison, only to be killed off and subsequently replaced by Greg Byrk as Weston Field. Appearing occasionally was Geraint Wyn Davies as NobBAC's White House-based science advisor Carleton Riddlemeyer. Boasting the input of Canadian molecular biologist Alec Edwards as the series' chief scientic consultant, ReGenesis debuted simultaneously on Canada's Movie Central and The Movie Network cable services the week of October 24, 2004; it would be distributed to several other nations before finally entering US syndication in the fall of 2007. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

As Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) and Ramon (Joaquim de Almeida) escape in the helicopter, Ryan Chappelle (Paul Schulze) returns to CTU, and contemplates shooting them down. He has to make a decision before the helicopter flies over a populated section of Los Angeles, and Chase (James Badge Dale) reminds him that he'd better clear it with Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) before killing the man who saved the president's life. Wayne (D.B. Woodside) gets word to Palmer during the debate, which Palmer decides to interrupt in order to deal with the crisis. He gives the order to shoot down the chopper, but it's too late. Once on the ground, Jack is able to contact Ramon's personal pilot, and make plans to get out of the country. Since Jack's work appears to be done, Ramon decides to kill him. Back at CTU, Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) realizes that Gael (Jesse Borrego) has been thwarting the team's efforts to contact Jack. Meanwhile, Kyle (Riley Smith) is brought in and examined by CTU's medical team, which makes a surprising discovery. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Gemini awards went to star Wendy Crewson, director Jerry Ciccoretti, writer Karen Walton and film editor George Roulston for their contributions to the fact-based Canadian TV movie The Many Trials of One Jane Doe. Crewson plays the title character, the fifth victim of the High Park Rapist, who has been systematically preying on women in Scarborough, Toronto, and Niagara Falls. After her ordeal, "Jane Doe" discovers that the police knew full well that the rapist was operating in the vicinity, but did nothing to prevent her attack; in fact, the authorities were all but using women like "Jane" as bait to flush out the perpetrator! Hiring Sean Dewart (Steven Mackintosh) as her attorney, "Jane" files suit against the police, only to be caricatured by a hostile press as a hysterical "man-hater" and irresponsible zealot--and thanks to the ruthlessness of the defense team, she is treated in court as though she were the criminal instead of the victim! First telecast by the CBC in 2002, The Many Trials of One Jane Doe subsequently received American airplay on cable's Lifetime channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A woman coming to terms with her husband's death discovers his killer has run afoul of a violent crime in this detective drama. Joanne Kilbourn (Wendy Crewson) is a former police detective who left the force to teach criminology after the unsolved murder of her husband, Ian (Edward Jaunz). The investigation into Ian's death gets taken off the back burner when a suspect is arrested, Kevin Tarpley (Christopher Bolton); while Kevin claims to be innocent, he knows enough about the case to have raised the suspicions of police. Just when Joanne thinks her husband's killer may finally be brought to justice, Kevin is killed by a gunman as he's brought to the police station. After a strange visit by Kevin's wife Maureen (Kari Matchett), Joanne begins looking into Kevin's life and death, and discovers not all of her late husband's friends are willing to help her with her private investigation. Criminal Instincts: A Colder Kind of Death also stars Victor Garber, Teri Garr, and Robin Dunne. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Actor Sidney Poitier returns to CBS, the same station which originally broadcast his leading role in 1999's The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn, this time adopting the part of a humble brickmaker in the made-for-television drama The Last Brickmaker in America. Without much pride in his job or encouragement from his recently deceased wife, the old brickmaker finds himself feeling lost and hopeless. However, when he meets a troubled 13-year-old who feels equally lost, redemption no longer seems so far away. Directed by Gregg Champion, The Last Brickmaker in America is based on a true story. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

The made-for-TV Deadly Appearances was originally telecast over Canada's CTV on April 23, 2000, as part of the off-and-on cop series Criminal Instincts. Based on the first of Gail Bowen's Joanne Kilbourn mystery novels, the film stars Wendy Crewson as Kilbourn, a former police detective who dabbles in crimesolving whenever one of her friends or family members is involved. On this occasion, Joanne tries to determine if her longtime chum, philandering political candidate Andy Boychuk (Robert Hays) was the murderer of a young woman. Although the original novel included a subplot about a homosexual love triangle, the film dispensed with this complication. Deadly Appearances made its first TV appearance in the United States on June 5, 2001, courtesy of the Lifetime cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Being careful about giving rides to strangers is just as important in outer space as it is on earth, as shown in this science fiction thriller. In the 22nd century, a pair of scientists who happen to be husband and wife, Nash (Peter Outerbridge) and Billie (Wendy Crewson), are sent on a special mission to study and record the activities of a dying red star from an observational space craft; accompanying them is their teenage daughter, Ronnie (Michelle Beaudoin). One day, Nash and Billie discover a small escape pod from a larger spaceship; they retrieve the tiny vessel and discover a man inside, Cal (Patrick Bergin), in a state of suspended animation. When the man is brought on board and revived, they soon make the unpleasant discovery that Cal is a murderous lunatic -- who happens to be attracted to their daughter, and who can't be gotten rid of easily. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Two brothers (Jake LeDoux) and Brendan Fletcher) are still reeling from the traumatic death of their father when their mother (Wendy Crewson) decides they'll spend the summer at the family's cottage by a Georgia lake. A retired back physician (James Earl Jones) is also spending his summer by the water, and he strikes up a friendship with the younger of the two boys. However, a ugly racial incident from the village's past comes to light, and the siblings find themselves at odds over the doctor's friendship. Summer's End marked the directorial debut for actress Helen Shaver. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

President John F. Kennedy issued the challenge to America in a speech to Congress in 1961: Land a man on the moon within the decade. This HBO mini-series, produced by Tom Hanks, chronicles the story of NASA's efforts to carry out the vision. Episode 11 presents the story of the women behind the men in the space program. Profiles of the wives of astronauts give the viewer insight into the human cost of this dangerous and demanding occupation. Interviews with spouses reflect the joy, stress, and sacrifice involved in being a part of the rarefied atmosphere of astronauts. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

When Tori Spelling starred in the Dickens-inspired 2003 TV movie A Carol Christmas, more than a few viewers with long memories could not help but point out the similarities between Spelling's film and the 1995 made-for-cable Susan Lucci vehicle Ebbie--beginning with the fact that both films were distaff versions of the venerable "A Christmas Carol." It's Christmas Eve, and ruthless department store owner Elizabeth "Ebbie" Scrooge (Lucci) is cruelly running her employees ragged, dangling their meager bonus checks over their heads to get them to work all the harder. Just before closing time, Ebbie manages to fire a longtime security guard, humiliate her niece, and force her aide Roberta "Robbie" Cratchet (Wendy Crewson) to work on Christmas day rather than spend precious time with her family. Thus the stage is set for the inevitable nocturnal visitation from Ebbie's long-dead partner Jake Marley (Jeffrey DeMunn) and the usual Three Spirits, bound and determined to transform the vituperative Ms. Scrooge into the salt of the earth. And yes, Tiny Tim shows up too, in the person of dewey-eyed kid actor (Taran Noah Smith). To her credit, Susan Lucci plays this nonsense as if it were Shakespeare, bringing depth and conviction to an impossibly contrived teleplay (for which Charles Dickensreceives no screen credit!) Ebbie was first telecast by the Lifetime cable channel on December 4, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A community rallies together when a former police officer comes unglued, builds a bomb and takes hostage an entire elementary school. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide