Eric Schaeffer Movies

Two independent filmmakers attempt to bury the hatchet for the betterment of both their careers after success starts to fade, and middle age looms ominously. Fifteen years ago, Splick and Jason collaborated on the indie hit that launched them both to stardom. Then, in the late '90s, came the fallout. Now, with their careers stalled out and their personal lives in shambles, Splick and Jason decide that the best way to forge ahead is to leave the past behind. Unfortunately for both, forgiving others is sometimes easier said than done. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A handful of New Yorkers with little in common cross one another's paths as they try to sort out their romantic and emotional troubles in this comedy drama from writer and director Eric Schaeffer. Sam Blue (Eric Schaeffer) is a single father who is raising a ten-year-old son, Rocky (Christopher Kovaleski), on his own. Rocky was conceived using an egg Sam purchased on the Internet; after being left at the altar by his fiancée, Sam isn't sure he can stand the pain of another romance, though Rocky wishes he could have a mom. Herb Schweitzer (Alan King) is an elderly man with a sour personality who has pledged to honor the memory of a deceased friend by walking from his apartment to a beach in Manhattan. However, the trip will cover many miles, and these days Herb can barely shuffle to the end of the block. Jody Buller (Jill Sobule) is an eccentric street musician who was given a pacemaker for her weak heart as a child. Jody is convinced this means a broken heart would be fatal, despite her doctor's efforts to convince her otherwise. Malissa Zubach (Elizabeth Reaser) is a young woman who dreams of traveling to other lands, but is stuck in a trailer home caring for her dying mother. Hoping to get a sense of the outside world, Malissa persuades pen pals across the globe to record audio tapes in public places so she can hear the places she wants to see. And John McCabe (Charles Parnell) is a man still struggling to come to terms with the collapse of his marriage, brought on by his own infidelity. Mind the Gap received its world premiere at the 2003 South by Southwest Film Festival, where it received the Special Jury Award for Narrative Feature. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The debut project from co-star Michael Douglas' production company Further Films, this comic crime caper uses the narrative devices of multiple points of view and flashbacks, à la Rashomon (1951) and that classic film's many imitators. A late-night slaying at a bar called McCool's is the point of departure as Detective Dehling (John Goodman), bartender Randy (Matt Dillon), and Randy's lawyer-cousin Carl (Paul Reiser) project their fantasies onto the sexy Jewel (Liv Tyler), whose boyfriend (Andrew Dice Clay) is the corpse in question. As each man spills his guts -- Dehling to his priest, Randy to an aging hit man (Douglas), and Carl to his therapist (Reba McEntire) -- it becomes clear that the femme fatale Jewel has been manipulating the smitten men for her own purposes, namely a house full of cutting-edge electronic gadgets. One Night at McCool's is the debut American film from Norwegian commercial and music video director Harald Zwart. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Eric Schaeffer writes, directs, produces, and stars in this wacky sex comedy. Nine days away from his wedding, Spindell (Schaeffer) realizes that, though his future bride Tabitha (Callie Thorne) is both gorgeous and understanding, he no longer finds her sexually attractive. In flashbacks, we learn about the sexually precocious Spindell, including a time as a toddler when he tries to have oral sex with an electrical outlet. Later in college, he has a long passionate affair with Samantha, who is just as neurotic and sexually kinked as he is. Wirey Spindell was screened at the 1999 Boston Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

In this romantic comedy drama, a mismatched couple (who aren't as mismatched as they believe) are brought together by fate and have to decide if they should stay together. Sarah (Amanda DeCadenet) leads a charmed life: She's a supermodel widely regarded as the most beautiful woman in the world, she's a multimillionaire, and she's married to a wealthy European aristocrat, Phillippe (Rudolph Martin), whom she loves deeply. So when Sarah hails a cab and the driver, Michael (Eric Schaeffer), tries to pick her up, it's no surprise that she's not interested. But fate keeps bringing Sarah and Michael together over the next few days, and eventually the witty and charming cabbie wears down her resistance. They end up back at Michael's apartment after sharing dinner together, and before long, the two are engaged in an extended and highly passionate lovemaking session. It turns out that not all is as it seems; Phillippe has lost interest in Sarah, sexually despite her love for him, and Michael is not just a cab driver, but a once-wealthy and famous author who chose to retreat from the limelight. Racked with guilt the next morning over her infidelity, Sarah tries to convince Michael that they should remain friends and nothing more, while he is convinced that he's met the love of his life. Eric Schaeffer wrote, produced, and directed Fall, as well as played Michael. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Kirk Cameron stars in this made-for-television remake of the 1970 movie. Cameron stars as Dexter Riley, an under-average college student whose brain gets filled with the information from a super computer. He uses his newly found wisdom to sweep some college quiz tournaments, much to the chagrin of his suspicious competitors. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi