Melina Kanakaredes Movies

This adaptation of Rick Riordan's remarkably popular fantasy book series tells the tale of accident-prone teenager Percy (Logan Lerman), who discovers that he's actually a demigod, the son of Poseidon, and he is needed when Zeus' lightning is stolen. Percy must master his newfound skills in order to prevent a war between the gods that could devastate the entire world. The film is directed by Chris Columbus, and co-stars Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan, and Sean Bean. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

CSI: NY, the third incarnation of the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise and the spin-off of CSI: Miami, is a crime drama about forensic investigators who use high-tech science to follow the evidence and solve crimes in The Big Apple.

The third entry in executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer's "CSI" (Crime Scene Investigation) franchise, CSI: NY was introduced as "MIA/NYC," the May 17, 2004, episode of CSI: Miami. Making its formal weekly CBS debut on September 22 of that same year, the new series starred Gary Sinise as Mac Taylor, head of the New York City crime lab, whose job it was to use the skimpiest of forensic evidence to track down murderers. A Chicago native, Mac had gotten his police job as the result of his bravery under fire as a U.S. Marine; and like most of major CSI characters, he harbored quite a few personal demons, most of them stemming from the death of his wife in the Twin Towers on 9/11. Taylor's team of forensic specialists included Stella Bonasera (Melina Kanakaredes), an outspoken female cop who'd pulled herself up from a murky background (she'd been an orphan raised by strangers) and was the most caustic and outspoken of the CSIers; Don Flack (Eddie Cahill), Yonkers-born scion of a family of cops, who effectively bridged the gap between traditional and modern police methods and wasn't above bending the rules; Mac's protégé Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo), who grew up in Staten Island as part of a suspected (and constantly under-surveillance) crime family, but who'd decided to operate on the right side of the law -- albeit on his own terms; Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Sheldon Hawkes (Hill Harper), a Harlem native who'd graduated from college at 18 and became a licensed surgeon at 24, but who felt out of place in the rarefied world of commercial medicine and opted for police work instead; and flirtatious, streetwise forensic analyst Aidan Burn (Vanessa Ferlito). The theme music for CSI: NY was that old favorite by The Who, "Baba O'Reilly." The series was created by Anthony Zuiker, Ann Donahoue, and Carol Mendelsohn. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A man who has spent much of his life dealing with grief finally has more than he knows what to do with in this independent drama. Walter Hartwig Jr. (Sean Patrick Flanery) is a New York City cop who is haunted by the death of his sister, who drowned at Coney Island when he was a boy. Hartwig saw his sister die and has felt responsible ever since. Every year on her birthday, he has himself thrown into the ocean as penance, and works with the NYPD Harbor Unit in hope of someday paying back his act of childhood negligence. After a passenger jet crashes into the ocean near the city, Hartwig is sent out to help, and is mesmerized by the sight of Sabrina Hampton (Melina Kanakaredes), a musician who died in the accident. Sabrina reminds him of his sister, and he sets out to find her twin sister, who worked as a teacher but has been traumatized by her loss and now refuses to leave her apartment. As Hartwig begins losing touch with reality, he finds solace when he strikes up a friendship with June Sickles (JoBeth Williams). June lost her son, who was a police officer, on September 11, 2001, and since then has been raising his daughter, giving her plenty of experience in dealing with the harsh side of fate. Into the Fire was the first feature film from writer and director Michael Phelan. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

John Dahl directed this exploration of New York private clubs devoted to high-stakes poker, with first-person narration from the film's central figure, law student Mike McDermott (Matt Damon), who loses his entire savings to Russian club owner Teddy KGB (John Malkovich). Mike then turns away from cards, devoting his attentions to his law studies and his live-in girlfriend Jo (Gretchen Mol), who's concerned when Mike's former gambling buddy Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison. She has good reason to worry, since it takes Worm only a matter of minutes to draw Mike back into poker action. When she learns Mike has returned to the poker clubs, she moves out, and Mike begins to lose interest in his studies. Worm has a pre-prison debt, and the threatening Grama (Michael Rispoli) wants the money. Mike not only indulges the irresponsible Worm, he gets involved in Worm's debts. When Grama demands $15,000 on a five-day deadline, the two buddies go into high gear with a non-stop, no-sleep gambling binge that spirals downward toward an ultimate confrontation with Teddy KGB. Darkened club interiors and New York nights are captured by the cinematography of Jean Yves Escoffier, who moved from French films (the 1991 Les Amants du Pont Neuf) to American movies with the reflective surfaces of Excess Baggage (1997) and the patina of pathos found in Harmony Korine's experimental Gummo (1997). Shown at the 1998 Venice Film Festival and the 1998 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Fraser's (Paul Gross) former lover Victoria (Melina Kanakeredes reveals her true colors when she kills her former partner Jolly (Denis Forest) and frames Fraser (Paul Gross) and Ray (David Marciano) on a charge of passing stolen money. But is it truly her scheme to destroy Fraser, or does she have something entirely different in mind. A shocking denoument may spell the end of Fraser and Ray's careers--not to mention their friendship. First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on June 2, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Justine Miceli (Det. Adrianne Lesniak) and Kim Delaney (Det. Diane Russell) graduate from recurring to regular status as NYPD Blue begins its third season. Things get off to a potentially lethal start as James Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) is shot down and left paralyzed -- possibly for life -- by a government witness who may be completely immune from prosecution. Diane tells her AA sponsor, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), that she's recovering from her drinking problem, potentially good news for her boyfriend, Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits). And Andy's significant other, Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence), has some good news -- at least, she hopes it's good news. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Glory-grabbing Detective Solomon (Gordon Clapp) is foiled when Simone (Jimmy Smits) unearths the evidence needed to interrogate a suspected serial killer. After the armored-car heist is thwarted, Fancy (James McDaniel) -- with the grudging assistance of snitch Greco (Joe Pantoliano) -- confronts Commander Haverell (James Handy) with irrefutable evidence of Haverell's corruption. And Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) and Lesniak (Justine Miceli) realize with startling suddenness that they are more than just friends and co-workers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the first episode of a two-part story, Fraser (Paul Gross) is unexpectedly reunited with Victoria Metcalf (Melina Kanakaredes), the only woman he has ever truly loved--even though he'd been forced to arrest her the last time they met. Now, Victoria claims that she is being pursued by her former partner in crime Jolly (Denis Forrest), who thinks that the woman has absconded with $500,000 from a recent bank robbery. Protesting her innocence, Victoria turns to Fraser for protection--but could she have another, more sinister agenda in mind? First broadcast on Canadian television, this episode made its US debut on June 2, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A doomed interracial relationship provides the focus of this tragedy. White paralegal Lonny, wants to write a political novel that rails against the system, but he can't seem to start it. His writer's block has cost him emotionally, and he is bored with his job, his conversations with his father, and with his girlfriend. He looks for something different. He finds it with black teenager, Denise as she prepares for her SATs. He is attracted by her intelligence and the eagerness with which she learns and offers to tutor her. She accepts and soon they have transcended the teacher student relationship and become closer. They face resistance at every turn, but they do not heed the warnings. Tragedy ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi