Margaret Devine Movies
Following up on his acclaimed debut The Myth of Fingerprints, Bart Freundlich spins this drama that poses the question "what would it be like to run away from your life?" The film centers on a restless thirtysomething New Yorker named Cal (Billy Crudup) who one day drives off into the open road, leaving his wife and infant son behind. A series of flashbacks describe Cal's domestic malaise and disillusionment with his life. On the road, Cal encounters a number of unusual characters who are similarly tethered and drifting. One is named Dulcie (Julianne Moore), an emotionally fragile woman looking for her lost son. Through his interaction with Dulcie, Cal reflects on his own family and soon finds himself heading to his boyhood home where his father lives. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Crudup, Julianne Moore, (more)
- 1998
Documentary filmmaker Nick Davis, the grandson of famed Hollywood screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz (Citizen Kane), wrote and directed this comedy-drama about young New Yorkers at a party on New Year's Eve in the year 1999. The dawning millennium brings the partygoers to an existential precipice, where they look into a yawning canyon of angst, identity crises, insecurities, mood swings, doubts, dreams, and dilemmas. In the neat Greenwich Village apartment of Andrew Goldman (Matt McGrath), the party guests include neurotic Rufus Wild (Dan Futterman), aggressive lesbian Suki (Sandrine Holt), Andrew's self-stringent father Harold (Buck Henry), the mysterious, philosophical Goat Man (Steven Wright), immature and bookish Danny (David Gelb), and insecure vocalist Sylvia (Margaret Devine). To kick into the new millennium with a fresh outlook, Rufus attempts to end his relationship with girlfriend Annabell (Jennifer Garner), but he nevertheless feels they shouldn't cancel their plans to go to Andrew's apartment. At the party, Rufus sees Nicole (Amanda Peet), a woman he's wanted. He considers a confession to her of his desires, but a black-and-white flashback with accompanying internal monologue forces him into a reflective self-examination. The music track goes from the baroque (Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni) to alternative rock (Dandy Warhols). Shown at the 1998 L.A. Independent Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dan Futterman, Jennifer Garner, (more)
- 1997
In another case "ripped from today's headlines," a trail of gruesome clues leads to the conclusion that a newborn infant has been killed. The main suspects are a pair of college-student lovers, who insist that the child was stillborn -- and besides, both have an airtight alibi. Once the case finally gets to court, the Defense plays mercilessly upon the heartstrings of the jury. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
- R
A divorced, thirtysomething private investigator has an early mid-life crisis and goes looking for love. As a detective, Ryan specializes in providing evidence of infidelity for spouses seeking grounds for divorce. He is assisted by his partners Vernon, a genius with technical gadgetry and Dean, his free-wheeling cameraman. Dean frequently gives Ryan a hard time about having no discernible love life. This constant razzing wears on the over-analytical Ryan and he employs a computer dating service and through them meets the lovely Tura an independent-minded girl who is as emotional as Ryan is rational. Still the detective falls deeply in love with her. Unfortunately, he is afraid to commit and she dumps him. She begins seeing others and this makes Ryan so jealous that he begins using his equipment to surveil her. This infuriates Tura and only makes matters worse in the long run. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
American Blue Note concentrates on a Manhattan jazz quintet. Peter MacNichol, Carl Capotorto, Tim Guinee, Bill Christopher-Myers and Jonathan Walker play the five musicians, each with individual crosses to bear. Allotting themselves one year to get booked into a major jazz club or else they'll split, the quintet performs a lot of nickel-and-dime gigs in the meantime. But only one of the five makes it to the band's "Valhalla." Louis Guss, Zohra Lampert and Trini Alvarado appear in peripheral roles. Filmed in 1989, the independently produced American Blue Note didn't get a distributor until 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter MacNicol, Carl Caportoto, (more)
