John Diehl Movies

Director Tim Hunter and co-screenwriter James Crumley go back to the basics for this rough and tumble western that proves the ladies can shoot just as straight as the men. The deadliest gang in the west has been captured and strung up. Now the law is desperate to find out where the recently departed had hidden their substantial plunder, and they're dead sure that the men's widows have the answer to that question. With the corrupt sheriff (Patrick Bergin) closing in on one side, a homicidal preacher (James Gammon) fast gaining ground on the other, and scores of hostile Indians, Pinkerton agents, and even a few gruff ghosts to contend with in between, these three desperate women (Judith Bernett, Suzanne Andrews, and Lissa Negrin) will have to keep on their toes if they have any hope of living to find the treasure and escape to freedom. John Diehl and C. Thomas Howell co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Wim Wenders drama Land of Plenty stars John Diehl and Michelle Williams as two very different people who are brought together for an unconventional road trip. The film takes place after September 11, 2001, and the main characters are dealing with their grief in very different ways. Paul (Diehl) keeps his paranoid eye on the lookout for terrorists wherever he goes. His niece Lana, Williams) does charity work for the indigent. After a young Muslim is shot dead, the uncle and niece travel together - her to bring the body back to the family, he to wipe out the terrorists he is convinced the young man worked with. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Fans of The Shield were outraged when, at the end of the series' second season, it looked as if popular supporting character Officer Danielle "Danny" Sofer (Catherine Dent) had been fired from the Farmington District Strike Force. But when season three rolled around, it was revealed that Danny's termination was merely a publicity stunt to hype interest in the series during its summer hiatus. That said, there is definitely quite a change in the Strike Force as season three gets under way. Led by head honcho Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), the force seems determined to forsake its flouting of the law, as well as its major and minor digressions from honesty and ethics, and to play things strictly "by the book." This resolve, however, lasts only as long as the first episode: Upon discovering that two vicious rival street gangs have purchased powerful assault weapons, Mackey realizes that his old ways are the best ways, and before long he is back to breaking every rule in the book -- and not a few skulls in the process. Among the developments occurring during this season is the simmering feud between the Strike Force and the newly formed Decoy Squad, who squabble over every procedural matter and who have a habit of causing more trouble for themselves than for the "perps." Also, Vic is steamed that his former subordinate, Claudette Wyms (CCH Pounder), has been made supervisor of the Strike Force. And along the way, one-time force member Julian Lowe (Michael Jace) makes a return appearance to clear a former partner of a murder charge. In the two-part season finale, the force is stalked by a relentless Armenian hit man; Vic Mackey's longtime nemesis, Captain Aceveda (Benito Martinez), once again thinks he has enough evidence to bring Mackey down for good; and Claudette is ensnared in a crisis of conscience -- a real rarity for this series! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season two of The Shield begins with Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), the hard-nosed, sometimes homicidal, and seldom ethical leader of the Farmington District Strike Force, desperately missing his wife, Corinne (Cathleen Cahlin Ryan), and his three kids, who have left him; meanwhile, the Strike Team's armed robbery of an Armenian money-laundering operation has embroiled the team in heavy drama. Though Vic's family is rescued, he soon faces another crisis: What to do about his co-worker, Detective Claudette Wyms (CCH Pounder), who is on the verge of exposing Vic's connections with the underworld? Fortunately, he is spared the necessity of buying off or whacking one of his "own" and is able to move on to other matters. In the course of the season, the viewer is treated to an extended flashback sequence, showing how the various members of the Strike Force originally got together (this was actually a cannibalization of the series' hitherto unseen pilot episode). Also, the local press gets wind of the corruption within the force causing everyone to wonder if the jig is up and if they're all out of jobs -- or worse. Vic burns a gang leader's face on a stove, causing an equivalent retaliation against one of Vic's men, leading to the murder of the gang leader--in the precinct's holding cell, no less. By season's end, the force's gay member, Officer Julian Lowe (Michael Jace), is no longer part of the big picture; Officer Danielle "Danny" Sofer is given some very disturbing news; and it looks as though Vic Mackey is about to pay for his sins -- big time! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Abrasive cab driver Ryan Lipe (John Billingsley), who helped the 15th in a previous investigation, is the prime suspect in the deaths of three of his former fares. Offering to help an old friend, Rodriguez (Esai Morales) ends up being accused of taking bribes by the IAB -- and the whole affair smells suspiciously like a set-up. When John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) tells Officer Laughlin (Anthony Mangano) to stop hitting on Rita Ortiz (Jacqueline Obradors), Laughlin challenges John to a charity boxing match. Elsewhere, another pugilist denies killing an ex-ballet dancer, and gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) reveals his past problems with his ailing father to a sympathetic Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Nice girl falls for bad boy and lives to regret it in this independent coming of age drama. Katie (Megan Wilson) is a high school student who's bright, pretty, and has never been in any serious trouble. That changes when she meets Boyd (Brian Vaughan), who is handsome and charming, but also a magnet for trouble, often on the run from the police and a bit reckless in his use of drugs. Despite his dangerous side, Katie finds herself infatuated with Boyd, and they strike up a friendship that soon grows into a romance. However, the more deeply Katie becomes involved with Boyd, the farther she's drawn into the dark side of his world, and it becomes obvious that she needs to give him up for her own good. Winner of the Golden Starfish award at the 2000 Hamptons Film Festival, Falling Like This also features John Diehl and Patricia Clarkson. Ani DiFranco contributed to the soundtrack. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A seemingly-minor electronic error sets the world on the verge of nuclear annihilation in this made-for-TV adaptation of the novel by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler (which was previously filmed in 1964). Due to the burn-out of a piece of circuitry, a computer orders a U.S. Air Force jet on a strategic bombing raid, destroying targets in Russia with nuclear weapons. As Generals Bogan (Brian Dennehy) and Black (Harvey Keitel) desperately search for a way to recall the planes once the mistake has been discovered, the bomber's commander, Col. Grady (George Clooney) sets out on his mission with grim determination, while the President (Richard Dreyfuss) and his translator (Noah Wyle) stay in contact with the Soviet premier, trying to convince him that this was all a terrible mistake. Fail Safe was first presented as a live television broadcast which aired on CBS on April 9, 2000. The supporting cast includes Hank Azaria, Don Cheadle, James Cromwell, and Sam Elliott. Star George Clooney spearheaded the unique project and served as executive producer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Fresh from the recently closed South Side hospital, new ER chief of staff Anspaugh (John Aylward) imperiously asserts his authority by imposing patient quotas on each doctor. Though they resent Anspaugh, the staff is more politely inclined to the other South Side expatriates, doctors Abby Keaton (Glenne Headly) and Maggie Doyle (Jorja Fox). Elsewhere, Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) has trouble keeping her HIV-positive status a secret from Weaver (Laura Innes), while Benton (Eriq La Salle) is uncertain that Jeanie should even continue working; and Greene (Anthony Edwards) is taken aback when Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) suggests that they both take a vacation to Hawaii. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A has-been fighter finds himself extorted into becoming a hitman to save himself in this crime drama. The mess began while the opportunistic Marty was trying to convince a mobster to participate in his latest quick money scam. The would-be investor is suddenly shot and killed. Marty sees it all and promises to stay quiet. That's not good enough for Daryl, the mob boss behind the hit and to make sure he forces Daryl to kill another in exchange for his own life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Reviewers found this art film extraordinarily grating even for a film of the "high art" genre but admitted that some of its imagery was striking and original. The ostensible subject of this basically storyless film, shot with black-and-white and color segments, is the depressing, aimless, and futureless life of a sodden former trumpet player in the slummiest sections of Los Angeles. However, the main theme seems to be the imagery the film captures of the bleakest and most decayed portions of that famous city. Another plus is the film's jazz-oriented soundtrack. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Glitz was a disappointment for fans of the Elmore Leonard novel on which it was based. Jimmy Smits stars as a savvy Miami police detective Vincent Mora, who is wounded in a shoot-out. Convalescing in Puerto Rico, Mora falls in love with a beautiful woman who later dies under suspicious circumstances. Unable to pursue the case officially, Mora conducts a private investigation of the case. Along the way, he makes the acquaintance of a sprightly lounge singer (Markie Post) and a seriously disturbed ex-con (John Diehl). To many viewers, the title was appropriate: Glitz was plenty of style with little substance. The film was first telecast October 21, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas), Dade County's coolest undercover vice cops, are back for more MTV-influenced adventures as Miami Vice begins its second season. Though there'd been friction between the two main characters in season one, their teaming is a fait accompli by now, and they fit together like and hand in glove. Even glowering Lt. Castillo (Edward James Olmos) has become accustomed to, and more tolerant of, Crockett and Tubbs' highly unorthodox methods. The season's two-part opener finds the pair leaving Miami's sunny climes for the chilly streets of Manhattan, in search of Colombian drug dealers. Emphasis here as elsewhere is, of course, on Crockett and Tubbs, though the other cast members will be given their moments to shine. Detective Trudy Joplin (Olivia Brown) is the focal point in the episode "The Dutch Oven", in which she learns that her lover's best friend is tied in with a cocaine ring; Det. Gina Calabrese (Saundra Santiago) devotes most of the episode "Bought and Paid For" to go after a wealthy, well-connected rapist; and Det. Stan Switek (Michell Talbott) is for all intents and purposes the star of "Phil the Shill", even though the title character is played by guest star Phil Collins. Singer Collins is but one of many offbeat guest performers who, attracted to the popularity and hipness of Miami Vice, will pop up this season in variety of colorful characterizations. Former Nixon associate and federal prisoner G. Gordon Liddy is seen as the duplicitous Captain Real Estate in "Back in the World"; 1950s pop idol and future Broadway favorite Nathan Lane show up in "Buddies"; sultry songstress Eartha Kitt shares air time with the contemporary rock group Power Station in "Whatever Works"; musician and pro-gun advocate Ted Nugent is in "Definitely Miami"; The Fat Boys do their thing in "Florence Italy"; poet Leonard Cohen is featured in "Back in the World", Torch Song Trilogy playwright Harvey Fierstein guests in "The Fix"; jazz icon Miles Davis appears in "Junk Love"; rock legend Frank Zappa delivers lines in "Payback"; celebrity spouse Bianca Jagger emotes in "Free Verse"; and iconoclastic comic actors Tommy Chong and Richard Belzer are both in "Trust Fund Pirates." The season ends with "Sons and Lovers", bringing Crockett and Tubbs face to face once more with the vicious, self-destructive Calderone crime family, whose head man is played by a young John Leguizamo. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide