Joshua Donen Movies
- 2010
Paramount Pictures and director Sam Raimi team up to kick off a new franchise for Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan character for this untitled installment set to focus on the early days of the CIA analyst's action-packed career. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- 2010
Sam Raimi presents this adaptation of Earthworm Jim's creator Doug TenNapel's graphic novel Monster Zoo for Paramount Pictures and Buckaroo Entertainment. The story concerns a boy's realization that his local zoo is inhabited by far more than your average selection of zoo animals. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Evil Dead director Sam Raimi takes the helm for this "spook-a-blast" shocker about an ambitious L.A. loan officer who incurs the wrath of a malevolent gypsy by refusing to grant her an extension on her home loan. Determined to impress her boss and get a much-needed promotion at work, Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) lays down the law when mysterious Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) literally comes begging for mercy at her feet. In retaliation for being publicly shamed, Mrs. Ganush places the dreaded curse of the Lamia on her unfortunate target, transforming Christine's life into a waking nightmare. Her skeptical boyfriend, Clay (Justin Long), casually brushing off her disturbing encounters as mere coincidence, Christine attempts to escape eternal damnation by seeking out the aid of seer Rham Jas (Dileep Rao ). But Christine's time is fast running out, and unless she's able to break the curse, she'll be tormented by a demon for three days before literally being dragged to hell. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alison Lohman, Justin Long, (more)
- 2009
- PG13
- Add Armored to Queue
Vacancy director Nimród Antal helms the crime thriller Armored, starring Matt Dillon as an armored truck guard who gets wrapped up in a heist scheme hatched by his friends. Stomp the Yard's Columbus Short co-stars in the James V. Simpson-scripted film, produced by Screen Gems Entertainment. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matt Dillon
- 2009
Spider-Man director Sam Raimi teams with Josh Donen and screenwriter Siavash Farahani to find out what evil lurks within the hearts of men with this update of Walter B. Gibson's 1930s-era pulp radio show that evolved into a popular Columbia cliffhanger starring Victor Jory before being adapted into a television series. A mysterious hat-and-cape-clad crime fighter who stalks criminals from the shadows and possesses the power to cloud men's minds, The Shadow was later resurrected for a 1994 adventure starring Alec Baldwin, though that particular incarnation failed to connect with audiences. The influence of the character can clearly be seen in Raimi's underappreciated and highly stylized 1990 comic-book action entry Darkman, and, as with Spider-Man, The Shadow is a character that the wildly creative producer has dreamed of bringing to the big screen since launching his career in film. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2008
This first-run syndicated fantasy series from producer Sam Rami follows in the footsteps of Rami's previous efforts, like Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules. Based on the Sword of Truth series of novels by author Terry Goodkind, the series takes place in a fantasy world, where modern technology hasn't developed - but magic has. However, under the iron fist of the dictator Darken Rahl, people are forbidden to use magic, and have been taught to fear it. The only one who can free the world's people from a lifetime under the thumb of a tyrant is a hero spoken of in the prophecies of old - the Seeker. The time has finally come for the Seeker to appear, but when the caviler young woodsman Richard Cypher learns that he is in fact the one, dusty old predictions take a decidedly cowboyish twist, as Richard may have the inborn abilities set forth in the prophecy, but this carefree lad also has an attitude to match. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
Boxing is more than just a sport -- it's also a business and a con game in this satirical comedy. Rev. Fred Sultan (Samuel L. Jackson) is a shrewd boxing promoter and manager whose meal ticket is heavyweight champion James "The Grim Reaper" Roper (Damon Wayans), a fighter whose skill and confidence significantly outstrips his intelligence. While the top-ranked contender for Roper's title is Marvin Shabazz (Michael Jace), Sultan isn't too keen on the idea of Shabazz fighting Roper -- it seems that both fighters are black, and Sultan's figures show that mixed race matches stir up a lot more media attention and pay-per-view customers. Eager to find a white challenger for Roper, Sultan digs up Terry Conklin (Peter Berg), who won a Golden Gloves fight against Roper many years ago but is now out of the game and fronting a rock band called Massive Head Wound. Thanks to a few bribes and a couple of fixed fights, Sultan is able to arrange for Conklin to be next in line to battle "The Grim Reaper." However, Conklin is taking his renewed career as a boxer quite seriously, while Roper, convinced that Conklin doesn't stand a chance, has let himself go and gained a lot of weight. Suddenly Sultan realizes that Roper might just lose the piece-of-cake fight he's so carefully arranged, while journalist Mitchell Kane (Jeff Goldblum) smells a rat in Conklin's sudden rise to ranking status. Jon Lovitz, Cheech Marin, and Corbin Bernsen highlight the supporting cast, while members of the well-regarded alternative rock band Local H appear as Massive Head Wound. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Samuel L. Jackson, Jeff Goldblum, (more)
Director Sam Raimi brings his trademark comic book-influenced visual panache to this post-modern Western. Sharon Stone stars as Ellen, a mysterious female gunslinger who arrives in the frontier hamlet of Redemption for a contest pitting quick-draw artists against each other. The event is the brainchild of Redemption's evil, corrupt mayor, Herod (Gene Hackman), a criminal who has taken over the town and charges a 50% tax on local businesses. The pot for Herod's deadly game has swollen, attracting numerous colorful gunfighters from around the territory. As each battle thins the ranks of players, the pasts of several participants are revealed. Ellen is seeking revenge on Herod for a heinous past injustice. The fast-talking braggart known as "The Kid" (Leonardo DiCaprio) may in fact be Herod's son. The pacifist Reverend Cort (Russell Crowe), who refuses to participate in the bloodshed, is the fastest draw in the West and a former colleague of Herod's. After several spectacular slayings, Ellen and Herod stage a final showdown, but not before he has made her an unexpected proposal. The Quick and the Dead (1995) is dedicated to veteran Western actor Woody Strode, who appears in a cameo as Redemption's coffin maker, his final performance. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, (more)
A remake of the classic Robert Siodmak film noir Criss Cross, Steven Soderbergh's The Underneath follows much the same plot and narrative arc of the original, but expands the possibilities of its thriller structure to also explore the complexities and insecurities at the heart of modern relationships. Peter Gallagher stars as Michael, a compulsive gambler who returns to his Texas home for the wedding of his mother (Anjanette Comer). In his absence, his ex-wife Rachel (Alison Elliott) has married Tommy (William Fichtner), a ruthless local hood. Michael and Rachel soon resume their relationship, incurring Tommy's wrath. Out of their deceptions grows a plot to heist an armored car, a crime which requires the unwitting aid of Michael's stepfather (Paul Dooley) as well as a banker (Elisabeth Shue) with whom Michael shared a brief fling. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Gallagher, Alison Elliott, (more)
