Rob Campbell Movies

Inspired by actual events, director Chen Shi-Zheng's socially conscious psychological drama follows the journey of an ambitious Chinese scientist working towards his Ph.D. in America, only to be marginalized to the extent that he ultimately loses his way. All Liu Xing (Liu Ye) ever wanted was to study the origins of the universe at a Western university. Upon arriving at the school, Liu immediately rents a modest apartment with a few other Chinese students and begins flirting with the pretty American who works at the local coffee shop. Personally welcomed into Department Head Jacob Reiser's (Aidan Quinn) select cosmology group, Liu remains dedicated to his studies and optimistic about the future. Things continue to look up as Liu becomes close with wealthy university patron Johanna Silver (Meryl Streep) after the two become acquainted at an orientation for foreigners sponsored by a local church.

Eventually, Liu becomes Reiser's protégé, and makes a sizable impression at a prestigious conference attended by the pair. But attitudes start to shift when Liu's studies in dark matter come into direct conflict with his mentor's prominent theories and well-established studies. His excitement about a potential breakthrough causes him to ignore repeated warnings that he must pay his dues, and Liu's findings are eventually eclipsed by that of more studious fellow student Laurence. Determined to have his studies published, Liu goes behind Reiser's back, but he ultimately becomes the target of ire rather than accolades, with Johanna's naïve encouragement prompting him along a dangerous collision course. While Liu remains enamored with the concept of the American dream and optimistic about American science being a free market of ideas, he begins to grow dejected after his dissertation is rejected, the girl at the coffee shop blows him off, and his roommates all find lucrative jobs. Essentially left behind at the university, Liu rejects Johanna's offer for help and vows not to return home to disappointed parents. Now, as he coasts on the fumes of his unrealized dreams, the dishonored student prepares to lash out with one final act of devastating annihilation. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) investigate the murder of a high school English teacher. Their prime suspect is shy student Fiona Reed (Stephi Lineburg), a troubled teenager who, by all accounts, is the product of a miserable, abusive home environment. Digging a bit deeper, the detectives and lawyers McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Southerlyn (Elisabeth Rohm) make the startling discovery that Fiona is not all that she claims to be -- and is not, in fact, even a teenager. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Several stalwarts of the New York independent film scene make appearances in this tale of a creatively frustrated photographer and his search through the streets of Manhattan for ten mysterious snapshots which may hold the key to continued success. The film opens as Max (Reg Rogers), a former wunderkind in the city's art scene, awaits his eagerly-anticipated follow-up show. Although it's been a year since his big splash, Max has nothing to show for himself -- the pressure of his success has left him creatively stunted. His luck changes, however, when an enigmatic barfly shares a beer and some conversation with Max at a bowery-area watering hole. On the bar, the man leaves behind an envelope with ten stunning photographs. Hoping to pass them off as his own, Max leaves, elated -- only to have his artistic gift nabbed by muggers. Our hero spends the rest of the evening on a goose chase through the armpits of the city, encountering lovable misfits at every turn. Writer-director Jeremy Stein populates his debut feature with a wide array of notable N.Y.C. character actors, including John Heard, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Tom Noonan. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Based on an actual event, this made-for-television movie chronicles a delicate international situation that could have derailed Russian-American relations in the 1980s. Martin Sheen and Rutger Hauer star as military leaders on opposing sides, in this edgy drama about the collision between a Russian nuclear submarine and an American submarine off the coast of Bermuda. While the sub crews were dealing with the danger of a possible nuclear accident due to vessel damage, political leaders Reagan and Gorbachev were in the middle of sensitive peace talks. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi

Dedicated to his mentors Sergio Leone and Don Siegel, Clint Eastwood's 1992 Oscar-winner examines the mythic violence of the Western, taking on the ghosts of his own star past. Disgusted by Sheriff "Little Bill" Daggett's decree that several ponies make up for a cowhand's slashing a whore's face, Big Whiskey prostitutes, led by fierce Strawberry Alice (Frances Fisher), take justice into their own hands and put a $1000 bounty on the lives of the perpetrators. Notorious outlaw-turned-hog farmer William Munny (Eastwood) is sought out by neophyte gunslinger the Schofield Kid (Jaimz Woolvett) to go with him to Big Whiskey and collect the bounty. While Munny insists, "I ain't like that no more," he needs the bounty money for his children, and the two men convince Munny's clean-living comrade Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) to join them in righting a wrong done to a woman. Little Bill (Oscar-winner Gene Hackman), however, has no intention of letting any bounty hunters impinge on his iron-clad authority. When pompous gunman English Bob (Richard Harris) arrives in Big Whiskey with pulp biographer W.W. Beauchamp (Saul Rubinek) in tow, Little Bill beats Bob senseless and promises to tell Beauchamp the real story about violent frontier life and justice. But when Munny, the true unwritten legend, comes to town, everyone soon learns a harsh lesson about the price of vindictive bloodshed and the malleability of ideas like "justice." "I don't deserve this," pleads Little Bill. "Deserve's got nothin' to do with it," growls Munny, simultaneously summing up the insanity of western violence and the legacy of Eastwood's Man With No Name. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

This anthology of three horror tales is accompanied by the voice of James Earl Jones--offscreen--as the "Voice of Retribution." Included is "Heroine Overdose," "Pandora" and "Veteran's Day," all of which begin with a postal allusion. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi