Eliza Dushku Movies
Best known to TV audiences for her role as Faith on the WB Network's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eliza Dushku also has a number of films to her name. Dushku, who made her film debut starring opposite Juliette Lewis in the 1992 period drama That Night, began acting professionally when she was barely in her teens.Born of Albanian-Danish descent in Boston, MA, on December 30, 1980, Dushku grew up the youngest sibling of three older brothers. Following her debut in That Night, which cast her as a young girl who becomes infatuated with the rebellious teen who lives across the street, the young actress did supporting work in This Boy's Life (1993) and played the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies (1994). In 1998 Dushku got one of her biggest breaks to date when she was cast as troubled slayer Faith on Buffy. Although Faith was only meant to appear in a handful of episodes, the show's creators liked Dushku enough to make Faith a recurring character, and also featured her on Angel, Buffy's spin-off.
Dushku had perhaps her most successful big-screen role to date in Bring It On (2000), a high-school comedy that cast her as Kirsten Dunst's reluctant but tough fellow cheerleader. The film was one of the summer's biggest money-earners, and Dushku, unsurprisingly, was soon busy with a number of new film projects. Included amongst them were Soul Survivor (2001), a teen horror movie that also featured Casey Affleck and Wes Bentley, and The New Guy (2001), another comedy about the horrors of high school life. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- PG13
Screenwriter Craig Bolotin takes a first stab at directing with That Night, a romantic reminiscence of teen love in 1960s Long Island based on a novel by Alice McDermott. Alice (Eliza Dushku) is a reserved, introspective 12-year-old girl who idealizes her neighbor, high-school student Sheryl (Juliette Lewis). Through Alice's point-of-view, we witness the deterioration of Sheryl's life after the death of her father. After becoming pregnant after a fling with the blunt Rick (C. Thomas Howell), Sheryl is whisked away to a home for unwed mothers. Observing Rick's torment, Alice crawls out of her shell to help him track down Sheryl and reunite the two lovers. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- C. Thomas Howell, Juliette Lewis, (more)
A single mother and her difficult son find family life isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be in this drama adapted from writer and professor Tobias Wolff's 1989 memoir of the same name. Nomadic, flaky Caroline (Ellen Barkin) just wants to settle down in one place, find a decent guy, and provide a better home for her handful of a son, Toby (Leonardo DiCaprio). When she moves to Seattle and meets the respectful, respectable Dwight Hansen (Robert DeNiro), she thinks she's got it made. Toby, however, feels differently after spending a few months with Dwight and his children and away from Caroline. The boy's stepfather-to-be seems to want to mold Toby into a better person, but to do so he emotionally, verbally, and physically abuses the kid. The marriage proceeds, and soon Caroline, too, recognizes Dwight's need to dominate everyone around him. She sticks with it, though, convinced it's the best thing for her son, and several years of dysfunction ensue. During this time, Tobias befriends another misfit, the possibly homosexual young Jonah (Arthur Gayle), while continuing to chafe under the yoke of his repressive stepfather. This Boy's Life provided the first lead role for future superstar DiCaprio. The film was written by Robert Getchell, who also penned such mother/son fare as Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and The Client. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert De Niro, Ellen Barkin, (more)
Borrowing liberally from the French film La Totale, this is an action picture, domestic comedy, and political thriller rolled into a crowd-pleasing ball of entertainment. Producer James Cameron wrote and directed the film. Henry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a workaholic computer salesman neglecting his mousy wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), a legal secretary. Simon (Bill Paxton) seduces Helen with the lie that he is a secret agent; he's really a used car salesman. Harry suspects that Helen is cheating on him, and he sends a few colleagues to kidnap them. Helen then discovers that Harry is a secret agent by night, working for a shadowy group called the Omega Sector. Harry and his partner Gib (Tom Arnold) are trying to find four nuclear warheads that have disappeared from a former Soviet republic. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, (more)
Three divorced fathers, played by Paul Reiser, Matthew Modine, and Randy Quaid, experience the joys and hardships of their former marriages, their relationships with their kids, and getting back into the dating scene in this whimsical comedy. Dave (Modine) is diligently playing the field, while Vic (Quaid) is enraged over his ex-wife's spending problem and Donny (Reiser) is struggling with the love he still feels for his ex and his own feelings of rejection. However, what develops over the weekend changes each man's life forever. Vic goes on a nightmare date with a neurotic woman (Janeane Garofalo), Dave loses control of his female interests when they all show up at the house simultaneously, and Donny finds himself literally out on a limb in order to communicate with his teenage daughter. Though it deals with serious subject matter, Bye Bye Love is a lighthearted look at modern American divorce and the often humorous ways in which people adjust to a new life. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Modine, Randy Quaid, (more)
Loosely based on a true account, this family drama centers on a group of aimless Hawaiian teens who with the support of two inspirational teachers turn their lives around by building a solar powered car and racing it across the Australian outback during the World Solar Challenge. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Halle Berry, James Belushi, (more)
- 1998
Faith (Eliza Dushku) thinks that a raging beast exists in all men; i.e., men are all dogs. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) doesn't agree, but when a boy is discovered mutilated, all signs point toward Buffy's friend, Oz (Seth Green), relegated to a cage in the library during the three nights a year that he becomes a wolfman. Then, Buffy encounters a strangely ferocious and maniacal Angel (David Boreanaz). Is he the killer? Meanwhile, Debbie (Danielle Weeks), an acquaintance of Oz's, and her boyfriend, Pete (John Patrick White), sneak out to a shed to make out. Like any hot blooded young male, Pete's throbbing for Debbie -- all over his body. Apparently, he turns into a rage demon when he is angered. Later, jealous that Debbie is friends with Oz, Pete attacks the werewolf and the two monster men run off -- hopefully to burn off some of that young male aggression. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1998
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is finally readmitted to Sunnydale High by Principal Snyder (Armin Shimerman). Buffy also flirts with Scott Hope (Fab Filippo) a cute senior. Buffy's mood is brightening until the arrival of the slick Mr. Trick (K. Todd Freeman) and the ancient and demonic-looking Kakistos (Jeremy Roberts), two vampires, spoil it. Later, at the Bronze, Buffy and friends notice an extroverted and sexy new girl dancing who is also about to be hit on by a vampire. They rush to her aid just in time to see her dust the vamp in true slayer style. She introduces herself as Faith (Eliza Dushku), a slayer from Boston whose Watcher is at an annual Watcher's Retreat. Faith proves equally adept and vampire slaying as Buffy, but reckless enamored with violence. Meanwhile, Mr. Trick and Kakistos plan to kill the slayers, but as Giles (Anthony Head) discovers that Faith's Watcher is not at a retreat, but dead, suspicion begins to surround Faith. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1998
It's Christmas time in Sunnydale and like Scrooge, Angel (David Boreanaz) is being haunted by the ghosts of his past victims, namely Jenny Calendar (Robia La Morte). He seeks help from Giles (Anthony Head), and later even shares a dream with Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), where he bites her. Jenny appears and tells him the dream represents his true evil desires. Meanwhile, Giles discovers the three Harbingers -- blind priests who utilize the evil and archaic power of the First. The First has taken on the visage of Jenny and taunts Angel to kill Buffy. The First also predicts the death of Angel by sunrise. On a cliff, waiting for morning and Angel's impending death, Buffy releases all the pent up angst she has felt since Angel's return from Hell. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1998
It's Homecoming at Sunnydale High and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) is determined to be crowned Homecoming Queen. As Angel (David Boreanaz) is still chained up in his mansion, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) accepts Scott's (Fab Filippo) invitation to the dance. Cordelia's self-involved behavior over her Homecoming campaign irks Buffy into running herself. Meanwhile, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) share more than their prospective outfits for the dance. Elsewhere, Mr. Trick (K. Todd Freeman) invites a motley band of psychotics and vampires back to Sunnydale for their own slayer killing festivities. Hoping to give Cordelia and Buffy a chance to mend their friendship, Xander arranges for the limo driver to pick up the feuding pair separately. This works fine, except that the limo driver is German psycho killer Hans Gruenshtahler (Joseph Daube), one of Mr. Trick's guests. Mayor Richard Wilkins III (Harry Groener) is also introduced in this episode, and his demonic intentions established. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1998
Faith's (Eliza Dushku) new Watcher, Mrs. Gwendolyn Post (Serena Scott Thomas), arrives from England. She reveals that she is in Sunnydale not only to look after Faith, but also to stop the demon Lagos from acquiring the Glove of Mynegon -- a weapon. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) -- who has not told anyone that Angel (David Boreanaz) is alive -- tells Angel about Lagos. Later, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) is shocked to find Angel carrying something out of the Von Hauptman family crypt -- the location Giles (Anthony Head) believes the Glove of Mynegon to be. Xander rats out Buffy's secret and consequently Mrs. Post encourages Faith to go kill Angel and Xander joins in. Meanwhile, Giles informs Mrs. Post about everything he knows about the glove's powers and how to destroy it -- and she promptly knocks him out. On their way to kill Angel, Xander and Faith discover Giles unconcious and assume it was Angel's doing. Then, at Angel's mansion, Faith is about to slay Angel when Mrs. Post puts on the Glove of Mynegon. Realizing Mrs. Post's true evil intentions, Faith and Buffy turn their attention on her. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Angry over being human and still only in the 12th grade, Anya (Emma Caulfield) enlists Willow (Alyson Hannigan) to help her get her amulet back. Their spell goes wrong, and, instead of the amulet, brings vampire Willow back (see "The Wish"). Soon, vamp Willow recruits some vampire henchmen, takes over the Bronze and generally sullies the real Willow's nice-girl reputation. Real Willow confronts vamp Willow in the library -- are they attracted to each other? -- and manages to lock her in the book cage. She trades outfits with her vampire self and goes to the Bronze to kick some pasty vampire butt. Later in the library, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), mistaking vamp Willow for the nice one, lets her out of the book cage, all the while preaching to vamp Willow about stealing boyfriends. Meanwhile, Anya recognizes the real Willow at the Bronze blowing her vampire cover and causing one heck of a barroom brawl. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
An occult group, the Sisterhood of Jhe, is attempting to open the Hellmouth and bring about the end of the world -- so what else is new? Xander (Nicholas Brendon) recieves a good wolloping in a fight with the Sisterhood and the rest of Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) gang suggests he opt out of future rumbles. Feeling like a big loser, Xander begins attempting to be cool. This includes driving a 1950's Chevy Bel Aire and hanging out with Jack O'Toole (Channon Roe), a school bully. Soon, Xander's new cool group of friends even includes Jack's old gang buddies -- raised from the dead. Apparently, Jack is also one of the walking dead and now he and his gang are going to blow up Sunnydale High. Scared and unsure of what to do, Xander runs into Faith (Eliza Dushku) by running his Chevy over a Sister of Jhe she is fighting. Later, in her hotel room, Faith repays Xander by taking his virginity. A reinvigorated and confident Xander returns to Sunnydale High to stop Jack and the other dead boys from bombing the school. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
On orders from the Mayor (Harry Groener), Faith (Eliza Dushku) retrieves the Box of Gavrok and returns it to him. Buffy soon learns of the box, an apparent accoutrement for the Ascension -- see "Graduation Day, Pt. 1." She decides to curtail the Mayor's efforts and employs Willow (Alyson Hannigan) to magically lift the supernatural protection around the box. Later, while commandeering the box, Angel (David Boreanaz) and Buffy run into some vampires, but escape with the box. Meanwhile, Faith has kidnapped Willow and the Mayor is holding her for ransom to get the Box of Gavrok back. While captured, Willow manages to sneak a look at some of the pages in the Book of Ascension. Wesley argues that holding on to the box is more important than trading for Willow, but Buffy and friends decide otherwise. As the characters near the end of their senior year, Willow and Buffy discuss attending college together in Sunnydale. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Episode 48 finds Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) falling under the negative influence of maverick slayer Faith (Eliza Dushka). The episode is also noteworthy for the introduction of Buffy's new Watcher, Wesley (Alexis Denisof), a young and unwelcome administrative type who views Giles' training techniques as outmoded. At the start of the episode, Buffy dusts a vampire armed with two swords, which are then stolen by Mr. Trick (K. Todd Freeman), apparently playing some part in the mayor's ascension. Later, Buffy is introduced to the uptight and overconfident Wesley, whom she immediately dislikes. Nonetheless, Wesley informs her that the vampire with the swords belonged to the 15th century duelist cult El Eliminati -- worshippers of the demon Balthazar. They are now searching for a lost amulet, which is in all likelihood harmless. After finding the amulet and discovering where Balthazar is hiding, Faith persuades Buffy -- against her better judgment -- to break into a sporting goods store for weapons. They are arrested and -- again through Faith's persuasion -- cause the squad car to crash so they can escape. Giles and a terrified Wesley are captured by the El Eliminati; during the capture, Faith mistakenly kills Deputy Mayor Finch (Jack Plotnick), an act that will drive her insane and make her evil. Buffy and Angel (David Boreanaz) come to save Giles, who then shows up Wesley by deftly beheading Balthazar with some top-notch swordplay. Meanwhile, the Mayor (Harry Groener) performs a ceremony, after which he pronounces himself invincible for the next 100 days until the Ascension. Buffy confronts Faith about killing Finch -- killing a human is against slayer policy -- but Faith just doesn't care. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
This seminal two-part episode features the end to the characters' high school careers. As the Mayor (Harry Groener) prepares for the Ascension, so do Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her friends -- with the help of former demon Anya (Emma Caulfield). Buffy assumes that she has to miss graduation to fight the Mayor, but is amused at finding out that he will give the commencement speech. Hoping to take Buffy's attention off the Ascension, Faith (Eliza Dushka) poisons Angel (David Boreanaz). Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) and Wesley (Alexis Denisof) research a cure and find that Angel must drink the blood of a slayer. Nervous about battling with the Mayor, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Oz (Seth Green) grow closer. Tired of Oz's distant behavior, Willow urges him to express his panic -- which he does by kissing her. Buffy attempts to sacrifice Faith to save Angel, stabbing her -- but this, of course, is not the end of their rivalry. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Featuring more subterfuge than a Shakespearean comedy, the good slayer/bad slayer plot thickens as Faith (Eliza Dushka) and the Mayor (Harry Groener) plan to take away Angel's (David Boreanaz) soul. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), and the rest of the gang debate the nature of the Ascension -- which says it will make a city disappear; they all agree this would not be good! Following the Mayor's orders, Faith steals the Books of Ascension from a demon she has killed. She then goes to Angel and attempts to seduce him and turn him evil. It does not work, but Buffy comes in on them just as Faith kisses Angel. Later, unaware that Faith is working with the Mayor, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) has Buffy and Faith go look for the Books of Ascension. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Episode 49 finds Faith (Eliza Dushka) descending deeper into her slayer psychosis, causing Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to have a nightmare. In it, Buffy is drowning with the dead Finch (Jack Plotnick); she awakens to find that Finch's body has been found, and the Mayor (Harry Groener) is vowing retribution. Later, Buffy breaks down sobbing in front of Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and tells her how Faith killed Finch, a moment that brings them together after their protracted falling out. At the urging of Willow, Buffy tries to tell Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) the truth -- but Faith has falsely accused Buffy of the crime. Giles later tells Buffy he did not believe Faith, but that this kind of accident is not uncommon with slayers. In the process, everyone finds out that Xander (Nicholas Brendan) had sex with Faith. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Failing to cure Angel (David Boreanaz) with Faith's (Eliza Dushka) blood, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) decides to sacrifice herself. Ignoring the obvious dangers, Buffy forces Angel to feed on her blood. Although her friends are angry at her for foolishly risking her life, they all team up -- with a covert plan -- to fight the Mayor. While giving his commencement speech, the Mayor winces with pain and quickly metamorphoses into a giant demon snake. As parents flee the auditorium, students whip open their commencement gowns to reveal an array of medieval weaponry -- and some handy flame-throwers. Buffy orchestrates the attack on the Mayor, luring him into the school library while everyone else is battling with vampires. Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) sets off the pre-planted explosives and blows the demon-mayor as well as most of Sunnydale High to bits. Oz, in a comedic denouement, suggests that everyone reflect on the horror they survived -- high school that is. A minor, but important plot point revealed earlier in the episode is that Buffy quits the Watcher's Council; thus, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) returns to England. A controversial episode, this second part of the March 1999 season finale was postponed until July in sensitivity to the then-recent shootings at Columbine High School. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
A vision from Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) sends Angel (David Boreanaz) to the rescue of a pregnant woman (Justina Machado) who appears to be in danger from a nearby demon. After Angel kills the beast, however, it turns out it was actually protecting the woman from the Tribunal, a mysterious, inquisition-like mystical cabal. Despite her protests that he's already done more than enough, Angel insists on taking over as the woman's bodyguard. For help in this quest, he turns to the Host (Andy Hallett), the green-skinned, horned proprietor of Caritas, a demon sanctuary and karaoke bar. The Host has the mystical ability to read the aura and chart the destiny of anyone -- but only if they'll sing for him. One monumentally bad Barry Manilow rendition later, the Host arms Angel with enough knowledge to serve as the woman's champion in an impromptu jousting match. Meanwhile, Wolfram & Hart lawyer Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane) helps Darla (Julie Benz) recover from her recent resurrection (see "To Shanshu in L.A."). And in a brief epilogue, Angel visits rogue slayer Faith (Eliza Dushku) in jail, where they talk about their respective paths to redemption. Originally broadcast September 26, 2000, on the WB network, "Judgement" marked season two, episode one of the supernatural comedy drama. J. August Richards, a guest star from previous episodes, joins the regular cast in this episode. And Andy Hallett, playing the important recurring character the Host, makes his first appearance. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
After Faith (Eliza Dushku) surrenders herself (see "Five by Five"), Angel (David Boreanaz) decides to try to rehabilitate her, incurring the wrath of Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Wesley (Alexis Denisof), the latter of whom was recently tortured by the rogue slayer. Angel's ex-girlfriend and Faith's arch-nemesis, Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), arrives in town too late to warn the gang about Faith's imminent arrival. Buffy is devastated to learn that Angel has taken Faith under his wing. As Buffy and Angel battle it out, both verbally and physically, a group of assassins from the Watcher's Council attempts to recruit ex-Watcher Wesley back to their cause in order to eliminate Faith once and for all. Meanwhile, Wolfram & Hart, incensed at Faith's betrayal, turn to Det. Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm) for a surprisingly legal method of revenge. As the forces against Faith continue to mount, Angel refuses to cede his protection of the girl. Ultimately, though, it's up to Faith herself to choose true penance. Originally broadcast May 2, 2000, on the WB network, "Sanctuary" marked season one, episode 19 of the supernatural comedy drama. Sarah Michelle Gellar, star of Angel's parent series, makes the second of many guest appearances (see also "I Will Remember You"). ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
The hard work, dedication, and personal politics behind "rah rah rah!" and "sis boom bah!" go under the microscope in this engaging teen comedy. Torrance Shipman (Kirsten Dunst) discovers that being captain of her San Diego high school's six-time championship-winning cheerleading squad is more complicated than she had imagined. Torrance's parents want her to spend more time on her homework, her boyfriend wants her to spend more time with him, and she learns that the squad's former captain stole some of their best routines from other teams -- and that Isis (Gabrielle Union), captain of a top squad at a crosstown, inner-city high school, plans to fight back this year. To make things worse, when one of the cheerleaders is injured, Torrance is forced to replace her with Missy (Eliza Dushku), a cynical new kid who is involved only because the school doesn't offer gymnastics. In the midst of this chaos, with the national championship around the corner, Torrance couldn't have picked a worse time to fall in love with Cliff (Jesse Bradford), a classmate who cares a lot more about punk rock than school spirit. Dunst trained with a cheerleading squad for her role, though a double performed the more complicated stunts. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, (more)
- 2000
Christian Kane, who appeared as an unnamed Wolfram & Hart attorney in "City of Angels," makes the first of several return appearances here; his character's name is revealed to be Lindsey McDonald. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) finds herself inside Faith's (Eliza Dushku) body and being carted off on a gurney by the police. Having used a mystical Katra to switch her body with Buffy's, Faith marvels at her perfect disguise, mocking Buffy's do-gooder persona in front of the Summers' bathroom mirror. Meanwhile, while the police are transporting "Faith" to jail, a van pulls in front of the squad car, and three men jump out -- members of "the team" from the Watcher's Council -- kidnapping "Faith." Elsewhere, "Buffy," instead of hunting for Adam (George Hertzberg), goes to party at The Bronze. There, she meets Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (Amber Benson). Assuming they've met up with Buffy, Willow leaves Tara alone with her while she orders drinks. "Buffy" ridicules Tara, making fun of her stutter and telling her how in love Willow is with Oz (Seth Green). Afterwards, Tara tells Willow that Buffy didn't seem like herself. They both devise a spell to switch Buffy and Faith back into their own bodies. Ironically, while Faith is attempting to cause trouble while in Buffy's body, she experiences her first taste of love and kindness, being thanked by a person she saves from a vampire and even making tender love with Riley (Marc Blucas) -- who admits he loves Buffy for the first time. Adam also launches his war on humanity, sending vampires to attack a church, that, luckily, Riley is attending Sunday morning. ~ All Movie Guide
