Alison Elliott

Brad Pitt stars as legendary Wild West outlaw Jesse James in Chopper director Andrew Dominik's cinematic rendering of the events that would eventually bring about the death of the man rumored be the "fastest gun in the West." An eager recruit into James' notorious gang, Robert Ford eventually grows jealous of the famed outlaw. When Robert and his brother Charlie sense an opportunity to kill James, their murderous action elevates their target to near mythical status. Casey Affleck stars as Robert Ford and Sam Shepard co-stars as Frank James -- Jesse's devoted sibling and partner in crime. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, Birth takes place in New York's Upper East Side, where Anna (Nicole Kidman), a 35-year-old widow, resides. Just as Anna has shaken off what she thought were the final remnants of her old life -- she has even found love with a new man, Joseph (Danny Huston), whom she plans on marrying -- Sean (Cameron Bright), a ten-year-old boy, comes into her life insisting that he is the reincarnation of her late husband. Though she initially brushes off the boy's claims as the result of a crush on her, his grave demeanor and uncanny knowledge of her life leads Anna through a self-reevaluation that not only threatens her marital plans with Joseph (Huston), but also strains her relationship with her mother, Eleanor (Lauren Bacall). ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

Stuck on an island ranch off the coast of Los Angeles, the illegitimate offspring of Zeus are forced by their father to act out Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Ernest if they want to survive. As their situation grows increasingly dire, the U.S. government threatens to evict them in order to make room for a National Park. Fleeing to Los Angeles for a fresh start, the duo experience a life they never conceived among the unique denizens of the city. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Acclaimed author Willa Cather offers a moving tale of an artist's self-discovery in a semi-autobiographical tale concerning a young woman from rural Colorado who moves to the big city to seek her fortune as a world-famous opera star. Originally aired as part of PBS' popular Masterpiece Theatre series, The Song of the Lark details the passion of young singer Thea Kronborg (Alison Elliott) as she strives to make a name for herself in the world of music along with a little encouragement from a country doctor, a railroad worker, and a millionaire, who assist her in her musical development. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Based on the 1902 Henry James novel of the same name, The Wings of the Dove is set in 1910. After the death of her mother, Kate Croy (Helena Bonham Carter) has become a ward of her wealthy Aunt Maude (Charlotte Rampling), who is paying her dissipated father (Michael Gambon) to stay out of Kate's life. Maude wants Kate not to repeat Kate's mother's mistake and marry someone who is a commoner, and Maude arranges a meeting between Kate and Lord Mark (Alex Jennings), a high-class gentleman who can escort her to the right places. But Kate is more interested in Merton Densher (Linus Roache), a penniless journalist. A beautiful but terminally ill American heiress, Millie Theale (Alison Elliott), arrives on the scene and befriends Kate. Kate notices Millie's obvious affection for the handsome Merton, and she arranges an elaborate scheme to hook up the two of them so that Merton can collect Millie's money after her death. But because of her own jealousy, Kate repeatedly sabotages her own arrangement. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

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

Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, this epic version of the legendary western sheriff-gunslinger's life story stars Kevin Costner as Earp, who lived from 1848 to 1929. Growing up on a farm in Iowa, Earp tries to run away to join the Union Army in the Civil War, but he is turned away because of his youth. Instead, he studies law and marries Urilla Sutherland (Annabeth Gish). But Urilla dies of typhoid fever before they can have children. Earp grows despondent and descends into drinking and petty thievery, but his father Nicholas (Gene Hackman) finds him, sobers him up, and sets him straight. Earp becomes a buffalo hunter and a close companion of Bat Masterson (Tom Sizemore) and his brother Ed (Bill Pullman). With his brothers, Virgil (Michael Madsen) and Morgan (Linden Ashby), Earp sets out to clean up the violence-plagued towns of the old West -- by using his own guns to settle scores. Earp takes up with Mattie Blaylock (Mare Winningham), a drug addict and prostitute, then discards her for actress Josie Marcus (Joanna Going). In Tombstone, Arizona, the Earp brothers and their comrade Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid), who is plagued by tuberculosis and a compulsion for gambling, meet their match in a ruthless gang led by Ike Clanton (Jeff Fahey). ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

A love affair turns dangerous when a young man discovers his girl has been hiding something from him in this drama, a change of pace for British horror man Pete Walker. Ginny (Alison Elliott) and her best friend Carol (Debbie Linden) are hitchhiking one day when a truck driver picks them up. The trucker takes a shine to Carol, and after a visit to a coffee shop, Ginny is left thumbing a ride on her own. Mike (James Aubrey), who saw Ginny while getting some coffee, gives her a lift and offers to take her out to dinner. Initially wary, Ginny accepts, and within a few days the two are dating steadily. Mike is a songwriter who writes commercial jingles and works with a successful pop group called Bad Accident, while Ginny is a student looking towards a career in fashion design. After spending a few nights together, all seems to be well with the new couple, until Mike learns pretty Ginny's secret -- while she looks to be 19 or 20, she's actually only 14 years old. Mike tries to call off their relationship, but he and Ginny are too attracted to one another to stay away, and they cautiously continue to see one another until Ginny's parents (Mark Burns and Juliet Harmer) become aware of the sexual nature of their relationship. Ginny's father contacts the police, and under the pressure of interrogation Ginny tells the authorities that Mike forced her to be intimate with him; while Mike was prepared to be charged with having sex with a minor, he becomes distraught when he learns Ginny has also accused him of rape. Home Before Midnight also features Chris Jagger (Mick Jagger's brother) as a member of Bad Accident. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Teenagers will go camping, they will have sex, and they will wander aimlessly around on lonely roads in the dead of night. If you liked this by-rote formula in Friday the 13th, chances are you'll like Killer's Moon. Nothing's really new about the main character, an escaped murderer who slashes only when the moon is full. The novelty comes in the awe-inspiring variety of methods he uses to slice and dice his victims. Though Killer's Moon is certainly full of screams, shocks and gushing blood, 92 minutes' worth of audience attention may be a bit too much to ask for. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide