Sybil Temchen

Are women more attracted to big creepy thugs than to nice guys? Carter (Sean O'Bryan) seems to think so; as a hopelessly nice guy, he's had a long string of unsuccessful relationships with women who thought he was a sweet person and a good friend ... and then left him to get involved with an obnoxious macho side of beef. At 31, he's tired of being a loser in love, so when he becomes infatuated with a woman named Maggie, Carter tries a new approach -- he tries to spark her interest by acting like a slug who couldn't care less about her. The trouble is, for once Carter is chasing a woman who really is looking for a nice guy; more than anything, Maggie wants to meet a man who will treat her right and bring her flowers. A bittersweet romantic comedy, Nice Guys Sleep Alone features a supporting performance from Morgan Fairchild and was screened at the 1999 Gothenburg Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

After making his directorial debut with the acclaimed made-for-cable movie Gia, writer Michael Cristofer helmed his first big-screen offering with this drama. When eight men and women in their early-to-mid-20s head out for a night on the town, hopping from one Los Angeles club to the next, not everything goes as planned as they discover the joys and perils of dating at the end of the 20th Century. Body Shots shifts among the perspectives of its eight characters, played by Sean Patrick Flanery, Ron Livingston, Jerry O'Connell, Amanda Peet, Emily Procter, Tara Reid, Brad Rowe, and Sybil Temchen. The film had a number of titles during production, including The Night Before and Jello Shots, the latter of which was reportedly axed to avoid legal problems with the company that makes the gelatin dessert product. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The private life of celebrated author and philosopher Ayn Rand takes center stage in this film produced for the Showtime cable network. In 1951, Ayn Rand (Helen Mirren) is a best-selling author and celebrated thinker when she meets Nathaniel Branden (Eric Stoltz) and his friend Barbara (Julie Delpy), two college students who admire her writing and ideas. Rand takes the students under her wing, but before long her mentoring becomes less benevolent and more abusive. She badgers Barbara and Nathaniel, who were never more than close friends, into marrying, and while Nathaniel responds well to Rand's tutelage, Barbara begins to shrink from Rand's lack of compassion, which Rand sees as weakness. Things become more uncomfortable when, after Barbara and Nathaniel join Ayn and her often-ignored husband Frank O'Connor (Peter Fonda) on a vacation, Ayn and Nathaniel demand "permission" to have an affair, which they feel is dictated by the importance of their work. Based on Barbara Branden's autobiography about her years with Rand, The Passion Of Ayn Rand was premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Six friends in their mid- to late twenties are forced to deal with the sticky business of adulthood in this independent comedy drama. For close to ten years, Paul (Elon Gold) has organized a weekend getaway for his college friends every summer at his folks' cottage in upstate New York. This year, the number of attendees has dwindled to six, which disappoints Paul, as he prefers to look back on his past rather than deal with his present. Paul and his wife, Julia (Amanda Peet), have been trying to have a child, but she has been mixed feelings about the notion of parenthood, which are aggravated when she learns she is indeed pregnant. Stan (Jonathan LaPaglia) is still reeling from a recent bout with testicular cancer, as well as a bad breakup with his girlfriend Kate (Sybil Temchen). As it happens, Kate's pal Laura (Jean Louisa Kelly) is attracted to Stan, but between his weakened physical state and his mixed feelings about his breakup, he's not sure if he should proceed. And ladies' man Fisher (Michael Kelly), disappointed by the dearth of single woman, decides to act on his feelings for Julia; while Julia is flattered, she's not sure if Fisher is worth throwing away her marriage. Origin of the Species was the first feature film from director Andres Heinz, and was adapted from the play of the same name by Robert Weston Ackerman. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The mutilated body of a woman is found, and the principal suspects are her two sons. Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) tries to figure out if the guilty party is the son who shows no remorse or the one lost in a haze of drugs and alcohol. When one of the suspects kills himself, Andy wonders if the dead man could serve as a heart donor for the still-ailing Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits). Meanwhile, Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) locates another possible donor -- a brain-dead cop whose grieving wife may not grant permission. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This urban drama set in a working-class New Jersey suburb, chronicles the complex relationship between three young men, Ray, Mike and Butchie who have been lifelong friends. One day in the past, when they were children, the boys witnessed the public arrest of Ray's father for illicit gambling. Ray was traumatized and swore that he would never let such a thing happen to him. Now he is a hard-working shoe salesman who dreams of being a prominent businessman. He is planning to marry his childhood love, Joanne. Mike is a college student who works part-time in his father's bar. Butch is the troubled one. He works as a delivery boy and has little ambition. Despite Ray's dreams, he is irresponsible and to get more money borrows a large sum from the local mob loan shark, Donny. Unfortunately, he loses it in Atlantic City casinos. Meanwhile, after Mikes father suffers a heart attack, Mike and Joanne have sex. When Donny's thugs catch up with the three, they cruelly torture the youths until someone interrupts them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide