Paolo Rotondo Movies
Three small-time gamblers discover their stakes have been raised to a career high in this comedy-drama. Jack (Robbie Magasiva), Wayne (Scott Wills), and Thomas (Paolo Rotondo) compose a trio of hotshot billiards players who devote their spare time to hustling games at their favorite watering hole in New Zealand. When the boys learn that Daddy (Enrico Mammarella), a fearsome local crime czar, is organizing a high-stakes pool tournament, they decide to get in on the action, but when they learn that Dave (John Leigh), the owner of their favorite pub and hustling spot, is deep in dept to the mob, they figure that wining the tourney may be their only hope for keeping the bar open (and Dave alive). As Jack, Wayne, and Thomas prepare to square off against the sharpest Kiwi pool sharks alive, they find themselves attracting the attention of Karen (Simone Kessell) and Sara (Anne Nordhaus), a pair of beautiful women who seem to know their way around a billiard table and are more than casually interested in the boys. But what the guys don't know is that Karen and Sara are world-class pool hustlers who've been hired by Daddy's crew to distract them and throw them off their game. Stickmen was the first feature film from director Hamish Rothwell, who previously was a top director of television commercials and music videos. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robbie Magasiva, Paolo Rotondo, (more)
- 1997
Housed inside the grimy walls of a horrific New Zealand asylum there sits a serial killer waiting to be determined sane enough to stand trial. The mental hospital is run by the sinister Dr. Marlowe, who looks the other way when his thuggish orderlies occasionally rough up the inmates. Into this hellish place comes the cocky Dr. Karen Shoemaker, a psychiatrist famed for having made major breakthroughs with another murderer. Though Marlowe thinks that no one could reach Simon Cartwright, the killer, Shoemaker is determined to try, so, with Marlowe watching behind a two-way mirror, she begins the first of many chilling sessions with the unrepentant Simon. A horror film that draws some of its best bits from other slasher movies, while also adding a few interesting twists of its own, this directorial debut from New Zealand director Scott Reynolds follows the winding course of these sessions, presenting pieces from Simon's grim life and graphically gory murders via flashback. As time passes, Shoemaker comes to trust the placid-seeming Simon and asks that his shackles be removed. Shortly thereafter she learns that he hears voices urgently telling him to kill and kill again. Dr. Shoemaker must then work even harder to control her dangerous patient and her growing terror. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paolo Rotondo, Rebecca Hobbs, (more)
- 1995
Reading an ancient scroll at the behest of some villagers, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) inadvertently released the three long-dormant Titans, parents of the Olympian Gods. Though Gabrielle is able to keep two of the Titans under control, the third, Hyperion (Mark Rafferty), has resumed his campaign of destruction. Only Xena (Lucy Lawless) can prevent the rampaging Hyperion from unleashing even more sleeping Titans onto a helpless world -- but Xena has been captured. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, (more)
