Sean Maher
Amanda Goodwin's Living 'Til the End concerns a man who, after being told by a psychic that he will die on his next birthday, decides to set up his life so that he never has to leave his apartment. His phobia about the prediction coming true manifests itself as a form of severe agoraphobia. The first challenge to his fear comes from a female neighbor, a pretty young woman who is also dying. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Maher, Jaime Ray Newman, (more)
A band of renegades on the run in outer space get in more hot water than they anticipated in this sci-fi action-adventure adapted from the television series Firefly. In the 26th century, the galaxy has been colonized by a military force known as the Alliance, but its leadership has not gone unquestioned. The Alliance was once challenged by a league of rebels known as the Independents, but the Alliance emerged victorious after a brutal civil war, with the surviving Independents scattering around the galaxy. Also wandering the edges of the galaxy are the Reavers, who have won few allies due to their violent behavior and habit of ripping apart their enemies and eating them before they're dead. Capt. Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), who fought as an Independent in the galactic war, is the head of Serenity, a rogue frieghter ship whose crew includes Mal's first mate, Zoe (Gina Torres), who fought alongside him in the war, her husband, hotshot pilot Wash (Alan Tudyk), sunny but dependable mechanic Kaylee (Jewel Staite), and hard-nosed gunman Jayne (Adam Baldwin). The crew of Serenity wander the galaxy, taking on whatever work they can get, from criminal activities like smuggling and stealing to legitimately offering transport to travelers. Passengers aboard Serenity include professional "companion" Inara (Morena Baccarin) and holy man Shepherd Book (Ron Glass), but the real trouble aboard the ship comes with the arrival of Simon (Sean Maher) and his teenage sister, River Tam (Summer Glau). In time, the crew discovers that River has remarkable psychic powers and was being held captive by Alliance forces until Simon came to her rescue. Now the Alliance is hot on the heels of Serenity and its passengers, with The Operative (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a sinister Alliance tracker, leading the chase. Serenity was written and directed by Joss Whedon (in his directorial debut), creator of Firefly, which only lasted 11 weeks on the air but gained a powerful cult following who rallied to get the show released on DVD after its cancellation, leading to impressive home-video sales and and an eventual motion picture deal. A couple of months prior to Serenity's theatrical release, reruns of Firefly were picked up by the Sci-Fi channel, adding even more fans to its cult following. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, (more)
- 2005
Adapted from a novel by Ann Packer, this made-for-cable romantic drama stars Michelle Trachtenberg) as Carrie Beal, a Madison, Wisconsin native engaged to her high school sweetheart Mike Mayor (Will Estes). Already having serious second thoughts about her relationship with Mike, Carrie is further conflicted when he is permanently paralyzed in a diving accident. Unable to cope with the fact that Mike now needs her more than ever, Carrie abruptly heads out of town, leaving her engagement ring behind her. Inagurating a whole new life in New York City, Carrie becomes a successful fashion designer, and also has a lengthy affair with an older man named Kilroy (Sean Maher). But when things begin to go sour for her, will Carrie be able to return to Madison--and beyond that, will Mike and the other loved ones she deserted be willing to forgive and forget? The Dive from Claussen's Pier was first telecast by the Lifetime network on July 25, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Created by Joss Whedon (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Firefly was an "outer-space Western" set some four to five centuries in the future. Nathan Fillion starred as Captain Mal Reynolds, a disillusioned interplanetary-war veteran and outlaw of the Alliance, the current ruling government. Reynolds was skipper of the transport ship Serenity, a "Firefly-class" vessel. The cast of characters included Inara (Morena Baccarin), a doctor named Simon (Sean Maher), and a mystical preacher named Book (Ron Glass). Firefly made its American network debut on September 20, 2002, on Fox; it was cancelled after only 12 episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, (more)
Based in part on the autobiography of Gale Sayers, an Football Hall of Fame inductee and one of the finest halfbacks in the history of the game, this made-for-TV drama recounts the true story of Sayers (Mekhi Phifer) and his friendship with fellow Chicago Bears player Brian Piccolo (Sean Maher). In the mid-'60s, when Sayers joined the Bears, he was not welcomed by all members of the team, but soon developed a friendly rivalry with Piccolo, a running back who was gunning for the same place on the team as Sayers. Sensing a tension between the two men that might be used to make better players, coach George Halas (Ben Gazarra) decided to make Sayers and Piccolo roommates at training camp and on the road -- a decision that quickly became controversial, since Sayers was African-American and Piccolo was white. However, rivalry grew into respect, and when Sayers suffered a serious knee injury, Piccolo became the man who helped guide him through the difficult process of rehabilitation. Sayers not only returned to the team, he become a star player, but in time it became Sayers' turn to help Piccolo when Brian learned that a lingering illness was actually cancer. A remake of one of the most acclaimed made-for-TV movies ever (with James Caan and Billy Dee Williams as Piccolo and Sayers), Brian's Song also features Elise Neal as Linda Sayers and Janessa Crimi as Lori Piccolo, the players' wives. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aidan Devine, Dean McDermott, (more)
- 1998
Shani Grewal wrote, directed, and edited this low-budget British romantic comedy that asks the question: What's it all about, Sanjay? Struggling artist Sanjay (Nitin Chandra Ganatra) is avoiding marriage, so his black girlfriend Jill (Ernestina Quarcoo) flies off to L.A. for a week. After Sanjay has sex with his ex-girlfriend Nora (Lea Rochelle) and next beds a body-paint model, his pals propose a bet in which Sanjay will qualify as a "guru" if he can score with five more women for a grand total of seven. A la Alfie (1966), Sanjay speaks directly to the camera as he sets out to win the bet. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nitin Chandra Ganatra, Saeed Jaffrey, (more)
