Natalya Novikova Movies
- 2003
No sooner had actor Joe Pantoliano's character literally lost his head as mobster Ralph Cifaretto on the HBO crime series The Sopranos than he switched to the "right" side of the law on the CBS weekly The Handler. Pantoliano was cast as veteran FBI agent Joe Renato, who was placed in charge of a group of rookie undercover agents operating in L.A. Each of Renato's chameleon charges was a master of disguise and deception, ideally suited for the various FBI stings to which they assigned -- but still not yet dry behind the years insofar as surviving deadly situations. Featured in the cast was another Sopranos expatriate, Lola Glaudini, as eager young agent Heather, Anna Belknap as Lily, Ken Weiler as Roy, Hill Harper as Darnell, and Tanya Wright as Marcy. The Handler debuted September 26, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Pantoliano, Anna Belknap, (more)
- 2002
Directed and co-written by Scott Saunders, The Technical Writer stars Tatum O'Neal as Slim, one of the tenants residing in a glamorous Manhattan apartment complex. Along with Joe (William Forsythe), her husband, Slim is determined to introduce the reclusive Jessop (Michael Harris) into her social circuit, which often involves swinging sex parties. Though Jessop isn't tempted, Slim, after having made a bet with her husband, continues to interrupt his isolated existence, and eventually succeeds in seducing the middle-aged loner out of his agoraphobia and into her bed. Once Jessop is hooked, however, Slim distances herself from him. The Technical Writer also features Pamela Gordon and Oksana Lada. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Harris, Tatum O'Neal, (more)
- 2001
- R
Most people fall in love and get married, but one man does it the other way around in this romantic comedy from Australia. Harvey (Hugo Weaving) is a private detective who derives the bulk of his work from unhappily married people wanting to know if their spouses are being unfaithful. Harvey finds this work depressing and wishes he could quit to devote himself to writing crime fiction. Harvey's career has also given him a rather jaundiced view of romance, which is unfortunately confirmed when he's hired to keep tabs on a college professor and discovers he's having an affair with one of his students -- who also happens to be Harvey's fiancée. Harvey's best friend is a publishing executive named Ethan (David Wenham), who is happily married to Miriam (Rebecca Frith). Or that's what Harvey thinks; he soon learns the truth when Ethan confesses he's been having a passionate affair with Katia (Natalia Novikova), a beautiful woman from Russia. Katia's visa is about to expire, and Ethan is desperate to keep her from going back to Russia; the easiest way to allow her to stay in Australia would be to marry her, but Ethan doesn't want to divorce Miriam just yet. Instead, Ethan offers to make a deal with Harvey -- Ethan will pay him a large amount of money if he'd be willing to wed Katia. While Harvey is not enthusiastic about the idea, the money would allow him to stay home and write, so he reluctantly agrees. But after a few weeks of marriage, Harvey finds himself falling in love with his wife, and he begins looking for a way to steal her away from Ethan. Russian Doll won the prize for Best Original Screenplay at the 2000 Australian Film Institute Awards. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugo Weaving, Natalya Novikova, (more)
