Armand Assante Movies
Relegated to a series of low-budget thrillers in his later years despite impressive appearances in such films as Paradise Alley (1978) early on, Emmy-winning actor Armand Assante can always be relied upon to turn in a solid performance despite the fact that full-fledged stardom has eluded him throughout his long and varied career. A New York City native and a graduate of Cornwall Central High School, the handsome Irish-Italian actor got an impressive start to his acting career when he was awarded one of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts' highest honors while still a student at the renowned school. Assante is well versed in both stage and screen, and after he cut his teeth on such television dramas as How to Survive a Marriage and The Doctors, the fledgling actor got his big break opposite Sylvester Stallone in 1978's Paradise Alley. High-profile roles in Private Benjamin (1980) and Unfaithfully Yours (1984) found Assante gaining screen momentum in the early '80s, though the dedicated thespian continued to moonlight with numerous stage roles throughout the decade. From 1984 on, the majority of Assante's screen work was of the television variety, and in 1989 he was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in the made-for-television feature Jack the Ripper.Assante started off the 1990s with a bang, and after gaining momentum with such efforts as Q & A (1990), The Mambo Kings (1992), and Hoffa (1992), an unrelentingly goofy performance in Fatal Instinct (1993) proved that he did indeed have a sense of humor despite his suave composure. With Judge Dredd (1995), Assante's feature career came to something of a head in the mid-'90s, and upon returning to the small screen he would take home an Emmy for his chilling performance as the eponymous character in the 1996 crime drama Gotti. Kudos would continue to roll in when Assante took the lead role in the television production of The Odyssey (1997), and after a strong few years onscreen he would usher in the new millennium with a voice role in the animated adventure The Road to El Dorado (2000). After taking the lead in the made-for-television remake of Stanley Kramer's nuclear war drama, On the Beach (2000), Assante spent the following few years appearing in such obscure action thrillers as Federal Protection (2001) and Partners in Action (2002). Despite his low profile, the tireless actor was in fact busier than ever as he appeared in no less than five films in 2003 alone. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Ron Perlman and Armand Assante headline this thriller about a man who realizes that his worst nightmares are coming true when his hometown is rocked by a series of gruesome murders. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ron Perlman, Armand Assante, (more)
Ridiculed and dismissed by his contemporaries due to his outrageous warnings about the dangers of Global Warming, a once-respected professor and academic hatches a deadly experiment designed to prove his theories in this thriller starring Val Kilmer and Armand Assante. James Pettis is a man on the brink. After publishing a pair of alarmist books claiming that Global Warming would hasten the collapse of humanity and bring about the end of the world as we know it, Pettis the laughing stock of the academic community. But even after losing everything, Pettis remained convinced that his theories were sound. Then, one day, Pettis bursts into the Tampa Tribune claiming that he can prove his hypothesis in no uncertain terms. In a bit to regain his status in the Global Warming community, Pettis has set up an experiment: six unsuspecting people have been lured into a "Steam Room" where the temperature will gradually rise, providing undeniable proof of Pettis' theory that rising temperatures on the planet's surface would send humanity spiraling into chaos. Should the Tampa Tribune fail to print his theories on the front page of their next edition, Pettis' unwitting lab rats will die a slow and excruciating death. Now it's up to Detective Jack Mancini to figure out whether Pettis is bluffing, or if he actually put the lives of innocent civilians in danger in a mad bid to prove his point about the dangers of Global Warming. But Detective Mancini has only two hours to discern whether the "Steam Room" is indeed real, or the manipulative creation of a delusional psychopath: does his risk his life and the lives of others to rescue people who may only exist in Pettis' mind, or does he take the madman at his word and do everything in his power to appease him? The clock is ticking, and the only way out of this deadly maze is for Detective Mancini to engage in an intellectual game of cat-and-mouse against an opponent who truly has nothing left to lose. Eric Roberts and Patrick Muldoon co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Val Kilmer, Armand Assante, (more)
A disgraced criminal defense attorney uncovers evidence of corruption within the police department while attempting a career comeback in this crime drama from director Jeff Celentano (Under the Hula Moon, Say It in Russian). Before his career was sidelined by drug addiction and a family tragedy, Steven Luisi (Tom Berenger) defended some of the worst criminals in the city. These days he's sober and determined to get his career back on track. When Luisi catches wind of a sordid, well-publicized murder case, he decides to pursue it despite the knowledge that it may steer him down a dark path. Before long Luisi has formed a partnership with Richard "Beanz" Allen (Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones). A former star athlete who has since fallen back to the streets, Beanz has all the dirt on local drug dealer/gang leader Al Bowen (Busta Rhymes). But in order to bring Bowen to justice and expose his connection to the police department, Luisi will have to open himself up to some intense scrutiny. As the stakes get higher, Luisi and his unlikely ally take their fight for truth and justice from the streets to the courtroom. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Berenger, Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones, (more)
Director James Cotten recruits an all-star roster for this crime thriller set along the Mexican-American border. Mexican drug lord Pelon has managed to escape the ire of the American government, but his decision to switch from cocaine from Colombia to heroin from Afghanistan attracts their attention. Numerous assassins come for the man's blood, but Pelon evades them all. Hitman Mark Shields sets himself apart from the pack with 20 years of killing experience, but he becomes distracted by the presence of a woman and her daughter. This character-driven action film stars Andy Garcia, Ray Liotta, Armand Assante, and Esai Morales. ~ Kimber Myers, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ray Liotta, Esai Morales, (more)
His glory days as a hit man for Chicago's most powerful crime family fading into a distant memory, a seasoned killer accepts one last job in an attempt to secure his retirement, and discovers just how much the streets have changed in the last twenty years. In his heyday, Lou Marazano (Frank Vincent) was the number one triggerman for the Outfit, a ruthless gang that ruled all of Chicago. His exploits were legendary, and his ability to pull off big jobs without leaving any evidence was an enormous asset to the criminal powerbrokers in the city. Now Lou is in his sixties, and jailed Outfit boss Stefano D'Agnostino (Armand Assante) needs a big favor. There's a conspiracy linking some outwardly upstanding city officials to the Outfit, and Lou is exactly the kind of guy who can make those suspicious connections disappear. But this time someone's on to him. Veteran Homicide Detective Ralph Maloney (Danny Goldring) is certain that Lou has a hand in the latest round of underworld assassinations, and he's determined to do whatever it takes to connect him to the crimes. With Detective Maloney closing in and his job not yet finished, Lou finds regret hanging heavily on his conscious, and memories of his estranged family beginning to cloud his better judgment. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frank Vincent, Armand Assante, (more)
A cursed camera leads to sheer terror for a group of students on vacation in Morocco. Amateur photographer Clarissa (Harriet MacMasters) is traveling through the remote villages of Morocco with friends when her camera is suddenly stolen. Luck appears to shine on the weary victimized shutterbug, however, when mysterious curio shop owner Tollinger (Armand Assante) gives her an incredible deal on a vintage camera. But soon thereafter, the members of Clarissa's group begin to die off in the most horrible ways imaginable. When a frightened hunter reveals to the group that whoever is photographed by the camera is doomed to die, the few remaining survivors race to solve the deadly mystery before it's too late. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harriet MacMasters-Green, Armand Assante, (more)
Tourist season sets the stage for terror when a greedy developer attempts to transform a quiet California fishing town into a gaudy tourist trap, and a swarm of man-eating Great Whites begin devouring anyone who dares venture into the once-peaceful waters. Decades of dumping has turned the Pacific Ocean into a toxic cesspool, and while some species died out others somehow managed to survive and adapt. Full Moon Bay is a sleepy seaside town populated primarily by fisherman, though slimy industrial millionaire Hamilton Lux (Armand Assante) is planning to rape the land a reap a profit. Should Lux have his way, overpriced shops will flank historic landmarks and a luxury resort will draw tourists from around the world. Of course this will put a stranglehold on the local business, such as the nearby fishery fun by Daniel (John Schneider) and Brook Wilder (Daryl Hannah). Wilder isn't about to go down without a fight though, and though he's never seen eye to eye with his estranged brother Phillip (Roark Critchlow) - a noted professor and environmental expert - the siblings are about to reunite to fight for a common cause. Just as Phillip returns to town, word emerges that a number of locals have been torn to shreds and eaten alive after venturing into in bay. When Marine biologist Amy Zuckermann (Heather McComb) arrives to survey Lex's developments, she makes a most disturbing discovery - a beached bull shark with sensory organs that still display predatory instincts even after death. As if this news wasn't horrifying enough, Amy discovers that a swarm of Great White sharks are stalking the waters and killing for pleasure. Each day the number of sharks grows, and each day they become more violent. With the sun shining bright and the tourists turning up in droves, Amy, Daniel, and Brook must figure out a way to stop these killing machines before the feast begins. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Schneider, Daryl Hannah, (more)
Romanian director Cristian Nemescu's comedy California Dreamin' (aka Nesfarsit, 2007) unfolds against the backdrop of the Kosovo War, circa 1999. A NATO train rolls through a Romanian hamlet, transporting a plethora of weapons across the country -- without official documents, and equipped only with the verbal consent of the Romanian authorities. The transport thus grows intensely vulnerable to the locals -- particularly the corrupt head of the railway station, who moonlights as a mobster and promptly decides to interfere with the shipment. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armand Assante, Razvan Vasilescu, (more)
A historic cult that operates in accordance to ancient rituals involving the dragon-slaying Christian martyr St. George attempts to procure the sacrifice needed to resurrect their ancient leader in this supernatural thriller starring Armand Assante. On the Eve of St. George, the cult believes that they can bring the English patron back to life if they can find the perfect sacrifice - a child with untainted ancestry. Now, as the moment of truth draws near, ancient prophecies come to pass and a dark force prepares to rise from an eternal slumber. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armand Assante
Set in the year 1882, director Pinchas Perry's adaptation of Irvin D. Yalom's fictional 1992 novel finds a depressed Friedrich Nietzsche seeking out the advice of pioneering psychoanalyst Josef Breuer for help in battling mental malaise. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Cross, Armand Assante, (more)
Director Ridley Scott spins this yarn concerning a Harlem drug kingpin (Denzel Washington) who smuggles heroin into the country by hiding it in the bodies of U.S. soldiers killed during battle in Vietnam. There was a time when no one noticed reserved driver Frank Lucas (Washington), but when the criminal kingpin he was charged with transporting through the city streets suddenly dies, Lucas seizes the opportunity to build his own criminal empire. In the following months, Lucas solidifies his status as Harlem's most innovative drug dealer by delivering a product that is purer than the competitors' and cheaper, as well. When innovative businessman Lukas attempts to go semi-legit by becoming one of the Manhattan borough's biggest civil supporters, however, street-savvy outcast cop Ritchie Roberts (Russell Crowe) begins to sense a sizable shift in the hierarchy of the drug underworld. But Roberts is one of the few honest detectives operating within a corrupt system, and as he sets out to investigate the case, crooked detective Trupo (Josh Brolin) does everything in his power to compromise the integrity of his idealistic counterpart. Upon clearing all of the usual Mafia-connected suspects, Roberts begins to believe that a previously unknown black power player has come out of the woodwork to dominate the local drug trade. While Roberts and Lucas may be operating on opposite sides of the law, the one thing that both men have in common is a strict code of ethics that separates them from their opportunistic colleagues. Now, as a confrontation between the two men becomes inevitable and the fate of each becomes inexorably tied to the other, it gradually becomes apparent that only one of them will emerge from the conflict victorious. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, (more)
When a mob mule carrying five million dollars in cold hard cash suddenly goes missing, the kingpin awaiting the substantial delivery discovers that he isn't the only one searching for the missing money in this quirky crime comedy starring Armand Assante, Steven Bauer, John Heard, Nicole Eggert, and Joe Piscopo. Tony Thick is a mobster who was expecting a lucrative visit from Los Angeles-based delivery man Lenny Long. But Lenny has failed to show, and now the impatient Mafioso suspects that the courier may have met with foul play. Hoping to find out the whereabouts of his cash as quickly as possible, Tony sends his henchman Shady to L.A. to recover the tidy sum. Little does Shady realize he's about to run into a whole cast of crazies who seem to be on the same mission. From Lenny's desperate wife to his scatterbrained mistress, his bodybuilding brother, and one seriously eccentric neurosurgeon, this exhausting money run seems to get more outlandish with each passing day. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nicole Eggert, Steven Bauer, (more)
Leslie Greif directs this adaptation of Ray Cooney's hit British play, a throwback farce about mistaken identity. Chevy Chase plays Henry Perkins, a listless late-middle-aged executive in a wax fruit company; his wife, Carol (Penelope Ann Miller), is similarly bored, a struggling sculptor and housewife in Hoboken, NJ. On his way home from work to a surprise birthday party Carol is throwing, he accidentally switches briefcases with a Russian mobster. He opens the suitcase at a local bar and discovers five million dollars inside. He rushes home and tries to arrange a flight to Barcelona for Carol and him so they can take the money and run. Detective Sergeant Genero (Armand Assante) shows up later; he saw Henry at the bar and is suspicious of his actions. The Perkins, along with their friends Vic and Gina Johnson (Christopher McDonald and Alex Meneses), concoct an elaborate plan to fool the detective, which is only complicated by Carol getting sloppy drunk, the arrival of a homicide detective (Kevin Sussman), a famous gallery owner (Rebecca Wisocky), Henry's boss (Robert Loggia), a frustrated standup comic cabbie (Guy Torry), two more identical briefcases, and the party guests. The comic action reaches a climax in a standoff with Mafia kingpin Mr. Big (Zoltan Butuc). ~ Michael Buening, Rovi
- Starring:
- Chevy Chase, Penelope Ann Miller, (more)
Armand Assante and Udo Kier star in director Ivan Nichev's tale of two warring gangs of drug dealers struggling to gain the upper hand in the lucrative Berlin drug trade. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armand Assante, Udo Kier, (more)
A vicious serial killer is broadcasting his brutal slayings live on the Internet for all to see, and the only hope to put an end to his voyeuristic killing spree is a morphine-addicted detective in this thriller from Ghost Story director John Irvin. The technologically savvy madman has struck once again, and with each killing, drug-addicted detective Charlie Daines (Armand Assante) is coming one step closer to discovering the killer's true identity. As the clock on the next murder counts down, Detective Daines realizes that the killer has begun to take his investigation personally. Upon realizing that the hunter has become the hunted, Detective Daines sets out on a desperate mission to find the killer before he himself is slaughtered live on camera for all the world to see. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armand Assante
The action film Mirror Wars concerns a super powerful secret fighter jet developed by the Russian government that is stolen by a group threatening to use it for their nefarious purposes. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armand Assante, Malcolm McDowell, (more)
D.J. Caruso's Two for the Money stars Matthew McConaughey as Brandon Lang, a former college quarterback whose life plans changed when he suffered a career-ending injury. Brandon turns out to have remarkable skill at picking winning football bets. Eventually, he comes to the attention of Walter Abrams (Al Pacino), a very successful business tycoon who runs a giant gambling operation. Walter brings Brandon to New York and introduces him to a glitzy, fast-paced, money-drenched lifestyle that Brandon eagerly soaks up. When Brandon's magic touch begins to falter, Walter starts to turn on his protégé. Soon the two men are attempting to outwit each other, with Walter's wife (Rene Russo) caught in the middle. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, (more)
Gary Ellis' crime thriller Tough Luck stars Armand Assante as a man named Ike who hires Archie (Norman Reedus) to murder his wife. Archie begins to suspect that many of the people he has come into contact with while carrying out the job might be less than honest. Will he get away when the double-crosses start flying fast and furious? ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armand Assante, Norman Reedus, (more)
Directed by Anthony Hickox, Consequence centers around a slighted dentist whose surgery mistake costs him his job and dental license. Figuring that hope is lost, he fakes his own death in hopes of collecting the insurance money after assuming the identity of his dead brother. Complications arise, however, when he finds out that his brother was on the lam from several crooked individuals bent on killing him. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armand Assante, Rick Schroder, (more)
Justice is turned into a game show, with life and death as the stakes, in this satirical drama. Florida governor Bull Tyler (Roy Scheider) is trying to ease the dissatisfaction of his constituents in the midst of a major crime wave by getting tough on wrongdoers, and television producer Marty Rockman (Jerry Springer) has offered him a high-profile way to do just that. Rockman, best known for his splashy reality programs, has come up with an idea for a new show -- "Citizen Verdict," in which an alleged murderer is tried in three hours on broadcast television, with the viewers voting on the guilt or innocence of the accused. If 75 percent or more of those who call in vote to convict, the defendant will be executed as part of a pay-per-view special to follow. Tyler thinks the show could be a good publicity stunt and gives his OK, with Ricky Carr (Raffaello Degruttola), accused of murdering the host of a popular cooking show, given the honor of starring in the first episode. Carr is being defended by Sam Patterson (Armand Assante), a once-respected civil rights lawyer fallen on hard times, while prosecutor Jessica Landers (Justine Mitchell) represents the state. Citizen Verdict was the first directorial project from producer Philippe Martinez. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armand Assante, Jerry Springer, (more)
The debut feature from television producer Robert Moresco, One Eyed King is an ensemble crime drama detailing the trials and tribulations of several characters living together in the same Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. Starring Armand Assante, William Baldwin, Jim Breuer, Bruno Kirby, Chazz Palminteri, and Jason Gedrick, the film had its premiere at the 2001 Boston Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Baldwin, Armand Assante, (more)
Armand Assante is an ex-cop turned undercover crime fighter in this intense, high speed action film from Director Sidney J. Furie. Dejected by the failure of an undercover drug bust involving some dirty cops, Jack Cunningham (Assante) must protect the only surviving witness if there is any hopes of clearing his name and cleaning the streets of an increasingly drug-infested city. As time winds to a close and the bad guys move in for the kill, Jack's chances for survival in an urban nightmare grow as dim, though there may be one last hope of turning the tables if he can just find a good place to hide. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armand Assante
- 2002
Network television's first "interactive" mystery-suspense series, Push, Nevada got under way somewhat in the manner of the 1945 theatrical feature Murder, He Says, with stalwart IRS agent Jim Prufrock (Derek Cecil) venturing into the hinterlands in search of a huge cache of stolen money. Prufrock followed the trail of evidence to the cloistered community of Push, NV, which seemed to be populated exclusively by weirdos with deep, dark secrets. Each time that Prufrock thought he'd figured out what was going on, a new riddle or enigma was added to the mixture, such as a motel which looked like a dump on the outside but was luxurious on the inside, or a bizarre casino where everyone was forced to speak in lousy French accents. As Jim tried to piece things together, the viewers at home were invited to interpret the clues right along with the protagonist. If the viewer was able to solve the mystery before the first 13 episodes had played out, he or she would win one million dollars. Co-created by actor Ben Affleck and boasting a production staff gleaned from Affleck's popular cable-TV documentary series Project Greenlight, Push, Nevada debuted on September 17, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Derek Cecil, Scarlett Chorvat, (more)
"Chop Chop" Frankie Carbone (Armand Assante) has made a career out of stealing cars for the mob in Chicago. An attempted assassination by a mob boss goes badly and Frankie retaliates, only to wind up in the hands of the Feds. Frankie agrees to testify against the mobsters and his life is suddenly worthless -- unless he submits to going into federal protection. The FBI gives him a new name -- Howard Akers -- and relocates him to a sleepy middle-class suburb in Little Rock, AR. Howard catches the attention of his lovely neighbor, Leigh (Angela Featherstone), a bored fund-raiser for a non-profit zoo whose husband, Dennis (David Lipper), is having an affair -- and she knows it, but she doesn't know it's with her hot-blooded sister, Bootsie (Dina Meyer). Leigh becomes friends with the enigmatic Howard, but Dennis and Bootsie see an opportunity to earn the million-dollar bounty the mob has put on his head by turning him in to the mob. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Armand Assante, Angela Featherstone, (more)
Adapted from an Ernest Hemingway story by Hemingway's longtime friend and associate A. E. Hotchner, After the Storm spent years in development before filming of the movie version began in 2000, several years after Hotchner's death. Set in the Bahamas in 1936, the story concerns a young fisherman on the lam from gangsters, who stumbles upon a fortune in jewels from a yacht sunk in a recent storm. This sudden windfall results in nothing but unhappiness and betrayal for the fisherman -- and for everyone else who embarks upon the treasure hunt that consumes most of the action. When After the Storm failed to secure a theatrical release, it was licensed to the USA network for its first American TV showing. The R-rated video version was released on May 29, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Benjamin Bratt, Armand Assante, (more)
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