Alanis Morissette Movies
Pop vocal artist and composer Alanis Morissette gained fame when she signed with Madonna's Maverick Records and released Jagged Little Pill in 1995. However, her first experience with show business came long before her singing career. Born on June 1, 1974, in Ottawa, Canada, she appeared on the TV series You Can't Do That on Television! in the mid-'80s. Her musical skills had been honed since she began playing the piano at the age of six, and thus she began recording by the time she was ten. After spending time making an album in Toronto, she relocated to Hollywood, where she began working under Maverick and released Jagged Little Pill.In 1998, she supplied the track "Uninvited" for the City of Angels soundtrack, and subsequently released another album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie. Inspired and refreshed by a trip to India, the album proved reflective of the artist's deeper self, and she directed her own music videos for the songs "Unsent," "Joining You," and "So Pure," off of that album.
In 2000, Morissette made her big-screen debut in the role of roles -- playing God -- in Dogma. While the part was somewhat less than wordy, her charismatic persona provided a memorable and unexpected interpretation of the divinity, and earned her much attention in the movie business. She, and her prominent long locks, would return to the role for the sequel Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back in 2001. ~ Sarah Sloboda, All Movie Guide
Between 1789 and 2006, only 35 of the 1,875 people who were elected to serve in the United States Senate were women, so 2006 became a banner year when 14 women held seats in the Senate (and two more were elected in the mid-term elections held that year). Director Mary Lambert and producers Nicole Boxer and Sharon Oreck profile these women who've risen to the highest echelons of power and service in America in this documentary. 14 Women offers an inside portrait of women in politics -- Lambert is the sister of Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, while Boxer is the daughter of Senator Barbara Boxer of California, allowing the filmmakers an access to their subjects many filmmakers would not enjoy. At the same time, 14 Women allows its subjects a chance to talk about the "glass ceiling" in American politics, the hard work that goes into serving in Congress, and how gender can sometimes trump party allegiances in dealing with their colleagues on Capitol Hill. 14 Women received its world premiere at the 2007 Silverdocs Film Festival, a festival for documentary cinema sponsored in part by the American Film Institute. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Sex. Seduction. Liposuction. Find them all in the fearless Nip/Tuck, the award-winning series that's the scalpel's edge of entertainment...and the spark for debate about what cosmetic surgery can or cannot bring to a patient's life. Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon play plastic surgeons/best friends whose glamorous South Beach practice is a revolving door for Season 4's hot-button issues (including a terrifying story arc about an organ-harvest ring) and human foibles (a ventriloquist wants to look like his dummy). Guest stars include Jacqueline Bissett, Larry Hagman, Alanis Morissette, Mo'Nique, Rosie O'Donnell, Brooke Shields and more. Thrills, surprises, shocks, stars abound in this 5-Disc Set. And all it takes is a little Nip/Tuck.
- Starring:
- Dylan Walsh, Julian McMahon, (more)
- 2006
Recording artist Alanis Morissette and actor Keanu Reeves narrate a detailed look at the effects of global warming in an informative documentary crafted to highlight the damaging effects of the industrial revolution on the global ecosystem. Just as previous generations were forced to contend with such frightful emergencies as the Great Plague and the Great Depression, some experts claim that future generations will be have no choice but to find a way to overcome or reverse the dangerous effects of global warming. Interviews with key scientists and experts from around the globe highlight this thought-provoking documentary that was filmed in eight countries on four continents. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Filmmakers Chris Bradley and Kyle LaBrache co-directed this film that exists somewhere between an improvisational mockumentary and an actual documentary. Starring Jeff Goldblum as himself, the film follows the actor's attempts to put on a production of The Music Man in the titular town. The play really happened, but how much is real and how much is just deadpan comedy remains for the audience to discern. Goldblum's friends Illeanna Douglas and Ed Begley Jr. co-star as themselves. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Goldblum, Ed Begley, Jr., (more)
The Queen Mother of all dirty words (as it was once described by Jean Shepherd) is examined through all its linguistic, sociological, legal, and ethical implications in this documentary. Filmmaker Steven Anderson interviews dozens of people about the history and function of "the F word," including language historians who have a hard time nailing down its origin, writers (including Hunter S. Thompson and Ben Bradlee) who talk about its role in literature and press freedom, comedians (among them Drew Carey, Janeane Garofalo, and Billy Connolly) who ponder its frequent presence in hipster humor, pop musicians (such as Ice-T, Pat Boone, and Alanis Morissette) who offer their theories about its role in contemporary culture, and social critics (including Michael Medved and Dennis Prager) who believe its currency is taking America into a dangerous place. F*ck also includes footage of famous figures caught using the word unexpectedly and animated sequences by Bill Plympton. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2005
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Everyone knows that Canadian-born singer Alanis Morissette can carry a tune, but even her most devoted fans don't know the secrets that drive her intimate and often gritty songs. Now take a trip into the mind of one of this generation's most respected singer/songwriters as Morissette takes the stage to tell the stories behind the music in this revealing installment of the popular series VH1 Storytellers. From "Hand in My Pocket" to "You Oughta Know," Morissette allows fans an up close and personal look at the raw emotion that fuels her creativity. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
The public and private lives of famed songwriter Cole Porter are both explored in this musical drama, in which the aging Porter (played by Kevin Kline) looks back on his life while watching a rehearsal of a stage musical based on his story. As Porter compares notes on the play with director Gabe (Jonathan Pryce), he shares thoughts on his rise to fame in the mid-'20s, writing witty and sophisticated tunes for a string of successful Broadway musicals. Porter seemed to be living a charmed life when he met Linda Thomas (Ashley Judd), a beautiful American woman who, like Porter, was enjoying a sojourn in Paris following the collapse of her first marriage. Thomas is immediately taken with Porter, whose intelligence and charm is a welcome change after her brutal first husband, and the two discover they share a remarkable understanding of one another. Porter and Thomas marry, even though she's aware that her new husband is gay; Thomas is willing to forgive Porter's indiscretions with other men in favor of the emotional support he brings her. However, as the years wear on and the couple takes up residence in Hollywood as Porter begins writing tunes for motion pictures, Thomas finds Porter drifting away from her as his liaisons become more frequent and more serious. Then tragedy enters their life when Porter loses the use of his legs in a riding accident and Thomas is diagnosed with cancer. De-Lovely features a number of noted pop singers interpreting classic songs from Porter's catalog, including Diana Krall, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Elvis Costello, Robbie Williams, Mick Hucknall, and others. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, (more)
- 2002
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Socially conscious singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette takes a first hand look at the culture and lore of Nataive Americans in this episode of the music-themed travel series Music In High Places. Music in High Places: Alanis Morisette -- Live in the Navajo Nation follows Morissette as she travels the American Southwest and learns about the history and beliefs of the Navajo people, while also performing acoustic versions of some of her best-known songs, including "That Would Be Good", "I Was Hoping", "Uninvited", "Ironic", "Pressure Over Cappuccino", and more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nick Lashley, Alanis Morissette, (more)
- 2001
- R
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The frequently recurring title characters, employed by writer and director Kevin Smith as supporting players in several of his films, are put to rest with this comedy that focuses on them exclusively. Jay (Jason Mews) and Silent Bob (Smith) are a pair of stoned New Jersey slackers who have long been used as the templates for a pair of popular comic book heroes, Bluntman and Chronic. When they learn that their alter egos are to be turned into a major motion picture without their consent or compensation, the pair sets off for Hollywood to sabotage the production. Along the way, they encounter an ape, a nun (Carrie Fisher), the cast of Scooby-Doo, a Charlie's Angels-style band of sexy women who use them as stool pigeons in a diamond heist, and an unhinged wildlife ranger (Will Ferrell). They also meet up with some regulars from the Smith canon, including Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams), Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks, Jason Lee as Banky Edwards, Alanis Morissette as God, and actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in dual roles as themselves and two other familiar characters. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back co-stars numerous other recognizable performers in roles of various sizes, including Shannen Doherty, Jason Biggs, James Van Der Beek, Shannon Elizabeth, Tracy Morgan, Judd Nelson, Chris Rock, and George Carlin, among others. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, (more)
Would you believe that the last living descendent of Jesus Christ is a woman working at an abortion clinic in Illinois? And that she's been sent on a holy mission with two minor characters from Clerks and Mallrats as her guides? Prepare to suspend any and all disbelief as you watch the religious satire Dogma, the fourth film from writer/director Kevin Smith. Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) has been disappointed in life and has found her faith severely tested after her husband leaves her when she discovers she cannot have children. So Bethany is all the more puzzled when she's approached by Metatron (Alan Rickman), a grumpy angel. Metatron wants her to help him stop Bartleby (Ben Affleck) and Loki (Matt Damon), two fallen angels who were ejected from paradise, have escaped from exile and are heading to New Jersey. If they are able to pass through the arc of a certain church, it will prove God is fallible and the world will come to a swift end. Bethany has no idea what to do or why she's been given this project, but she heads out anyway, with her assigned assistants Jay (Jason Mewes), an appallingly rude former dope dealer and self-styled ladies man, and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith). Along the way, Bethany picks up more helpers, including a celestial muse named Serendipity (Salma Hayek) and Rufus (Chris Rock), who claims to have been the 13th apostle and that Jesus owes him 12 dollars. Boasting a huge supporting cast -- including George Carlin, Jason Lee, Janeane Garofalo, Bud Cort, and Alanis Morissette (as God) -- Dogma proved to be highly controversial even before its release. Miramax Pictures, owned by Disney, financed the film, but several weeks before Dogma's world premier at the Cannes Film Festival, they announced they would not release the picture and intended to sell it to another distributor (which would turn out to be Lions Gate Films). Director Smith, however, has always contended that Dogma is a film about the importance of faith, if not organized religion. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Affleck, George Carlin, (more)
- 1999
A very special benefit concert for Amnesty International, the human rights watchdog group, was held in Paris in December 1998 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Some of the most respected names in pop music were on hand, including Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Peter Gabriel, Alanis Morissette, Tracy Chapman, Radiohead, Youssou N'dour, Asian Dub Foundation and Shania Twain. This also features an appearance by the Dalai Lama. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1998
This 1998 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Ben Stiller and features musical guest Alanis Morissette. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Stiller, Alanis Morissette, (more)
- 1995
This 1995 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Gabriel Byrne and features musical guest Alanis Morissette. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabriel Byrne, Alanis Morissette, (more)
- 1993
Corey Haim, the crown prince of direct-to-video films, stars in Just One of the Girls. Haim plays a teen-aged musician who is constantly being bullied. To escape his tormentors, he disguises himself as a girl. Surprise of surprises, Haim finds that he really enjoys his new identity, and decides to remain female for a little while longer just to see what develops. Also released as Anything for Love. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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Alanis Morissette - Feast on Scraps documents the award winning performer's 2002 "Under Rug Swept" tour. In addition to containing performance footage of hits from throughout her career, the film offers a look at life on the road. A bonus CD issued with the DVD contains a handful of songs recorded during the sessions for Under Rug Swept that had not previously seen the light of day. Songs performed during the film include "Hand in My Pocket," "You Oughta Know," and "You Learn." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
