Annabeth Gish Movies
Though actress Annabeth Gish is not, as has frequently been reported, related to silent-film legend Lillian Gish (she is decidedly not the never-married Lillian's granddaughter!), Annabeth does have one thing in common with her famous namesake: she began acting at a very early age, and achieved film stardom before she was 20. Born in Albuquerque, Annabeth moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa, when her college-professor dad accepted a position there. From age eight onward, Gish was active in local community and children's theatre; by the time she was 11, she was a professional model. Her first film appearance was in 1986's Desert Bloom, in which, as a troubled preteen plagued by family squabbles and nuclear testing, she all but stole the show. Gish's career went into Drive when she starred in the cult favorite Mystic Pizza, though when the film is now shown on television, the supporting appearance of Julia Roberts is the focus of ad-campaign attention. A most attractive young lady, Gish scored as one of four beautiful vacationing teens in 1988's Shag (her screen chums were Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda and Paige Hannah). In 1993, Annabeth Gish briefly interrupted her film career to earn a BA in English; within a year, she was back at work in the theatrical film Wyatt Earp and the made-for-TV Scarlet. In 1997, Gish appeared alongside Angelina Jolie and Dana Delaney for a starring role in the TV movie True Women; however, she would find more significant success on the small screen in 2001, when she joined the cast of The X-Files to play feisty FBI Agent Monica Reyes. Gish and Robert Patrick effectively became the lead characters during the show's 8th and 9th seasons, though ratings indicated that their onscreen chemistry couldn't compete with that of Duchnovy and Anderson, who had become beloved as the characters of Mulder and Scully. In 2006, Gish took on the starring role of Eileen Caffee in Brotherhood, a drama from Showtime, and joined the cast of A&E's TV miniseries Stephen King's Bag of Bones in 2011, and played a therapist with demons of her own in ABC's Pretty Little Liars the same year. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Adapted from James Agee's posthumously published, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Death in the Family is set in Knoxville, TN, in 1915. The death of husband and father Jay Follett (John Slattery) in a car accident has profound and long-reaching effects upon his wife, Mary (Annabeth Gish), and his sensitive, seven-year-old son, Rufus (Austin Wolff). At the core of the crisis is Mary's prickly relationship with her own family, exacerbated by her late husband's unwillingness to "go with the flow" in terms of religion and race relations. The kindly intervention of Mary's free-spirited artist brother, Andrew (David Alford), enables her and her son to go on with their lives. Told from Rufus' point of view, the novel version of Death in the Family had previously served as the source for the Broadway play and film All the Way Home. This production, filmed on-location in Tennessee, was telecast by PBS on March 25, 2002 as part of Masterpiece Theatre's "American Collection." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2004
This in-depth look at America's Tall Grass Prairie explores what makes this totally unique ecosystem so amazing, developing out of its own long series of circumstances, and providing a home to indigenous people before it was settled and converted to farmland in the 1820s. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
- Starring:
- Annabeth Gish
A Boston detective is dispatched to Tennessee by his glamorous district attorney to crack a cold case that froze up two decades prior. District Attorney Monique Lamont (Andie MacDowell) is climbing the ladder to political success when she determines that the best way to advance her career is to solve an impossible crime. In order to catch a killer, Lamont recruits Win Garano (Daniel Sunjata), a detective with a penchant for getting results. Reluctantly accepting, Garano follows the trail of evidence to Knoxville, where he and his partner, Sykes (Annabeth Gish), realize that nothing is as it seems. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Andie MacDowell, Daniel Sunjata, (more)
A high-school reunion in a snowy New England town brings together a diverse band of former classmates. They include NYC pianist Willie Timothy Hutton who has found only small success playing night clubs and is considering taking a job as a supply salesman. While in town, Willie, who is having relationship problems with his girlfriend, finds himself becoming friends with 13 year-old Marty Natalie Portman. Then there's Tommy Matt Dillon, the aging jock who though seriously involved with Sharon Mira Sorvino, cannot resist the occasional walk down memory lane by sleeping with the former prom-queen Darian Lauren Holly, who is married but believes that her husband won't find out. Paul Michael Rapaport is dumped by his waitress girlfriend Jan Martha Plimpton, in part because of the swimsuit-clad supermodels plastered all over his walls. Paul then becomes attracted to Andera Uma Thurman, who is visiting her cousin Stinky Pruitt Taylor Vince, a local tavern owner. Also among the group -- Gina Rosie O'Donnell, who fancies herself a feminist counselor and who, in one of the film's highlights, delivers a poignant rant against how magazines present unrealistic images of women. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, (more)
After five years of dating, David (Jerry O'Connell) gets what he feels is an ultimatum from his girlfriend, Sarah (Bridgette Wilson). She thinks they should get married. When his old buddy, Tyler (Ron Livingston of Swingers), a legendary womanizer, calls to announce his wedding plans, it only increases the pressure on David. When Sarah leaves town on a business trip, David has a chance to explore his options. He turns to his friends, Jonesey (Bill Bellamy), and the unrepentant lothario Michael (Ryan Reynolds, who also starred in director Walt Becker's National Lampoon's Van Wilder) for advice. Jonesey half-heartedly encourages David to marry Sarah. Michael, who treats women shabbily, tries to talk David out of it. David tells his friends about an epiphany that he had many years earlier, when he saw beautiful blond Julie (Erinn Bartlett) in an airport, and was instantly smitten. He knew she was the one. He courageously handed the strange girl his phone number, and a brief romantic correspondence ensued, but it ended disastrously. Uncertain about his destiny with Sarah, David spots another woman at a Mexican restaurant, and has the same feeling he had with Julie. He spends a lot of time and effort trying to track this mystery woman down, while Sarah, frustrated by their lack of progress, considers ending their relationship. Michael, meanwhile, has a real identity crisis, when he wakes up in a strange bed after a night of drinking, drugs, and debauchery, only to find a gay man in the bedroom with him. Buying the Cow also stars Alyssa Milano, Annabeth Gish, and Jon Tenney. The film was co-written by director Becker and Peter W. Nelson. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jerry O'Connell, Bridgette Wilson, (more)
- 2006
Based on the 1999 bestseller by K.C. McKinnon, this touching Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation stars Alicia Silverstone as Dee Dee, a single mom and professional candlemaker who returns to her Maine hometown after a lengthy absence. Having left town with a somewhat sullied reputation, she returns with apparently the best of intentions--bringing her 12-year-old son Trooper (Matthew Knight) along for the sentimental journey. Dee Dee's reappearance is initially met with hostility by veterinarian Lydia, whose husband (and coworker) Sam had once been Dee Dee's sweetheart. Ultimately, however, Lydia warms up to both her "rival" and her son--just before Dee Dee poignantly reveals the real reason for her unexpected homecoming. Filmed for television on location in Nova Scotia, Candles on Bay Street was first broadcast by CBS on November 26, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alicia Silverstone, Eion Bailey, (more)
- 1990
- PG13
Three rebellious bickersome brothers reunite to drive their father's title car from their Detroit homes to Florida. The auto is to be a gift to celebrate their mother's birthday party. Along the way, their adventures are punctuated by pop tunes from 1963 that include "Louie, Louie," a song that inspires a hilarious debate as the three attempt to fathom the song's meaning. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Patrick Dempsey, Arye Gross, (more)
Set in 1950, this is a convincing, well-acted drama about a young girl's growing up in Las Vegas amidst poverty and a turbulent home life. The 13-year-old Rose (Annabeth Gish) lives with her mother (JoBeth Williams), stepfather (Jon Voight), and two sisters in a working-class home. Trouble is brewing on several fronts: her stepfather is his usual abusive self but is dipping into the bottle more frequently, her glitzy Aunt Starr (Ellen Barkin) arrives for a six-week stay and causes an upheaval in the marriage, and an above-ground nuclear bomb is about to be exploded at the government test site (only 65 miles away). If Rose can survive all this with her health, her sanity, and her clear intelligence intact, it will not be due to her supportive environment. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Voight, JoBeth Williams, (more)
- 1999
20 years ago, a car crash left Hope Goodell (Annabeth Gish) with permanent brain damage. Hope's ultra-perfectionist mother Amanda (Lynn Redgrave) has since responded to the girl's handicap by virtually rejecting her, lavishing all her affection on Amanda's "normal" sister. Refusing to follow her mother's lead, the adult Hope intends to raise her own, healthy daughter with the unconditional love that has always been part and parcel of her personality. Made for cable, Different was first seen over the Lifetime channel on May 10, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A drug addict gets more than a quick fix in this made-for-cable thriller. Eric Stoltz stars as Jesse Parish, a musician and druggie who leads a mobster to his old stomping grounds after stealing a case of cash and going on the lam. Oscar-winner Billy Bob Thorton co-stars and co-wrote the script. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eric Stoltz, John Corbett, (more)
In this thriller, Ashley Judd plays Elizabeth Parsons, who is convicted of murdering her husband and sentenced to a long stretch in prison. After Elizabeth has spent six years behind bars, it turns out that her husband is still alive: he faked his own death as part of an insurance scam, and Elizabeth is soon released. However, Elizabeth's feelings for her husband can hardly be described as warm, and she wants custody of her son. Elizabeth's parole officer (Tommy Lee Jones) wonders if she might try to make his murder a real thing after all, especially since the law states a person cannot be convicted of the same crime twice. Double Jeopardy was directed by Bruce Beresford, from a screenplay by Douglas S. Cook and David Weisberg. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tommy Lee Jones, Ashley Judd, (more)
- 1986
Even without observing the opening credits, or noting that the film was first shown on The Disney Sunday Movie, the casual viewer could tell in a minute that Hero in the Family was a Disney production. Cliff De Young plays an American astronaut who, through a freakish occurrence in space, finds that his brain has been transferred to his flight companion, and vice versa. Said companion happens to be a monkey, who is as funny as any monkey has ever been on a Disney TV show (take that as you will). DeYoung's teenage son Christopher Collet endeavors to correct the brain-switch, while attempting to treat both dad and monkey as "normal" characters. You'll laugh till you stop. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Hiding Out, a surprisingly entertaining and engaging action comedy, directed by Bob Giraldi, takes the implausible idea that an adult man could enroll in high school and pass as a student and makes it real. Andrew (Jon Cryer) is a stockbroker hunted by a professional killer. He flees to stay with his sister and her teenage son Patrick (Keith Coogan). Andrew shaves off his beard, cuts his hair, and enrolls in Patrick's high school, pretending to be 17 years old. Cryer does a great job of convincingly playing both ages, and Coogan shines as the teenage son. Director Giraldi has great visual style and gives the film an energy that makes it both enjoyable and believable. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Cryer, Keith Coogan, (more)
The romantic comedy Knots follows what happens to a group of friends when their romantic entanglements begin to transform the nature of their relationships. Scott Cohen plays Dave, a man who is shocked when he comes home one night to find his wife Greta (Annabeth Gish) in bed with their mutual friend Lily (Paulina Porizkova). This stunning turn of events upsets the balance of their social circle, which includes resident good guy Jake (Michael Leydon Campbell, who also has the hots for Lily), lothario Cal (John Stamos), and Cal's clueless girlfriend (Tara Reid), and triggers a hilarious chain reaction of further infidelities and lies among the group. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Scott Cohen, John Stamos, (more)
- 1992
A private detective becomes involved in a new cast when her partner's guardian is murdered. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Crystal Bernard, Annabeth Gish, (more)
An altruistic divorcée learns that sometimes it takes a patient to heal the healer in a touching tale of forgiveness and compassion starring Annabeth Gish, Ethan Embry, and Ed Begley, Jr. Denise (Gish) has just been through an emotionally taxing divorce, and when the hospital she is employed at commits an unforgivable act of injustice, she inadvertently compounds her emotional woes by walking off the job in a defiant act of disapproval. After taking a temporary position at a rehabilitation facility for patients who have suffered brain injuries, Denise is assigned the task of looking after 25-year-old car-accident victim Rick (Embry). Now, as she begins a new life at a new job, Denise finds that love can blossom in the most unlikely of environments and finds that even the most competent of caregivers can learn a thing or two from those they so lovingly look after. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Annabeth Gish, Ethan Embry, (more)
At a mystical, bullet-strewn outpost in the heart of the Mojave Desert, four disparate working-class people from the streets of Las Vegas will find their lives forever changed. Few normal people would expect to find an abandoned phone booth in the middle of the desert, yet for some of the more eccentric travelers, it's actually the entire reason for their journey. The myth of this phone booth was born on the Internet. Windows smashed and covered in graffiti, the lonely booth sets at the end of a long stretch of road surrounded by nothingness for hundreds of miles. But it still functions, and there's always the prospect that at any moment, the telephone may unexpectedly come alive with the sound of a ring. The callers phone in from all corners of the country, and the occupant inside never knows what interesting conversation could await them. Now, as four lonely strangers set up camp near this abandoned phone booth, they are all about to discover that they are better connected to the outside world than they ever imagined. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- David DeLuise, Annabeth Gish, (more)
- 2001
Ami Canaan Mann, the daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann, follows in her father's footsteps with this, her first feature as a director. Johnny (J.R. Richards) and Trick (Kieran Mulroney) grew up together in a small North Carolina community, but now that they're edging into their thirties and living in New York, their lives have taken different paths; Johnny is still trying to make his mark as a rock musician, while Trick is a low-level advertising man stuck in a failing marriage with Lily (Annabeth Gish). Johnny and Trick have a bitter argument, and Johnny responds by stealing Trick's car; Trick and Lily give chase, with their pal King (Steven Schub), who runs a neighborhood delicatessen, in tow. Eventually, Trick catches up with Johnny, only to discover that he died in an auto accident which he appears to have caused on purpose. When Trick breaks the bad news to Johnny's parents (Tess Harper and Pat Hingle), they express concern that Johnny's strange life and stranger death would make him unfit for a Christian funeral; as a last gift to his friend, Trick sets out to make that possible, though the project soon proves to be a great deal more complicated than he ever imagined. Along the way, Lily begins to develop a new respect for Trick, while King finds romance with Shelly (Laurel Holloman), who works at a supermarket. Morning features an original score co-written by actor J.R. Richards and noted songwriter and instrumentalist Lisa Germano. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kieran Mulroney, Annabeth Gish, (more)
Three teenagers learn a lot about life and love one summer in this romantic comedy-drama. Kat (Annabeth Gish), Daisy (Julia Roberts), and Jojo (Lili Taylor) are three working-class women just out of high school who have jobs at the same pizza parlor in the resort community of Mystic, Connecticut. Kat wants to study astronomy at Yale; when she starts baby-sitting for Tim (William R. Moses), a wealthy Yale graduate summering in Mystic, she finds herself falling in love with him, even though he's married and nearly twice her age. Daisy, who isn't sure what she wants from life, starts going with Charlie (Adam Storke), a recent law school dropout, though she starts to think that it may be more to rebel against her family than out of genuine affection. And Jojo is attracted to Bill (Vincent D'Onofrio), but she doesn't want to get married (she's already left him at the altar once); when Bill announces that he's no longer willing to have sex without marriage, she has to decide if his affections are worth a lifetime commitment. Conchata Ferrell appears in a supporting role as Leona, the proprietor of the pizza parlor, who zealously guards the secret formula of her sauce. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Annabeth Gish, Julia Roberts, (more)
Oliver Stone, the most outspokenly political American filmmaker of the 1980s and '90s, directs this epic-length biography of Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the U.S., who was re-elected by a landslide in 1972, only to resign in disgrace two years later. Taking a non-linear approach, Nixon jumps back and forth between many different periods and events, from Nixon's strict upbringing at the hands of his Quaker mother, through the many peaks and valleys of his political career, to his downfall in the wake of the Watergate scandal. The facts of his life are blended with supposition and speculation to create a portrait that is often critical of the man's policies but displays an unexpected compassion toward his failings as a human being. Anthony Hopkins stars as Nixon, Joan Allen plays his long-suffering wife Pat, Mary Steenburgen portrays his mother Hannah, Bob Hoskins is cast as J. Edgar Hoover, Powers Boothe plays Alexander Haig, Paul Sorvino portrays Henry Kisinger, and Ed Harris plays E. Howard Hunt. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Anthony Hopkins, Joan Allen, (more)
Based on a true story, the made-for-TV God's New Plan essentially begins at the end, as Ellen Young (Katey Sagal) prepares to die from cancer. While Ellen is more or less resigned to her fate, she worries about what will happen afterward to her husband Brian (Tom Irwin) and her children. Luckily, Ellen has become close to Claire Hutton (Annabeth Gish), the nurse hired to care for Ellen's premature infant. Even from the grave, Ellen seems to be pulling the strings of the situation, as Claire slowly, cautiously falls in love with the grieving Tom, and vice versa. Ultimately it falls to the children to stage-manage the happy ending. Blessed with a marvelously feeling of time and place, not to mention the superlative performances by the principal players, God's New Plan debuted February 16, 1999, and has since become a fixture of cable TV under the title No Higher Love. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A man with little passion for either his job or his wife gets a wake-up call in this independently produced romantic comedy. Frank Whaley plays Alan, an L.A.-based advertising executive currently being wooed by a tech firm in Seattle. He's about to move himself and his significant other (Dawn Eason) to the rainier climate when, upon returning from the interview, he finds she's left him for another man (Adam Baldwin, at that). Uncertain of anything anymore, Alan tries to find solace in friends and family, turning to his longtime friend Marissa (Annabeth Gish) for support; she in turn is having her own troubles with her husband, Jack (Alex Hyde-White). Hitting the singles bars to find a new love, Alan is slow to realize that the "right girl" may be right in front of him. Actor-turned-director John Putch is the son of actress Jean Stapleton, who appears briefly in Pursuit of Happiness. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frank Whaley, Annabeth Gish, (more)
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