Joel Gretsch Movies
Tall and chiseled actor Joel Gretsch began his acting career in late-'80s romantic melodramas like the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful and Family Album, the TV-movie adaptation of Danielle Steel's book. He followed this with several random television guest-star appearances and a role in the straight-to-video erotic thriller Kate's Addiction. His feature-film breakthrough came in 2000 with a small role in Robert Redford's golf drama The Legend of Baggar Vance. By 2002, he got small roles in Minority Report, The Emperor's Club, and Steven Spielberg's Sci Fi channel miniseries Taken. Gretsch has been married to William Shatner's daughter, Melanie, since 1999. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide- 2009
Alien visitors, who look like humans, arrive on Earth with questionable motives in this reimagining of the 1980s sci-fi series. ~ Michael Chant, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Mitchell, Morris Chestnut, (more)
- 2007
- PG
- Add National Treasure: Book of Secrets to QueueAdd National Treasure: Book of Secrets to top of Queue
In this adventure-filled sequel to the 2004 blockbuster National Treasure, Nicolas Cage reprises his role as artifact hunter and archaeologist extraordinaire Ben Franklin Gates. In this outing, Gates learns of his own family's implication in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. Gates must then locate an elusive diary, not only to clear his family's name, but to unearth and connect several secrets, buried within the book, that point to a massive, global conspiracy. The film co-stars Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, and Helen Mirren as Ben's mother. Jerry Bruckheimer returns as producer. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, (more)
You won't want to miss the mystifying fourth and final season of The 4400! When Promicin becomes available to Seattle, the future of the human race will change forever. This four-disc collection includes all 13 Season 4 episodes of the critically acclaimed series, which originally aired during on cable's USA in the summer of 2007. It's packed with such special features as deleted scenes, a gag reel, featurettes, and a director's cut of the finale with unexpected, unforgettable events.
Season Three of USA Network's sci-fi thriller The 4400 largely focuses on the surviving members of a group of 4400 people who, after being abducted from the earth over a sixty-year period, suddenly reappeared in a bolt of light in the year 2004--only to be systematically eliminated by the US Government when it was discovered that many of "The 4400" have developed paranormal powers which, if used improperly, could destroy all mankind. Since the previous season, the National Threat Assessment Command (NTAC) has been forced to back off on its campaign of "ethnic cleansing", but not before the radical Nova group, comprised of a band of "4400" rebels, carry out a master plan to take over the world. Forming a united front against the Nova group are the "good" 4400 members, as well as NTAC agents Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch) and Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie). Meanwhile, the infant Isabelle, whose blood contains the antidote for the "promicin inhibitor" that has been used to decimate The 4400, has suddenly grown into womanhood (she is played this season by Megalyn Echikunwoke) and remains a fugitive, not only from the Government but also from the Nova group. Many of the episodes this season detail the growing relationship between Isabelle and the kindly 4400 Shawn Farrell, who has the power (albeit limited) to revive the dead. As the season progresses, it is revealed to the viewer that the supposedly "martyred" Jordan Collier, an early leading light of the 4400, is still alive, calling the shots behind the revolt against humanity. Even so, Tom's son Kyle remains in prison for fulfilling his mission of assassinating Collier--a mission determined by the futuristic earthlings who'd originally abducted the 4400 as part of a long-range plan to save the world from total annihilation! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2006
- R
- Add Glass House 2: The Good Mother to QueueAdd Glass House 2: The Good Mother to top of Queue
In this follow-up to the 2001 thriller The Glass House, young siblings Abby and Ethan are adopted by outwardly perfect parents Eve and Raymond Goode, only to find that that their new guardian's remote mansion is far from the idyllic abode that it initially appears to be. Angie Harmon and Joel Gretsch star in a skin-crawling domestic thriller that was scripted by Brett Merryman and marks the directorial debut of longtime actor Steve Antin. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angie Harmon, Joel Gretsch, (more)
As Season Two of USA Network's sci-fi thriller The 4400 gets under way, several of the secrets closely held during Season One have been revealed--foremost among the fact that those 4400 humans who'd suddenly reappeared in a flash of light after having been kidnapped from the earth over a period of nearly six decades were not alien abductees, but instead had been snatched up by futuristic earthlings. The purpose was to "seed" the abductees throughout history to prevent the apocalyptic destruction of the earth! Of special importance to National Threat Assessment Command agent Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch), who along with fellow agent Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie) had been assigned to track down all of the "4400" once some of them had begun exhibiting awesome paranormal powers, is the fact that the futuristic kidnappers had selected Tom's own son Kyle (Chad Faust as their primary messenger--and also as an avenging angel, foresworn to kill the one "4400" member who poses the greatest threat to mankind It is also now known that it is the "promicin", a transmitter imbedded in each of the 4400's brains, that gives them their unique powers, and that NTAC plans to kill off the most "dangerous" abductees (as well as few innocent bystanders!) with a promicin inhibitor. The only antidote to this inhibitor is found in the blood of Isabelle, the infant daughter of "4400" Lily Moore (Laura Allen) and Richard Tyler (Mahershalhashbaz Ali)--and thus Isabelle has been targetted for elimination as soon as she can be found. As the season ends, the NTAC goes to great lengths to wipe out all evidence that the 4400 ever existed. But those "in the know" intend to see that justice is done to the surviving 4400...and to solve the many puzzles still remaining. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The first season of USA Network's sci-fi thriller The 4400 begins (pardon the cliché) with a bang, as a huge, glowing object falls from the sky and lands near Highland Beach, Washington. The comet-like object then disgorges some 4400 human beings, all of whom had vanished from the earth over the past 58 years! After a brief quarantine, the "4400" leave for various parts of the world--and then several returns, exhibiting such paranormal abilities as telekinesis, mind control, supersensitve hearing, and even, in the case of Shawn Farrell (Patrick Flueger), the power to revive the dead. Another of the 4400, Lily Moore, is pregnant with the child of Richard Tyler (Mahershalahashbaz Ali) Acutely aware that the returnees' otherworldly powers can be used for evil as well as good, Dennis Ryland (Peter Coyote), head of the National Threat Assessment Command division of Homeland Security, dispatches agents Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch) and Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie) to locate the rest of the 4400 to make certain that nothing terrible happens. Unfortunately, the damage has already been done, as witness the serial killer who has the power to make others do his dirty work. Also, whatever has caused the 4400 to develop these skills also has a profound effect on the two NTAC agents--to say nothing of Tom's son Kyle (Chad Faust), whose erratic behavior turns is a harbinger of things to come. Meanwhile, another of the 4400, the mysterious Jordan Collier (Bill Campbell), offers protection and shelter to his fellow retunees at Arcadia Estates--an outward act of altrusim that may be a cover up for a sinister hidden agenda. The five-episode first season ends after several of the 4400 are assassinated once their identities are made public--and after the startling secret behind the 4400 is revealed (we won't give too much away here: suffice to say that, though the 4400 were definitely abduction victims, their abductors were NOT aliens from another planet!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Coyote, Joel Gretsch, (more)
A dedicated teacher learns some important lessons about himself years after he retired from the classroom in this drama. William Hundert (Kevin Kline) is an instructor at St. Benedict's School for Boys, an exclusive private academy on the East Coast where Hundert drills his charges on the moral lessons to be learned through the study of Greek and Roman philosophers. Hundert is fond of telling his students, "A man's character is his fate," and he strives to impress upon them the importance of the ordered and examined life. In 1976, however, Hundert finds himself with an especially challenging group of students -- party-minded Fred Masoudi (Jesse Eisenberg) , introverted Martin Blythe (Paul Dano), bright but mischievous Deepak Mehta (Rishi Mehta), and most notably, openly rebellious Sedgewick Bell (Emile Hirsch). The son of a powerful politician, Bell pointedly runs against the current of Hundert's example, questioning the importance of the material, flouting the school's rules, talking out of turn in class, and devoting as much time to his interest in girls as in his studies. However, Hundert sees the possibility of great things in Bell, and encourages him to take part in the school's annual academic competition for the title of Mr. Julius Caesar. Hundert even goes so far as to bend the rules in scoring to favor Bell in the early stages of the contest, but his faith is betrayed when Bell is discovered cheating during the contest finals. Years later, Hundert is reunited with his students, where they learn the years have taught them all a great deal about their virtues and weaknesses. The Emperor's Club also features Harris Yulin, Rob Morrow, and Edward Herrmann. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Kline, Emile Hirsch, (more)
Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, the ten-episode, 20-hour miniseries Taken was one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by cable TV's Sci-Fi Network, ultimately costing 40 million dollars -- a price that proved well worth it, inasmuch as the series posted the network's highest-ever ratings. Covering a period from 1947 to the present, the story focused on three different families, each of whom was profoundly affected by extraterrestrial visitation. The Keys family was headed by WWII bomber pilot Russell Keys (Steve Burton), who spent virtually his entire adult life haunted by his "close encounter" with aliens. The Clarkes were originally represented by lonely Texas waitress Sally Clarke (Catherine Dent), who was impregnated by a charming stranger (Eric Close) who turned out to be an alien survivor of the Roswell crash. And the lives of the Crawfords were dictated by ruthless Army officer Owen Crawford (Joel Gretsch), who was determined to prove that the government had covered up the truth about Roswell by dedicating his life to tracking down all space aliens and their half-human descendants. The story was narrated by Allie Keys (Dakota Fanning), a "hybrid" child of the present day, whose story determined the outcome of the final episodes. Boasting impressive computer-generated special effects and eye-popping facial makeup, Taken was seen over a two-week period, beginning December 2, 2002, and ending on December 13. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dakota Fanning, Alonso Oyarzun, (more)
Robert Redford directed this adaptation of a novel by Steven Pressfield that uses golf as a metaphor for one man's spiritual and philosophical journeys. Rannulph Junuh (Matt Damon) was a gifted amateur golfer from Savannah, GA, until traumatic experiences during World War I shattered his confidence and sent him into a spiral of alcoholism. In 1931, Adele Invergordon (Charlize Theron), a beautiful heiress who once loved Junuh, inherits a spectacular but financially ailing golf course after the suicide of her father. To attract customers, she proposed a high-stakes match between the two most famous golfers of the day, Bobby Jones (Joel Gretsch) and Walter Hagen (Bruce McGill). Local businessmen sponsoring the match insist that a local golfer be added to the card, and Junuh is drafted for the position, but it soon becomes obvious that his game is just a shadow of its former glory. When things seem hopeless, a mysterious gentleman named Bagger Vance (Will Smith) volunteers to serve as Junuh's caddy and coach, using a mixture of ancient wisdom and past-life knowledge to help Junah "remember" the swing he's lost. Jack Lemmon narrates the story, and J. Michael Moncrief plays Lemmon's character as a boy. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Smith, Matt Damon, (more)
- 1995
Ross (David Schwimmer) plunges back into the dating scene when he takes out his gorgeous neighbor Kristen (Heather Medway) on Valentine's Day. The holiday also casts its spell on the dating habits of Ross' ex-wife, Carol (Jane Sibbett), her girlfriend Susan (Jessica Hecht), Chandler (Matthew Perry), and the irritating Janice (Maggie Wheeler). As for Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), and Monica (Courteney Cox), they cook up a hot time of their own. The DVD version of this episode includes material not seen in the syndicated version. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Much to his dismay, Al (Ed O'Neill) is joined on a fishing trip by Peg (Katey Sagal) and Marcy (Amanda Bearse). Not surprisingly, he ends up catching absolutely nothing except a lot of flak in his efforts to referee the girls' constant arguments. And back at home, Marcy's hubby Jefferson (Ted McGinley) blithely spends most of his wife's money, with the considerable aid of Al and Peg's children. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
