Mars Callahan Movies
Poolhall Junkies actor/writer/director Mars Callahan once again pulls triple duty with this battle of the sexes comedy starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Sean Astin, Matthew Lillard, Gina Gershon, and Anne Hesche. It's Valentine's Day, and Sarah (Victoria Pratt) has just kicked longtime boyfriend Tom (Gooding, Jr.) to the curb. Now, as Tom's friends Sal (Lillard), Ken (Callahan), George (Astin), and Wayne (Andrew Daly) drop by to discuss the shortcomings of the female gender, Sarah and her friends congregate in the bathroom to bond over stories about sex and relationships. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cuba Gooding, Jr., Matthew Lillard, (more)
A small-time pool shark with dreams of the big time seeks revenge against the mentor who did him wrong in this drama. Johnny Doyle (Mars Callahan) was a teenaged orphan when Joe (Chazz Palminteri) took him under his wing and taught him everything there is to know about shooting pool. Johnny became a genius with a cue, but while he dreamed of becoming a respected professional billiards player, Joe preferred to keep him working along the lower rungs of pool hustling. When Johnny learns just how far Joe has gone to keep him down, Johnny breaks away from him, but Joe and his thugs take revenge against Johnny by breaking his wrists. Tara (Alison Eastwood), Johnny's upper-crust girlfriend, urges him to get out of the pool racket, and Johnny grudgingly agrees, though he feels empty without the excitement of the table. Johnny renews ties with his younger brother Danny (Michael Rosenbaum), and begins to fear he's going to fall into the same sort of traps that snared him -- especially when he finds out that Joe has his eyes on Danny. Johnny decides to give pool playing another go, and teams up with Mike (Christopher Walken), who bankrolls hustlers and would like to take Joe down a notch or two. But Joe has found a new player, Brad (Rick Schroder), whose talent rivals Johnny's, and he's not sure if he knows a way to beat him on the green felt. Poolhall Junkies also features Rod Steiger in one of his final roles; the film didn't see theatrical release until nearly nine months after his death. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chazz Palminteri, Rick Schroder, (more)
A tightly-knit foursome of lifelong friends and unrepentant gamblers wage more than money in a winner-takes-all tale of epic proportions from director Mars Callahan. David Zigman (Jason Priestly) always manages to come through and beat the house at the last minute, but when he and his three pals risk it all in the name of one priceless thrill, they may have finally gone too far. Now, as each man pulls his hand close to his chest for one final go at the gold, these friends will finally find out what's thicker these four friends will finally find out where their love, loyalty, and honor truly lies. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Priestley, Peter Dobson, (more)
