Mahershalalhashbaz Ali Movies
Though born in Oakland, CA, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali grew up in the neighboring city of Hayward. Ali gravitated to athletics as a university student -- playing basketball for St. Mary's College in nearby Morgana, CA -- but began taking acting classes during his junior year that pointed him in a much different direction by introducing him to one of his life's great passions. Following a memorable summer that found him apprenticing with the California Shakespeare Festival, Ali applied and was accepted to the graduate program in drama at New York University, where he earned his master's in drama; subsequent stage work included prominent appearances in productions of such plays as School for Scandal, Blues for an Alabama Sky, and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House. In terms of filmed work, Ali took most of his early assignments on television in series programs including CSI, Crossing Jordan, and NYPD Blue, and enjoyed a multiseason turn, from 2004 through 2008, as Richard Tyler on The 4400. David Fincher's elaborate fantasy The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), opposite Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, represented the thespian's first major feature assignment. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 2008
- PG13
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David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's story, re-teams the director with Brad Pitt, who takes on the title role. What makes Button such a curious case is that when he is born in New Orleans just after World War I, he is already in his eighties, and proceeds to live his life aging in reverse. This sweeping film follows the character's unusual life into the 21st century as he experiences joy and sadness, loves lost and found, and the meaning of timelessness. Cate Blanchett co-stars along with Tilda Swinton, Elias Koteas, and Julia Ormond. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, (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
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)
Speeding motorist Alex Jomes pulls up in front of a casino, gets out of his car -- and dies as the result of the wooden stake driven into his head. It falls to Grissom (William L. Petersen) and Nick (George Eads) to track down the so-called "vampire killer." Meawnhile, Warrick (Gary Dourdan) and Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) follow the trail of clues when the five-year-old son of NBA star Tavian Tombs (Dwayne Adway) is kidnapped while Tombs is having an incredible run of luck at the gaming tables. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Definitely a series for the post-9/11 generation, ABC's Threat Matrix detailed the exploits of an elite task-force unit of the Homeland Security division. Headed by John Kilmer (Jamie Denton), the unit, comprised of the cream of the FBI, CIA, and NSA, was dedicated to stopping terrorism before it started, using the multitude of threats and warnings received on a 24/7 basis by the White House as their guide. Kilmer's multicultural, multiethnic team included his ex-wife Frankie Ellroy Killmer (Kelly Rutherford), as well as Tim Serrano (Kurt Caceres), Lia Larkins (Melora Walters), Jelani (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali), Mo (Anthony Azizi), and Holly (Shoshannah Stern). Created by Daniel Voll, Threat Matrix debuted September 18, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jamie Denton, Kelly Rutherford, (more)
The murder of a college coed, who was wearing boots more suitable for a prostitute, occurs in the same location where a hooker is later killed. The hooker's cell phone provides a lead for investigating detectives Andy (Dennis Franz) and John (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), but the medical examiner's findings put a crimp in their conclusions. Meanwhile, Angela Lupo (Jessica Ferrarone), the drug-addicted former wife of precinct skipper Tony Rodriguez (Esai Morales), comes back into Tony's life in a spectacular manner. And Andy's son Theo (Austin Majors) wonders if his dad and Connie (Charlotte Ross) will ever really get together. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons















