Duffy Hecht Movies
David Mamet wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of his play about a man who suddenly stumbles into a new and dangerous life. Edmond Burke (William H. Macy) is on his way home from work one evening when he impulsively stops to have his fortune read by a woman who informs him, "You are not where you belong." When he does arrive home, Edmond soon falls into an argument with his wife (Rebecca Pidgeon), and he storms out into the city, where he stops at a bar for a few drinks. There, Edmond finds himself talking with a man (Joe Mantegna) who freely shares his racist views about the role of African-Americans in society, and suddenly Edmond begins letting go of the sense of self-control that has always governed his actions. After a crawl through the city's underbelly of watering holes, strip clubs, gambling dens, and brothels, Edmond comes face to face with the violence of this world, and unexpectedly finds himself responding in kind. Edmond also stars Julia Stiles, Denise Richards, Mena Suvari, Bai Ling, and Dylan Walsh; it was directed by Stuart Gordon, who worked often with David Mamet during their early days at Chicago's Organic Theater Company. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William H. Macy, Julia Stiles, (more)
Touted as something of a return-to-form for Re-Animator director Stuart Gordon, King of the Ants offers the brutal tale of a man discovering his previously untapped potential for violence. Despite the fact that his future seems relatively undefined, young drifter Sean Crawley (Chris McKenna) is an easygoing guy who makes a meager living by painting houses. When electrician Duke Wayne (George Wendt) suggests that the naïve young painter could make more money if he could expand his horizons, an eager Sean takes him up on the offer and Duke introduces Sean to local construction magnate Ray Mathews (Daniel Baldwin). Ray quickly enlists Sean's assistance in trailing a local city accountant whose number crunching is beginning to make the crooked construction heavy uncomfortable, and it's not long before Ray asks Sean to carry out a hit on the overzealous accountant. Although Ray and Duke subsequently attempt to distance themselves from the crime, Sean's attempt to collect on the hit results in a brutal attempt on the amateur hit man's life. Though he is beaten to within inches of death, Sean makes an unexpectedly speedy recovery fueled by an unquenchable thirst for revenge. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris L. McKenna, Kari Wuhrer, (more)
A woman hoping to make a better life for her family is plunged into a brutal cycle of poverty in this independent drama. Single mother Christine (Sara Wilcox) and her 13-year-old daughter Tessa (Jessica White) have relocated to California from Arizona after Christine's boyfriend Roy (Jason Hallows) finds work in Santa Barbara. When Roy is fired soon after they arrive, he skips town, and Christine finds that she can't support Tessa and herself on her pay as a checkout clerk. Tessa is ashamed of the poverty they now find themselves in, so she tells her classmates that she comes from a wealthy family and that Christine is her nanny. Christine falls behind on the rent, and soon she and Tessa are evicted from their apartment. They find themselves living in their car, which is then stolen by delinquents; when the police recover the auto, Christine can't afford to pay her tickets to get the car out of impound. Tessa runs away to strike out on her own, and Christine is reduced to taking a fleabag apartment in exchange for sex -- only to discover that the landlord has no intention of honoring his end of the agreement. First, Last and Deposit was shot by first-time director Peter Hyoguchi using a tiny digital video camera and a primarily non-professional cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jessica White, Don Margolin, (more)
