Michael Ironside Movies

In October 1991, a dying tropical hurricane from Bermuda collided with a cold front from the Great Lakes, resulting in a "perfect storm" of previously unknown destructive impact that resulted in 100-foot waves; tragically, the crew of a fishing boat was lost in the midst of the fearsome storm. Based on the best-selling book by Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm tells the story of the ship's brave and hard-working crew. Billy Tyne (George Clooney), captain of the Andrea Gail, hasn't had much luck finding catch on his most recent trips to sea, and with money short, he and his crew -- Bob Shatford (Mark Wahlberg), Dale Murphy (John C. Reilly), and David Sullivan (William Fichtner) set out again when they hear that the fish are running. Billy's hunch proves correct, but when the ship's refrigeration system goes haywire, they have to return to shore as quickly as possible before the fish spoil, sending them into the middle of the worst storm in history. The supporting cast includes Mary Elziabeth Mastrantonio, Diane Lane, Bob Gunton, and Karen Allen; Wolfgang Petersen, whose breakthrough film was the aquatic wartime drama Das Boot, directed. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The city's latest serial killer has got it in for priests, nuns, and other pious people, and the method of dispatching them is nasty: crucifixion. Detective Henry Smith, played by Andrew McCarthy, investigates the repulsively grisly crimes but his own moral crisis at home -- he and his wife (Jayne Heitmeyer) have a terminally ill daughter -- overtakes his emotions and complicates his investigation. The clock starts ticking once Smith's drifter brother (Sean Day Michael) becomes a suspect and the police want the case closed quickly. But when Smith discovers the real reason the cops want to shut the case in a hurry, the most unlikely of suspects emerges. Or is it Smith's fevered imagination?
~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide

A young man becomes the reluctant heir of the family business, only to discover how dangerous and corrupt it can be in this drama. Philip is an aspiring musician whose father runs a Chilean mining concern. When his dad dies, Philip returns to Chile from the United States and soon finds himself battling with his father's former business partner for control of the mines. Philip quickly learns that his new adversary isn't about to give up without a fight -- and that he has more than a few secrets about the company that he needs to keep quiet at all costs. Southern Cross stars Michael Ironside, Esai Morales, and Malcolm McDowell. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The husband-and-wife team of Mary Cybulski and John Tintori (creators of the acclaimed short Manhattan Dinner) directed this Will Kern screenplay which he adapted from his 1992 play Hellcab about a winter's day in the life of a Windy City driver, beginning at 6am in 20 below zero degree weather. Johnny (Paul Dillon) is that rare type of cab driver who will drive anywhere and pick up anyone, and during the 14 hours compressed here into 95 minutes, he ferries about some two-dozen passengers, including a rape victim (Julianne Moore), a hyped-up drug runner, a pregnant woman, and holiday shoppers. Johnny is frustrated that he can't seem to make genuine connections with his passengers or help them. Instead, he can only observe a rear-view image mirroring the passing parade of humanity. Shown at Austin's 1998 South By Southwest Filmfest. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Morgan J. Freeman directed this comedy-drama that takes place in the desert town of Baxter Beach, California, where the locals, lookers, visitors and slackers include dreamer Blue (Brendan Sexton III), pipe-bomb babe Ely (Christina Ricci), all-terrain-vehicle champ Pete (Casey Affleck), nerdy Sandy (Sara Gilbert), TV star Skye (Kate Hudson), and chubby Cale (Ethan Suplee). Blue's dad, who had hoped to bring water to the town, died mysteriously in a hotel fire, leaving an abandoned water slide, and Blue hopes to fulfill his father's dream by completing the water slide attraction. Actress Skye is just passing through with her father, a pop-culture prof. (John Heard), but they're forced to stay in town after a truck-spill leads to a quarantine and the presence of both an FBI agent (Michael Ironside) and an EPA agent (Aunjanue Ellis). Skye gets caught up in local fun and games (orange baseball, potato cannon salvos), while her dad reminisces about the '60s with UFO fanatic Caroline (Lucinda Jenney). Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Dreaming of becoming a famous blues musician, a young Finn leaves Helsinki and heads for Kansas City only to learn that his host family resides in nearby Canaan, a rural town where xenophobic locals treat him with contempt and suspicion. At first the upbeat Mikko Vihavainen (Mikko Nousianen) pays the locals little mind. After all, his host mother Bonnie Bruckner (Susan Almgren) and her boys are friendly enough, as is cute waitress Carly Malone (Melissa Galianos), the overprotected daughter of the town police chief (Michael Ironside). Mikko's dreams also sustain him. During the first half of Finnish director Pekka Mandart's feature-film debut, the tone is lighthearted and even humorous. However, the story takes a much darker turn in the second half when Mikko gets caught up in a convenience-store robbery that leaves two young people dead. With no apparent suspects, the police chief and the rest of the town charge Mikko with the crime. Their rage bursts into violence shortly after Mikko and Carly flee town. Going to Kansas City played at the 1998 AFI Film Festival as part of their European Film Showcase. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Director Paul Verhoeven (Showgirls, Total Recall) reunited many from his 1987 Robocop team for this $100-million science fiction adventure, adapted from Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel, originally serialized in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (October-November, 1959). After graduation, Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) volunteers for the Mobile Infantry to do his Federal service -- but also to win over his girlfriend, Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards), who has signed with the Fleet Academy to become a starship pilot. Johnny joins other boot-camp recruits -- Dizzy Flores (Dina Meyer), who has had a crush on Johnny since school, and Ace Levy (Jake Busey). Ace and Johnny become pals, and Johnny's abilities earn him the squad leader position. A training accident occurs on Johnny's watch, and he is about to resign when Earth is attacked by alien insects intent on eradicating all human life. Johnny's home, Buenos Aires, is no longer on the map. Horrified, he chooses to stay on and fight to destroy the insect threat. The Mobile Infantry travels to the planet Klendathu to battle the warrior bugs, a ruthless enemy with only one goal -- survival of their species no matter what. In the initial encounter, some 100,000 lives are lost. At a distant fort, Johnny's unit discovers that the bugs drain brains to acquire knowledge. Soon they are overwhelmed by an advancing arthropod army of immense proportions, attacking both in space and on the planet surface. The notion of human extinction becomes a possibility. For this $100-million production, some 300 artists and technicians combined models and miniatures with CGI effects to fashion a variety of creatures -- from breeder bugs to armored tanker bugs. The film employed hundreds of extras and has over 500 visual effects shots. Filming began 4/29/96 in California (LA and Long Beach, where Cal State's pyramid gym was used for the Jumpball game), New York, South Dakota, Wyoming (Casper, Hell's Half Acre), and Utah (an abandoned Wendover airstrip where the Enola Gay WWII bomber crew trained). At an abandoned airfield in Fountain Valley, California, an elaborate set was constructed to resemble a military boot camp of the future -- complete with an array of pup tents, gull-winged spaceships, hurdle obstacle course, and training facility buildings. Cinematography by Jost Vacano (Showgirls). Licensed products include Lewis Galoob Inc. toys. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

A corporate marketing director thinks he's getting the project he's been looking for when he's assigned to help introduce an exciting new computer product. However, that's before he meets his new boss, who ends up putting the project, the company and even himself in serious jeopardy. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A has-been fighter finds himself extorted into becoming a hitman to save himself in this crime drama. The mess began while the opportunistic Marty was trying to convince a mobster to participate in his latest quick money scam. The would-be investor is suddenly shot and killed. Marty sees it all and promises to stay quiet. That's not good enough for Daryl, the mob boss behind the hit and to make sure he forces Daryl to kill another in exchange for his own life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

From Leo Films comes Bomb Squad, an action thriller starring Brat Packer Anthony Michael Hall (The Breakfast Club) and Michael Ironside (Total Recall) as two members of a government agency looking to thwart a catastrophic terrorist attack. When word breaks that there's a homicidal madman planning to detonate a briefcase-sized hydrogen bomb in downtown Chicago, it's a race against time for the agents to find him and stop him before it's too late. Tony Lo Bianco also stars. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

New ER boss Dr. Swift (Michael Ironside) requests (read: "demands") that Greene discuss the OR death of Jodi O'Brien death before a hospital conference. Deb's (Ming-Na) rush to pile up more procedures than Carter (Noah Wyle) results in serious error. Ross (George Clooney) grows ever closer to Diane (Lisa Zane). And Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) is unpleasantly surprised by her sister Chloe's (Kathleen Wilhoite) sudden return. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In wake of the ongoing crisis involving his ailing mother, the customarily brusque and arrogant Benton (Eriq La Salle) astonishes everyone with his courtesy, consideration, and compassion. Meanwhile, Ross (George Clooney) is ordered to see a psychiatrist after punching a patient, and also agrees to coach the Little League team in which Diane's (Lisa Zane) son is a player. And Greene (Anthony Edwards) angers Swift (Michael Ironside) by heading to Milwaukee in hopes of reconciling with Jenn. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide