Nick Damici
Fresh off the success of his award-winning senior thesis film The Underdogs, Tisch School of the Arts graduate Jim Mickle returns with this tale of a mysterious virus that causes mass chaos as it sweeps through a terrified Manhattan neighborhood. It's another sweltering summer day in downtown New York City, and as the residents of 51 Mulberry Street lament their crumbling building, higher rent prices, the rising cost of gas, and the ongoing war in Iraq the heat continues to climb as tempers begin to flare. The city is changing, but it's an unseen transformation that won't be noticed until it has evolved into an unstoppable force. A rat has attacked a passenger on the city subway, and just downtown another unsuspecting victim is bitten by a ravenous rodent. As darkness falls over the city, emergency response teams struggle to contain what appears to be a rapidly-spreading virus that is metamorphosing the helpless denizens into a bizarre new species. The streets are quickly filling with these malevolent new creatures, and as a retired boxer named Clutch awaits the return of his daughter from the battlefields of Iraq, the fearless fighter and seven other evicted tenants from 51 Mulberry Street will be forced to bolt the doors, secure the windows, and take one last stand against the mindless, frenzied masses who will stop at nothing to ensure total assimilation. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nick Damici, Antone Pagan, (more)
Director Oliver Stone once again offers a powerful and provocative story based on real-life events in this drama. Sargeant John McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage) and William J. Jimeno (Michael Pena) were two officers assigned to New York City's Port Authority who were working their beats on a quiet day in early fall when they received an emergency call. The day was September 11, 2001, and McLoughlin and Jimeno were among the policemen who attempted to evacuate the World Trade Center towers after they were struck by airliners piloted by terrorists. Both McLoughlin and Jimeno were inside the fifth building of the World Trade Center when the towers fell, and were two of the last people found alive amidst the wreckage. As McLoughlin and Jimeno struggled to hold on to their lives as rescuers sifted through the rubble, their spouses -- Donna McLoughlin (Maria Bello) and Allison Jimeno (Maggie Gyllenhaal) -- clung to the desperate hope that their husbands would survive and be found. As the McLoughlin and Jimeno families waited for word on the fate of the two men, they watched as a city and a nation came together with strength and compassion in the face of a tragedy. World Trade Center was based on the true story of John McLoughlin and William J. Jimeno, both of whom cooperated with producers in the making of this film. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña, (more)
Released from prison after serving a five year sentence for armed robbery, ex-convict Rico (Robert La Sardo) attempts to reconnect with his ex-wife and daughter in director Robert Oppel's emotionally-charged drama. Prison life was never easy, but now Rico is torn between his allegiance those who would tear him down, and his dedication to building a new life. The minefields that Rico will now walk aren't just emotional either - should he make the wrong move on the outside chances are good that Rico could suffer physically as well. Thankfully for Rico, a wise apparition named Robert (Kurt Vonnegut) will be there to help guide him and ensure that the conflicted ex-convict finally have the chance to hold his daughter close once again. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert La Sardo, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., (more)
Jane Campion directs the erotic thriller In the Cut, based on the best-selling suspense novel by Susanna Moore. Set in New York City during the summertime, the film is centered on Frannie Avery (Meg Ryan), a middle-class English teacher in the midst of researching a book project about colloquial language. One night she accidentally witnesses a sexual situation involving a suspected killer, which may make her valuable to a police investigation. When Detective Malloy (Mark Ruffalo) comes to her apartment to interview her about a neighborhood murder, she becomes intensely attracted to him. Although they are not sure if they can completely trust each other, Frannie and Malloy start up a passionate love affair. Meanwhile, the killer remains on the loose and the list of suspects includes Malloy's partner, Rodriguez (Nick Damici), and Frannie's student Cornelius (Sharrieff Pugh). Jennifer Jason Leigh stars as Frannie's half-sister, Pauline. In the Cut was shown at the 2003 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meg Ryan, Mark Ruffalo, (more)
- 1990
In this first telecast of Law & Order, a case of fatal criminal negligence takes front and center. During a particularly frantic night in an emergency room, a young woman dies, prompting her father to sue the hospital. Investigating detectives Greevey (George Dzundza) and Logan (Chris Noth) uncover evidence that the E.R.'s chief resident, Dr. Edward Auster (Paul Sparer), has a history of alcoholism, and may have been drinking at the time of the tragedy. D.A. Adam Schiff (Steven Hill) orders his subordinates Stone (Michael Moriarty) and Robinette (Richard Brooks) to charge Auster with murder. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
