Santiago Douglas Movies
- 2003
During Thanksgiving week, Ryan (Ben McKenzie) is summoned back to Chino by his family. Accompanied by Marissa (Mischa Barton), Ryan ends up visiting his brother, Trey (Bradley Stryker), in prison. Meanwhile, back in the O.C., Marissa's mother, Julie (Melinda Clarke), expresses outrage that her daughter has taken off without telling her or asking her for permission, blaming it on both Ryan and her ex, Jimmy (Tate Donovan). Many unpleasant memories are invoked throughout the remainder of the episode, with (potentially) worse to come. Meanwhile, the romantic triangle involving Seth (Adam Brody), Summer (Rachel Bilson), and Anna (Samaire Armstrong) rushes toward a resolution. ~ All Movie Guide
Karyn Kusama makes her debut with this sensitive, subtly told coming-of-age story about boxing and love. Diana (Michelle Rodriguez) is a tough though painfully honest girl living in Brooklyn. Surly, frustrated, and directionless, Diana seems to have a ticket on the express train to expulsion; she repeatedly finds herself in detention and schoolyard fights. At home, her weak though abusive single father Sandro (Paul Calderon) clearly favorites her bookish brother Tiny (Ray Santiago) over her. While running an errand for her father, Diana finds herself in one of New York's more renowned boxing gyms, and she instantly connects to the same. Though traditionally a thoroughly male pastime in Latino culture, Diana perseveres and gains self-worth thanks to the help of gruff Panamanian trainer Hector (Jaime Tirelli). Soon Hector assumes the role of Diana's father from her deadbeat biological progenitor. As Diana gains physical strength and agility in the ring, she finds herself drawn to the dashing boxer Adrian (Santiago Douglas), who is supposedly involved with someone else. Slowly though, the two give into their mutual attraction and fall completely in love. Fate intervenes when the two lovers are scheduled to fight one another in the ring, forcing each to choose boxing or love. Executive-produced by none other than John Sayles, this film received rave reviews at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michelle Rodriguez, Jaime Tirelli, (more)
- 2000
In this feature-length follow-up to the long-running TV series Murder, She Wrote, homespun mystery novelist Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) leaves her Cabot Cove residence to attend a big-city writer's conference. As generally happens wherever Jessica shows up, a murder takes place; in this instance, the victim is a former KGB agent (Duncan Regehr) who was about to publish his tell-all memoirs. Teaming up with fellow author Warren Pierce (Richard Crenna), Jessica sets about to solve the murder -- much to the dismay of the local constabulary. Allegedly written as far back as 1998 (by Babylon 5 stalwart J. Michael Straczynski), Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For finally arrived on the CBS prime-time manifest on May 18, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angela Lansbury, Richard Crenna, (more)
