Julia Verdin Movies

Inspired by a true story, the directorial debut of filmmaker Mark Young tells the tale of a young black man who is railroaded by police following the 1965 Watts riots, and subsequently forced to endure a year's probation at an all-white seminary. His demons wrestling with his destiny, the man (Cedric Sanders) struggles to remain strong in the face of incredible adversity. Louis Gossett Jr. co-stars. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Five friends find their relaxing summer getaway turning into a bloody battle for survival when they discover that the remote island that they thought was uninhabited has been overrun with vicious, genetically mutated canines. Michelle Rodriguez, Oliver Hudson, and Taryn Manning, star in a Wes Craven production. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

One of William Shakespeare's most powerful comedies has been given a bold cinematic adaptation in this film version of The Merchant of Venice. Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes) is a young and vital member of the aristocratic classes in 16th century Italy; however, Bassanio's impulsive nature and lavish lifestyle have put him deeply in debt, and he will need at least the pretense of a fortune if he is to win the hand of the beautiful Portia (Lynn Collins). Bassanio turns to his close friend Antonio (Jeremy Irons), a successful businessman, for financial help, but with much of his fortune tied up in a sailing expedition, Antonio can do little to help him. To help Bassanio, Antonio turns to Shylock (Al Pacino), a Jewish money lender who lives in Venice's Semetic ghetto. Antonio has often expressed his contempt for Shylock, who charges high rates for his loans, and Shylock clearly seems pleased at the ironic prospect of having Antonio as a customer; however, instead of interest, Shylock demands an unusual security on his loan -- though Shylock demands no interest, if Antonio does not repay the three thousand ducats in three months, Shylock will be entitled to a pound of his flesh. This version of The Merchant of Venice was directed by Michael Radford, best known for the international hit Il Postino, and was shot on locations in Venice and Luxembourg. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

An American abroad discovers that a series of crimes may have a greater significance than imagined in this drama. Rhodes (Jeff Daniels) is an American human rights activist who has come to a small Mexican border town to help oversee union elections at a factory owned by a United States firm. While in Mexico, Rhodes learns that things have not been quiet around town lately -- a number of people were found shot dead in a tunnel just across the border in the States, and a pair of Californians who came to Mexico to do some trail riding have disappeared without a trace. Rhodes has a hunch the recent crimes may have something to do with the hotly contested upcoming election, and with the permission of a pal from the State Department (James Spader), he joins up with Castillo (Clifton Collins Jr.), a police detective who is looking into the tunnel deaths. I Witness also co-stars Portia de Rossi. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A woman endures the painful birth of her child. Two doctors argue about the ethics of saving the horribly malformed child's life. Years later, a nurse is found brutally tortured and murdered, hundreds of syringes plunged into her, and Buckley Clarke (Lauren Holly), a tough homicide cop, is assigned the case. The victim's brother, Sam Brown (Robert Patrick), is a reclusive wilderness tracker living in Alaska. He gets word of the crime and goes to San Francisco to undertake his own investigation. At first, Clarke is dismissive of Brown, but she's soon forced to acknowledge his skill at finding clues and tracking his prey; seeing that she can't get rid of him anyway, she allows him to participate in the investigation. Soon, other victims turn up in similar conditions, and the FBI becomes involved, convinced that there's a serial killer on the loose. But Clarke eventually realizes that the victims are not being chosen at random. They all share a terrifying connection. Despite their disparate backgrounds, Clarke and Brown grow increasingly attracted to one another as they combine their talents to determine the killer's identity. But the killer soon learns that the intrepid pair is closing in, and the hunters become the prey. Pavement was directed by Darrell James Roodt (Cry, the Beloved Country) from a script by Charles Hansen. The film was shot in Cape Town, South Africa. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

In this science fiction thriller, David Whitman (William Hurt) is a chemist who lost his wife and child in a freak accident and is trying to rebuild his life on his own. While doing research, Whitman discovers a series of mysterious deaths that seem to follow in the path of Joseph Mueller (Peter Weller), a seemingly ordinary man who works as a security guard. Unknown to Mueller, his body carries a strange contaminant that's deadly to many people, and Whitman is desperate to find Mueller and stop him before he can cause more deaths. But he discovers there's more to Mueller's story than he ever imagined. The Contaminated Man also stars Michael Brandon and Natascha McElhone. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide