Moira Kelly Movies
Possessing an earthy almost childlike glow and a contrasting dark beauty that lent itself well to early roles in such films as Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and Chaplin (both 1992), actress Moira Kelly subsequently went on to become one of the most underappreciated actresses of the 1990s, despite some truly striking performances. Kelly was born the third of six children in Queens, New York City, in March of 1968; her father was a professional violinist and her mother, a nurse. Inspired by classical and big band music, young Kelly followed in her father's musical footsteps by trying her hand at the violin, drums, and flute. Kelly was raised in Ronkonkoma, NY, and competed in opera while attending Connetquot High School in the mid-'80s. It was there that the acting bug bit, and when Kelly was cast in a small role in the high school's production of Annie, her role was unexpectedly expanded as the actress playing Miss Hannigan fell ill and Kelly was recast as Grace Ferrell. Rounding out her education at New York City's Marymount Manhattan College, Kelly worked a series of odd jobs while attending college in order to finance her education. Facing an important life decision, Kelly began to weigh her childhood dream of becoming a nun against a busy life in the limelight. Convinced by her priest that acting may be part of God's larger plan for her, Kelly eagerly began work on her first feature.Kicking off her career with a made-for-television feature entitled Love, Lies & Murder, Kelly essayed the memorable role of a young girl whose confession of murdering her stepmother initiates a complex investigation. Kelly would subsequently make her feature debut in The Boy Who Cried Bitch (1991), and following a supporting role in the same year's Billy Bathgate, she took on her first lead in the romantic drama The Cutting Edge. Cast in the role of a talented figure skater whose new partner in ice is a rough ex-hockey player (D.B. Sweeney), the believable chemistry between the two leads resulted in a touching romance that performed well in theaters and found an even wider audience on home video. Subsequently replacing Lara Flynn Boyle in director David Lynch's Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, the conflicted Kelly once again approached her priest to ask for guidance in a film that contained frank and explicit sexuality. Next drawing attention in dual roles as cinema legend Charles Chaplin's first love and fourth wife in Richard Attenborough's Chaplin, it was obvious to many that Kelly had a bright future ahead of her. Kelly's diversity truly began to shine in the mid- to late '90s, and though such films as Little Odessa (1994) and Changing Habits (1997) may not have found wide release or reached blockbuster status, the people who did happen to catch them when they were released on video found her performances as moving as ever. Rounding out the decade with everything from vocal work in The Lion King (1994) to a role as social activist Dorothy Day in Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story, Kelly took part in her first television series with a lead in the short-lived To Have & to Hold (1998). Though that series ultimately didn't connect with audiences, her next series, The West Wing, most certainly did. Instilled with a new career momentum following the critical success of that series, Kelly would subsequently draw favorable nods for her role in The Safety of Objects (2001) before returning to the small screen with the 2003 series One Tree Hill. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
A somber portrait of organized crime and family trauma, Little Odessa centers on the trouble caused when hit man Joshua Shapira (Tim Roth) returns to his old neighborhood of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. A hired killer for the Russian Mafia, Joshua is given an assignment in his hometown, where he renews contact with his younger brother Reuben (Edward Furlong) and an old flame (Moira Kelly). But others do not welcome Joshua's return, particularly his harsh, estranged father (Maximillian Schell), who had disowned Joshua years before and currently attempts to keep him from visiting his seriously ill mother (Vanessa Redgrave). The pressure of these family crises combine with Joshua's deepening involvement in the local crime scene, ultimately triggering a bloody confrontation. First-time director James Gray creates a solemn, oppressive atmosphere that emphasizes the already grim nature of his story. The slow pace and familiar crime narrative were attacked by many viewers, contributing to a mixed critical reaction, but Little Odessa nevertheless won admiration for Gray's visual sense and the skilled performance by Roth in the unsympathetic lead role. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Roth, Edward Furlong, (more)
In this chilling made-for-cable-television outing, the population of the United States is nearly wiped out by a sexually transmitted disease. In order to stop its spread, those infected are sequestered in special camps. To make sure no infected person is allowed to go free, a group of vigilantes begins terrorizing city streets in search of carriers. The story is based on an off-Broadway play by Alan Browne. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
David Lynch's prequel to his cult television series "Twin Peaks" concerns the last seven days in the life of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), whose plastic-wrapped corpse, found floating in a river, was the fulcrum for the television series. During the day in the town of Twin Peaks, Laura is a top honors student at the local high school. By night, she is a sex-crazed cokehead, prostituting herself at a sleazy sex club to get money to feed her drug habit. Her race to oblivion is fueled by her father, Leland (Ray Wise), who, as his alter ego Bob (Frank Silva), has been sexually abusing Laura since she was a child. But Laura has an attack of conscience when she realizes that she is leading her best friend Donna (Moira Kelly) down the same rocky road. Leland, however, discovers Laura's nocturnal debauchery when, during a business trip out-of-town, his mistress for a sexual tryst sets him up with his own daughter. In a fit of jealous rage, Leland follows Laura as she travels to a sex party in an abandoned railroad car. Consumed by insatiable longing, Leland transforms himself into Bob, with tragic results for Laura and her friends. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sheryl Lee, Chris Isaak, (more)
Can a rough and tumble hockey player and a snooty ice dancer find love and a gold medal at the same time? That's the burning (or more appropriately freezing) question in this romantic drama. Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly) is a world-class figure skater training for the Olympics; she has genuine talent, but years of being spoiled by her wealthy family have made her all but impossible to work with. Doug Dorsey (D.B. Sweeney) is a hockey player with drive, skill, and a full complement of arrogance; his team is also on the fast track to the Olympics. Unfortunately, an eye injury suffered during a game affects Doug's peripheral vision enough to put him on the bench for the rest of the season. At the same time, Kate's colossal ego scares off yet another skating partner, and her coach, Anton (Roy Dotrice), needs to find a replacement as soon as possible. Desperate to stay in Olympic competition, Doug agrees to try working as Kate's partner, even though he has a hockey player's macho contempt for figure skating. Needless to say, the first few practices between Kate and Doug do not go well, but in time they learn to work together and become a pair to be reckoned with both on and off the ice. The Cutting Edge was released within a few months of the 1992 Winter Olympic Games. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- D.B. Sweeney, Moira Kelly, (more)
Partly based on Charlie Chaplin's My Autobiography, this humorous and dramatic biopic features an all-star cast including Oscar nominee Robert Downey Jr., Dan Aykroyd, Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Kline, Diane Lane, and Chaplin's real-life daughter, Geraldine Chaplin, who portrays his mentally ill mother. With the use of flashback, an elderly Chaplin discusses his autobiography with his editor (Hopkins), who urges him to be more vulnerable and emotionally honest with his memoirs while journeying through his poverty-stricken childhood, closest friendships, many marriages, merciless pursuit by J. Edgar Hoover (Kevin Dunn), and ingenious invention of "The Little Tramp." Highlighted works such as The Gold Rush (1925) and The Great Dictator (1940) illustrate significant turning points in Chaplin's prolific filmography. Director Richard Attenborough's film also explores the circumstances surrounding Chaplin's exile from America and his eventual return to receive an honorary Academy Award. ~ Lisa Kropiewnicki, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Downey, Jr., Dan Aykroyd, (more)
- 1991
- PG13
Love, Lies and Murder is based on a true story that began its tragic unspooling on March 19, 1985 in Garden Grove, California. 23-year-old wife and mother Linda Brown is murdered. She leaves behind her computer-consultant husband Clancy Brown, her 17-year-old sister (Sheryl Lee), a 14-year-old stepdaughter (Moira Kelly) from her husband's previous marriage, and an 8-month-old infant. When police investigate, the stepdaughter confesses to the killing. This closes the case--until Mr. Brown callously marries his late wife's sister, and doubts begin to stir as to whether or not the stepdaughter was coerced into confessing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clancy Brown, John Ashton, (more)
In this film version of E. L. Doctorow's Billy Bathgate, Loren Dean plays the title character, a street-smart kid who inveigles his way into the confidence of 1930s gangster Dutch Schultz (Dustin Hoffman). Billy is ordered to look after Schultz' new moll, Drew Preston (Nicole Kidman), while Dutch fends off tax evasion charges and such up-and-coming rivals as Lucky Luciano (Stanley Tucci). Even though they know they're playing with dynamite, Billy and Drew fall in love. In attempting to escape Schultz' wrath, Billy succeeds only in putting himself in the thick of a gun battle between his boss and Luciano. When "Charley Lucky" emerges triumphant, Billy is forced once again to rely on his wits to escape being sent to the bottom of the briny in a cement overcoat. Bruce Willis shows up in an extended cameo as Dutch Schultz' former business associate. Billy Bathgate was adapted for the screen by British playwright Tom Stoppard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, (more)
