William Morrissey Movies
- 2007
- R
A sociopathic kidnapper methodically pushes a desperate pair of parents to their absolute breaking point in this thriller starring Piece Brosnan, Gerard Butler, and Maria Bello. Life has been good to happily married Chicago couple Neil (Butler) and Abby (Bello); their flames in their relationship are still burning bright, Neil has a great job, and with the birth of their beautiful daughter Sophie the loving couple has grown into a budding family. So much can change in an instant though, and the moment that sadistic kidnapper Ryan (Brosnan) appears the fibers of this happy family are torn violently apart. Ryan knows everything there is to know about Neil, Abby, and Sophie, and now he's ready to use that information to put the two parents through the most excruciating experience of their entire lives. Should Neil and Abby not comply with Ryan's every demand over the course of the next twenty-four hours, he will kill young Sophie without a second thought. While at first the demands seem typical of your average kidnapper, they gradually begin to grow increasingly outlandish until it becomes obvious that Ryan doesn't want money, but simply enjoys the power that comes along with systematically dismantling their idyllic lives until there's nothing left for Neil and Abby to live for. Now left with nothing to lose, the monstrous Ryan finds out just how far a parent is willing to go in order to save their child when he commands Neil to commit one final act of annihilation that goes against everything the loving father and husband stands for. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierce Brosnan, Gerard Butler, (more)
- 2003
Stephen Whittaker loosely based his Rocket Post -- a romantic period drama leavened with quirky humor -- on the life and experiences of German rocket scientist Gerhard Zucher. The film opens circa 1938 in Southern England, where two expatriate aerospace engineers, Gerhard Zucher (Ulrich Thomsen) and Heinz Dombrowsky (Eddie Marsan), are attempting to use rockets as rapid-fire transports for regular postal mail. A regulating British official decides to assign both men to the Scottish isle of Scarp, where they can conduct rocket experiments sans interference. Personal complications arise, however, when Gerhard falls in love with local Scottish woman Catherine MacKay (Shauna MacDonald) -- and she with him. They enjoy a sweet, gentle, funny romance, and as Gerhard breaches success with his experiments, he finds his spirits lifted by the vicissitudes of Scottish life. But events take a decidedly darker turn when the Nazis show up and demand that Zucher return to Germany; if he refuses, his sister and her children will be executed. Suddenly, Zucher finds himself torn between his undying love for Catherine and his familial loyalty. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1915
Butterfly on the Wheel was the fifth of director Maurice Tourneur's six films for 1915. Devoted to his business, prominent theatrical producer Adamston (Holbrook Blinn) sorely neglects his beautiful wife Peggy (Vivian Martin). Arriving home early one afternoon, Adamston is confronted with circumstantial evidence that his wife has been entertaining a gentleman caller. Ignoring Peggy's pleas of innocence, Adamston immediately files for divorce. Alas, the jury is on the husband's side, and Peggy is dragged through the muck and mire of scandal. Even the last-minute revelation that Peggy was blameless does not diminish the film's powerful indictment against hearsay and matrimonial neglect. Butterfly on the Wheel was highlighted by a spectacular backstage fire, the sort of seemingly spontaneous "thrill" scene in which director Tourneur excelled. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
