Rod Wilson Movies

Having lived a respectable and rather dull existence for most of his time on earth, database designer Frank Griffin (Joe Mantegna) is rudely awakened from his ennui when his wife Ellen (Jean Smart) announces that she is having an affair and wants a divorce. Although the couple agrees to stay together for the present out of respect for their daughter Zoe (Jordy Benattar), it is clearly going to be an unhappy Christmas for Frank. In his efforts to get his mind off his problems, Frank signs up to be a volunteer Santa Claus, subjecting himself to a curious training regimen conducted by a relentlessly optimistic fellow named Ozzy (Charles Durning). Although his first Santa experiences are grueling, Frank finds a kindred spirit in photographer Donna (Kari Matchett), who has similarly split from her husband and is raising her son Gabe (Andrew Chalmers) by herself. In his efforts to help Donna and to patch up his own domestic troubles, Frank begins to wonder if he should consider a future not with Ellen but with Donna. . .and that's only the beginning of the story. A few mildly risqué scenes notwithstanding, A Very Married Christmas proved to be suitable family fare when it was first broadcast by CBS on December 5, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The plot of the futuristic made-for-TV thriller Killer Deal is predicated on the notion that a world-wide economic collapse in 2009 AD will utterly wipe out the Middle Class in America. In this not-so-brave new world, the rich and privileged Upper Class lives in Parkland, a luxurious walled community, while the Lower Class starves in the ruins of "Oldtown." With absolutely no jobs available, the poor are left with but one opportunity to escape their lot: to voluntarily donate their vital organs to the wealthy, who have bought into an organization known as "Eternity Life." The donors are provided with $10 million, which they can spend any way they wish in the 30-day period before their bodies are dissected, while their families are permitted to live in Parkland permanently. One of the few non-rich non-donors residing in the community is police sergeant James Quinn (Rick Rossovich), who is allowed to do so because of his past heroics. Unfortunately, the lives of Quinn and his family are placed in jeopardy when the elderly creator of "Eternity Life" desperately needs an organ donor to survive. Fleeing from Parkland, Quinn learns the hard way that the so-called "voluntary" donors are anything but! Originally telecast on March 25, 1999 as part of UPN's "Nightworld" movie series, Killer Deal has been released abroad as Nightworld: Parkland. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Quirky Canadian director Atom Egoyan helmed this, the only fictional entry in a series of six films, titled "Yo-Yo Ma Inspired Bach." The story centers on the world-renowned cellist and is a free-form series of unrelated connections between people. As the story begins, Ma is flying to Toronto via Canadian Airlines. Meanwhile, his limo driver Sammy Angelopoulos patiently waits for him at the Air Canada terminal. Their connection, needless to say, is going to be delayed. Real estate agent Sarah is trying to find someone to buy the home of the aged Dr. Kassovitz. The trouble is, the good doctor refuses to sell unless the buyer promises to keep the furniture and his art collection intact. Sarah has a bad cough and goes to see the attractive Dr. Angela France, an amateur cellist who is attending one of Ma's master classes. Dr. Kassovitz later gives Sarah tickets to Ma's concert while her sweetie Max pays Dr. France a visit himself. Max hates classical music, but Sammy, another of Dr. France's patrons adores it and hails Ma "an ambassador of God." In the midst of all the connection making, Ma can be heard playing Bach's Suite No. 4 for cello. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Shoemaker Joey Paducci (Rod Wilson) is arrested for stealing from a church collection box. It turns out that Paducci has been reduced to poverty by a gang of extortionists, headed by Frank Zuko (Jim Bracchita), childhood classmate and schoolyard tormentor of Detective Raymond Vecchio (David Marciano). In order to free Paducci and others from Zuko's iron grip, Ray must personally stand up to the bullying gang boss. Meanwhile, Fraser (Paul Gross) has quite a time avoided the amorous advance of Ray's sister Francesca (Ramona Milano). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The first episode of the comic book-inspired animated series WildC.A.T.S is "Dark Blade Falling," in which the young, leonine WarBlade is recruited into the super-powered Covert Action Team (C.A.T.) to help them in their ages-old war against the alien Daemonites. In subsequent episodes, we learn more about WarBlade and his fellow do-gooders on a "need to know" basis: for example, "Heart of Steel" finds team leader Spartan confronting a past love; the seeds of tension between female barbarian Zealot and taciturn weapons expert Grifter are first sown in "Cry of the Coda"; Grifter is forced into a showdown with his renegade brother Max in "MVP"; and the inner demons of the towering Maul burst forth in "Soul of a Giant." The saga of TV's WildC.A.T.S. comes to a climax with the two-part finale "End Game"; however the Jim Lee comic book on which the series was based was far from finished when this series finale originally aired in late 1994. ~ All Movie Guide

Pop-singer and actress Madonna's meteoric rise to fame is chronicled in this trashy made-for-television movie of her life. Terumi Matthews stars as the dancer-turned-musician, who came to New York City in search of fame and fortune. Based on the book Madonna: Unauthorized, the docudrama follows her rocky road from the streets of New York to the top of the charts in the 1980s. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide

Based on a true story, this made-for-TV movie follows the scandal that arises when a prominent judge is discovered to be leading a secret life as the husband and father of two different families. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide