Michael York Movies

As co-produced by The Vatican, this deeply reverent documentary takes a long and fond look back at the life and accomplishments of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, née Karol Jozef Wojtyla (1920-2005). Director Pawel Pitera's strategy involves filtering John Paul's papacy through the eyes of Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, Wojtyla's right hand man and one of his closest friends. Michael York narrates; the title translates, literally, as "Birth Certificate." ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

In this two-part cable miniseries based on a novel by Frederick Forsyth (hence the proprietary title), a post-Communist Russia is mired in chaos and confusion. Emerging from the crowd to lead his fellow Russians out of the darkness and into the light is the fabulously popular presidential candidate Igor Komarov (Patrick Bergin). What virtually no one suspects is that Komarov is a ruthlessly dedicated "old liner," who intends to return his homeland to a repressive military dictatorship, using brutal former KGB officer Anotoly Grishin (Annika Peterson) as his "hatchet woman." The only person savvy to what Komarov is up to is former CIA operative Jason Monk (Patrick Swayze), who takes it upon himself to save the new Russia from a horrendous fate -- and, incidentally, to settle a personal score with the beautiful but deadly Grishin. Produced for the Hallmark channel, Frederick Forsyth's Icon debuted on May 30, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An unethical, small-time reporter stumbles onto a secret that just may revolutionize the entire telecommunications industry in this made-for-television action thriller starring Andrew McCarthy, Michael York, and Bo Derek. Having used less-than-legitimate means to acquire the shocking footage from his source, reporter Hank Robinson (McCarthy) must maintain a low profile as he attempts to go public with the controversial story. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Both Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Emily (Kelly Bishop) are on the outs with Richard (Edward Herrmann), who is treating his ex-partner Jason (Christopher Eigeman) abominably. Later, Lorelai doesn't quite know how to react when Luke (Scott Patterson) tells her that his divorce is soon to be final. Elswehere, Lane (Keiko Agena) is convinced that she has been replaced in her mother's affections by a surrogate daughter -- namely, a Korean exchange student (Susane Lee). And Rory (Alexis Bledel) wonders if the unexpectedly high grade she has received from Professor Fleming (Michael York) has anything to do with the relationship between Fleming and Paris (Liza Weil). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Paris (Liza Weil) launches a romance with the much older professor Fleming (Michael York), a fact that may adversely affect her future at the Yale Daily News; and later, the paper's editor Doyle (Danny Strong) goes ballistic without explanation. Back in Stars Hollow, Lorelai receives more information than she cares to deal with when she spends an evening with Jason (Christopher Eigeman) at his apartment. Luke (Scott Patterson) books Lane (Keiko Agena) and her band for a gig. And disaster reigns supreme when the imperious Michel (Yanic Truesdale) babysits for Sookie's son, Davey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

At a Yale-Harvard football tailgater , Emily (Kelly Bishop) is shocked by the revelation that her husband Richard (Edward Herrmann) has maintained a 30-year relationship with his former sweetheart Pennilyn Lott (Linda Gehringer), while Paris (Liza Weil) conducts a fateful interview with eminent professor/author Asher Fleming (Michael York, in his first series appearance). Meanwhile in Stars Hollow, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) finally accepts a dinner invitation from her father's young business partner Jason (Christopher Eigeman); and Rory reacts negatively to Luke's new waiter Brendon (Greg Cipes), whom she remembers for his "gross" behavior in high school. The real-life Yale Whiffenpoofs make a guest appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Mike Myers' phenomenally successful spy spoof gains a few more characters, a slew of celebrity cameos, and even more free-associative laughs in this third installment of the popular franchise. Austin Powers in Goldmember continues the exploits of the swinging-'60s leftover, who, as the film opens, is busy critiquing a big-budget Hollywood production of his life story, replete with a 20-million-dollar star in the lead role and a slew of John Woo-style action scenes. But not far from the soundstage lurks arch nemesis Dr. Evil (Myers), who has opened up a talent agency representing some of the industry's biggest stars -- all the while channeling their profits into a diabolical world-destruction plan with the unfortunate code name Preparation H. Dr. Evil presents a distraction to Austin by kidnapping his similarly swingin' father, Nigel Powers, and transporting him back in time to 1975. Travelling there to save his father -- and in turn win back his dad's sometimes-errant affection -- Austin comes across the alluring superspy Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyonce Knowles). The three of them travel back to the present day, where they join forces to battle Dr. Evil and his posse of nefarious evil-doers, including the trusty clone Mini-Me (Verne Troyer); his snotty son, Scott (Seth Green); the inimitable Fat Bastard (Myers); and the eponymous new addition to the fold: the epidermis-obsessed, precious-metal-fortified Dutchman called Goldmember (Myers). ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

In this combination sequel and prequel to the surprise box-office success The Omega Code, one man becomes the leader of an evil empire that could destroy the world, and his brother must rise against him in the defense of good. Stone Alexander (played as a child by Gavin Fink) is a moody, dark-tempered child whose parents died shortly after he was born. The mother who adopted Stone died several years later while giving birth to another son, David, and Stone is unable to forgive his brother for unwittingly taking his mother from him. Stone goes so far as to attempt to murder David, and their father, prominent businessman Daniel Alexander (David Hedison), responds by shipping Stone off to military school. There, Stone falls under the tutelage of The Guardian (Udo Kier), an instructor at the school who is actually an emissary of Satan. While the enmity between Stone (played as a teenager by Noah Huntley) and David (played by Chad Michael Murray) cools a bit with time, Stone once again finds himself in a bitter rivalry with his brother when they both fall in love with the same woman, Gabriella (played as a teenager by Elisa Scialpi). Stone eventually wins Gabriella's hand and they marry, as Stone (played as an adult by Michael York) rises to power as the ruthless leader of the military arm of the European Union; David (played as an adult by Michael Biehn), meanwhile, becomes a powerful figure in American politics, and is elected to the office of Vice President. What neither David nor Gabriella (played as an adult by Diane Venora) fully understand is that, under the influence of The Guardian, Stone has taken on the role of the Antichrist, and he attempts to curry his brother's favor (and arrange events that will make David president) in a bid for world domination. When it becomes clear to David that the goal of his brother's campaign is to put the world in the power of Satan, David realizes America and its allies must join forces against Stone's troops in a battle in Megiddo, Israel -- predicted in the Book of Revelations as the place of the final battle of good versus evil. Megiddo: Omega Code 2 also features Franco Nero, R. Lee Ermey, and Gil Colon. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This is another volume in the four-part series from The History Channel on the stories of the architects of the American Revolution. The documentary puts real faces on the men Americans call the "founding fathers." With re-enactments and period art, their stories are brought to life, with voices provided by some of Hollywood's leading actors. The story in this episode begins in the year 1775. The colonies are balking at the oppressive measures of the British. Some, like John Hancock, fear the onerous taxes will destroy their wealth. Others, like Thomas Paine, see a chance to express the democratic ideal through oratory. The film gives the viewer the inside story on the motivations of the men who led the fight for freedom. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

This film is an episode in the four-part series from the History Channel on the founding fathers. The documentary takes a distinctly humanistic approach to the subject. Rather than focusing on the events of the revolution, the film explores the personalities of the men behind them. The story takes up with the Continental Congress, and how these very different men -- from womanizer Ben Franklin to rich playboy John Hancock to the patrician Thomas Jefferson -- came to agree on a plan to resist the oppression of the British. These disparate personalities managed to forge the United States Constitution, a document that is admired and emulated around the world today. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

Brendan Behan's famous memoir about his troubled youth formed the basis of this drama. Brendan (Shawn Hatosy) is a 16-year-old boy from Ireland who loathes the British and is eager to do something about it. Brendan sails into Liverpool, but is discovered to be carrying the makings of a bomb; he's soon placed under arrest and thrown into a borstal (British reform school), where he finds himself surrounded by a collection of tough-as-nails English delinquents. While his political beliefs don't change, Brendan learns to become more tolerant of others as he makes friends with a few of his fellow inmates, including Charlie (Danny Dyer), who dreams of sailing away some day, and Scottish Jock (Robin Laing). Brendan also has to deal with the pains of first love when he becomes infatuated with Liz (Eva Birthistle), the daughter of the school's master (Michael York). Borstal Boy marked the film debut of stage director Peter Sheridan, the brother of noted Irish filmmaker Jim Sheridan. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide