John Dahl Movies
Reserved Montanan John Dahl gravitated toward cinematic stories that bore little resemblance to his peaceful roots and made a name for himself as a superb neo-noir director in the 1990s.Raised in Billings, MT, where his youth included a stint as a Boy Scout with his father as his Scout leader, Dahl studied music at the University of Montana before switching to film at Montana State. Dahl subsequently moved to Los Angeles to attend the American Film Institute. Entering the movie industry however he could, Dahl directed music videos and did storyboard art for Jonathan Demme before he finally got a break when his script P.I.: Private Investigations (1987) was made into a TV movie.
Dahl moved to feature direction with the independent crime movie and his first neo-noir Kill Me Again (1989). Written by Dahl as well, Kill Me Again starred Joanne Whalley-Kilmer as a Mob-scamming femme fatale who cuts a swath through the West, becoming a homage to (and a clever send up of) the 1940s Spider Woman legacy. Dahl hit his creative stride with his next film, Red Rock West (1992). Another dusty Western/noir tale of double-crossing, murder, and adultery, Red Rock West showcased Dahl's eye for atmospheric visuals and sharp sense of humor about the genre. Though Nicolas Cage and Lara Flynn Boyle play the patsy and the lethal seductress to a T, suitably twisted Dennis Hopper particularly stood out as hired killer Lyle From Dallas. Consigned to a cable TV debut by its faithless backers, Red Rock West was rescued by a small San Francisco distributor and it became a breakthrough art house hit for Dahl. Dahl returned to the neo-noir well again with The Last Seduction (1994), this time setting a Double Indemnity-style vamp on the loose in New York City and state. Anchored by Linda Fiorentino's ferociously sexy and funny career performance as the most fatale of femmes, The Last Seduction followed the same route to theatrical success via cable TV, making Fiorentino infamously ineligible for a deserved Oscar nomination.
After suffering a box-office and critical rejection with his science fiction yarn Unforgettable (1996), Dahl returned to the underworld with Rounders (1998), a sleekly shot character study set against New York's private poker clubs and card sharks. Rounders' Mean Streets-esque friendship between law student Matt Damon and self-destructive Edward Norton provided moments of interesting buddy drama (even more interesting than co-star John Malkovich's "Russian" accent) and earned kudos for Norton. Dahl's next foray into noir territory, Joy Ride (2001), however, eschewed in-depth character examination for movie-wise dark highway thrills as two guys and a girl get into deep trouble when the guys play a practical joke on the wrong trucker. Though the film failed to make waves at the box office, critics once again praised Dahl's knack for economical, unironic genre-based filmmaking. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi
- 2012
As directed by Daniel Gordon, this documentary revisits the explosive controversy that erupted at the height of the 24th Olympic Games, which took place in Seoul, South Korea from September through October 1988. Spectators of the original event will recall that two formidable athletes - American Carl Lewis and Canadian Ben Johnson - went head to head in the men's 100-meter dash; at the time, Lewis was still riding on the crest of his celebrity stature as a 1984 L.A. Olympics contender, and many regarded Johnson as the ultimate underdog, rebounding as he was from a pulled hamstring. Johnson won the hearts of Canadians everywhere and became a national hero by edging Lewis out during the event, in a spectacular time of 9.79 seconds. But within merely a few days, the Olympic committee shocked everyone by disqualifying Johnson on the basis of a failed drug y one test. In the immediate wake of this development, he lost his medal to Lewis. In this film, director Gordon opens up a mystery surrounding that changed decision: was Johnson, he asks, unique in using steroids, or merely the fall guy for a broad practice that involved multiple team members at the time, given the fact that six of Johnson's teammates were eventually indicted for the same reason? Gordon climbs inside of the controversy via interviews with Johnson, Lewis, teammates and Olympic insiders; in the process, he uncovers multiple layers of truth in this strange, disturbing situation that still invites discussion and inquiry, decades later. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- 2012
Nelson George's documentary The Announcement recounts the legendary press conference where basketball legend Magic Johnson announced he was HIV positive. The filmmakers follow-through to see how Johnson has lived his triumphant, inspiring life in the two decades since that night. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 2012
This documentary, part of the ESPN 30 for 30 franchise, analyzes why a great number of young professional athletes in every sport end up in serious financial difficulty after their career comes to a close. A number of well-known athletes tell their own personal stories, while lawyers, agents, and union reps detail how the financial systems in place contribute to this disturbing trend. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 2011
Bad luck tends to follow the Chicago Cubs like it's the team's mascot, but even longtime fans had a hard time swallowing what happened on October 4, 2003. The Cubs made it to the National League playoffs, and were leading the Florida Marlins 3 to 0 in the sixth game of the series. The Marlins were up three games, but a win for the Cubs would have tied the series and put them one game away from a pennant victory for the first time in 48 years. However, while left fielder Moises Alou was jumping to catch a foul ball in the eighth inning, a fan in the stands, Steve Bartman, tried to catch it without seeing Alou, and accidentally knocked the ball from his glove. The play threw the game into the Marlins favor, and they gained a second wind, scoring eight runs and walking away with the pennant. Bartman immediately became the most hated man in Chicago and was belittled for costing the Cubs the World Series, even though a close look at the game reveals he was hardly the villain of the piece. Filmmaker Alex Gibney examines the facts and the legend behind Steve Bartman's infamous catch, as well as the nature of sports fans who demand a scapegoat, in the documentary Catching Hell, which also explores a similarly embarrassing moment in the history of Gibney's favorite team, the Boston Red Sox. Produced for the ESPN cable network, Catching Hell received its world premiere at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 2011
In 1976, Renee Richards began competing in amateur tennis tournaments in California, and immediately made a name for herself -- a six foot, two inch tall woman in her early forties who played left handed and with unusual skill, strength and stamina was not going to go unnoticed for long. When people began asking questions about Renee, they made an unexpected discovery -- only a year earlier, Renee had undergone sexual reassignment surgery, after spending her life as Richard Raskind, an amateur tennis champ, surgeon, husband and father. When Renee filed suit to be allowed to play in the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament as a woman, she struck a blow for the rights of transsexuals, but she also put herself and her family into the public eye, with unexpected consequences. Filmmaker Eric Drath explores the life of Renee Richards both on and off the tennis court in the documentary Renee, in which her friends and family discuss the impact of sudden fame on her life, a number of noted players (including Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King) talk about her skills as an athlete, and Renee herself talks about her journey and her difficult relationship with her son. Renee was produced for the ESPN cable television network, and was an official selection at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 2011
This ESPN documentary chronicles the longshot 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner and its troubled jockey, Chris Antley. The horse's Triple Crown bid fell short, with Antley saving its life at the finish of the Belmont Stakes. ~ Roger Leister, Rovi
- 2011
A production of ESPN Films, this sports documentary from director Jonathan Hock profiles Chris Herren, an athlete with a spectacular rise and a tragic fall. A native of Fall River, Massachusetts, Herren performed so remarkably as a high school varsity basketball player that he attained legendary status even before he graduated from 12th grade. His success continued through his undergraduate enrollment at Fresno State, and ultimately enabled him to make the cut for the Boston Celtics, but at about the same time, Herren developed a serious drug addiction that cost him his place in the pros and literally almost killed him. Though he survived, just barely, his story continues to sound a cautionary note to others who may find themselves in similar positions. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- 2011
Chuck Wepner was a journeyman heavyweight boxer who ended up in the ring against some of the most legendary fighters of his time including Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston. In part, his story inspired Sylvester Stallone to write the original Rocky, but this documentary offers an exhaustive look at his remarkable and unconventional career. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 2011
Todd Marinovich was one of the best college-football players in the country, universally believed to be the kind of NFL prospect that comes along once in a generation. His career flamed out quickly. This documentary examines the complicated relationship Todd has with his father, who drove him to work harder and harder at his gridiron skills, and explains what he went through as he saw everything he worked for slip out of his fingers. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 2011
This documentary examines the rivalry between Alabama and Auburn that renews every year in a college football game known to those who take part in it as the Iron Bowl. The directors interview many of the famous figures who have been part of this historic series of games including Cam Newton, Mark Ingram, and Charles Barkley. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 2011
Originally created as part of ESPN's 30 For 30 documentary series, The Fab Five looks back on the University of Michigan men's basketball team that became one of the most popular and galvanizing squads of their time. Freshmen Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson came to campus in the fall of 1991 and were widely considered one of the best recruiting classes the school had ever seen, and the anticipation led to them being dubbed "The Fab Five." The filmmakers sit down for interviews with not only the players themselves (except Webber, who refused to participate), but also with many of their opponents, including members of Duke. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Taye Diggs
- 2011
This documentary profiles former Georgia running back Herschel Walker. The 1982 Heisman Trophy winner overcame teenage bouts with bullying for being overweight and having a severe stutter. ~ Roger Leister, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mario Van Peebles
- 2010
Gangster rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube reveals how his former group N.W.A. forged a unique relationship with the Oakland Raiders football team while exploring how the Raiders' 1982 move to Los Angeles helped usher in a new era for rap and hip hop culture. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 2010
This installment from ESPN Films' 30 for 30 series documents amputee Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope, a 1980 quest to run across Canada to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. NBA star and first-time filmmaker Steve Nash tells the story of Fox, a fellow British Columbia native. ~ Roger Leister, Rovi
- 2010
Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder is chronicled in this installment of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. The documentary also focuses on the rap artist's friendship with Mike Tyson, whose boxing match Shakur attended just hours before he was gunned down. ~ Roger Leister, Rovi
- 2010
Years before he became a star in the NBA, Allen Iverson was a high school athlete in Hampton, Virginia who showed tremendous promise on both the football field and the basketball court. Iverson's talent had attracted the attention of a number of college and pro scouts, and a bright future seemed assured until February 19, 1993, when he and some friends went to a local bowling alley. Iverson and his friends, who were African-American, got into an argument with another group of young men, who were white. Iverson and his friends said the white youths shouted racial epithets at them, while the white students said that Iverson and his pals were harassing them in an arrogant manner. The youngsters got into a brawl, and while a videotape showed that plenty of punches were thrown by both sides, Iverson and two of his friends, Michael Simmons and Samuel Wynn, were the only ones who stood trial for the melee, in which Iverson was accused of striking a woman in the head with a chair. The subsequent trial became a major news story in Hampton, and divided the community along racial lines in a way no event had since the Civil Rights era. Award-winning filmmaker Steve James, who was born and raised in Hampton, examines the incident and its impact on Hampton and Iverson in the documentary No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson. Produced for the ESPN cable network as part of their "30 for 30" documentary series, No Crossover was an official selection at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 2010
This documentary of basketball coach Paul Westhead traces his evolution from NBA champion to his stint as head coach of Loyola Marymount where, gifted with talented players like Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, Westhead's fast-paced style of play earned him national recognition as one of the most innovative coach's in the country. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 2010
This release recounts the infamous scandal behind the Southern Methodist University Mustangs, who in the early '80s were one of the most celebrated teams in the NCAA, under the leadership of the so-called "Pony Excess" backfield of Eric Dickerson and Craig James, but who fell to a low that would last for 20 years when forced to bear the brunt of the NCAA's "death penalty" - banning key players from the team for repeated violations. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
- 2010
During the nineties, the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks faced each other numerous times during the NBA playoffs. These classic showdowns featured a clash between the bruising physicality of the Patrick Ewing and the Knicks against the uncanny shooting ability of Reggie Miller and his teammates. This documentary charts that rivalry, and details how Miller's public arguments with longtime Knicks fan Spike Lee kept stoking the fire between these rivals. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- 2010
BMX star Mat Hoffman's high-flying career is documented in this installment of ESPN Films' 30 for 30 series. Director Jeff Tremaine and co-producers Johnny Knoxville and Spike Jonze showcase Hoffman's love of the sport and relentless pursuit of record-breaking jumps and tricks. ~ Roger Leister, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mat Hoffman
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