Ron Silver Movies
Ron Silver was known for his extraordinary stage presence and high-energy portrayals of a variety of offbeat characters in films and on television. A native New Yorker, Silver studied Chinese at State University of New York at Buffalo and drama at the Herbert Berghof Studio and the Actors Studio. After receiving his bachelor's from S.U.N.Y., Silver earned a master's degree in Chinese history at the College of Chinese Culture in Taiwan and then returned to New York to study at the aforementioned acting studios. 1976 was a big year for Silver who debuted as a comedian in feature films (Tunnelvision), television (The Mac Davis Show), and theater (El Grande de Coca-Cola). He was also a regular cast member between 1976 and 1978 on the sitcom Rhoda, and then appeared in several made-for-television movies before appearing in Semi-Tough (1977). His feature film career picked up in the early '80s, but he did not get his first big break until he starred opposite Anne Bancroft in Sidney Lumet's Garbo Talks (1984). Silver earned critical acclaim in 1989 for starring in Philip Saville's Fellow Traveler as a Hollywood screenwriter forced to flee his family and friends to avoid getting blacklisted during the early '50s. That same year, Silver won a Tony and a Drama Desk Award for starring in David Mamet's Speed-The-Plow and scored a second film coup in Paul Mazursky's adaptation of author Isaac Bashevis Singer's Enemies, A Love Story. In the years to follow,, the busy Silver, who juggled his time between the three entertainment forms, became a respected mid-range star who could be counted on to deliver consistently strong, fine performances. As the '90s progressed, he moved into more lead roles playing everything from psychopaths (Blue Steel [1990]), senators (Time Cop [1994]), sleazy lawyers (in the TV medical drama Chicago Hope [1994- ]), and scientists (The Arrival [1996]). Silver died of esophageal cancer in 2009 at the age of 62. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Much of the group responsible for MTV's The State -- including director/actor David Wain and performers Ken Marino, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Joe Lo Truglio -- reunite for this outrageous, irreverent, and raunchy sketch comedy, which skewers the Ten Commandments. In the framing sequences, comedian Paul Rudd (who collaborated with much of the cast on Wet Hot American Summer and The Baxter) stands on a black stage with giant Biblical tablets projected behind him and promises to deliver ten mini-stories, each loosely based on one of the commandments, from "Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me" through "Thou Shalt Not Covet." For all of the storyteller's efforts, however, he is constantly, comically distracted by interferences, particularly those emanating from intrusions by his multiple girlfriends. The stories are nonetheless told one by one in short-film form, beginning with a sketch in which Stephen (Adam Brody) goes skydiving with his intended, Kelly (Winona Ryder), but forgets to wear his parachute and gets stuck in the mud, waist-deep, which draws gawkers, media, and in time, worshipers. Several of the subsequent stories consist of raunchy, jet-black riffs on sexual perversion, including one about a virginal librarian (Gretchen Mol) entangled in a sultry and messy affair with a Mexican, and another memorable bit about a nutty surgeon who plays a prank by burying a pair of scissors in a patient's stomach and is then sent to prison -- where he experiences brutal sexual abuse at the hands of other men. As an added bonus, the picture packs in a fully animated sequence, narrated by several crack-smokers, entitled "The Lying Rhino." ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Paul Rudd, Famke Janssen, (more)
The treacherous life of mafia turncoat Henry Hill serves as the focus of this documentary from filmmaker Luke Heppner. His criminal career immortalized in director Martin Scorsese's classic 1990 crime drama Goodfellas, Hill is now an ageing alcoholic who has served frequent stints in jail and who can never quite rest easy for fear that retribution will come when he least expects it. His life has been anything but boring, yet now as Hill continues to live the low-key life in North Platte, Nebraska it's obvious that he's the same wiseguy who was immortalized on the big screen by Ray Liotta nearly twenty years ago. But anyone who expects a solid hour of romanticized mob tales will be terribly disappointed with this documentary, because with this film the director is just as interested in the experience of simply documenting Hill's day-to-day existence as he is with telling his compelling life story. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
A wise guy turns his own trial upside down by serving as his own lawyer in this comedy drama based on a true story. In 1987, an extensive investigation into the activities of the Lucchese crime family led to charges being filed against most of the key members of the gang, leading to the prosecution of 20 different men, each represented by their own council. That is, except for Giacomo DiNorscio, aka Jackie Dee (Vin Diesel), a longtime Lucchese family "mechanic" implicated in everything from kidnapping to drug dealing. While Jackie Dee is obviously a common criminal and guilty of all he's charged with, he also has a fierce sense of loyalty to his colleagues, despite the fact his cousin Tony Companga (Raul Esparza) previously tried to kill him out of fear he might talk. Sean Kierney (Linus Roache), the prosecutor tackling the Lucchese Family case, tries repeatedly to persuade Jackie Dee to testify against his partners in exchange for leniency, but he stubbornly refuses. Tired of the way things are being handled, Jackie Dee informs family attorney Ben Klandis (Peter Dinklage) that he intends to represent himself in court; this seemingly suicidal move turns into an unexpected success as Jackie Dee's sense of humor and streetwise charm has a remarkable impact on the judge and jury. Find Me Guilty also stars Ron Silver, Alex Rocco, and Annabella Sciorra. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vin Diesel, Peter Dinklage, (more)
- 2005
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As the sixtieth session of the United Nations General Assembly gets underway in with a three day summit focusing on institutional reform, filmmakers use the rare opportunity to address the many failings of the long-running organization and question it's validity in a world that is radically different than it was when the UN was originally founded in 1945. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 2005
- R
As three bomb-toting Muslim fundamentalists hold the citizens of a London restaurant hostage, the revelation that one of the terrorists has been researching a little-known Russian explosive known as "Red Mercury" promos authorities to handle the situation with extreme caution in director Roy Battersby's topical thriller. An informer has revealed that a trio of terrorists has been lying in hiding in the English capitol, and when chases breaks out the three bombers storm into a popular Greek restaurant and hold the frightened diners hostage. The perpetrators are Mushtaq (Alex Caan), Asif (Navin Chowdhry), and Shahid (San Shella). As the Gold Commander (Pete Postlethwaite) and counterterrorism expert Sofia Warburton (Juliet Stevenson) do their best to assess the situation from the outside, restaurant owner Penelope (Stockard Channing) and a pair of quick-thinking customers that includes American lawyer Sidney Lowe (Ron Silver) and author Neil Ashton (David Bradley) do their best to keep the heads cool on the inside. Later, when the authorities discover that the three terrorists are well-educated British citizens who were likely recruited by fundamentalists during their studies, Sofia finds that they have also come into possession with an extremely volatile Russian-produced explosive. With time quickly running as tempers begin to flare, the desperate counterterrorism expert contacts her ex-husband Lindsay (Nigel Terry) - a one-time mole whose inside information may prove vital in saving countless lives - in a last ditch attempt to resolve the situation peacefully. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Bradley, Stockard Channing, (more)
- 2003
- PG13
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An adolescent who is sorting out his new sexual feelings is less than comforted by the example of his immediate family in this coming-of-age comedy drama. Jack (Anton Yelchin) is a boy in his early teens who is rolling headlong into puberty and trying to make sense of his feelings about girls, which are making themselves known at a less than opportune moment. Jack's parents, Paul (Ron Silver) and Anne (Stockard Channing), have just announced they're getting a divorce, which coincides with Paul's decision to come out as a gay man and move in with his boyfriend. Jack is certain his family has gone crazy, and tries to find suitable role models in his friends' families, although he soon discovers they have more than their share of their own troubles to deal with. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 2003
Romeo and Juliet was updated to contemporary Beverly Hills in this typically stylish Jerry Bruckheimer TV series. This time around, Juliet was Jewel Goldman (Olivia Wilde), the stunning teenage daughter of Larry Goldman (Ron Silver), a successful producer of steamy adult films. As for Romeo, he was Adam Roane (D.J. Cotrona), the hot-hunk son of district attorney Michael Roame (Kevin Anderson), a staunch anti-porn crusader. Yes, the elder Goldman and Roame were longtime enemies. Yes, both men forbade their children from seeing one another. And yes, Jewel and Adam managed to sneak in a few torrid balcony scenes -- though not always on the balcony. Created by Jim Leonard, Skin made its FOX network bow on October 20, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ron Silver, Kevin Anderson, (more)
Young and troubled teen Mary (Liane Balaban) is obsessed with horror movies -- aren't we all! -- and refuses to stop watching them even though she has hideously bloody nightmares and sleepwalks into traffic. Her school psychiatrist (Ron Silver) is powerless to keep her from seeing a new hit movie called "The Wisher," in which a pale-faced, razor-fingered, cloaked demon obeys wishes in the most terrible manner. What do you know, once Mary sees the movie, her wishes start coming true, which is bad news for her dad and friends. Mary suspects someone, perhaps that cute boy who has a crush on her (Drew Lachey, singer for boy band 98 Degrees), is committing these awful crimes -- or could it be a supernatural being after all? ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi
- 2002
- R
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Originally presented in two parts by the CBS network, Master Spy is the true story of Robert Hanssen, a disgruntled FBI agent who, for 20 years, systematically sold out his country to the former Soviet Union. The film depicts Hanssen (played by William Hurt) as hyper-intelligent and hyper-sensitive, frustrated by what he perceives to be the mediocrity of his fellow federal agents (at one point in the story, Hanssen's boss advises him to "dumb down" if he hopes to survive in the agency). Hanssen's self-imposed lofty standards and values are somewhat at odds with his rather kinky sexual preferences, and with his habit of spending far more than he earns. In danger of losing everything he owns due to improvident financial transactions, Hanssen proves to be ripe for plucking by the Soviet KGB, which offers him wealth beyond his wildest dreams if he will simply transfer top secret information to the Russians. Throughout his career of duplicity and treachery, Hanssen enjoys the unswerving loyalty of his wife, Bonnie (Mary-Louise Parker), who remains blissfully ignorant of his double-agent activities until the day of his arrest. Scripted by the inimitable Norman Mailer, Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story aired over two consecutive weekends, on November 10 and 17, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- William Hurt, Mary-Louise Parker, (more)
Notoriously obsessive director Michael Mann and star Will Smith devoted nearly two years and over 100 million dollars from the coffers of Columbia Pictures and other financiers to creating this biography of boxing great Muhammad Ali, which focuses on the ten-year period of 1964-1974. In that time, the brash, motor-mouthed athlete quickly dominates his sport, meets and marries his first wife (Jada Pinkett-Smith), converts to Islam (changing his name from Cassius Clay), and defies the United States government by refusing to submit to military conscription for duty in Vietnam. His world heavyweight champion title thus stripped from him entirely for political reasons, the champ sets about to win back his crown, culminating in a legendary unification bout against George Foreman (Charles Shufford) in Zaire, dubbed the "Rumble in the Jungle." In his travels, Ali becomes a symbol of power to disenfranchised African-Americans everywhere and meets such luminaries as Malcolm X (Mario Van Peebles), Martin Luther King Jr. (LeVar Burton) and Maya Angelou (Martha Edgerton). Ali features an all-star supporting cast that includes Jon Voight, Giancarlo Esposito, Jamie Foxx, Nona Gaye, Michael Michele, Joe Morton, Paul Rodriguez, Ron Silver, Mykelti Williamson, and Jeffrey Wright. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, (more)
The romance, intrigue, and industry politics of the world's biggest film festival -- which is also the world's biggest film marketplace -- provides the backdrop for this typically understated comedy-drama from director Henry Jaglom. Alice Palmer (Greta Scacchi) is a well-known American actress who has written a screenplay that she'd like to direct, and she arrives a the Cannes Film Festival to look for investors. Alice has her eyes on veteran star Millie Marquand (Anouk Aimee) to play the lead, but while Millie loves the script, she's been offered a better-paying supporting role in an upcoming Tom Hanks project. Meanwhile, Millie's former husband Viktor Kovner (Maximilian Schell) is a director fallen on hard times who is trying to scare up financing for his own film. Producer Rick Yorkin (Ron Silver) wouldn't mind leaving Millie in the lurch if it meant landing Alice for his next project. Kaz (Zack Norman) is a less-than-scrupulous producer hoping to put some sort of package deal together. And Blue (Jenny Gabrielle) is a young woman whose shoestring budget independent film has become an unexpected smash hit. Shot in the midst of the 1999 Cannes Film Festival, Festival In Cannes features cameos from such stars as Jeff Goldblum, Holly Hunter, Faye Dunnaway, and William Shatner. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jenny Gabrielle, Greta Scacchi, (more)
This 2001 TV docudrama relates the story of tennis' 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" between Wimbledon champions Billie Jean King (Holly Hunter) and Bobby Riggs (Ron Silver), an event considered by many to be an early victory for feminism. Riggs, 20 years past his prime, lives to wager on anything and everything. Seeing the rise of feminism, he decides he can make some money by challenging top female players, 30 years his junior, into exhibition matches. His first choice for an opponent is Billie Jean King, but she turns him down because she is too busy organizing the members of the female tennis tour into a de facto union, and winning tennis tournaments. After Bobby defeats the number one female tennis player in the world, Margaret Court, King realizes she needs to beat him. Following months of hype in which Bobby's bluster is matched at every point by Billie's confidence, the two face off in the Astrodome before a huge live and television audience. When Billie Beat Bobby was written and directed by Jane Anderson who had previously written The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader Murdering Mom, which also featured Holly Hunter in the title role. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Holly Hunter, Ron Silver, (more)
In this comic fantasy for the family, Doris (Kathy Baker), a woman who runs a secondhand store, buys a ring that turns out to have magical powers. Before she knows what's happened, the ring has turned her into one of her favorite television stars, and the talisman allows her to transform a pair of rats into good-looking boys for a couple of teenage girls with whom she's become friendly. But no one knows just how long the spell will remain in effect -- least of all Doris. Ratz also stars Caroline Elliott and Vanessa Lengies. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vanessa Lengies, Caroline Elliott, (more)
Vic Cooper (Stephen Baldwin) is an undercover agent with U.S. Customs who is dedicated to his job, but has a bad habit of getting too close to his adversaries for his own good. Back on the force after a suspension, Cooper is assigned to infiltrate a group of nomadic sky-diving enthusiasts led by Red Line (Tom Berenger), who are believed to be smuggling drugs to support their lifestyle. Red Line and the other members of his group call themselves "cut aways" -- people who have cut their ties with conventional society to feed their appetite for the adrenaline rush of sky-diving full time. Cooper impresses Red Line and his second-in-command, Turbo (Dennis Rodman), with his sky-diving skills, and he's soon invited to join the group. But true to form, as Cooper develops a closer friendship with Red Line, he finds it harder to report his wrongdoings, and Cooper doesn't do himself any more favors when he becomes romantically involved with Star (Maxine Bahns), a beautiful female diver. Cutaway also features Casper Van Dien as Red Line's nemesis Delmira. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Berenger, Stephen Baldwin, (more)
The real-life drama of the 1994 O.J. Simpson trial is given quasi-fictional treatment in this two-part CBS miniseries, which aired in November 2000. Much of the miniseries' plot focuses on the battle of egos between defense lawyers Johnnie Cochran (Ving Rhames) and Robert Shapiro (Ron Silver) and how the personalities of these men in part shaped the outcome of the trial. Also included in the cast are Bruno Kirby and Christopher Plummer. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ving Rhames, Ron Silver, (more)
- 2000
- R
A man with an eye for beauty finds himself confronting the face of death in this thriller. Gary Whitford (Ron Silver) is a successful photographer who shoots centerfolds for an upscale men's magazine. Gary's wife died under mysterious circumstances, and he hasn't been able to get her out of his mind. One night, Gary discovers a woman named Elaine near the boathouse at his beachfront home; she's confused and looks badly beaten, and Elaine tells Gary she's been roughed up by her abusive boyfriend. Gary takes her in and gives her a place to stay while she heals. Noticing Elaine's natural beauty, Gary proposes taking some pictures of her, and before long he's transformed Elaine into a glamour girl with an international following. But after Elaine turns up dead, Gary begins to wonder if something is happening to him -- especially after he becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Exposed also stars former Baywatch star Alexandra Paul. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ron Silver, Alexandra Paul, (more)
Here's something you don't see every day: A romantic comedy about chemotherapy. Kate Nelligan stars as Kathryn McClain, a judge undergoing treatment for cancer. In the midst of this crisis, Kathryn somehow finds time to hold down her job full time, and to renew her love for her long-estranged former husband Tom Ainsworth (Ron Silver). The question eventually boils down to this: Even if Kathryn survives, will her relationship with Tom be as fortunate? Best line: "Don't be so dramatic! You aren't dead yet! Produced for the Lifetime cable channel, Love Is Strange first aired on February 8, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The inner workings of the New York hip-hop scene, and the fascination of white observers with rap music and hip-hop culture, set the stage for this drama written and directed by James Toback. Rich Bower (Power) is a mover and shaker in the world of rap music (he's involved with a number of other licit and illicit business ventures as well), and his apartment is a favored meeting place for musicians, hangers-on, and hipsters who want to seem cool, including a clique of white kids who want to be on the inside of whey they consider the coolest scene of the day. Sam (Brooke Shields), a filmmaker, is making a documentary about Rich and his circle, with the help of her husband Terry (Robert Downey Jr.), a closeted homosexual who doesn't feel at home in this milieu. Dean (Allan Houston) is a talented college basketball player and Rich's friend since childhood who is offered a deal by a bookmaker, Mark (Ben Stiller) to throw a few games for a price. Dean takes the money against his better judgment, and he soon realizes how much of a mistake he made when Mark turns out to be a cop hoping to dig up dirt on Rich. Rich in turn discovers that Dean might be forced to tell what he knows to stay out of jail, and he decides that Dean has to be killed; however, rather than murder his friend himself, Rich asks one of the white kids who hangs out with him, who seems especially eager to prove himself, to do it for him. The kid, however, is actually the son of the District Attorney. Also contributing to Black and White's supporting cast are controversial boxing legend Mike Tyson, musician Bijou Phillips, Wu Tang Clan rapper Raekwon, model Claudia Schiffer, and Donald Trump's former spouse Marla Maples. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Scott Caan, Robert Downey, Jr., (more)
Based on an actual incident at the University of Virginia Medical Center, this made-for-TV drama stars Melissa Gilbert and Rosanna Arquette as Sarah and Linda, two expectant mothers who give birth on the same day in the same hospital. It is not until 18 months after the two women had contentedly gone home with the babies that a DNA test proves the infants were switched at birth thanks to a hospital snafu. Although Sarah and Linda both elect to keep the babies that they've grown to love, they reach an unusual compromise that has profound (and not entirely positive) effects on their respective families and friends -- leading, inevitably, to a heated courtroom battle. Originally telecast by CBS under the title Two Babies: Switched at Birth on November 24, 1999, the film has since been released to video as Mistaken Identity. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Melissa Gilbert, Rosanna Arquette, (more)
- 1999
Tom Berenger stars in this made-for-cable TV political thriller as Kevin Jefferson, a restaurant owner and retired CIA agent who's recruited back into action when a former colleague is captured by North Korean authorities, who are bent on using their valuable prisoner in a blackmail scheme involving international politics and nuclear weapons. Using a mix of old-fashioned infiltration methods and the latest cutting-edge technology, Jefferson and his team of operatives attempt to ascertain what the captive spy knows and save his life. Ron Silver, Alice Krige, and Clancy Brown co-star in this film, the first to receive production assistance from the Central Intelligence Agency, including some scenes filmed at the organization's Langley, VA, headquarters. In the Company of Spies is written and produced by screenwriter Robert Towne and directed by actor Tim Matheson. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Berenger, Ron Silver, (more)
In this adventure, a journalist embarks upon an exciting quest for a priceless diamond that disappeared during WW II. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ron Silver, Joanna Pacula, (more)
Featuring plenty of action and erotic romance, this direct-to-video police drama centers on the relationship that develops between a rookie and his new partner (Gina Gershon), a beautiful, experienced maverick cop, as they embark upon a desperate search for the psycho who, dressed as a police officer, has gone on a terrifying killing spree. The duo arrest several suspects, but each one later turns up dead. When the veteran cop is accused of the crimes, it threatens not only her livelihood but also her newly established personal and professional relationship with her partner. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gina Gershon, Alison Eastwood, (more)
- 1998
Craig M. Saavedra made his feature directorial debut with this romantic comedy-drama. After the death of her sister-in-law, Lilah Bloom (Penelope Ann Miller) began taking care of her brother Mitch (Ron Silver) and his three children. When Mitch meets career woman Debra (Caroline Goodall), Lilah confronts the possibility of life alone, but then she finds romance with musician Jack (Craig Sheffer). Conflicts arise when Mitch and Debra separate, Mitch assumes life will continue as before, but now Lilah has a newfound independence. Shown at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Penelope Ann Miller, Ron Silver, (more)
- 1997
- NR
In this thriller, a wealthy man's wife conspires to take his fortune and his life after she learns of his philandering. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ron Silver, Suzy Amis, (more)
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