Denise Faye Movies
A comely and multidisciplined actress who thrived on the transcendent experience of overcoming incredible odds, Broadway singer/dancer- turned-film starlet Denise Faye has appeared in such films as Mighty Aphrodite (1995) and Donnie Brasco (1997) since the mid-'90s, though it wasn't until her turn as a local temptress in American Pie 2 that she truly caught the eye of filmgoers. Despite that role being based almost solely on sex appeal, a glimpse beneath the surface offered a look at a true talent who just happened to have beauty on her side. Born in New York City and aspiring to be a Broadway dancer since her earliest days, Faye's father was a doctor and her mother a psychiatric social worker, giving her a grounded look at life well before she opted for a career in showbusiness. Following her parents' divorce when she was 13, Faye's interests in human behavior eventually lead her to pursue a double major in Psychology and Urban Studies at Columbia University. Despite her dedication to her studies, the lure of Broadway proved too tempting and the aspiring actress abandoned her education to be in her first New York show. It wasn't long before the bright lights of Broadway were shining on Faye and all of her fantasies were coming true. Taking the stage opposite such luminaries as Nathan Lane in Guys and Dolls, Faye continued to appear on-stage in Chicago, Swinging on a Star, A Madhouse in Goa, Filumena, and The Winters Tale. After making her film debut in Donnie Brasco the lure of the screen proved as irresistible as the lure of the stage, and frequent film and television roles were soon to follow. Parlaying her stage experience to the screen, Faye would both appear in and take on the role of associate choreographer for the eagerly anticipated feature-film adaptation of the long-running Broadway hit Chicago. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 2003
The Drew Carey Show returned from a six-month hiatus on June 25, 2003 with an episode originally slated to air on March 7 of that year. After several misfire "test dates", Drew decides to seek out a bride at a singles mixer arranged by matchmaker Larry (Ian Gomez). Advised to lose 25 pounds in a hurry, Drew has a tough time staying away from food, and a tougher time squeezing into a "man girdle". Ultimately he goes on a crash diet, with bizarre side effects: Wherever Drew goes, he begins hallucinating about dancing turkeys! This episode was originally telecast back to back with "Suddenly No Summer". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A starry-eyed would-be star discovers just how far the notion that "there's no such thing as bad publicity" can go in this screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Chicago, originally directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. In the mid-'20s, Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) is a small-time chorus dancer married to a well-meaning dunderhead named Amos (John C. Reilly). Roxie is having an affair on the side with Fred Casley (Dominic West), a smooth talker who insists he can make her a star. However, Fred strings Roxie along a bit too far for his own good, and when she realizes that his promises are empty, she becomes enraged and murders Fred in cold blood. Roxie soon finds herself behind bars alongside Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a sexy vaudeville star who used to perform with her sister until Velma discovered that her sister had been sleeping with her husband. Velma shot them both dead, and, after scheming prison matron "Mama" Morton hooks Velma up with hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), Velma becomes the new Queen of the scandal sheets. Roxie is just shrewd enough to realize that her poor fortune could also bring her fame, so she convinces Amos to also hire Flynn. Soon Flynn is splashing Roxie's story -- or, more accurately, a highly melodramatic revision of Roxie's story -- all over the gutter press, and Roxy and Velma are soon battling neck-to-neck over who can win greater fame through the headlines. A project that had been moving from studio to studio since the musical opened on Broadway in 1973, Chicago also features guest appearances by Lucy Liu and Christine Baranski. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger, (more)
The horny teen heroes of American Pie (1999) return for further raunchy antics in this comedy sequel written by the first film's creator, Adam Herz. Returning home following their freshman year of college, old friends Jim (Jason Biggs), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Oz (Chris Klein), Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), and Stifler (Seann William Scott) rent a summer house on Lake Michigan where they hope to score romantically. However, complications ensue due to Jim's relative lack of experience, requiring an interlude with a fellow student and a visit to his old friend Michelle (Alyson Hanigan), who's now a band camp counselor, all in preparation for the return of Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth). In the meantime, Oz is separated from Heather (Mena Suvari) by a trip abroad, Finch has another encounter with Stifler's mom (Jennifer Coolidge), and Jim's dad (Eugene Levy) is as clueless as ever about his son's love life. Director J.B. Rogers served as first assistant director on the first film and made his directorial debut with Say It Isn't So (2001). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, (more)
- 2000
Though not the first TV dramatization of the lives and careers of the popular 1960s singing group the Beach Boys, this two-part miniseries was the first that did not concentrate exclusively on Brian Wilson, arguably the most brilliant and troubled member of the quintet. Instead, the production details the triumph and heartbreaks of all five Beach Boys: Brian (here played by Frederick Weller), his brothers Carl and Dennis Wilson, and non-related members Mike Love and Al Jardine. Played by Kevin Dunn, the Wilson brothers' father Murray Wilson is cast as a complete monster, shown to be both verbally and physically abusive to his grown sons, as well as a money-grubbing dictator while managing The Beach Boys during their most prolific period. The miniseries also delves into the darker side of the singers themselves, especially when Dennis Wilson (played by Nick Stabile) begins carousing with a would-be tunesmith named Charles Manson (Erik Passoja). Producer John Stamos had originally wanted to appear in the production as Dennis (who died in a surfing mishap in 1983), but the ABC network decided that Stamos was too old for the part. Many (including, reportedly, Brian Wilson himself) complained loudly about the gross liberties taken with actual events in this picture. The Beach Boys: An American Family was originally telecast on February 27 and 28, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frederick Weller, Nick Stabile, (more)
- 1996
A romantic comedy with a few surreal/absurdist twists, the story centers on recent medical school drop-out David who is first seen aimlessly traipsing about Manhattan musing about the rest of his life when he runs into a strange woman who introduces herself as Nancy and asks if he would interested in spending the next couple of years helping her to produce and direct a small film. Another strange woman then appears and makes an equally odd request as does another and another. David chooses to work with Nancy and so goes to her place to begin writing the script. Suddenly, her strange Uncle Andre shows up in a panic. It seems he somehow acquired an enormous herd of cattle and must quickly get rid of them. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Set behind-the-scenes on the Great White Way, this drama is an attempt to revive the dance film as it tells of how a womanizing, arrogant dancer gets his just desserts and learns the hard way to treat his partners with more respect. Nick has been a hoofer for many years and subconsciously knows the curtain is slowly closing on his career. Still he refuses to bow and exit gracefully. Meanwhile, at home, his lover Amy, a dancer turned physical therapist, is pressuring him to marry her, but Nick is afraid to commit and continues to see other women on the side. Thus the stage is set for his downfall and ultimately, his redemption. The story may be a chestnut, but the dance scenes are fine. They were choreographed by famed Broadway dance director Donald Byrd. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rich Negron, Kristin Moreau, (more)
