James Brolin
- 2009
David O. Russell (I Heart Huckabees) directs this politically minded romantic comedy starring Jessica Biel as a small-town waitress who heads to Washington, D.C., to lobby for health care after getting a nail shot in her head. Jake Gyllenhaal co-stars as a dimwitted congressman, with the rest of the cast headed by James Marsden, Catherine Keener, and Tracy Morgan. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel, (more)
- 2008
- PG13
- AddLast Chance Harveyto Queue
Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson star in writer/director Joel Hopkins' gentle romantic drama Last Chance Harvey. Hoffman plays a man at the end of his rope, for whom nothing is seemingly going right. While in London for his daughter's wedding, he meets Thompson, and strikes up an unlikely relationship with her. This film marks the second collaboration between its two lead actors (following the 2006 Stranger Than Fiction). ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, (more)
- 2007
Director/screenwriter Stewart Raffill interweaves the modern world tales of ancient mystical cults by detailing the mysterious relationship between a wealthy film producer and the hypnotically beautiful siren who seems to drift between his dreams and his waking consciousness. Startled to find an ethereal beauty pushed onto the shore of his vast beach estate by a friendly dolphin, film producer Michael Pace brings the girl to safety before phoning the local doctor and police. Later, after all involved determine that the unidentified woman is in good health, she awakens without any knowledge of either her past or identity. That night, after Michael and his strange visitor engage in a rapturous night of sensual bliss, the enamored producer invites the girl to join him for brunch on his friend's yacht. The heated relationship between the passionate pair quickly takes an unexpected turn, however, when Michael's wife shows up at the brunch and the producer is forced to leave the girl in the care of his salacious friend Harry Sugar. Upon awakening the following morning, it appears to Michael as if the events of the previous day had been nothing but a vivid dream. Though he begins to suspect that his encounter with the girl was all a figment of his imagination, Michael is troubled to learn that Harry's yacht has been discovered drifting far into the ocean waters - it's missing captain nowhere to be found. When Michael discovers a video of Harry making out with the woman on the boat, a quick investigation reveals that there has recently been a series of unexplained disappearances involving beautiful women. A film producer who is constantly on the lookout for inspiration, Michael is subsequently inspired to turn his bizarre, seemingly supernatural experience into a movie. As the auditions get underway, an actress who is the spitting image of the disappearing beauty tries out for the role and Michael quickly finds the film reaching deep into his family past, and far into an unknown future. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Brolin, Antonio Sabato, Jr., (more)
An emerging journalist (Jesse Eisenberg), an experienced cameraman (Terrence Howard), and a discredited reporter (Richard Gere) find their bold plan to capture Bosnia's top war criminal quickly spiraling out of control when a UN representative mistakes them for a CIA hit squad in a light-hearted thriller inspired by Scott Anderson's popular Esquire article. The Weinstein Company provides stateside distribution for a film written and directed by Richard Shepard (The Matador). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, (more)
When a reformed grifter currently running a prosperous alibi service for adulterous husbands inadvertently becomes an accessory to murder, he is forced to execute one last, well-timed con as a means of clearing his name in this lightning fast caper comedy starring Steve Coogan, Rebecca Romijin, Selma Blair, and Sam Elliot. Ray (Coogan) is a smooth operator with a special knack for helping his fellow man dodge the proverbial bullet. When a married man simply can't resist the urge to have a bit of fun on the side, Ray is the man they call to ensure that word of their infidelity never gets back to their unsuspecting wives. When the spoiled son of a high-profile client accidentally kills his clandestine lover on the eve of his wedding, Ray is shocked to discover that he has been implicated in the crime. With a small-town cop targeting him on one side and a mysterious assassin known as "The Mormon" locking him into his sights from the other, desperate Ray must now enlist the aid of his beautiful new recruit Lola (Romijin) in carrying out one last con designed to both clear his name, and save his life. The debut feature from co-directors Matt Checkowski and Kurt Mattilda, Lies and Alibis also features performances by James Brolin, Henry Rollins, James Marsden, Debi Mazar, Jerry O'Connell, and John Leguizamo. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steve Coogan, Rebecca Romijn, (more)
- 2005
Although the death of the wife of millionaire Las Vegas casino owner Daniel Thorn (James Brolin) has been ruled accidental by the local authorities, Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), who's in Vegas to attend a bachelor party, suspects foul play--and accordingly, calls Monk (Tony Shalhoub) onto the scene. Monk agrees that Mrs. Thorn's demise was no accident, but is stymied by a contradictory clue: How could the victim have been heard screaming for her life if she died of strangulation? And elsewhere in Sin City, Stottlemeyer's assistant Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) is trying his luck at the blackjack table--but the luck is all bad until Monk shows up and pulls a "Rain Man" with his photographic memory! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2005
- AddInternational Bible Society: Acts, Part 1 [to QueueAddInternational Bible Society: Acts, Part 1 [to top of Queue
The International Bible Society and Pathway Media team to bring viewers the very best of the Bible in the most historically accurate manner possible with this film shot on location in Morocco, Tunisia, and South Africa and designed to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. A film that offers both entertainment value and spiritual nourishment, Acts offers a verbatim translation of one of the Bible's most compelling tales and stars James Brolin as Peter, Dean Jones as Luke, and Jennifer O'Neill as Lydia. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dean Jones, Henry O. Arnold, (more)
- 2005
Although the made-for-cable drama Widow on the Hill was based on a true story, the film bears a strong resemblance to the 1947 Joan Crawford theatrical feature Possessed. Natasha Henstridge stars as Linda Dupree, an ambitious hospice nurse who marries Hank Cavanaugh (James Brolin), the very wealthy widower of one of Linda's former patients. Hank enrages his grown daughters by quickly installing Linda in the family's luxurious Virginia mansion, and even more so when he gives his new wife the most precious possessions of his former spouse. Not long afterward, Hank himself falls seriously ill and dies, leaving Linda one of the richest women in Virginia -- and also arousing suspicions that she not only knocked off Hank, but his first wife as well! More questions than answers are offered in this heavy-breathing melodrama, which made its Lifetime network debut on January 24, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Natasha Henstridge, James Brolin, (more)
A series of devastating storms are leveling major cities across the globe, and it's up to discredited scientist Faith Clavell (Shannon Doherty), dedicated storm chaser Tommy Tornado (Randy Quaid), and the FEMA head Judith Carr (Gina Gerson) to journey into the eye of the storm and find out just why mother nature has turned so violently on mankind in the shocking sequel to 2004's weather-gone-wild thriller Category 6: Day of Destruction. An unprecedented Category Six storm has leveled the Eiffel Tower and reduced the Great Pyramids to rubble, and as the pitch black funnel clouds lay waste to anything and everything in their path, three dedicated heroes attempt to discover whether the malevolent weather is the cause of global warming, or something far more sinister. When a vengeful gang of terrorists threaten to use the storms to their advantage by staging a large scale attack the likes of which the world has never seen, it seems as if it very well may be the end of the world. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gina Gershon, Cameron Daddo, (more)
After being pulled from CBS amid a flurry of controversy, The Reagans was finally aired on Showtime and went on to earn Golden Globe nominations for its stars, James Brolin and Judy Davis. Directed by Robert Allan Ackerman (Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows) and based on a book by Carl Sferrazza Anthony, the film offers an intimate and some may say scathing look at the family behind one of the 20th century's most hotly debated presidencies. Also starring John Stamos and Zeljko Ivanek, the made-for-television biography is unrated. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Judy Davis, James Brolin, (more)
Dana Carvey ventures into the world of PG-rated, family-oriented entertainment as star and co-writer of this light adventure comedy, which requires the actor to assume more than three dozen different identities. Carvey's primary role in Master of Disguise, however, is that of Pistachio Disguisey, an ordinary waiter with a hidden, mostly untapped talent for transforming himself into any persona he wishes. When his kindly parents, Mama (Edie McClurg) and Frabbrizio (James Brolin), are kidnapped by the evil thief Devlin (Brent Spiner), the usually meek Pistachio is forced to rescue them. Enlisting the help of his grandfather (Harold Gould), Pistachio learns that he is one of a long line of family members to have the power of "Energico," a mystical means of changing one's identity to suit any given situation, and Pistachio learns to use these powers to their fullest to defeat Devlin and win back his folks. Carvey's original idea for Master of Disguise was helped to the screen by executive producer Adam Sandler, a buddy of his from their time on NBC's Saturday Night Live. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dana Carvey, Jennifer Esposito, (more)
A gifted forger and confidence man attempts to stay one step ahead of the lawman determined to bring him to justice in this comedy-drama from Steven Spielberg, based on a true story. Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a 16-year-old high school student who finds himself emotionally cut adrift when his mother, Paula (Nathalie Baye), leaves his father, Frank Abagnale Sr. (Christopher Walken), after Frank Sr. falls into arrears with the Internal Revenue Service. One day at school, Frank Jr. attempts to pass himself off as a substitute teacher, and easily makes the subterfuge work. His small-scale success gives Frank some ideas, and he soon discovers bigger and more profitable ways of hoaxing others, passing himself off as an airline pilot, a doctor, and an attorney. Along the way, Frank learns how to become a master forger, and uses his talent and charm to pass over 2.5 million dollars in phony checks. Frank's increasingly audacious work soon attracts the attention of Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), an FBI agent who is determined to put Frank behind bars. Frank seems to enjoy being pursued by Carl, and even goes so far as to call Carl on the phone to chat every once in a while. While posing as a doctor, Frank falls in love with Brenda Strong (Amy Adams), a sweet girl working as a candy striper. When Frank asks Brenda to marry him, he decides to assume a new identity to impress her father, Roger (Martin Sheen) -- who happens to be the District Attorney of New Orleans, LA. Catch Me If You Can was based on the autobiography of the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr., who has a cameo in the film and today works on the side of the law as a top consultant on preventing forgery and designing secure checking systems. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, (more)
A man trying to save his relationship with the woman he loves finds himself sinking into a quicksand of small lies and half-truths in this comedy. Paul (Jason Lee) is a regular guy who is engaged to marry Karen (Selma Blair); while Paul loves Karen, he's more than a bit nervous around her family, even though her father (James Brolin) has already given him a job in the family business. Shortly before the wedding, Paul's friends throw him a bachelor party, complete with a boatload of liquor and a squadron of grass-skirt-clad tiki dancers. Paul strikes up a conversation with one of the dancers, the cheerful if inept Becky (Julia Stiles), and the next morning, he wakes up bleary-eyed with a massive hangover -- and Becky in bed next to him. Paul soon receives a phone call from Karen saying she's stopping by for a visit, and Paul scrambles to get Becky out of his apartment. Paul attempts to explain some incriminating evidence with a few white lies, but a messy situation gets messier when Paul runs into Becky at a pre-wedding family get-together...and discovers she's Karen's cousin. A Guy Thing also features Shawn Hatosy, Lochlyn Munro, and Julie Hagerty. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julia Stiles, Jason Lee, (more)
- 2000
Set in Arizona (but filmed in Alberta), the made-for-TV thriller Children of Fortune stars James Brolin as Navy detective Dave Passenger. Assigned to investigate the murder of a sailor's girlfriend, Dave follows the trail of evidence to a small Arizona community where polygamy is still being practiced. Along for the ride is Passenger's estranged 15-year-old daughter Erica (Amanda Fuller), who has been invited to participate in the investigation by Dave in the hope that he can mend a few family fences while tracking down the culprit. Virginia Madsen appears in the role of the secretive Ingrid Bast, wife of the local sheriff (Michael Moriarty). Children of Fortune made its CBS broadcast debut on November 1, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Described by director Steven Soderbergh as "Nashville meets The French Connection," this multi-character drama explores the effects of international drug trafficking on all fronts: from their source, to the U.S. border, to the federal government, to the private lives of users. Based upon a miniseries originally aired on Britain's Channel 4, Traffic divides its time among three main storylines and almost a dozen locales. The first and primary plot thread, set in Ohio and Washington, D.C., concerns freshly-appointed drug czar Robert Wakefield (Michael Douglas), whose enthusiasm for his new prestige position is quickly offset when he realizes his 16-year-old daughter Caroline (Erika Christensen) is graduating from recreational drug use to habitual abuse -- a secret that his wife, Barbara (Amy Irving), has kept from him. South of the border, Mexican cop Javier Rodriguez (Benicio Del Toro) attempts to wage his own war on drugs, heading off a cocaine shipment in the middle of the desert with his less-than-virtuous partner Manolo Sanchez (Jacob Vargas). Surrounded by corruption, Javier approaches the drug war with an attitude of patience and compromise, which opens him up to investigation from General Arturo Salazar (Tomas Milian), the country's dubious drug-enforcement liaison to the U.S. Meanwhile, San Diego drug kingpin Carlos Alaya (Steven Bauer) is caught in a sting operation spearheaded by DEA agents Montel Gordon (Don Cheadle) and Ray Castro (Luis Guzman), leaving behind his very pregnant and very oblivious wife, Helena (Catharine Zeta-Jones). At the behest of Carlos' lawyer and shady confidante, Arnie Metzger (Dennis Quaid), Helena decides to carry on the family business -- with tragic consequences. Adapted by Rules of Engagement scribe Stephen Gaghan, Traffic marked Soderbergh's second major release in 2000 after the critical and box-office success of Erin Brockovich, as well as his second feature as cinematographer (credited under the pseudonym Peter Andrews). A favorite with various guild and critics' awards, Traffic won four Academy Awards in 2001, including statues for Best Supporting Actor (Del Toro) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Gaghan), and surprise wins for Steven Mirrone's editing and Soderbergh's direction. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, (more)
- 1998
This romantic made-for-television drama is based on a novel by Georgia Brockoven and tells the story of a boy who dreams of having a complete set of parents and the two very-different adults who love him enough to grant his wish. The child's mother died when he was an infant, and since then he has been raised by his mother's sister Chris (Jane Seymour). Before he came along, she was a work-obsessed career woman. Seven years after taking custody of the boy, his father Mason (James Brolin), of whom his real mother had never spoken, shows up and sues for custody. The boy likes both of them and in court comes up with an outrageous solution. Rather than having to divide his time between the two, he suggests they marry. On the surface, Chris and Mason are polar opposites, but out of love for the child, they marry and much to their surprise find that their sacrifice has planted the seeds of lasting love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Seymour, James Brolin, (more)
- 1997
Jackie accuses Roseanne of being attracted to Edgar Wellman (James Brolin), Mark (Glenn Quinn) gives D.J. advice about Heather (Heather Matarazzo), and Roseanne enjoys a fantasy of herself as Evita and Edgar as Juan Peron. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1997
- R
Actor James Brolin made his directorial debut in this suspense drama about political unrest in Northern Ireland. Gerry and Liam Fallon (Patrick Foy and Salvator Xuereb) are a pair of brothers who, as children, saw their father killed in a street skirmish and have grown up to become gunmen in the Irish Republican Army. When a highly ranked British dignitary is scheduled to visit Belfast, the IRA plan an attack on his motorcade, but after Liam discovers that the politician's wife and children are in the car with him, he tries to stop the planned execution and ends up shooting Gerry and his fellow volunteers. The bombing of the car, however, goes on as planned, killing the diplomat, his family, and several observers. Gerry is sentenced to life in prison, while Liam escapes capture. Following the bombing, a new round of negotiations and an IRA cease fire promises to bring peace to Northern Ireland, but Liam is uninterested in any sort of compromise with British authorities. He organizes a splinter faction of IRA volunteers to step up terrorist actions until Ireland is free. John Hall (Brolin), a former CIA agent from America, lost a sister in the bombing, and wants to help bring Liam to justice. Joining forces with Hall is Gerry, who wants nothing more than to stop his brother's reign of terror and settle down with his girlfriend Mary (Jennie Garth). Hall is able to arrange for Gerry's release in exchange for his help in putting his brother behind bars. James Brolin's son Josh Brolin appears in a supporting role as Pete, one of the IRA terrorists. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennie Garth, James Brolin, (more)
- 1997
Roseanne and Jackie go to a luncheon at the Lanford Country Club, where they meet the son of their old boss: Edgar Wellman Jr. (James Brolin) of the Wellman Plastics factory. It appears that the factory is in need of financial help and Roseanne's money could save the factory. Part one of a two-part episode. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Three makes for a dangerous crowd in this darkly comic crime story. Convicted murderer Lewis (Salvator Xuereb) breaks out of prison with Clark (Dan Gunther), who is doing time for computer fraud. The escapees are heading to New Mexico in search of a secret map to a gold mine that was hidden by a prisoner who recently met with a fatal accident. Clark, however, doesn't like Lewis, and Lewis only has Clark around because he's functionally illiterate and needs help reading maps. Meanwhile, George (Rose McGowan), a young woman who never speaks, has hit the highway after lifting the $10,000 that she and her boyfriend Fred (Art LaFleur) were given for a shipment of drugs that they never actually delivered. After Lewis impulsively shoots one person too many, Clark strikes out on his own, and while hitchhiking, he gets picked up by George, who has stolen a car and has a poisonous snake for protection. George learns about Clark's secret gold mine, and eager to get on his good side, she seduces him. While George spells "trouble" so clearly that she should have the word tattooed on her forehead, Clark falls for her like the proverbial ton of bricks; Lewis also finds "romance" of his own with a sleazy woman he meets in a trailer park before meeting up with Clark at the location of the hidden map. Deciding that they work better as a team, Lewis and Clark head out to Mexico in search of the gold, with George tagging along, but what they don't know is that Fred has been following her, convinced that George still has his money. This was Rose McGowan and Salvator Xuereb's second film together, after appearing in Gregg Araki's post-modern road movie The Doom Generation. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rose McGowan, Salvator Xuereb, (more)
- 1997
- R
In this adventure fantasy, a terrifying creature protects a treasure-filled ship. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joanna Pacula, James Brolin, (more)
This United States/Philippine co-production examines how the real-life closing of the U.S. naval base at Subic Bay profoundly effected both the local Filipino community and the Americans who had served there. As the base's operations slowly wind down and naval manpower begins to dwindle, Commander Hamilton (Wolfgang Bodison) relies on three Navy SEALs to help keep the base secure. William Hawk (John Haymes Newton), a longtime soldier nearing the end of a tour of duty, is involved with Lisa Velasquez (Nannette Medved), a representative of the Mayor's office in nearby Olongapo City. Lisa has to deal with the economic crisis that the base's closing will doubtlessly bring to her community, as well as her own personal problems brought on by William's imminent departure and the strained relationship of her mother Anna (Daria Ramirez) and stepfather Ed (James Brolin). Paul Bladon (Alexis Arquette), another SEAL with the Subic Bay base, is the son of a U.S. Senator (Michael York), who will be visiting Subic Bay for the base's closing ceremonies. Sen. Bladon is bringing along Paul's girlfriend Angela (Maureen Flannigan), though Paul has fallen in love with Emma (Alma Concepcion), a former prostitute who now plans to marry Paul. The third SEAL, John Stryzack (Corin Nemec), is furious over what he sees as America's betrayal of its responsibilities in the Philippines; he winds up behind bars after a violent incident, but he plans to escape to assassinate Sen. Bladon, whom he believes is responsible for the closing of the base. Rae Dawn Chong also appears as a U.S. military investigator. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1996
- R
In this violent actioner, a vengeful criminal escapes from prison and heads off to ruin the life of the one responsible for his incarceration. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Brolin, Billy Drago, (more)
- 1996
In this feature-length episode, the world's most wealthy and beautiful pair of amateur detectives go Down Under to buy a wildlife preserve and end up solving a murder mystery. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
While at the Cannes Film Festival, producer Sy Learner (Seymour Cassel) makes a bet that he can turn any nobody into a star. A cabbie from New York named Frank (Francesco Quinn) becomes his test case as Sy tries to get Frank noticed amidst the stars and glitter of Cannes. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Seymour Cassel, Francesco Quinn, (more)
