"KILLER INSTINCT:
FROM THE FILES OF CANDICE DeLONG"Jean Smart ("Frasier,""Designing Women") plays Special Agent Candice DeLong in this LIFETIME Original Movie, in which A also stars as her partner, Agent Bobby Mazariegos. The film, which shot on location in Winnipeg, Canada (standing in for Chicago), and was directed by the excellent Peter Werner (LIFETIME's "We Were the Mulvaneys") is from Ira Pincus Productions in association with von Zerneck/Sertner Films for LIFETIME Television. Robert Sertner, Frank van Zerneck, and Ira Pincus were Executive Producers. It was written by Lynn Mamet. Says A: "Jean is gifted and very game and she did a lovely job in a tough part. There was strong supporting work all over the place, especially the stuff of Robert Joy as a doctor gone bad. A lot of the success here comes down to Peter Werner, who is as smart, even-tempered and resourceful a director as you will find. We got to meet the real Candice, too (she has a cameo). What an interesting life she's living: It's not easy being a stud agent when you're a female in such a way male organization." The film will premiere on LIFETIME Television on October 6th, 9:00-11:00 (ET/PT).
"HOMELAND"
Writer/Director Anthony St. Martin's timely tale of suburban terror as seen through the eyes of Walter Riley (A, dining above left with Annie Cerillo as his next door neighbor Margaret; and holding down the fort, right, with Laurie O'Brien as his wife Susan). Walter's neighbors are urging him to protect himself from the cameras everywhere that are recording his every waking moment, stressing the need to carry weapons and leave the television on at all times in order to keep informed of the latest threats to the common well-being. Walter thinks his neighbors are nuts. Then again.....
"WHAT'S COOKING?"
London filmmaker Gurinder Chadha's ("Bend It Like Beckham") delightful take on the cultural melting pot of Los Angeles, as seen through the trials and tribulations of four families over the same Thanksgiving weekend, opened to wonderful reviews and enthusiastic business in November. In the film, Mr. Martinez plays Daniel, a school teacher colleague of Mercedes Ruehl (as Elizabeth Avila, above). The two have recently become lovers in the wake of Ms. Avila's separation from her wayward husband. Elizabeth invites Daniel to share the holiday feast and meet her family for the first time, unaware that her angry son (Douglas Spain) has invited her husband to attend as well. This story is beautifully woven with three others into a funny, surprising, and poignant examination of the ties that bind (and chafe) in families of every ethnic persuasion. Joan Chen, Alfre Woodard, Kyra Sedgewick and Julianna Margulies star, along with Ms. Ruehl. (We have posted Kevin Thomas' write-up of "What's Cooking?" on the REVIEW PAGE).
"SUPER SOAP WEEKEND"
A appeared last year at Disney World in Orlando, Florida during ABC's Super Soap Weekend, where he joined many of the network's soap players for an extended "meet and greet" session with fans. This event, now in its sixth season, has drawn thousands of the faithful together for memorable encounters with their daytime favorites. The festivities marked the first appearance for our guy, and he told us he had a blast. The image above is from a "Soap Center" special, and was taped during the Saturday Night Street Jam. He sang "Safely to Dawn," a tune he wrote for his sister's recent wedding, and left the stage to a major positive reaction. "It was a lot of fun to do this," he said. "The fans were really stoked, and they let me know."
"ORDINARY SINNER"
A recently visited picturesque Poultney, Vermont to perform the role of "Father Ed" in the feature film "Ordinary Sinner." Directed by John Henry Davis from a script by William Mahone, the film examines the coming of age struggles of a young seminary student (Brendan P. Hines, above far right) as he tries to reconcile the idealism of his training with a difficult entry into the real world. "Father Ed" is a cliff-diving Episcopalian priest, with some difficult issues of his own. The film also features Kris Park, Peter Onorati, and Elizabeth Banks. Look for "Sinner" in the fall of this year.
"CRUEL JUSTICE"
Another recent (and controversial - see MAIL) starring role for A was that of Jerry Metcalf in the NBC TV Movie, "Cruel Justice." This movie chronicles the struggles of a family that threatens to break apart in the face of a great trauma. Jerry is a self-made man, owner of a tow-truck business he built from scratch, a man who seems to be sailing along smoothly toward prosperity and peace. When his daughter (twelve years older than the girl in the photo) is attacked sexually by a young man and the Ohio State Justice System fails to hold him accountable, Jerry tries to take justice into his own hands. Mimi Kuzyk plays Jerry's wife, Elaine, and Nicki Aycox his daughter Amy. Vincent Corazza, Christian Campbell, Stephanie Mills and David Sparrow provide strong support. "Cruel Justice" was written by Ken Seldon and Karen Krenis, produced by Clara George and directed by Gregory Goodell.
A recently played an architectural theorist by the name of "Peter Deutsch" in an episode of "The Hunger," the erotic horror anthology series by Ridley and Tony Scott. This show is not for the faint of heart. Deutsch is seduced by a woman who may or may not be "human," and shamed into coming down out of the ivory tower of his brilliant "theories" and actually "building" something. Bad events follow. Regarding the hair? "It was more of a strawberry blonde than this picture shows," he says. "I stripped it on Halloween because I had to fly out to Montreal to go to work on the show the next day, and my kids thought it was cool that they could see me glowing in the dark while we went trick-or-treating." Whatever works, A.
A appeared last season (we love this picture - "Queen es mas macho?" ...eta.) in the "Love and Honor" episode of the CBS Series, "The Magnificent Seven." He played a hired gun by the name of Raphael Cordovan de Martinez. (Nice touch with the name, guys.) The episode and his performance were greeted with a lot of enthusiasm by the show's fan base (a very vocal and effective group) and there were murmurings about the possibility of "Raphael" showing up again beyond his original appearance. CBS, alas, had other plans for the show, and it is no longer on their schedule.
"LAST RITES"
"Last Rites" is the story of a serial killer who survives his own execution in the electric chair of a penitentiary in Florida. The movie, which stars Randy Quaid as the convicted killer, is based on some very chilling facts about such events, especially as they pertain to Florida. The electric chair in the State Penitentiary there was for many years notoriously unreliable, and more than a few of the criminals who encountered it lived to tell the tale. One Florida Governor was quoted as saying he liked it that way, since it served as a further deterrent to crime. In "Last Rites," A plays Randy's attorney, Matt Santos. Also starring are Embeth Davidtz (Schindler's List, Fallen) and Clarence Williams III.
"THE CHEROKEE KID"
"The Cherokee Kid," Sinbad's wonderful take on a legendary cowboy and his search for justice and competence in the old west, has continued to air on HBO and on TBS - the ratings have been high and the critics have been kind! What more can be said? A played Sinbad's sidekick, "Juan Nepomuceno Cortina," and won a lot of surprised congratulations from folks who have never thought of him as being particularly funny. A says, "My standing among my brothers has jumped to a higher plane, since before this they thought I was kind of a dud in the comedy department, but now they know the truth of what a crack-up I can be if only given a chance." A's brother Rick, at last year's family Christmas party (during which A entertained on a non-stop basis) says, "Now that he's a comedian you can't shut him up." HBO has released "The Cherokee Kid" on video, so you can now rent it at your local outlet or buy it for your permanent viewing pleasure. Be forewarned, though - A's father went to buy it recently and when told the price, decided to rent it instead. "Nothing personal, son," was his comment. Prayers are in the air for a sequel.
"Wind River" is set in Wyoming in the 1860's, and is based on the true story of Nicholas Walker, a young man who came to live among the Shoshone Indians after the life he had known fell apart. Blake Heron (Shiloh) plays Walker. Russel Means (Last of the Mohicans) plays the great Shoshone Headman Washakie. Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark) is Walker's mother, and Wes Studi (Mystery Men) is the renowned warrior Pocatello. A plays the Shoshone who discovers Walker, alone and desperate in the wild, and brings him to live among his people. A's character - Morogonai - mentors young Nick in the ways of the native world, and ends up learning from him as well. The "Battle" shot of Morogonai now presented on our PICS page is the work of J.C. Brady, who did stills for "Wind River." Kenny Burke produced; Tom Shell directed; John Iavarone is Executive Producer for this Mad Dog/Ivy Entertainment/Wolf Creek Partners Production. The film is now available in video and DVD through Amazon.com, and we consider it a must-see for all of A's fans.
