Simon Templar (Val Kilmer) is a bold master thief and impersonator who sells his services to the highest bidder. When he is offered $8 million to steal the formula for cold fusion, he doesn’t hesitate. Off to Russia to turn it over to his employer, he is confronted in a Moscow bar by Dr. Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue), the formula inventor who has followed him. He is gobsmacked to discover that she would have given it to him if only he had asked for it. What he doesn’t seem to understand is her view that science should be free for everybody and one shouldn’t hoard such secrets. Too much time spent in the foggy corridors of spies and evil-doers? It seems likely.

Director:  Phillip Noyce; Philip Noyce Writer:  Leslie Charteris; Jonathan Hensleigh; Wesley Strick Cast:
Val Kilmer -  Simon Templar Elisabeth Shue -  Dr. Emma Russell Rade Serbedzija -  Ivan Tretiak Valery Nikolaev -  Ilya Tretiak Henry Goodman -  Dr. Lev Botvin Alun Armstrong -  Inspector Teal Michael Byrne -  Vereshagin, Tretiak’s Aide Evgeny Lazarev -  President Karpov		Irina Apeximova -  Frankie Lev Prigunov -  General Sklarov Charlotte Cornwell -  Inspector Rabineau Emily Mortimer -  Woman on Plane Lucija Serbedzija -  Russian Prostitute Velibor Topic -  Skinhead Tommy Flanagan -  Scarface Yegor Pozenko -  Scratchface

Isn’t it annoying when someone drops one of those quotes in the middle of a conversation and you can’t confirm or deny it, there and then? Archie Knox (Alec Baldwin), a famous book editor, is trying to impress Brett Eisenberg (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a newly minted associate editor by quoting Date’s definition of hell (“Proximity without intimacy”). She tell him Dante never said that and he has to back down after looking it up and not finding it. It is a great definition though.

Director:  Marc Klein Writer:  Marc Klein; Melissa Bank Cast:
Jason Antoon -  Dean Alec Baldwin -  Archie Knox Stephanie Berry -  Nurse Ian Blackman -  Waiter Audra Blaser -  Petal Vanessa Branch -  Faye Faulkner Melissa Brown -  Jazmin Geoffrey Cantor -  Library Curator		Chris Carmack -  Jed Nathan Corddry -  Jason Jill Eikenberry -  Marlene Eisenberg Vincent De Paul -  Mrs. Paddleford’s Companion Daniel Hubbert -  Bartender Sarah Michelle Gellar -  Brett Eisenberg Vince Giantomasi -  Jack Maggie Grace -  Chloe

My home has been burglarized three times. None of the robberies netted the cowards more that ten grand and I was never at home when they happened. But the sense of violation when I returned home was a price almost to high to pay. I didn’t feel safe. I wanted to strike out at someone, something, somewhere. The embrace of revenge passed but the tickling of societal betrayal remains. Sarah Fenn (Kate Mara) hears the tinkling of cutlery and know someone is inside her house. As he attacks, she shotguns him all over the room. Sadly for her, he wasn’t alone. And this intruder decides he want to toy with her. But a little thought might have led him to wear a cup.

Director:  Antoine Fuqua Writer:  Jonathan Lemkin; Stephen Hunter Cast:
Mark Wahlberg -  Bob Lee Swagger Michael Peña -  Nick Memphis Danny Glover -  Colonel Isaac Johnson Kate Mara -  Sarah Fenn Elias Koteas -  Jack Payne Rhona Mitra -  Alourdes Galindo Ned Beatty -  Senator Charles F. Meachum Jonathan Walker -  Louis Dobbler		Justin Louis -  Howard Purnell Tate Donovan -  Russ Turner Rade Serbedzija -  Michael Sandor Alan C. Peterson -  Officer Stanley Timmons Lane Garrison -  Donnie Fenn Zak Santiago -  Senior Agent Michael-Ann Connor -  Junior Agent Shawn Reis -  Underling

For a lad who often has one eye cast over the American border this movie makes for illuminating viewing. Reading and hearing about freedom of speech in the land of the free and the home of the brave where one political slur results in a corporate ban from 270 radio stations, CD crushing, death threats and genuine vitriol causes some degree of confusion. How come so few came to their support?

Director:  Barbara Kopple; Cecilia Peck Cast:
Natalie Maines -  Herself Emily Robison -  Herself Martie Maguire -  Herself Rick Rubin -  Himself George W. Bush -  Himself		Simon Renshaw -  Himself Billy B. -  Himself Adrian Pasdar -  Himself Gareth Maguire -  Himself

I like a movie made on a shoestring when it can provide me with a reasonable plot, able acting, interesting locales, etc. But when the trade-off is continuity, it can be darn hard to stick with it to the end. Here, you’ll find the exteriors don’t match the scenery through the car windows, the chase cars get out of order, the camera speeds up to demonstrate stuff going fast and poor old Jack Foster (Steven Seagal) looks like he doesn’t know how to drive, sitting so close to the wheel. Sigh…

Director:  Michael Keusch Writer:  Steven Collins; Joe Halpin; Steven Seagal Cast:
Steven Seagal -  Jack Foster Vasile Albinet -  Russian Skye Bennett -  Amanda Foster Zoltan Butuc -  Detective Werner Daehn -  Cyrell Garrick Hagon -  Waters Eva Pope -  Taxidriver Imelda Staunton -  Ambassador Cochran