The Company
by Mikael Salomon
from Sony Pictures
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Handsomely mounted, epic in scope, and featuring an outstanding cast, TNT's The Company might restore some much-needed luster to the image of the Central Intelligence Agency (then again, perhaps not). Based on Robert Littell's popular historical novel of the same name, the show commingles real and invented characters as it traces the CIA's role in several major events, from the earliest days of the Cold War through the collapse of the Soviet Union, with particular attention given to the division of Berlin into East and West in the 1950s, the anti-Communist uprising in mid-'50s Hungary, and the disastrous Bay of Pigs operation in the early '60s.
The first of the miniseries' three parts introduces us to Yale graduates Jack McAuliffe (Chris O'Donnell), Leo Kritzky (Alessandro Nivola), and Yevgeny Tsipin (Rory Cochrane); the first two are recruited by the CIA, but the Russian-born Tsipin sides with the KGB. The initial focus is on the CIA's efforts to find a Soviet mole who's been interfering with the agency's work and putting many American lives at risk. Working with mentor Harvey "The Sorcerer" Torriti (Alfred Molina), who calls him "Sport" and delights in pointing out that such matters are nothing less than a life-and-death struggle between good and evil and right and wrong, McAuliffe skulks around Berlin, where his principal informant and soon-to-be love interest is a lovely young ballerina (Alexandra Maria Lara) with a few secrets of her own. Meanwhile, back in Washington, the colorfully-named CIA counter-intelligence expert James Jesus Angleton (a real guy portrayed with low-key intensity by Michael Keaton) slowly realizes that the mole in question is one of his old pals. And it doesn't stop there. Turns out there's another double agent (codename "Sasha") working for the Reds; this one's deeply embedded in the CIA, and Angleton, a chain-smoking obsessive whose behavior becomes increasingly cold and peculiar, devotes years (and most of the series' third installment) to outing him. The process by which he does just that, culminating in some fairly excruciating interrogation scenes, provides The Company's best moments--especially because we don't know until the very end whether Angleton has fingered the actual Sasha or not.
Viewers unfamiliar with the CIA's history and methods aren't likely to be very encouraged by what's depicted here--especially in the second part, in which the agency's misadventures in Hungary and Cuba reveal it (as well as the U.S. government overall) to be not merely ineffective but disastrously inept, as well as shockingly callous and hypocritical when it comes to lending material support to the causes it claims to espouse. Still, the series does a good job with many of the elements common to such fare (Robert De Niro's 2006 film The Good Shepherd covers some of the same ground). Codes are written and deciphered. Secrets are kept… and revealed. Shots are fired, and some of them connect. People die, good and bad alike. And even if some of the scenes are a bit overheated and melodramatic, all in all, The Company (which was written by Ken Nolan, directed by Mikael Salomon, and produced by John Calley and Ridley and Tony Scott) is smart and entertaining. And some of it's even true. --Sam Graham
Stills from The Company (click for larger image)
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Beyond The Company at Amazon.com
 Amazon.com DVD editors listmania: The CIA on Film and TV |  The Book |  The Films of Ridley Scott |
Product Description: The TV miniseries event of the year, The Company is an exciting new star-studded thriller from Tony and Ridley Scott. The Company depicts the history of the CIA, from the dawn of the Cold War to the demise of the Soviet Union.
Plot Synopsis: The Company tells the story of Jack McCauliffe (O'Donnell), an idealistic Yale graduate recruited into the CIA by his coach. He's sent to the legendary Berlin Base in Germany to work with a man who becomes his mentor: the eccentric and colorful Harvey Torriti (Molina), codename "The Sorcerer". Jack and The Sorcerer are imprisoned in double lives, fighting an elusive but formidable enemy in an unrelenting and deadly battle within the CIA itself. Together with the counterintelligence chief, James Angleton (Keaton), the three men are hell-bent on finding the moles within their own ranks before every operation they undertake is completely undermined. However, Jack is forever changed as he must witness the cost in human lives.
Over There (13 Episodes)
by Chris Gerolmo
from 20th Century Fox
Over There: Season One is simply a revelation, a new way to look at a drama about a new kind of American war. Told over 13 superb episodes, in which a handful of soldiers go through a great many changes to arrive at their own flawed, beautiful humanity, this series by prolific producer Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue) has nothing to do with the politics or decreasing popularity of the Iraq war. The show is consumed, instead, by the logistics of U.S. troops staying alive from hour to hour against a campaign of masked insurgents, roadside bombs, and clever lures into unforeseen dangers. Many of Over There's most gripping moments are concerned with the fallibility of soldiers trying to decipher the sometimes inscrutable actions of men, women, and children who may or may not be the enemy. It's hard to tell, for example, if the Iraqi man who stepped out of his house to kick a soccer ball with his son is, in fact, grabbing a moment of happiness with his child or trying to deceive the Americans with a false veneer of normalcy. There isn't always a way to be sure of intentions, and the show's major characters are often forced to make split-second judgments fraught with moral ambivalence and potential tragedy.
In the Bochco tradition, individual episodes juggle several storylines that can take an entire season to play out, frequently in unexpected ways. The wounding of a young private named Bo Rider (Josh Henderson) in the series pilot leads to a protracted story of personal valor back home and a showdown with a monstrous father. The embedding of a television journalist with the major characters touches on media spin in the modern age, as well as the phenomenon of hostage-taking in Iraq. The training of more-or-less hapless Iraqi security forces to take over for the Americans does not inspire confidence that the U.S. can get out anytime soon. Issues of infidelity, loneliness, female soldiers in battle, the incompetence of some commanding officers, conflicts between supposed comrades-in-arms, and much else bring a gritty honesty to the show. But it's the striking visuals that take one's breath away: the disorienting perspective from within a truck that's just been shelled, the strange look of a firefight waged almost eyeball-to-eyeball between enemies, with neither side ducking for cover. There's never been an American television show based on a war currently being waged, and Over There certainly makes one realize how much survival in Iraq is an end in itself, far away from ongoing debates about the war's justification. --Tom Keogh
In this ground-breaking new series from Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues) "Over There" takes you to the front lines of battle and explores the effects of war on a U.S. Army unit sent to Iraq on their first tour of duty, as well as the equally powerful effects felt at home by their families and loved ones.
Nightmares & Dreamscapes - From the Stories of Stephen King
by Mikael Salomon
from Warner Home Video
This hair-raising miniseries is comprised of 8 mind-bending stories each featuring an all-star cast and cutting-edge special effects. Each episode is adapted from on of King's short stories and will feature such notable performers as Oscar nominees William H. Macy William Hurt Tom Berenger and other favorites as Kim Delaney Steven Weber Henry Thomas Samantha Manthis Claire Forlani and others. The series will premiere this summer in a 4-week television event on TNT starting July 12 2006.Running Time: 378 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLERS UPC: 012569823686 Manufacturer No: 82368
Filter a Twilight Zone vibe through Stephen King's brain and you get Nightmares & Dreamscapes, an uneven but generally entertaining collection of eight tales that originally (2006) aired on TNT. There is no unifying theme here; although King's short stories provided the source material, there are six directors and seven screenwriters represented, so the episodes offer a variety of looks and styles, with content ranging from monsters to mind games, from pure fantasy to pulp fiction, from genuinely scary to merely unsettling. Still, a certain ineffably "King-ian" sensibility, combining elements of horror, terror, suspense, and whimsy, is always in evidence, as are the popular writer's own preoccupations (with authors who may or not be stand-ins for King himself, rock 'n' roll, and guys who won't ask for directions while their wives complain, inevitably leading them into very nasty situations).
Among the highlights: In "Battleground," a merciless hit man (William Hurt) offs a toy manufacturer and then finds himself attacked in his own apartment by a battalion of indefatigable toy soldiers; directed by Brian Henson, the episode has no dialogue and some terrific effects work. In "Umney's Last Case," William H. Macy is amusing as a crime writer who cruelly toys with his literary alter ego, an arch, fedora-wearing gumshoe (also Macy); it's an acting tour de force and a story that takes some deft and intriguing turns. "The Road Virus Heads North," with Tom Berenger as a horror novelist who finds himself pursued by… well, by a painting (guess you had to be there), is perhaps the scariest of the lot; it's also the best shot, with a cool jazz soundtrack and a nifty ending. Less successful is "Crouch End," set in a sinister part of London where "thin spots" in the earth lead to creepy new dimensions (nice premise, but it's overwritten and fails to sustain its Twilight Zone weirdness), while "You Know They Got a Hell of Band" is only fitfully effective in its depiction of Rock & Roll Heaven, Oregon, a town where Elvis is mayor and the rest of the living dead range from Hendrix and Joplin to Duane Allman and Buddy Holly. The three-disc set's decent if unexceptional special features include "inside looks" at the making of several episodes, actor interviews, and more. --Sam Graham
Hard Rain
by Mikael Salomon
from Paramount
It may not be a disaster movie, per se, but this terminally silly thriller is certainly disastrous, and would be pointless without the novelty of its setting in a flooding Midwestern town during a torrential rainfall. Physically impressive but idiotic in every other respect, the movie pits an armored truck courier (Christian Slater) against a smart leader of thieves (Morgan Freeman) and a corruptible town sheriff (Randy Quaid) who are vying for possession of $3 million in cash. A waterlogged game of cat and mouse, the plot is so contrived that even the most impressive action sequences--such as a jet-ski chase through flooded high-school corridors--are robbed of their already tenuous credibility. Before long you'll be yawning as incompetent accomplices are systematically dispatched by their own stupidity, in the kind of movie where the use of power boats inevitably leads to at least one death by outboard motor. What's impressive here is the physical production itself--the effect of flooding was created by building a huge replica of downtown Huntington, Indiana, in a huge, watertight aircraft hangar in Palmdale, California! --Jeff Shannon
A Far Off Place
by Mikael Salomon
from Walt Disney Video
In this 1993 Disney adventure, Reese Witherspoon and Ethan Embry are two young survivors of an African massacre. She is the daughter of a game warden; he is a sulky teen visiting his dad. When poachers do in the adults, the kids hotfoot it across the Kalahari Desert, aided by Witherspoon's young bushman pal (Sarel Bok). They have to cross about 1,000 miles of forbidding territory, all the while chased by nogoodnik Jack Thompson. The kids face down danger, have a few excessively cute escapades, and learn about their capacity for survival--and goodness. The highlights of the film are the lush cinematography and exotic locales of Zimbabwe and Namibia. Though this is a Disney production, it is too violent and intense for young children. It is based on the books A Story Like the Wind and A Far Off Place, by Laurens Van der Post. --Rochelle O'Gorman
Walt Disney Pictures and Amblin Entertainment team up to deliver a thrilling story, action-packed adventure, and breathtaking scenery! Thrown together under incredible circumstances, two strangers must discover courage and strength when they begin a journey across the treacherous African desert! Equipped with only their wits and the expertise of a native bushman who befriends them, they are determined to triumph over impossible odds and reach their destination. But along the way, the trio face a primitive desert wilderness teeming with deadly obstacles, including wild animals, ruthless poachers, and severe weather conditions!
Aftershock: Earthquake in New York
by Mikael Salomon
from Lions Gate
New York the City That Never Sleeps is trapped in a nightmare of horror and destruction when a massive earthquake rocks the unsuspecting city. Countless lives are lost families are torn apart and chaos runs rampant as the Mayor (Charles S. Dutton) and former Fire Chief (Tom Skerritt) race to enact a city-wide emergency plan. The two men also face personal devastation and uncertainty as their own family members lie buried in the toppled infrastructure. Sharon Lawrence Lisa Nicole Carson and Cicely Tyson also star in this incredible story of undying courage in the face of unimaginable human tragedy.System Requirements:Starring: Lisa Nicole Carson Charles Dutton Jennifer Garner Sharon Lawrence Tom Skerritt and Cicely Tyson. Directed By: Michael Salomon. Running Time: 170 Min. Color. This film is presented in "Standard" format. Copyright 2002 Artisan Entertainment.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR UPC: 707729115991 Manufacturer No: 11599
Salem's Lot - The Miniseries
by Mikael Salomon
from Turner Home Ent
The vampiric Stephen King tale returns to the small screen, 25 years after the first made-for-TV Salem's Lot, a Tobe Hooper-directed ratings hit. This time it's Rob Lowe as a successful writer who returns to his haunted hometown. As a kid, something awful happened to him in the spooky mansion on the hill; now that he's back, the mansion is once again buzzing with evil portents. The physical production (shot in Australia) is convincing, and it's fun to see old pros such as Donald Sutherland, Rutger Hauer, and James Cromwell cutting up in juicy roles. The storytelling, however, feels oddly disjointed, as though King's sprawl had been arbitrarily hacked away rather than adapted (a few big moments are bewilderingly left offscreen). The approach misses the basic assets of a vampire story: the disbelief, the lore, the sex appeal. Instead, it feels like a random collection of bits for short attention spans. --Robert Horton
Benedict Arnold - A Question of Honor
by Mikael Salomon
from A&E Home Video
The most sullied figure of the American Revolution receives partial redemption in Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor. Produced for the A&E network, this factual drama reveals the lesser-known circumstances of Arnold's dishonor, beginning in 1777 and chronicling his fall from greatness. The conquering hero of Saratoga and other victories of the Revolution finds himself in an impossible predicament, his allegiance torn between his British loyalist wife (Jane Brennan) and his paternally devoted commander, George Washington (Kelsey Grammer), as his Colonial detractors cast him into a tragic no-win scenario. Authentically detailed and blessed by playwright William Mastrosimone's poetic period dialogue, Benedict Arnold successfully explores the personal and political facets of a great soldier's downfall. Aidan Quinn's expressive melancholy perfectly suits his title role, and Grammer transcends Frasier, lending appropriate gravitas--and some physical resemblance--to his portrayal of America's future president. Like A&E's earlier film The Crossing, this is compelling historical drama, entertaining, intelligent, and emotionally complex. --Jeff Shannon
The Grid
by Mikael Salomon
from 20th Century Fox
Broadcast on TNT in July 2004, The Grid is an ambitious, often-gripping miniseries depicting the battle against terrorism in a post-9/11 world. When a terrorist cell's sarin attack in London backfires, an unusual and sometimes-uneasy partnership is formed to anticipate and prevent the next strike. The team consists of counterterrorism analysts and agents from the National Security Council (Julianna Margulies), the FBI (Dylan McDermott), the CIA (Peter Marek), and Britain's MI-5 (Bernard Hill) and MI-6 (Jemma Redgrave). Gradually unfolding over six parts and four and a half hours, the BBC-Fox TV coproduction travels across North America, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa following not only the professional and personal lives of the "good guys," but also the terrorists' stories. Comparisons will inevitably be drawn between The Grid and 24 (especially considering the latter's terrorism story lines in seasons 2 and 3). The Grid can't compete in terms of sheer thrills, but it's a well-shot, well-cast ensemble drama with an exciting conclusion that takes place simultaneously on three continents.
The two-DVD set is supplemented by a commentary track by director Mikael Solomon and executive producer Tracey Alexander on two episodes, commentary by Margulies on specific scenes from two episodes, commentary by McDermott on specific scenes from two episodes, 13 deleted scenes, and three featurettes. --David Horiuchi
Beyond the politics, beyond the headlines, and inside the hunt for terror Â? where the enemy is closer than you think. US & UK forces join to combat an intricate organization of international terrorists plotting a set of vicious attacks against the US and UK in an action-packed, edgy, tense & emotional mini-series.
Over There - The Battle Begins (Pilot Episode)
by Chris Gerolmo
from 20th Century Fox
The pilot episode of Steven Bochco's Over There is as riveting, unexpected, and shocking as the series premieres of the legendary producer's Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue. The first television drama set in an existing war being waged by the United States, Over There concerns the first tour of duty for a young, U.S. Army unit sent to Iraq. Unlike any number of movies and TV shows starring middle-age actors portraying American fighting forces in past wars, Over There's combat soldiers look and act like the barely-out-of-high-school young adults (many of whom, in Over There, joined the military out of economic necessity) most of our real-life troops actually are.
Whatever one's feelings about the Iraq war, Bochco and co-writer and director Chris Gerolmo (Citizen X) cut through the politics to get to the individuals whose lives are on the line, who left behind families to find themselves in a most alien environment, fired upon for reasons they may not fully understand. Gerolmo does a superb job of showing us combat conditions in desert sandstorms, with rookie soldiers hanging tough under intense heat while insurgents fire from a distance at anything that moves. This is a new kind of war show, yet in many ways Over There embraces a few sentimental conventions, notably scenes in which the unit's members explain the origins of their nicknames ("Angel," "Dim," "Doublewide," "Mrs. B," and more). In the Bochco tradition, when violence comes, it comes as a grievous surprise. --Tom Keogh
From producer Steven Bochco ("NYPD Blue," "L.A. Law," "Hill Street Blues") comes the first scripted television series set in a current, ongoing war involving the United States. Gritty, intense, evocative and emotional, "Over There" takes you to the front lines of battle and explores the effects of war on a U.S. Army unit sent to Iraq on their first tour of duty, as well as the equally powerful effects felt at home by their families and loved ones.
A must-see show for all Americans, "Over There" is not about politics or policies. It's a true-to-life depiction of our courageous soldiers—the everyday heroes who fight for freedom under extraordinary conditions.
Includes an exclusive behind the scenes featurette!
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