Actor James Russo (1953)

Open Range (2003) is a film set in Montana during the late 1800s. It was directed and co-produced by Kevin Costner, with a screenplay by Craig Storper based on the novel The Open Range Men by Lauran Paine. The story follows ‘Boss’ Spearman and his hired hands, Charley Waite, Mose, and Button, as they drive a herd of cattle across the country. While Boss is an experienced rancher, Charley carries heavy guilt from his time as a soldier in the Civil War. When Boss sends Mose to nearby Harmonville for ...

The neo-noir horror thriller film, The Ninth Gate (1999), was directed, produced, and co-written by Roman Polanski. The main character, Dean Corso, is a rare book dealer from New York City who is hired by Boris Balkan, a wealthy collector. Balkan has obtained a copy of The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, a book believed to have been written by 17th-century author Aristide Torchia in collaboration with the Devil. Only three copies are said to have survived when Torchia and his works were burned for heresy. In order to determine the authenticity of one of these copies, Balkan wants Corso to inspect the other two. ...

The American epic post-apocalyptic adventure film, The Postman (1997), was produced and directed by Kevin Costner in which he also plays the lead role. Set in a post-apocalyptic world in 2013, an unidentified nomad roams the scattered communities of the Utah flatlands, trading performances of long-forgotten Shakespearean plays for food and water. After being held at gunpoint by the Holnists, a neo-feudalist militia, the nomad is forcefully recruited into their ranks and marked with their emblem, a figure 8, on his shoulder. Led by General Bethlehem, the Holnists hold control over the region and demand tribute and new ...

Donnie Brasco (1997) is an American crime drama film directed by Mike Newell. Set in 1978 New York City, it follows the story of Lefty Ruggiero, an aging enforcer in the Bonanno crime family, and Joseph D. Pistone, a young FBI agent undercover as jewel thief ‘Donnie Brasco’. When Donnie questions the authenticity of a diamond acquired by Lefty from a strip club owner and takes revenge on his behalf, their partnership begins. Under Lefty’s guidance, Donnie learns about the rules of the Mafia and meets his colleagues in the crew – Sonny Black, Nicky, Paulie, and rival leader Sonny Red. After the ...

Trauma (1993), an Italian giallo horror film directed by Dario Argento, follows Georgia Jackson, a chiropractic nurse in Minneapolis. During a rainstorm, Georgia stays late at her practice to meet a new patient. However, she believes she may have seen the patient before. That same night, troubled Romanian immigrant Aura Petrescu escapes from a psychiatric hospital and is later found by police and returned to her parents’ home. The next evening, Aura’s mother Adriana – who poses as a psychic – holds a séance for locals desperate to uncover the identity of the ‘Head Hunter’, a notorious ...

Drama film Dangerous Game (1993), by director Abel Ferrara and writer Nicholas St. John, follows motion picture director Eddie Israel’s journey from New York City to Hollywood, California. There, he rehearses ‘Mother of Mirrors’ with actors Sarah Jennings and Francis ‘Frank’ Burns, depicting a turbulent marriage between ‘Russell’, once a successful breadwinner, and his newly devout wife ‘Claire’. As the characters’ tensions rise onscreen, Eddie begins a relationship with Sarah and encourages Frank to use his drug ...

My Own Private Idaho (1991) is an American indie adventure drama flick written and directed by Gus Van Sant, loosely based on the works of Shakespeare. It follows the lives of young hustlers Mike Waters and Scott Favor as they navigate the Pacific Northwest, often spending time with their fellow hustlers in an abandoned building in Portland.Their mentor is Bob Pigeon, an overweight homeless man who himself identifies as gay. Among this group, Mike and Scott share a close bond as best friends. While Mike openly embraces his homosexuality, Scott views his encounters with male clients purely as a business transaction. In ...

China Girl (1987) is an independent neo-noir romantic thriller film directed by Abel Ferrara and written by his longtime partner Nicholas St. John. Set in 1980’s New York City, the story follows teenage boy Anthony ‘Tony’ who lives in Little Italy and works at a pizzeria making dough. During a night out at a nightclub, he meets and dances with the beautiful Chinese teenager, Tye. Their encounter is cut short when Tony is pursued by the local Chinese street gang led by Tsu Shin, but he is saved by his older brother Alberto ‘Alby’, who heads ...

The American buddy cop action comedy film, Beverly Hills Cop (1984), was directed by Martin Brest and written by Daniel Petrie Jr. It follows the journey of Axel Foley, a plainclothes detective from Detroit who gets tangled up in a failed sting operation when two uniformed officers intervene. This leads to a dangerous chase through the city causing widespread damage. Upon returning to his apartment, Axel finds out that his childhood friend and ex-prisoner, Michael ‘Mikey’ Tandino, has broken in seeking help. Mikey had landed a job as a security guard in ...