1.
Redbelt
–
Redbelt is a 2008 American martial arts film written and directed by David Mamet and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor. The cast also includes Tim Allen, Joe Mantegna, Ricky Jay, Emily Mortimer, Alice Braga and Rebecca Pidgeon, the film opened in wide release in the United States and Canada on May 9,2008. While closing his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu studio one evening, martial arts teacher Mike Terry is approached by attorney Laura Black, off-duty police officer Joe Collins, who was receiving a private lesson from Mike, sees that Laura is distressed and tries to take her coat. Startled, Laura grabs Joes gun and fires it, shattering the studios front window, to avoid having Laura charged with attempted murder, Mike and Joe agree to conceal the event. Mikes insurance, however, will not cover his act of God claim that the window was broken by a strong wind. Mikes wife Sondra, whose fashion business profits are the only thing keeping the studio afloat, requests that Mike ask for a loan from her brother Ricardo. At Ricardos nightclub, Mike meets with Sondras other brother, Bruno, Mike confronts Bruno about the situation but is rebuffed. Mike then declines Brunos offer to fight on the undercard of a match between Ricardo and Japanese legend Morisaki, which could potentially pay out $50,000. Mike believes competitions with money as the incentive are not honorable, meanwhile, aging Hollywood action star Chet Frank enters the nightclub without security and is accosted by a man with a broken bottle. Mike intervenes and subdues three men in the process, the following day, Mike receives an expensive watch and an invitation to dinner from Chet. Mike gives the watch to Joe to pawn in lieu of his salary at the nightclub. At the dinner party, Chets wife Zena arranges an informal business deal to buy an amount of dresses from Sondras company. Chet, impressed by Mike, invites him to the set of his current film, as Mike and Sondra leave the dinner, Mike explains his unique training method to Chets business associate Jerry Weiss. Before a sparring match, each fighter must draw one of three marbles, two white and one black, whoever draws a black marble has to fight with a handicap. Mike uses his experience to answer a few technical questions for Chet on the film set and is offered the role of co-producer. That evening, Mike faxes the details of his methods to Jerry so they can be used in the film. Joe arrives at the studio and informs Mike that he was suspended from duty for pawning the watch, during their dinner that evening, Mike relays the information to Jerry who excuses himself to handle the matter, but never returns. At home, Mike learns that the numbers that Zena gave Sondra have been disconnected
2.
Tribeca Film Festival
–
The mission of the festival is to enable the international film community and the general public to experience the power of film by redefining the film festival experience. The Tribeca Film Festival was founded to celebrate New York City as a filmmaking center. In 2006 and 2007, the Festival received over 8600 film submissions, the Festivals program line-up includes a variety of independent films including documentaries, narrative features and shorts, as well as a program of family-friendly films. The Festival also features panel discussions with personalities in the entertainment world, past artists of the Artists Awards program have included Chuck Close, Alex Katz, and Julian Schnabel. The festival now draws an estimated three million people—including often-elusive celebrities from the worlds of art, film, and music—and generates $600 million annually, the inaugural festival launched after 120 days of planning with the help of more than 1,300 volunteers. It was attended by more than 150,000 people and featured several up-and-coming filmmakers, the 2003 festival brought more than 300,000 people. It became one of the venues of the festival, in an effort to serve its mission of bringing independent film to the widest possible audience, in 2006, the Festival expanded its reach in New York City and internationally. In New York City, Tribeca hosted screenings throughout Manhattan as the Festivals 1, internationally, the Festival brought films to the Rome Film Fest. As part of the celebrations in Rome, Tribeca was awarded the first ever Steps and Stars award, presented on the Spanish Steps. A total of 169 feature films and 99 shorts were selected from 4,100 film submissions, the festival featured 90 world premieres, nine international premieres,31 North American premieres,6 U. S. premieres, and 28 New York City premieres. In 2009, Rosenthal, Hatkoff and De Niro were named number 14 on Barrons list of the worlds top 25 philanthropists for their role in regenerating TriBeCas economy after September 11, as of 2010, the festival is run as a business by Tribeca Enterprises. Andrew Essex has been the CEO of Tribeca Enterprises since January,2016, in 2011, L. A. Noire became the first video game to be recognized by the Tribeca Film Festival. com,02.23.2013
3.
Chicago
–
Chicago, officially the City of Chicago, is the third-most populous city in the United States. With over 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the state of Illinois, and it is the county seat of Cook County. In 2012, Chicago was listed as a global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Chicago has the third-largest gross metropolitan product in the United States—about $640 billion according to 2015 estimates, the city has one of the worlds largest and most diversified economies with no single industry employing more than 14% of the workforce. In 2016, Chicago hosted over 54 million domestic and international visitors, landmarks in the city include Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum Campus, the Willis Tower, Museum of Science and Industry, and Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicagos culture includes the arts, novels, film, theater, especially improvisational comedy. Chicago also has sports teams in each of the major professional leagues. The city has many nicknames, the best-known being the Windy City, the name Chicago is derived from a French rendering of the Native American word shikaakwa, known to botanists as Allium tricoccum, from the Miami-Illinois language. The first known reference to the site of the current city of Chicago as Checagou was by Robert de LaSalle around 1679 in a memoir, henri Joutel, in his journal of 1688, noted that the wild garlic, called chicagoua, grew abundantly in the area. In the mid-18th century, the area was inhabited by a Native American tribe known as the Potawatomi, the first known non-indigenous permanent settler in Chicago was Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. Du Sable was of African and French descent and arrived in the 1780s and he is commonly known as the Founder of Chicago. In 1803, the United States Army built Fort Dearborn, which was destroyed in 1812 in the Battle of Fort Dearborn, the Ottawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi tribes had ceded additional land to the United States in the 1816 Treaty of St. Louis. The Potawatomi were forcibly removed from their land after the Treaty of Chicago in 1833, on August 12,1833, the Town of Chicago was organized with a population of about 200. Within seven years it grew to more than 4,000 people, on June 15,1835, the first public land sales began with Edmund Dick Taylor as U. S. The City of Chicago was incorporated on Saturday, March 4,1837, as the site of the Chicago Portage, the city became an important transportation hub between the eastern and western United States. Chicagos first railway, Galena and Chicago Union Railroad, and the Illinois, the canal allowed steamboats and sailing ships on the Great Lakes to connect to the Mississippi River. A flourishing economy brought residents from rural communities and immigrants from abroad, manufacturing and retail and finance sectors became dominant, influencing the American economy. The Chicago Board of Trade listed the first ever standardized exchange traded forward contracts and these issues also helped propel another Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, to the national stage
4.
Illinois
–
Illinois is a state in the midwestern region of the United States, achieving statehood in 1818. It is the 6th most populous state and 25th largest state in terms of land area, the word Illinois comes from a French rendering of a native Algonquin word. For decades, OHare International Airport has been ranked as one of the worlds busiest airports, Illinois has long had a reputation as a bellwether both in social and cultural terms and politics. With the War of 1812 Illinois growth slowed as both Native Americans and Canadian forces often raided the American Frontier, mineral finds and timber stands also had spurred immigration—by the 1810s, the Eastern U. S. Railroads arose and matured in the 1840s, and soon carried immigrants to new homes in Illinois, as well as being a resource to ship their commodity crops out to markets. Railroads freed most of the land of Illinois and other states from the tyranny of water transport. By 1900, the growth of jobs in the northern cities and coal mining in the central and southern areas attracted a new group of immigrants. Illinois was an important manufacturing center during both world wars, the Great Migration from the South established a large community of African Americans in Chicago, who created the citys famous jazz and blues cultures. Three U. S. presidents have been elected while living in Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, additionally, Ronald Reagan, whose political career was based in California, was the only U. S. president born and raised in Illinois. Today, Illinois honors Lincoln with its official slogan, Land of Lincoln. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is located in the capital of Springfield. Illinois is the spelling for the early French Catholic missionaries and explorers name for the Illinois Native Americans. American scholars previously thought the name Illinois meant man or men in the Miami-Illinois language and this etymology is not supported by the Illinois language, as the word for man is ireniwa and plural men is ireniwaki. The name Illiniwek has also said to mean tribe of superior men. The name Illinois derives from the Miami-Illinois verb irenwe·wa he speaks the regular way and this was taken into the Ojibwe language, perhaps in the Ottawa dialect, and modified into ilinwe·. The French borrowed these forms, changing the ending to spell it as -ois. The current spelling form, Illinois, began to appear in the early 1670s, the Illinois name for themselves, as attested in all three of the French missionary-period dictionaries of Illinois, was Inoka, of unknown meaning and unrelated to the other terms. American Indians of successive cultures lived along the waterways of the Illinois area for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans, the Koster Site has been excavated and demonstrates 7,000 years of continuous habitation
5.
Goddard College
–
Goddard College is an accredited private liberal arts college located in Plainfield, Vermont, Port Townsend, Washington, and Seattle, Washington, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Goddard College currently operates on an intensive low-residency model, each student designs his/her own curriculum, the college currently uses a student self-directed, mentored system in which faculty issue narrative evaluations of student’s progress instead of grades. During the semester students study independently, sending in packets to their faculty mentors every three weeks, the content of the packets varies with each individual, but focuses on research, writing, and reflection related to each students individualized study plan. Goddard offers a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, along with several concentrations, Goddard currently enrolls approximately 700 students, 30% of whom are undergraduates, and employs 110 faculty and 90 staff. To advance cultures of rigorous inquiry, collaboration, and lifelong learning, Goddard College began in 1863 in Barre, Vermont, as the Green Mountain Central Institute and in 1870 was renamed Goddard Seminary. Founded by Universalists, Goddard Seminary was a preparatory high school. For many years the Seminary prospered, but the opening of many good public high schools made many of the New England academies obsolete. To attempt a rescue, the added a Junior College to the Seminary in 1935, with a Seminary graduate, Royce S. Tim Pitkin. Royce S. Tim Pitkin was an educator and follower of John Dewey, William Heard Kilpatrick and other. In 1936, under his leadership, the Seminary came to the conclusion that in order for Goddard to survive an entirely new institution would need to be created, a number of prominent educators and laymen agreed with him. Pitkin was supported by Stanley C, wilson, ex-governor of Vermont and chairman of the Goddard Seminary Board of Trustees, Senators George Aiken and Ralph Flanders and Dorothy Canfield Fisher. On March 13,1938, Goddard College was chartered, in July 1938 the newly formed Goddard College moved to Greatwood Farm in Plainfield, Vermont. The new Goddard was an experimental and progressive college, for its first 21 years of operation, Goddard was unaccredited and small, but built a reputation as one of the most innovative colleges in the country. In 1959 Goddard College was accredited, as of 2015 it is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. One of the principles upon which Goddard was founded was that the College should provide educational opportunities for adults. It became clear there was a great need for a program through which adults who had not completed college could obtain degrees without disrupting their family lives or careers. The Adult Degree Program, created by Evalyn Bates, was established in 1963 and it was the first low-residency adult education program in the country. Over the years many programs were designed at Goddard
6.
Glengarry Glen Ross
–
Glengarry Glen Ross is a play by David Mamet that won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984. It is based on Mamets experience having worked in a similar office. The world premiere was at the National Theatre in London on September 21,1983, the play opened on Broadway on March 25,1984, and closed on February 17,1985. The production was directed by Gregory Mosher and starred Joe Mantegna, Mike Nussbaum, Robert Prosky, Lane Smith, James Tolkan, Jack Wallace and J. T. Walsh. The production was nominated for four Tony awards including Best Play, Best Director, Richard Ricky Roma, The most successful salesman in the office. Although Roma seems to think of himself as a cowboy and regards his ability to make a sale as a sign of his virility. He is ruthless, dishonest and immoral, but succeeds because he has a talent for figuring out a clients weaknesses and he is a smooth talker and often speaks in grand, poetic soliloquies. Shelley The Machine Levene, An older, once-successful salesman, who has fallen on hard times and has not closed a big deal in a long time. In Mamets original 1983 stage version, Levene reveals his daughters plight as a ploy to gain Williamsons sympathy to get better leads. However, in the 1992 film version, Levenes discussion of his daughter also includes comments, James Lingk, A timid, middle-aged man who becomes Romas latest client. Lingk is easily manipulated and finds Roma highly charismatic, upon consulting his wife, he becomes desperate to regain the money that Roma has closed on him. George Aaronow, An aging salesman with low self-esteem who lacks confidence and hope and his frustration begins to boil up when the office is robbed, and he worries about being convicted based upon Detective Baylens interrogation. Ironically, he and Roma end up the two salesmen for the firm after Shelley is found out, and gives up Moss as his co-conspirator. Dave Moss, A big-mouthed salesman with big dreams and schemes, Moss resents Williamson and agency owners Mitch and Murray for putting such pressure on him and plans to strike back at them by stealing all their best sales leads and selling them to a competitor. Moss sees Aaronow as an accomplice, but eventually convinces Levene to work with him in selling the leads to Jerry Graff. During his final rant against Roma, his indignation reveals that his jealousy extends towards even his fellow salesmen and he appears in the final act to investigate the office break-in and interrogate each cast member behind closed doors. Mitch and Murray, The unsavoury unseen characters are the owners of the estate agency. They have a sales contest, which puts pressure on the salesmen to produce or to lose their jobs
7.
Rebecca Pidgeon
–
Rebecca Pidgeon is a British-American actress and singer-songwriter. She has maintained a career while also acting on stage. She is married to American writer and director David Mamet, Pidgeon was born to English parents in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while her father, Carl R. Pidgeon, was a visiting professor at MIT. Her mother, Elaine, is a yoga teacher and her paternal grandmother, Monica Pidgeon, the editor of Architectural Design, was the sister of artist Olga Lehmann and academic Andrew George Lehmann. She moved to Edinburgh, Scotland in 1970, with her parents and she graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London alongside Clive Owen and Liza Tarbuck. From 1986-90, Pidgeon was the singer of the British folk/pop band Ruby Blue. She left Ruby Blue shortly after the band signed to a record label. She appeared in her first feature film, The Dawning, in 1988 and then starred in David Mamets plays and films, beginning with the movie Homicide and the play Oleanna, Pidgeon composed the music for the film version, which starred Debra Eisenstadt in her role. Returning to music, she released the album The Raven, followed by The New York Girls Club, and The Four Marys, tough on Crime featured Walter Becker of Steely Dan on guitar and Billy Preston on keyboards. Behind the Velvet Curtain included a version of the Beach Boys song Wouldnt It Be Nice. Pidgeon has had roles in several of Mamets films, including The Spanish Prisoner, The Winslow Boy, State and Main, Heist and she had a small role in Redbelt. In the 2013 television movie Phil Spector she sang Spanish Harlem over the closing credits. She appeared in the U. S. television series The Unit, playing Charlotte Ryan, and in the 2007 television film Jesse Stone, Sea Change, playing Leeann Lewis, Pidgeon is married to the American writer and director David Mamet. She met Mamet while acting in his play Speed-the-Plow during its run at the National Theatre, although married at the time to actress Lindsay Crouse, Mamet began a relationship with Pidgeon. Mamet divorced Crouse in 1990 and married Pidgeon in 1991, Pidgeon and Mamet have two children, actress Clara and Noah, in addition to Mamets two older children, Willa and Zosia. Pidgeon, who was born to a non-practicing Christian family, has converted to Mamets Jewish faith
8.
Pulitzer Prize
–
The Pulitzer Prize /ˈpʊlᵻtsər/ is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine and online journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of American Joseph Pulitzer who had made his fortune as a newspaper publisher, Prizes are awarded yearly in twenty-one categories. In twenty of the categories, each receives a certificate. The winner in the service category of the journalism competition is awarded a gold medal. The Pulitzer Prize does not automatically consider all applicable works in the media, entries must fit in at least one of the specific prize categories, and cannot simply gain entrance for being literary or musical. Works can also only be entered in a maximum of two categories, regardless of their properties, each year,102 jurors are selected by the Pulitzer Prize Board to serve on 20 separate juries for the 21 award categories, one jury makes recommendations for both photography awards. For each award category, a jury makes three nominations, the board selects the winner by majority vote from the nominations or bypasses the nominations and selects a different entry following a 75% majority vote. The board can also vote to issue no award, the board and journalism jurors are not paid for their work, however, the jurors in letters, music, and drama receive a $2,000 honorarium for the year, and each chair receives $2,500. Anyone whose work has been submitted is called an entrant, the jury selects a group of nominated finalists and announces them, together with the winner for each category. However, some journalists who were submitted, but not nominated as finalists. For example, Bill Dedman of msnbc, Dedman wrote, To call that submission a Pulitzer nomination is like saying that Adam Sandler is an Oscar nominee if Columbia Pictures enters Thats My Boy in the Academy Awards. Many readers realize that the Oscars dont work that way—the studios dont pick the nominees and its just a way of slipping Academy Awards into a bio. The Pulitzers also dont work that way, but fewer people know that, newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer gave money in his will to Columbia University to launch a journalism school and establish the Prize. It allocated $250,000 to the prize and scholarships and he specified four awards in journalism, four in letters and drama, one in education, and four traveling scholarships. After his death, the first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded June 4,1917, many people have won more than one Pulitzer Prize. Nelson Harding is the person to have won a Prize in two consecutive years, the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1927 and 1928. Four prizes Robert Frost, Poetry Eugene ONeill, Drama Robert E, in rare instances, contributors to the entry are singled out in the citation in a manner analogous to individual winners. Journalism awards may be awarded to individuals or newspapers or newspaper staffs, infrequently, Awards are made in categories relating to journalism, arts, letters and fiction
9.
Tony Award
–
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at a ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre, several discretionary non-competitive awards are also given, including a Special Tony Award, the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre, and the Isabelle Stevenson Award. The awards are named after Antoinette Tony Perry, co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, the rules for the Tony Awards are set forth in the official document Rules and Regulations of The American Theatre Wings Tony Awards, which applies for that season only. It also forms the fourth spoke in the EGOT, that is someone who has won all four awards, the Tony Awards are also considered the equivalent of the Laurence Olivier Award in the United Kingdom and the Molière Award of France. From 1997 to 2010, the Tony Awards ceremony was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in June and broadcast live on CBS television, except in 1999, in 2011 and 2012, the ceremony was held at the Beacon Theatre. From 2013 to 2015, the 67th, 68th, and 69th ceremonies returned to Radio City Music Hall, the 70th Tony Awards were held on June 12,2016 at the Beacon Theatre. The 71st Tony Awards will be held on June 11,2017, as of 2014, there are 24 categories of awards, plus several special awards. Starting with 11 awards in 1947, the names and number of categories have changed over the years, some examples, the category Best Book of a Musical was originally called Best Author. The category of Best Costume Design was one of the original awards, for two years, in 1960 and 1961, this category was split into Best Costume Designer and Best Costume Designer. It then went to a category, but in 2005 it was divided again. For the category of Best Director of a Play, a category was for directors of plays. A newly established non-competitive award, The Isabelle Stevenson Award, was given for the first time at the ceremony in 2009. The award is for an individual who has made a contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian. The category of Best Special Theatrical Event was retired as of the 2009–2010 season, the categories of Best Sound Design of a Play and Best Sound Design of a Musical were retired as of the 2014-2015 season. Performance categories Show and technical categories Special awards Retired awards The award was founded in 1947 by a committee of the American Theatre Wing headed by Brock Pemberton. The award is named after Antoinette Perry, nicknamed Tony, an actress, director, producer and co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, who died in 1946. As her official biography at the Tony Awards website states, At Jacob Wilks suggestion, proposed an award in her honor for distinguished stage acting, at the initial event in 1947, as he handed out an award, he called it a Tony
10.
Race (play)
–
Race is a play by David Mamet that premiered on Broadway in December 2009. Mamet has stated that the theme is race and the lies we tell each other on the subject. A racially charged sex crime takes place which leads to charges being made against Charles Strickland and he quickly goes to his friend Jack Lawson, a criminal attorney, and retains him to defend his case. Lawson agrees and begins to rely on help from a black attorney he calls Susan working in his three-lawyer office. As evidence and police begin to accumulate for the preparation of the defense of the case. They are convinced that the credibility of the police reports cannot withstand questioning in the courtroom, all three lawyers feel that their client will be exonerated. The next day, however, news come to the lawyers that a new police report had been filed in the process of the last day, Jack sees this as a strong set-back in his case. In the process of interviews with his client, discussions with his partner. The ethnic prejudices of his old friend whom he is defending turn out to be highly suspect, more importantly, he begins to suspect that Susans hand in the activities taking place in the law office after receiving the case may be tainted. Susan turns out to have strong feeling about racially motivated sex crimes and it becomes clear that Susan had done this in order to influence the outcome in a matter of justice involving a question of bigotry and of race. Susan - Kerry Washington, replaced by Afton C, directed by Mamet, the cast included James Spader, David Alan Grier, Kerry Washington, and Richard Thomas. Scenic design was by Santo Loquasto, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, David Alan Grier was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play. Mamet stated that the theme is race and the lies we tell each other on the subject. The producers announced on April 21,2010, that the play had recouped its investment, the play has been produced in US regional theatres, such as at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in 2012 and Next Act in Milwaukee in 2014. The play made its Canadian premiere in Vancouver in November 2012, produced by Mitch and Murray productions with a cast that included Aaron Craven, Marsha Regis, Craig Erickson, the production was nominated for a Jessie Richardson award for outstanding performance by a supporting actress for Marsha Regis. Canadian Stages production ran from April 7 to May 4,2013, at the St. Lawrence Centre in Toronto, the cast included Jason Priestley, Matthew Edison, Nigel Shawn Williams and Cara Ricketts. Williams garnered a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role – Play for his performance, a French Canadian version has been created in Montreal and run from February 17 to March 26,2016, at Théâtre Jean-Duceppe. The play has received mixed reviews, and the issues it raises, particularly on the ethnic varieties of shame and the universal nature of guilt, should offer ample nutrition for many a post-theater dinner conversation
11.
House of Games
–
House of Games is a 1987 heist-thriller film directed by David Mamet, his directorial debut. He also wrote the screenplay, based on a story he co-wrote with Jonathan Katz, the films cast includes Lindsay Crouse, Joe Mantegna, Ricky Jay, and J. T. Walsh. Margaret Ford is a psychiatrist who has achieved success with her recently published book, but who feels unfulfilled. During a session one day, Billy Hahn, a patient, informs her that his life is in danger because he owes money to a figure named Mike and brandishes a gun. Margaret persuades him to surrender the weapon to her and promises that she will help and that night, Margaret visits a pool hall owned by Mike and confronts him. Mike says that he is willing to forgive Billys debt if Margaret accompanies him to a back room poker game and identifies the tell of George and she agrees, and spots George playing with his ring when he bluffs. She discloses this to Mike, who calls the bluff, however, George wins the hand and demands that Mike pay the $6,000 bet, which he is unable to do. George pulls a gun but Margaret intervenes and offers to pay the debt with a personal check and she then notices that the gun is actually a water pistol, and realizes that the entire game is a set-up to trick her out of her money. She is excited, however, and returns the next night to request that Mike teach her about cons so that she can write a book about the experience, Mike begins to enchant Margaret by showing her several small tricks. Eventually, the two steal a hotel room and make love, while in the room, he instructs her that all con artists take a small token from every mark to signify their dominance. While Mike is in the bathroom, she takes a small knife from the table. Afterwards, Mike says that he is late for another, large con with his associates at the same hotel, Margaret is eager to tag along and, reluctantly Mike allows it. The con involves Mike, his partner Joey and the mark, a businessman discovering a briefcase full of money, there they will discuss whether to turn it in or split it among themselves. In the hotel room, Margaret discovers that the businessman is actually a policeman. She tells Mike and they attempt to escape, but the policeman blocks their way, there is a struggle that ends with Mike accidentally shooting the officer dead. The three leave via the stairwell and end up in the garage, where they force Margaret to steal a car, while abandoning the car, they realize that the briefcase, containing $80,000 borrowed from the Mafia for the con, has been lost. Margaret finally offers to pay Mike $80,000 of her own money so he can pay back the mob, Mike tells Margaret that they must split up so as not to draw any attention from the police, and says that he is flying away to hide. Margaret is riddled with guilt but, by chance, spots Billy driving the red convertible
12.
Homicide (1991 film)
–
Homicide is a crime-drama film written and directed by David Mamet, and released in 1991. The films cast includes Joe Mantegna, William H. Macy and it was entered in the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. Bobby Gold is an inner-city homicide detective on the trail of Robert Randolph, the deceased womans son, a doctor, uses his clout to have Gold assigned to the case in the belief that Gold, himself Jewish, might be empathetic to his plight. Gold, however, seems to disregard his ethnicity, and beyond that, ultimately, though, this is offset by interactions with members of the Jewish community that play on Golds feelings of inadequacy and inability to fit in. The apparent power and sense of pride these people have is appealing to Gold, as the film reaches its climax, Gold is thrust into a series of circumstances that test not only his loyalty to the badge, but also his newfound Jewish consciousness. Green Robin Spielberg - Records Officer Lawrence Kopp - Officer Threatened by Dog Roger Ebert praised it, the film was released on VHS in 1992. On September 8,2009, the film was given a DVD release by The Criterion Collection and this director-approved release included an audio commentary with Mamet and Macy, as well as cast interviews and a gag reel. Homicide at the Internet Movie Database Homicide at AllMovie
13.
The Spanish Prisoner
–
The plot entails a story of corporate espionage conducted through an elaborate confidence game. In spite of the title, the actual plot includes only superficial similarties to the Spanish Prisoner scam. In 1999 the film was nominated by the Mystery Writers of America for the Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay, corporate engineer Joe Ross has invented a very lucrative, very secret industrial process. While on a retreat at the resort island of St. Estèphe, he meets a wealthy stranger, Jimmy Dell. Jimmy wants to introduce Joe socially to his sister, an Olympic-class tennis player, in New York, once home, Joe buys another copy of the book, to give to Jimmys sister, and keeps the torn one at his office. Jimmy suggests that Joes company and his boss, Mr. Klein, the flirtatious Susan also keeps making suggestions that one never knows whom to trust. Jimmy invites Joe to dinner with Jimmys sister, and they meet at Dells place, taking him to dinner at a club requiring membership, Jimmy has Joe sign a certificate to join. Joe learns that the sister does not actually exist and that Jimmy is really a con artist, Joe contacts Pat McCune, a woman he met on the island whom Susan told him was an FBI agent, and whose business card Susan kept. He is enlisted in a sting operation, when Jimmy Dell never shows up for the planned meeting, to his horror, Joe learns that McCune is actually part of Jimmys con game. His Process is stolen and he has been thoroughly swindled, Joe attempts to explain what happened to his employer and the police, but his story sounds far-fetched. The con has made it appear that he has sold his Process to the Japanese, the police show Joe that Jimmys apartment is a mere façade and that the clubs members-only room was nothing but a restaurant that was closed while they were there. Joe is also framed for the murder of his co-developer of the process, on the run from the law, Joe reconnects with Susan, who says she believes his story and continues to express a romantic interest in him. Joe remembers that the hotel where the island took place maintains a video surveillance. Susan takes him to the airport in order for him to fly to the island, on the way to the airport, Susan convinces him to first drive to Boston. At the airport in Boston, Susan gives him a bag, which actually contains a gun, and an airplane ticket supposedly to the island retreat. Before passing through security, Joe realizes that Jimmy left his fingerprints on the original book he was to deliver to Jimmys alleged sister. He leaves the airport with Susan, still not realizing that she is working against him and they board a ferry to return home. Jimmy comes to kill Joe on the ferry, seemingly alone except for Susan, the final step of this con is going to be Joes death, made to appear as a suicide
14.
Heist (2001 film)
–
Heist is a 2001 crime film, written and directed by David Mamet, which stars Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, and Delroy Lindo, with Rebecca Pidgeon, Ricky Jay, and Sam Rockwell in supporting roles. Joe Moore runs a ring of thieves, which includes Bobby Blane, Don Pinky Pincus. During a robbery of a New York City jewelry store, Joes face is captured by a security camera after he takes off his mask in an attempt to distract the stores last remaining employee. As both the picture and a witness can identify him, Joe retires from crime and plans to disappear on his boat with his wife. This does not sit well with Joes fence, Mickey Bergman, after accruing a number of expenses in setting up another robbery, Bergman decides to withhold the payment due to Joe and his crew. He insists they go through with the other job — robbing an airplane carrying a shipment of gold. Bergman further insists that his nephew, Jimmy Silk, be a part of the crew, Joe accepts, but a series of shifting loyalties changes the complexity of their task, including Jimmys interest in Joes wife and Bergman and Jimmys belief that Joes skills are declining. They attempt to rob the plane twice, in their first attempt, while setting up explosive devices along the border of the airport, they are stopped by a passing officer. While Joe and Bobby talk the officer into leaving, an agitated Jimmy draws his gun but is stopped by Pinky and he forces his team out of finishing the job after he finds out that Pinky didnt destroy the getaway car, covered in the teams fingerprints. Bergman doesnt accept the teams departure and forces them to finish the job, the plane robbery is a series of misdirects. Pinky poses as a guard while Joe, Bobby, and Jimmy pose as airport security personnel and they stop the jet, pretending to be responding to an emergency. They fill a van with what they take from the plane, then move the van to a garage on the airport grounds. Jimmy betrays the others to steal the gold and Fran and he knocks out Joe and tells Fran he knew Joe changed the plan. He and Fran take the van, but Jimmy finds out that the compartments are filled with metal washers. Joe avoids arrest and returns to the plane in disguise and he and Bobby remove a shipment of goods they had booked on board the same Swiss flight, which they insist now must be driven to its destination due to the planes delay. Inside the shipment is the gold, which Joe and Bobby melt into long rods. Bergman apprehends Pinky, who is walking his niece to the school bus, Pinky discloses the plan in order to save his niece. Bergman and his crew arrive at Joes sail boat along with Jimmy and Fran and they notice the boat railings are golden
15.
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981 film)
–
The Postman Always Rings Twice is a 1981 American-German film adaptation of the 1934 novel of the same name by James M. Cain. The film was produced by Lorimar in association with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and originally released theatrically in North America by Paramount Pictures and this version, based on a screenplay by David Mamet and directed by Bob Rafelson, starred Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange. The film was shot in Santa Barbara, California, Frank Chambers a drifter, stops at a rural California diner for a meal and ends up working there. The diner is operated by a young, beautiful woman, Cora Smith, and her older husband, Nick Papadakis. Frank and Cora start to have an affair soon after they meet, Cora is tired of her situation, married to a man she does not love, and working at a diner that she wishes to own and improve. She and Frank scheme to murder Nick to start a new life together without her losing the diner and their first attempt at the murder is a failure, but they eventually succeed. The local prosecutor suspects what has occurred but does not have enough evidence to prove it. As a tactic intended to get Cora and Frank to turn on one another, although they turn against each other, a clever ploy from Coras lawyer, Katz, prevents Coras full confession from coming into the hands of the prosecutor. With the tactic having failed to any new evidence for the prosecution. Months later, Frank has an affair with Madge Gorland while Cora is out of town, when Cora returns, she announces she is pregnant. That night, Katzs assistant, Kennedy, appears at their door, enraged, Frank beats Kennedy up and strong-arms him into giving up the evidence against them. When Frank returns, he finds that Madge has been to see Cora and they eventually patch together their tumultuous relationship and now plan for a future together. However, just as they seem to be prepared for a new life together, Jack Nicholson – Frank Chambers Jessica Lange – Cora Smith/Papadakis John Colicos – Nick Papadakis Michael Lerner – Mr. Katz John P. The film was screened out of competition at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival, upon release, the film was poorly received by many critics, who felt that the remake was wasted. They also believed the ending was weak compared to the original film. They also criticized the fact that the meaning of the title is not explained in the remake, Jack Nicholson later said If you ran a question through this industry about The Postman Always Rings Twice, most people would surmise that it wasn’t successful. I know it made money, because I received overages, so it must’ve grossed about as much as Chinatown, but people are anxious to disqualify it. The film has since received more favorably, it scores an 83% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 10 positive reviews
16.
The Verdict
–
The Verdict is a 1982 American courtroom drama film starring Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo OShea and Lindsay Crouse. The film, which was directed by Sidney Lumet, was adapted by David Mamet from the novel by Barry Reed. It is about an alcoholic lawyer who takes a medical malpractice case to improve his own situation. The Verdict garnered critical acclaim and box office success, the film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Director, Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Frank Galvin was once a promising graduate of Boston College Law School, but he was framed for jury tampering some years back by the firms senior partner because he was going to expose their corrupt practices. The firm fired him and his marriage ended in divorce, although he retains his license to practice law, Frank has become an alcoholic ambulance chaser who has had only four cases over the last three years, all of which he has lost. As a favor, his friend and former teacher Mickey sends him a medical malpractice case in which it is all, the case involves a young woman who was given an anesthetic during childbirth, after which she choked on her own vomit and was deprived of oxygen. The young woman is now comatose and on a respirator and her sister and brother-in-law are hoping for a monetary award in order to give her proper care. Frank assures them they have a strong case, meanwhile, Frank, who is lonely, becomes romantically involved with Laura, a woman he meets at a local bar. Frank visits the woman and is deeply affected. He then meets with the bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, everyone, including the presiding judge and the victims relatives, is stunned by Franks decision. Franks big break comes when he discovers that Kaitlin Costello, the nurse who admitted his client to the hospital, is now a teacher in New York. Frank travels there to track her down, leaving Mickey and Laura working together in Franks Boston office, Frank confronts Costello, asking, Will you help me. Meanwhile, in Boston, Mickey is looking for cigarettes in Lauras handbag and he infers that she is a mole, providing information on their legal strategy to the opposing lawyers. Mickey flies to New York to tell Frank that Laura has been betraying them and he suggests to Frank that it would be easy to get the case declared a mistrial, but Frank decides to continue. Shortly thereafter, Frank meets Laura, who has traveled to New York. In a display of cold fury, Frank strikes her in the face, Costello testifies that, shortly after the patient had become comatose, the anesthesiologist told her to change her notes on the admitting form to hide his fatal error. She had written down that the patient had had a meal only one hour before being admitted
17.
The Untouchables (film)
–
The Untouchables is a 1987 American gangster film directed by Brian De Palma, produced by Art Linson, written by David Mamet, and based on the book The Untouchables. The film stars Kevin Costner, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro, Ness forms the Untouchables team to bring Capone to justice during Prohibition. The Grammy Award-winning score was composed by Ennio Morricone and features some music by Duke Ellington. The Untouchables premiered on June 2,1987 in New York City, the film grossed $106.2 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, Connery won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, a prequel, The Untouchables, Capone Rising, starring Gerard Butler, was in development before being shelved. During Prohibition in 1930, Al Capone has nearly the whole city of Chicago under his control, bureau of Prohibition agent Eliot Ness is assigned to stop Capone, but his first attempt at a liquor raid fails due to corrupt policemen tipping Capone off. They recruit Italian-American trainee George Stone for his marksmanship and intelligence. Capone later kills the henchman in charge of the cache as a warning to his other men, an alderman offers Ness a bribe to drop his investigation, but Ness angrily refuses it and throws him out of the office. When Capone gunman Frank Nitti threatens Ness family, Ness has his wife, Malone then shoots a gangster through the mouth to scare George into agreeing to testify against Capone. Wallace prepares to escort George from the Chicago police station to a house, but they are shot and killed by Nitti. Ness confronts Capone and his men over the deaths, but Malone intervenes to save him from being killed, realizing that police chief Mike Dorsett sold out Wallace and George, Malone forces him to reveal the whereabouts of Walter Payne, Capones chief bookkeeper. That night, a knife-wielding thug sneaks into Malones apartment, Malone chases him out with a shotgun, Ness and Stone arrive at the apartment, before dying, Malone tells them which train Payne will take out of town. At Union Station, Ness and Stone find Payne guarded by several gangsters, a gunfight breaks out on the lobby steps, resulting in all the gangsters being killed and Payne being taken alive. As Payne testifies at Capones trial, explaining the untaxed cash flows throughout the syndicate, Ness notices that Capone seems unusually relaxed and also spots Nitti carrying a gun under his jacket. Ness has the bailiff remove Nitti and searches him outside the courtroom, Nitti shoots the bailiff and flees to the courthouse roof. Ness has the opportunity to kill Nitti at one point but chooses not to, Stone gives Ness a list, taken from Nittis jacket, that shows bribes paid to the jurors. When the judge refuses to consider it as evidence of jury tampering, the judge subsequently orders that the jury be switched with one in another courtroom, prompting Capones lawyer to enter a guilty plea on his behalf. Capone is later sentenced to 11 years in prison, Ness closes up his office and gives Malones St. Jude medallion and callbox key to Stone as a farewell gift
18.
Hoffa
–
Hoffa is a 1992 French-American biographical crime film directed by Danny DeVito and written by David Mamet, based on the life of Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa. Most of the story is told in flashbacks before ending with Hoffas mysterious disappearance, jack Nicholson plays Hoffa, and DeVito plays Robert Ciaro, an amalgamation of several Hoffa associates over the years. Reilly, Robert Prosky, Kevin Anderson, Armand Assante, and J. T. Walsh in supporting roles, the original music score is by David Newman. Jimmy Hoffa and Bobby Ciaro are impatiently waiting in the lot of a roadhouse diner on July 30,1975. Others are late for a meeting, asked if he wants to leave, Hoffa gives Ciaro a scornful glance. In 1935, a young Hoffa approaches a parked truck, inside of which driver Ciaro is taking a nap, Hoffa pitches the benefits of joining the Teamsters and gives Ciaro a business card, on which he has written, Give this man whatever he needs. A few days later, Ciaro reports to work to find Hoffa attempting to organize the workers, Hoffa blurts out theyd ridden 85 miles together, and Ciaro is fired. Ciaro later accosts Hoffa with a Bowie knife, but Hoffas associate Billy Flynn pulls a gun, Ciaro joins the pair in the arson bombing of a laundry whose owner has refused to cooperate with the Teamsters. Flynn is badly burned and dies, Ciaro succeeds him as Hoffas right-hand man. During a Teamsters strike, strikers fight with non-union workers and police, Ciaro, who speaks Italian, comes along and translates. An alliance between the Teamsters and the mob is formed, Hoffa meets Carol DAllesandro, who would become his closest mob ally. Hoffa rises to the presidency of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and his illegal activities include the use of Teamster funds to make loans to the mob. At a Congressional hearing, Hoffa is questioned by Robert F. Kennedy regarding his suspicious union activities, a loud and bitter feud between Kennedy and Hoffa grows, especially after John F. Kennedy is elected President and Bobby becomes Attorney General. Hoffa, on a trip with DAllesandro, discusses ways to exploit the unions pension fund. Having no paper with them, the plans are sketched on the back of a hunting license, subsequently, Hoffa is betrayed by a junior associate, Peter Connelly, who testifies at Hoffas trial. The critical evidence against Hoffa is the license on which the plans to raid the Teamsters pension fund were written. Hoffa surrenders to federal officials and serves time in a Pennsylvania federal prison while Connellys uncle, Frank Fitzsimmons, Ciaro, also convicted and imprisoned, is freed and immediately begins working for Hoffas release. DAllesandro suggests that the Teamsters endorse Richard M. Nixon for President, so that in exchange for Teamster endorsement, Hoffa will receive a presidential pardon
19.
Wag the Dog
–
Wag the Dog is a 1997 black comedy film produced and directed by Barry Levinson. The screenplay by Hilary Henkin and David Mamet was loosely adapted from Larry Beinharts novel American Hero, the film stars Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, with Anne Heche, Denis Leary, and William H. Macy in supporting roles. The President of the United States is caught making advances on an underage Firefly Girl less than two weeks before Election Day, conrad Brean, a top-notch spin doctor, is brought in to take the publics attention away from the scandal. He decides to construct a diversionary war with Albania, hoping the media will concentrate on this instead, Brean contacts Hollywood producer Stanley Motss to create the war, complete with a theme song and fake film footage of a photogenic orphan in Albania. When the CIA learns of the plot, they send Agent Young to confront Brean who convinces him that revealing the deception is against his best interests. The CIA announces that the war has ended, but otherwise maintains the deception, at each stage of the plan, Motss continually dismisses setbacks as nothing and compares them to past movie-making catastrophes he averted. When the team goes to retrieve Schumann, they discover he is in fact a criminally insane Army prison convict before their plane crashes en route to Andrews Air Force Base. The team survives and is rescued by a farmer, but Schumann attempts to rape the farmers daughter, Motss then stages an elaborate military funeral, claiming that Schumann died from wounds sustained during his rescue. While watching a talk show Motss gets frustrated that the media are crediting the presidents win to a tired campaign slogan of Dont change horses in mid-stream rather than Motsss hard work. Despite previously claiming he was inspired by the challenge, Motss announces that he wants credit and will reveal his involvement, Motss refuses to back down, so Brean reluctantly has him killed and makes it look as if he had a heart attack. Because a dog is smarter than its tail, if the tail were smarter, it would wag the dog. Hoffmans character, Stanley Motss, is said to have been based directly upon famed producer Robert Evans, the award of writing credits on the film became controversial at the time, due to objections by Barry Levinson. After Levinson became attached as director, David Mamet was hired to rewrite Hilary Henkins screenplay, given the close relationship between Levinson and Mamet, New Line Cinema asked that Mamet be given sole credit for the screenplay. The film featured songs created for the fictitious campaign waged by the protagonists, these songs include Good Old Shoe, The American Dream. However, none of these made it onto the soundtrack CD. The CD featured only the track and seven of Knopflers instrumentals. On Rotten Tomatoes, Wag the Dog has an rating of 85% based on 72 reviews. The sites critical consensus reads, Smart, well-acted, and uncomfortably prescient political satire from director Barry Levinson, strangelove, it makes you laugh, and then it makes you wonder
20.
Hannibal (film)
–
Hannibal is a 2001 American crime thriller film directed by Ridley Scott, adapted from the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris. It is the sequel to the 1991 Academy Award–winning film The Silence of the Lambs in which Anthony Hopkins returns to his role as the serial killer. Julianne Moore co-stars, in the role first held by Jodie Foster, the film had a difficult and occasionally troubling pre-production history. When the novel was published in 1999, The Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme, screenwriter Ted Tally, after the departure of Foster and screenwriter Tally, Julianne Moore took on Fosters role while David Mamet and Steven Zaillian wrote the screenplay. Set ten years after The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal follows Starlings attempts to apprehend Lecter before his surviving victim, Mason Verger and it is set in Italy and the United States. The novel Hannibal drew attention for its violence, Hannibal broke box office records in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom in February 2001, but was met with a mixed critical reception. Ten years after tracking down serial killer Jame Gumb, FBI Special Agent Clarice Starling is unjustly blamed for a drug raid. She is later contacted by Mason Verger, the surviving victim of the serial killer Hannibal Lecter. A wealthy child molester, Verger was paralyzed and brutally disfigured by Lecter during a therapy session and he has been pursuing an elaborate scheme to capture, torture, and kill Lecter ever since. Using his wealth and political influence, Verger has Starling reassigned to Lecters case, after learning of Starlings public disgrace, Lecter sends her a taunting letter. Starling detects a strange fragrance from the letter, a perfume expert later identifies a skin cream whose ingredients are only available to a few shops in the world. She contacts the police departments of the cities where the shops are located, in Florence, one of said cities, Chief Inspector Rinaldo Pazzi is investigating the disappearance of a library curator. Pazzi questions Lecter, who is masquerading as Dr. Fell, upon recognizing Dr. Fell in the surveillance tape, Pazzi accesses the ViCAP database of wanted fugitives. He then learns of Vergers US$3 million personal bounty on Lecter, blinded by greed, Pazzi ignores Starlings warnings and attempts to capture Lecter alone. He recruits a pickpocket to obtain Lecters fingerprint to show Verger as proof, the pickpocket, mortally wounded by Lecter, manages to get the print and gives it to Pazzi. Lecter baits Pazzi into a room of the Palazzo Vecchio, ties him up, then disembowels. He then heads back to the United States, Verger bribes Justice Department official Paul Krendler to accuse Starling of withholding a note from Lecter, leading to her suspension. Lecter lures Starling to Union Station, Vergers men, having trailed Starling, capture and bring Lecter to Verger
21.
Glengarry Glen Ross (film)
–
Glengarry Glen Ross is a 1992 American drama film, adapted by David Mamet from his 1984 Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning play of the same name, and directed by James Foley. The film is set in either New York City or Chicago, like the play, the film is notorious for its use of profanity, leading the cast to refer to the film jokingly as Death of a Fuckin Salesman. The title of the film comes from the names of two of the real estate developments being peddled by the characters, Glengarry Highlands and Glen Ross Farms. The world premiere of the film was held at the 49th Venice Film Festival, al Pacino was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the film. The film grossed $10.7 million in North America, on a $12.5 million budget. The film depicts two days in the lives of four real estate salesmen who are supplied with leads, the names and phone numbers of prospects, they use deceitful and dubious tactics to make sales. Many of the leads rationed out by the office manager lack either the money or the desire to actually invest in land, Blake is sent by Mitch and Murray, the owners of Premier Properties, to motivate the sales team. Blake unleashes a torrent of abuse on the salesmen and announces that only the top two will be allowed access to the more promising Glengarry leads and the rest of them will be fired. He tries to persuade office manager John Williamson to give him some of the Glengarry leads, Levene tries first to charm Williamson, then to threaten him, and finally to bribe him. Williamson is willing to sell some of the leads. Levene cannot come up with the cash and leaves without any good leads, mosss plan requires Aaronow to break into the office, stage a burglary and steal all of the prime leads. Aaronow wants no part of the plan, but Moss tries to coerce him, at a nearby bar, Ricky Roma, the offices top closer, delivers a long, disjointed but compelling monologue to a meek, middle-aged man named James Lingk. Roma does not broach the subject of a Glengarry Farms real estate deal until he has completely won Lingk over with his speech, framing it as an opportunity rather than a purchase, Roma plays upon Lingks feelings of insecurity. The film then skips to the day when the salesmen come into the office to find that there has been a burglary. Williamson and the police question each of the salesmen in private, after his interrogation, Moss leaves in disgust, only after having one last shouting match with Roma. During the cycle of interrogations, Lingk arrives to tell Roma that his wife has told him to cancel the deal, Levene abets Roma by pretending to be a wealthy investor who just happens to be on his way to the airport. Williamson, unaware of Roma and Levenes stalling tactic, lies to Lingk, upset, Lingk rushes out of the office, and Roma berates Williamson for what he has done. Roma then enters Williamsons office to take his turn being interrogated by the police, Levene, proud of a massive sale he made that morning, takes the opportunity to mock Williamson in private
22.
Oleanna (film)
–
Oleanna is a 1994 drama film written and directed by David Mamet based on his play Oleanna and starring William H. Macy and Debra Eisenstadt. The film was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead, in his review of the film, Ebert expressed his feelings about the original play, Experiencing David Mamets play Oleanna on the stage was one of the most stimulating experiences Ive had in a theater. In two acts, he succeeded in enraging all of the audience - the women with the first act, I recall loud arguments breaking out during the intermission and after the play, as the audience spilled out of an off-Broadway theater all worked up over its portrait of. Or was it self-righteous Political Correctness, Oleanna at the Internet Movie Database Oleanna at AllMovie Oleanna at Box Office Mojo Oleanna at Rotten Tomatoes
23.
Oleanna (play)
–
The plays title, taken from a folk song, refers to a 19th-century escapist vision of utopia. Mamet later adapted his play into a film of the same name, Carol, a college student, is in the office of her professor, John. She expresses frustration that she does not understand the material in his class, despite having read the assigned books, of particular concern is a book written by John himself, wherein he questions the modern insistence that everyone participate in higher education, referring to it as systematic hazing. While talking with Carol, he is interrupted by the phone ringing. John is about to be granted tenure, along with a handsome raise, anticipating this, he is about to close on a new house, but his wife repeatedly calls with last-minute issues, demanding that he meet her at the home as soon as possible. After initially appearing insensitive, John eventually decides to help Carol, telling her that he likes her and that he also felt similar frustrations as a student. He takes the blame for her not understanding what he is talking about, at one heated point in the discussion he goes to put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her, but she violently shakes it off. Carol is back in Johns office, but more poised than before, Johns tenure is threatened because Carol has filed a formal complaint with the committee, accusing him of being sexist and pornographic. She has documented daily occurrences of Johns sexist remarks toward his students and his hand on her shoulder is described as sexual harassment. John hopes to resolve the matter privately with Carol so that the complaint may be withdrawn from the tenure committee. He says he does not understand how his actions could have offended her so, Carol decides its best that she leave, but John stands in front of the door and grabs hold of her. John has been denied tenure and suspended, with a possible dismissal and he has not been home to see his wife and family, staying at a hotel for two days trying to work out in his head what has happened. He has asked Carol to speak to him more and she has obliged. Carol is even more forceful to name her instructors flaws and she finds it hypocritical that a college professor could question the very system that offers him employment and gives him an academic platform to expound his views. She also makes reference to her group, on whose behalf she speaks and from whom she seems to be getting advice, in passing, John mentions that he has not been home recently. Carol reveals that if he had, he would have learned that her charges against him now amount to attempted rape, Carol offers to drop her charges if John would agree to her groups list of books to be removed from the university, which includes his own. He angrily tells her to leave his office as his phone rings again and it is his wife, whom he calls baby. Carol tells him not to refer to his wife that way, John finally snaps completely and savagely beats her, verbally abuses her and holds a chair above her head as she cowers on the floor
24.
The Unit
–
The Unit is an American action-drama television series that focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real-life U. S. Army special operations unit commonly known as Delta Force. The series originally aired on CBS from March 7,2006, to May 10,2009, the show is produced by The Barn Productions Inc. David Mamet Entertainment, and Fire Ants Films in association with 20th Century Fox Television, the show purports to describe the daily lives of Delta Force operators during training and operational missions, as well as their families back home. 1, on September 23 in Bulgaria on bTV, on March 9,2008, in Russia on DTV, and on June 13,2009, in Vietnam on VTC7-Today TV, in Turkey by TNT, and in Indonesia on Global TV. The theme music for the first and second seasons was Fired Up by Robert Duncan, Although the show focuses on an Army special ops unit, Fired Up is an adaptation of a Marine Corps running cadence called Fired Up, Feels Good. Duncan also created Walk the Fire, a 22-second segment used as a theme since season three, the Unit is the U. S. Army colloquial term for Delta Force. Its recruits are selected from the Army, the few who pass selection then undergo several more years of sophisticated and rigorous training for counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, and direct-action missions. In a television interview, series creator Eric Haney—who is a former Delta Force operator—stated that the term Delta Force is never used in the spec ops community and they are only referred to as The Unit and their DOD designation is Combat Applications Group. The official cover name of the Unit in the show is the 303rd Logistical Studies Group, in the third seasons premiere, an onscreen read-out identifies the Unit as 1st Special Actions Group. The Unit is based at an army post, Fort Griffith. Greenwood, Missouri, is a town located southeast of Kansas City. However, the red, white, and blue license plate is from the state of Idaho and this license plate can be seen in almost all the episodes. In later episodes, Unit members are shown as wearing the United States Special Operations Command patch on their class A uniforms, the Units immediate chain of command goes to the commanding officer, Colonel Tom Ryan—and, presumably, straight to the President of the United States. It is unknown if this bypasses the Command hierarchy, though, in the season 4 episode, The Spear of Destiny, a side character receives confidential mission information and when questioned on who sent her, replies, The Secretary of Defense. However, in the episode, The Broom Cupboard, the President gives orders directly to Jonas for a Unit mission, the wives of the Units Alpha Team personnel are given minimal mission or operational information. They are responsible for maintaining the 303rd Logistical Studies Group cover in all interactions with anyone who is not a Unit family member, if a member of the Unit is killed in action, the actual mode of death is not told to the families. A cover story concurrent with a member of the 303 Logistical Studies Unit is created, the wives themselves are encouraged to form a close, cohesive military family based on the common knowledge and strife to which this inevitably leads. The Unit has an unconventional structure, with the size of a company—about 130 operators—it is commanded by a colonel
25.
Leo Frank
–
Leo Max Frank was an American factory superintendent who was convicted in 1913 of the murder of a 13-year-old employee, Mary Phagan, in Atlanta, Georgia. His trial, and lynching two years later, attracted attention and became the focus of social, regional, political. Today, the consensus of researchers on the subject is that Frank was wrongly convicted, born to a Jewish-American family in Texas, Frank was raised in New York and earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University before moving to Atlanta in 1908. Marrying in 1910, he involved himself with the citys Jewish community and was elected president of the Atlanta chapter of the Bnai Brith, although antisemitism was not locally common, there were growing concerns regarding child labor at factories owned by members of the Jewish community. One of these children was Mary Phagan, who worked at the National Pencil Company where Frank was director, the girl was strangled on April 26,1913, and found dead in the factorys cellar the next morning. Two notes, made to look as if she had them, were found beside her body. Based on the mention of a witch, they implicated the night watchman. Over the course of their investigations, the police arrested several men, including Lee, Frank, and Jim Conley, on May 24,1913, Frank was indicted on a charge of murder and the case opened at Fulton County Superior Court on July 28. The prosecution relied heavily on the testimony of Conley, who described himself as an accomplice to the murder, a guilty verdict was announced on August 25. Frank and his lawyers made a series of appeals, their final appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States failed in April 1915. Considering arguments from both sides as well as not available at trial, Governor John M. Slaton commuted Franks sentence from capital punishment to life imprisonment. The case attracted national press and many deemed the conviction a travesty. Within Georgia, this outside criticism fueled antisemitism and hatred toward Frank, on August 16,1915, he was kidnapped from prison by a group of armed men and lynched at Marietta, Mary Phagans hometown, the next morning. The new governor vowed to punish the lynchers, who included prominent Marietta citizens, in 1986, Frank was posthumously pardoned by the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, although not officially absolved of the crime. The consensus of researchers on the subject is that Frank was wrongly convicted, the case inspired various media productions, including movies, plays, a TV miniseries, and books. In the early 20th century, Atlanta, Georgias capital city, underwent significant economic, to serve a growing economy based on manufacturing and commerce, many people left the countryside to relocate in Atlanta, often in primitive housing. Employment conditions in the city included child labor, a 66-hour work week, low wages, men from the traditional and paternalistic rural society felt it degrading that their womenfolk were forced into the city to work in factories. Mixed gender workplaces were seen as places for potential corruption, during this same period, Southern Jews felt ambivalent about their status
26.
Torah
–
The Torah is the central reference of Judaism. It has a range of meanings and it can most specifically mean the first five books of the twenty-four books of the Tanakh, and it usually includes the rabbinic commentaries. In rabbinic literature the word Torah denotes both the five books and the Oral Torah, the Oral Torah consists of interpretations and amplifications which according to rabbinic tradition have been handed down from generation to generation and are now embodied in the Talmud and Midrash. According to the Midrash, the Torah was created prior to the creation of the world, traditionally, the words of the Torah are written on a scroll by a scribe in Hebrew. A Torah portion is read publicly at least once every three days in the presence of a congregation, reading the Torah publicly is one of the bases for Jewish communal life. The word Torah in Hebrew is derived from the root ירה, the meaning of the word is therefore teaching, doctrine, or instruction, the commonly accepted law gives a wrong impression. Other translational contexts in the English language include custom, theory, guidance, the earliest name for the first part of the Bible seems to have been The Torah of Moses. This title, however, is neither in the Torah itself. It appears in Joshua and Kings, but it cannot be said to refer there to the entire corpus, in contrast, there is every likelihood that its use in the post-Exilic works was intended to be comprehensive. Other early titles were The Book of Moses and The Book of the Torah, Christian scholars usually refer to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible as the Pentateuch, a term first used in the Hellenistic Judaism of Alexandria, meaning five books, or as the Law. The Torah starts from the beginning of Gods creating the world, through the beginnings of the people of Israel, their descent into Egypt, and it ends with the death of Moses, just before the people of Israel cross to the promised land of Canaan. Interspersed in the narrative are the teachings given explicitly or implicitly embedded in the narrative. This is followed by the story of the three patriarchs, Joseph and the four matriarchs, God gives to the patriarchs a promise of the land of Canaan, but at the end of Genesis the sons of Jacob end up leaving Canaan for Egypt due to a regional famine. They had heard there was a grain storage and distribution facility in Egypt. Exodus begins the story of Gods revelation to his people of Israel through Moses, Moses receives the Torah from God, and teaches His laws and Covenant to the people of Israel. It also talks about the first violation of the covenant when the Golden Calf was constructed, Exodus includes the instructions on building the Tabernacle and concludes with its actual construction. Leviticus begins with instructions to the Israelites on how to use the Tabernacle, leviticus 26 provides a detailed list of rewards for following Gods commandments and a detailed list of punishments for not following them. Numbers tells how Israel consolidated itself as a community at Sinai, set out from Sinai to move towards Canaan, even Moses sins and is told he would not live to enter the land
27.
Antisemitism
–
Antisemitism is hostility, prejudice, or discrimination directed against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite, Antisemitism is generally considered to be a form of racism. The root word Semite gives the impression that antisemitism is directed against all Semitic people. However, the compound word antisemite was popularized in Germany in 1879 as a term for Judenhass Jew-hatred. Although the term did not come into common usage until the 19th century, the origin of antisemitic terminologies is found in the responses of Moritz Steinschneider to the views of Ernest Renan. As Alex Bein writes, The compound anti-Semitism appears to have been used first by Steinschneider, avner Falk similarly writes, The German word antisemitisch was first used in 1860 by the Austrian Jewish scholar Moritz Steinschneider in the phrase antisemitische Vorurteile. Steinschneider used this phrase to characterise the French philosopher Ernest Renans false ideas about how Semitic races were inferior to Aryan races and he coined the phrase the Jews are our misfortune which would later be widely used by Nazis. According to Jonathan M. Hess, the term was used by its authors to stress the radical difference between their own antisemitism and earlier forms of antagonism toward Jews and Judaism. In 1879 German journalist Wilhelm Marr published a pamphlet, Der Sieg des Judenthums über das Germanenthum, vom nicht confessionellen Standpunkt aus betrachtet in which he used the word Semitismus interchangeably with the word Judentum to denote both Jewry and jewishness. The pamphlet became very popular, and in the year he founded the Antisemiten-Liga. The Jewish Encyclopedia reports, In February 1881, a correspondent of the Allgemeine Zeitung des Judentums speaks of Anti-Semitism as a designation which recently came into use, on 19 July 1882, the editor says, This quite recent Anti-Semitism is hardly three years old. The related term philosemitism was coined around 1885, from the outset the term anti-Semitism bore special racial connotations and meant specifically prejudice against Jews. The term is confusing, for in modern usage Semitic designates a language group, though antisemitism has been used to describe bigotry against people who speak other Semitic languages, the validity of such usage has been questioned. The term may be spelled with or without a hyphen, for example, Emil Fackenheim supported the unhyphenated spelling, in order to the notion that there is an entity Semitism which anti-Semitism opposes. Objections to the usage of the term, such as the nature of the term Semitic as a racial term, have been raised since at least the 1930s. Because of this bad nature, Jews have to be not as individuals. Jews remain essentially alien in the surrounding societies, Jews bring disaster on their host societies or on the whole world, they are doing it secretly, therefore the anti-Semites feel obliged to unmask the conspiratorial, bad Jewish character. It was anti-liberal, racialist and nationalist, bernard Lewis defines antisemitism as a special case of prejudice, hatred, or persecution directed against people who are in some way different from the rest
28.
The Second City
–
The Second City is an improvisational comedy enterprise, best known as the first ever on-going improvisational theater troupe based in Chicago. It also has programs that run out of Toronto and Los Angeles, the Second City Theatre opened on December 16,1959 and has since become one of the most influential and prolific comedy theatres in the world. The Second City has produced programs in both the United States and Canada including SCTV, Second City Presents, and Next Comedy Legend. The Second City chose its name from the title of an article about Chicago by A. J. Liebling that appeared in The New Yorker in 1952. In 1959, the first Second City revue show premiered at 1842 North Wells Street, the cabaret theater, comedy style of the Second City tended towards satire and commentary of current social norms and political figures and events. In 1961, the theater sent a cast to Broadway with the revue, From the Second City, directed by Sills. Eventually, the theater expanded to include three touring companies and a resident company, and now fosters a company devoted to outreach. The style of comedy has changed with time, but the format has remained constant, a number of well-known performers began careers as part of the historic troupe and later moved to television and film. In 1973, Second City opened a theater in Toronto, theater became the second resident stage in Old Town, Chicago location, handling overflow crowds and increasing the number of resident company members. Co-founder Bernard Sahlins owned the company until 1985, before selling it to Andrew Alexander. Along with its theaters, training centers, and television shows, Second City also produces improv, Second City Television, or SCTV, was a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from the Toronto troupe of the Second City and ran from 1976 to 1984. The basic premise of SCTV was modeled on a station in the fictional city of Melonville. Edith Prickley, Catherine OHaras washed-up, alcoholic, narcissist former leading-lady Lola Heatherton, martin Short originated his dorky Ed Grimley character here, which he later brought to Saturday Night Live. Andrew Alexander took the reins of Second City Toronto in 1974 and formed a partnership with Len Stuart in 1976 and its first television production was SCTV. Alexander co-developed and executive produced over 185 half-hour shows for the comedy series. In 1985, Alexander and Stuart became owners of Chicagos Second City and he has produced or executive produced over 200 Second City revues in Canada and the United States. Most recently, Alexander has expanded The Second City TV & Film Division with offices in Los Angeles and he serves on the Columbia College Board of Trustees, is Chair of the Gildas Club Honorary Board, and is also an Honorary Member of the Chicago Gildas Club Board. As of 2014, the Second City has been awarded thirty-seven Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards, which have recognized them for Best Revue five times, the first being Paradigm Lost
29.
Oui (magazine)
–
Oui was originally published in France under the name Lui by Daniel Filipacchi, as a French equivalent of Playboy. In 1972, Playboy Enterprises purchased the rights for a U. S. edition, changing the name to Oui, jon Carroll, formerly assistant editor at Rolling Stone magazine and editor of Rags and later editor of The Village Voice, was selected as the first editor. Arthur Kretchmer, the editor of Playboy, however, had a role in assuring that editorial choices would be in line with Hugh Hefners vision, in the late seventies, Oui published some interesting articles, including Is this the man who ate Michael Rockefeller. In the end, he found a man who claimed he had eaten the unfortunate collector, Oui also hosted several reportages about Central Intelligence Agency activity, like the article CIA vs. S. government. In a more humorous vein, Oui also published the essay The 3 Most Important Things in Life by Harlan Ellison in its November 1978 issue, the three things in question were sex, violence and labor relations, each illustrated by anecdotes from Ellisons life. The piece has since republished in Ellisons Stalking the Nightmare. Despite its popularity, Oui was unable to produce a profit, furthermore, management realized that Oui was stealing more readers from Playboy than from Penthouse. So, in June 1981 Playboy Enterprises, based in Chicago, initially, Laurant featured celebrity nudity in Oui, peaking in 1982 with pictorials of Linda Blair, Demi Moore and Pia Zadora. The magazine subsequently experienced a significant decline in circulation, as had many of its competitors, Oui expanded its photo content to hardcore in the early 2000s, which included depictions of couples having sexual intercourse, including explicit penetration. List of mens magazines ouimagazine. com at Internet Archive
30.
Francis W. Parker School (Chicago)
–
Francis W. Parker School is an independent school serving students who live in the Chicago area from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Located in Chicagos Lincoln Park neighborhood, the school is based on the education philosophies of John Dewey and Colonel Francis Wayland Parker, emphasizing community. Tuition and fees range from $29,710 for kindergarten to $37,240 for grade 12, Parker has 938 students, and has undergone considerable physical renovation between 2000 and 2009. Parker added an AstroTurf field which started construction in June 2012, during the 2008–09 school year, the Auditorium was completely renovated, with new classrooms, more seating, office space and a balcony. The school is a member of the Chicago Independent School League, many notable figures have spoken at Parker including Barack Obama, Albert Einstein, and Jane Addams in the schools assemblies known throughout the school as Morning Exercise. Parker is part of the Independent School League athletic conference, and its mascot is the Colonel named after the schools founder, sports at Parker range from boys and girls soccer, to tennis, basketball, baseball, cross country, track and field, and field hockey. Paul Adelstein, actor Jonathan Alter, liberal journalist, critic, author, alexandra Bruce, filmmaker and writer Sir Henry Channon, Member of Parliament, diarist. Bobby Florsheim, screenwriter Eric Forsberg, filmmaker Chuck Gelatka, football player Edward Gorey, writer and illustrator Justin Hall, pioneer blogger Daryl Hannah, sarah Haskins, comedian Anne Heche, actress. Alec Michod, novelist Joan Mitchell, artist best known for her painting in the abstract expressionism movement, jordan Weisman, founder of FASA Corporation & WizKids Haskell Wexler, cinematographer. Hillary Wolf, actress & two-time U. S Olympian in judo Billy Zane, actor Lisa Zane, actress, vocalist Official Site
31.
Plainfield, Vermont
–
Plainfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,243 at the 2010 census, the town is the location of Goddard College. Plainfield is located at 44°16′41″N 72°25′37″W, according to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.0 square miles, of which 21.0 square miles is land and 0.04 square mile is water. Plainfield, the village, is located in the northern corner of the town along the Winooski River. Goddard College is located just west of the village, the ground rises to the east in the town, culminating at 3, 030-foot-high Spruce Mountain within Groton State Forest. As of the census of 2000, there were 1,286 people,487 households, the population density was 61.2 people per square mile. There were 520 housing units at a density of 24.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 96. 42% White,0. 78% African American,0. 86% Native American,0. 47% Asian,0. 39% from other races, hispanic or Latino of any race were 1. 40% of the population. 25. 7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8. 2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93. In the town, the population was out with 23. 7% under the age of 18,12. 9% from 18 to 24,28. 8% from 25 to 44,24. 4% from 45 to 64. The median age was 36 years, for every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males, the median income for a household in the town was $38,750, and the median income for a family was $42,813. Males had an income of $30,789 versus $29,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,980, about 7. 6% of families and 10. 9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9. 2% of those under age 18 and 17. 5% of those age 65 or over. Although Plainfield is similar to other rural New England towns by the numbers it has a distinct flair which sets it apart from most surrounding communities. Goddard College attracts a liberal, educated population that at one time made up a significant portion of the townspeople, Plainfield was home to noted composer and builder of the first American village style gamelan, Dennis Murphy. The town currently has two restaurants, one located in the center with New York-style pizza, and the other a cafe on US Route 2. The town has a public library, the Cutler Memorial Library
32.
Hull House
–
Hull House was a settlement house in the United States that was co-founded in 1889 by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr. Located in the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois, Hull House opened its doors to recently arrived European immigrants, by 1911, Hull House had grown to 13 buildings. In 1912 the Hull House complex was completed with the addition of a summer camp, with its innovative social, educational, and artistic programs, Hull House became the standard bearer for the movement that had grown, by 1920, to almost 500 settlement houses nationally. Most of the Hull House buildings were demolished for the construction of the University of Illinois-Circle Campus in the mid 1960s, the Hull mansion and several subsequent acquisitions were continuously renovated to accommodate the changing demands of the association. The original building and one additional building survive today, on June 12,1974, the Hull House building was designated a Chicago Landmark. On June 23,1965, it was designated as a U. S. National Historic Landmark, on October 15,1966, which is the day that the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 was enacted, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Hull House was one of the four members to be listed on both the Chicago Registered Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places list. Addams and Starr established Hull House as a settlement house on September 18,1889, in the 19th century a womens movement began to promote education, autonomy, and break into traditionally male dominated occupations for women. Organizations led by women, bonded by sisterhood, were formed for social reform, including settlement houses in working class and poor neighborhoods, like Hull House. To develop new roles for women, the first generation of New Women wove the traditional ways of their mothers into the heart of their new world. The social activists, often single, were led by educated, the residents held classes in literature, history, art, domestic activities, and many other subjects. Hull House also held concerts that were free to everyone, offered free lectures on current issues, in 1892, Addams published her thoughts on what has been described as the three Rs of the settlement house movement, residence, research, and reform. Hull House conducted careful studies of the Near West Side, Chicago community, which became known as The Hull House Neighborhood. According to Christie and Gauvreau, while the Christian settlement houses sought to Christianize, Jane Addams, “had come to epitomize the force of secular humanism. ”Her image was, however, according to the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, Some social settlements were linked to religious institutions. One of the first newspaper articles written about Hull House quotes the following invitation sent to the residents of the Hull House neighborhood. It begins with, Mio Carissimo Amico…and is signed, Le Signorine, Jane Addams,10,000 Italians lived between the river and Halsted Street. By all accounts, the greater Hull House neighborhood was a mix of ethnic groups that had immigrated to Chicago. There was no discrimination of race, language, creed, or tradition for those who entered the doors of the Hull House, every person was treated with respect
33.
Atlantic Theater Company
–
Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater, whose mission is to produce great plays simply and truthfully utilizing an artistic ensemble. The company was founded in 1985 by David Mamet, William H. Macy, Atlantic believes that the story of a play and the intent of its playwright are at the core of the creative process. In February 2017, Mamets play The Penitent started its previews at the Atlantic Theater Company leading to its premiere at the end of February, the company operates two theaters in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. And second, the 99-seat black-box theater, Stage 2 at 330 West 16th Street, Stage 2, which opened in June 2006, is the home of Atlantic’s new play development program which includes the commissioning of new works, readings, workshops, and fully staged productions. The latter two were transferred to Broadway. Other Mamet productions by Atlantic include his adaptation of Chekhovs Three Sisters, revenge of the Space Pandas, The Poet and the Rent, Vermont Sketches, Reunion, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, The Duck Variations, The Water Engine, Home, School, and Keep Your Pantheon. In February 2017, Mamets play The Penitent started its previews leading to its premiere at the end of February. In other recent productions, Atlantic has produced Farragut North by Beau Willimon on its mainstage, the Cripple of Inishmaan by Martin McDonagh was presented in collaboration with the Druid Theatre Company, and a co-produced revival of Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow played on Broadway. The Atlantic Acting School operates as both a private conservatory and a program in conjunction with the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. The Atlantic Acting School fosters new generations of artists by creating a student ensemble that allows actors to hone their craft. Atlantic is committed to preparing its students for all aspects of a performing arts career, culture of New York City List of Manhattan neighborhoods Atlantic Theater Company website Linda Gross Theater at the Internet off-Broadway Database
34.
James Spader
–
James Todd Spader is an American actor. His best-known television roles are those of attorney Alan Shore in The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal and he currently stars as high-profile criminal-turned-FBI-informant Raymond Red Reddington in the NBC crime drama The Blacklist, for which he has earned two Golden Globe Award nominations. Spader was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and is the youngest of three children and his parents Jean and Stoddard Greenwood Todd Spader were both teachers. Spader grew up in a liberal and progressive home, saying regarding his mother and he later transferred to Phillips Academy before dropping out at the age of seventeen and moving to New York City to pursue his acting career. On his way to becoming an actor, Spader undertook jobs such as bartending, teaching yoga, driving a meat truck, loading railroad cars. Spaders first major role was in the film Endless Love. However, he did not rise to stardom until 1986, when he played the rich and he co-starred in Mannequin and the film adaptation of Less Than Zero, in which he played a drug dealer named Rip. For this performance, he received the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival, in 1994, he starred as Egyptologist Daniel Jackson in the sci-fi film Stargate. In 1996, he played car accident fetishist James Ballard in the controversial Canadian film Crash, in 1997, Spader guest starred in the Seinfeld episode The Apology, as an angry recovering alcoholic who refuses to apologize to George for making fun of him. In 2000, he played a drug-addicted detective tracking down a killer in The Watcher. In 2002, he starred as a boss in Secretary. From 2004 to 2008, Spader starred as Alan Shore in the series Boston Legal and he won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2004 for his portrayal on The Practice and won it again in 2005 and 2007 for Boston Legal. With the 2005 win, he one of only a few actors to win an Emmy award while playing the same character in two different series. Even rarer, he won a second consecutive Emmy while playing the character in two different series. He also won the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Series, in October 2006, Spader narrated China Revealed, the first episode of Discovery Channels documentary series Discovery Atlas. He has also done the voice-over in several commercials for Acura. He starred in Race, a written and directed by David Mamet. The show closed on August 21,2010 after 297 performances, in March 2011, he was named to star in the film By Virtue Fall, written and to be directed by Sheldon Turner
35.
David Alan Grier
–
David Alan Grier is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his work on the comedy television show In Living Color. Grier graduated from Detroits magnet high school, Cass Tech, and received a B. A. from the University of Michigan, and an M. F. A. from the Yale School of Drama in 1981. When Grier was young, his family marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. in a March on Poverty in Detroit, where King gave an early version of the I Have A Dream speech. Immediately after graduating from Yale, Grier landed the role of Jackie Robinson in the short-lived Broadway musical The First, directed by Martin Charnin, Grier got his start on the National Public Radio radio drama adaptation of Star Wars in 1981. He was the voice of a nameless X-wing fighter pilot during the Battle of Yavin, Grier was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and won the Theatre World Award for The First. He later starred as James Thunder Early in the hit Broadway musical Dreamgirls, Grier made his film debut in 1983 in Streamers, directed by Robert Altman. He won the Golden Lion for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for the film and he also appeared in the Negro Ensemble Company production A Soldiers Play and reprised his role in the film version A Soldiers Story. Although primarily known for his work, Grier began to shift towards comedy, making memorable appearances in the cult films Amazon Women on the Moon. Keenen Ivory Wayans, the director of Sucka, cast Grier in his new variety show In Living Color and it became a ratings hit and won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Series. Grier became a popular cast member through his characters, which ranged from children to crotchety old men. Among his prominent characters were obnoxious, megaphone-blaring shop teacher Al MacAfee and he also played Rev. Leon Lonnie Love on the TV series Martin. Grier appeared with Tom Arnold in the 1997 comedy McHales Navy as Ensign Charles Parker, in 1999, he made a guest appearance as himself in the Aw, Here it Goes to Hollywood episode of Nickelodeons sitcom, Kenan & Kel. After the cancellation of In Living Color, Grier starred in the short-lived sitcoms The Preston Episodes, Damon, Grier had a cameo in the Robert De Niro and Edward Burns movie 15 Minutes as a Central Park mugger. In a departure from the roles he often played on In Living Color. He began doing comedy and began hosting the Comedy Central series Premium Blend. He was ranked no.94 on Comedy Central 100 Greatest Stand-Ups, Grier returned to Broadway to perform in the musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In 2002, Grier joined the cast of the improv-based ABC sitcom, during this time, he continued to appear in comedy films but also returned to drama in the films Baadasssss. and The Woodsman
36.
Kerry Washington
–
Kerry Marisa Washington is an American actress. She has also starred in the independent films Our Song, The Dead Girl, Mother and Child, in 2016, she portrayed Anita Hill in the HBO television film Confirmation and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie. In April 2014, Time magazine included Washington in its annual Time 100 list, Washington was born in the Bronx, New York City, the daughter of Valerie, a professor and educational consultant, and Earl Washington, a real estate broker. Her fathers family is of African American origin, having migrated from South Carolina to Brooklyn, through her mother, she is a cousin of the former U. S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. Youth Theater teen group and attended the Spence School in Manhattan from her pre-teen years until graduating high school in 1994. At age 13, she was taken to watch Nelson Mandela speak at Yankee Stadium upon his release from prison and she attended George Washington University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1998 with a double major in anthropology and sociology. She also studied at Michael Howard Studios in New York City, in April 2016, Washington confirmed that, in the 1990s in New York, she learned to dance from Jennifer Lopez. During her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she told host Jimmy Fallon that Ive been taking dance for a long time, but, then she left to move to Los Angeles and be on the TV show In Living Color. So, yes, I learned to dance from JLo, Washington got her Screen Actors Guild card as a requirement for a commercial that she starred in. Washington made her debut in the ABC telefilm Magical Make-Over. She was in the cast of the 1996 PBS sketch comedy-style educational series Standard Deviants, and she appeared in the short 3D and she went on to appear in several movies, including Save the Last Dance and The Human Stain. In 2004, she played the lead in Spike Lees She Hate Me. After 2004, she held parts in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Little Man, I Think I Love My Wife, and as a wife of 1970s Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the UK historical drama The Last King of Scotland. Washington has also appeared in the role of Chelina Hall on the ABC television series Boston Legal. Washington narrated the acclaimed documentary about the New Orleans-based teenage TBC Brass Band. She also appears in Maxwells Bad Habits video, in 2010, she made her Broadway debut in David Mamets Race, alongside James Spader, David Alan Grier, and Richard Thomas. She also appeared in Tyler Perrys 2010 film For Colored Girls, in October 2011, it was confirmed that she would star in Quentin Tarantinos film Django Unchained, which was released in 2012 and received widespread critical acclaim. She was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts, in 2013, Washington ranked No.2 in People magazines 100 Most Beautiful people and was named Woman of the Year by Glamour magazine
