Collider - Martin Sheen

One of the Greatest TV Dramas of the 21st Century Is Finally on Netflix — Even If Its Idealism Feels Like Science Fiction Now

Rachel LaBonte — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:09:12 GMT

Years after departing Netflix, acclaimed drama The West Wing is back on the streaming service, and it still makes for perfect viewing — even if it feels too good to be true. Created by Aaron Sorkin, the series debuted in 1999 and followed the staff members surrounding President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen) as they navigated minor and major political obstacles. It ran for a total of seven seasons and, within that time, won 26 Primetime Emmys and two Peabody Awards. It represents a different era of television, but still remains one of the greatest dramas of all time, with its impact stretching beyond Hollywood.

This Time Travel Movie With Martin Sheen Should’ve Launched a Sci-Fi Franchise, and It’s Now Free To Watch

Sam Barsanti — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:45:12 GMT

It can be impossible to predict what will or will not kick off a sci-fi franchise. For example, who would’ve thought Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi satire Starship Trooperswould go from a darkly comic (and perversely entertaining) critique of fascism to a five-movie franchise that definitely doesn’t betray the actual message of the original movie? Not every ‘90s sci-fi movie starring Casper Van Dien was as lucky, though, with 1999’s The Time Shifters(a.k.a. Thrill Seekers) failing to launch a franchise despite having a very franchise-friendly time loop premise. Still, whether you’re a Time Shifter or a Thrill Seeker, this arguably underrated movie is available to stream for free right now on The Roku Channel and Prime Video’s free tier.

Josh Hartnett Was at His Devilish, Villainous Best in a Controversial William Shakespeare Adaptation Roger Ebert Called “Powerful”

Liam Gaughan — Sun, 04 May 2025 00:10:13 GMT

One of the greatest aspects of William Shakespeare’s work is that his most famous plays can be adapted countless times in different forms of media, as they speak to universal themes that never wane in relevance. Othellois one of the quintessential tragedies in Shakespeare’s legacy, as it tells a timeless story of race, power, lust, and ambition; while Orson Welles and Oliver Parker both directed terrific adaptations that were more straightforward, Tim Blake Nelsoncrafted a much different interaction that took the medieval power struggle and set it within the confines of a prestigious preparatory high school. Josh Hartnettgives one of the most complex, yet despicable performances of his career in O, a film that Roger Ebert would refer to as “powerful.”

Martin Scorsese Recast One of ’The Departed’s Most Important Characters at the Last Minute — and It Worked

Liam Gaughan — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 22:44:20 GMT

After many decades of making all-time great masterpieces, Martin Scorsesefinally won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director for The Departed, the Boston-set crime drama that was loosely inspired by the Infernal Affairs trilogy. While some filmmakers win their Oscars as “career trophies” that essentially honor the work they did over the course of their entire filmographies, Scorsese completely deserved to win for The Departed, as it is one of the most nail biting, exciting crime epics of the 21st century. The Departed earned a great deal of acclaim for its amazing ensemble cast, withMartin Sheendelivering a terrific performance as the no-nonsense Boston Police Captain Queenan. However, Sheen’s casting in The Departedwas a last-minute addition when Gerard McSorley was forced to drop out.

The Eerie Movie That Turned One of America’s Worst Murder Sprees Into a Neo-Western Classic and Launched a Director’s Career

Liam Gaughan — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 22:15:12 GMT

Terrence Malickis one of the most enigmatic filmmakers of his generation, as he has become renowned for taking massive gaps in between his projects. Although Malick was assumed to have been retired after making just two films in the 1970s, he delivered a modern World War II classic with The Thin Red Line in 1999, and later crafted a lyrical version of America’s early history with the romantic drama The New World. Malick’s films are known for their striking visual, surrealist sensibilities, and formless narratives. However, Malick’s debut film was the true crime thriller Badlands, which had a production process nearly as unpredictable as the real events that it was based on.

The Longest American Theatrical Movie Was Originally a Miniseries

Liam Gaughan — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:00:13 GMT

While there have always been long movies, it has become more common in recent years to see widely available, mainstream films that surpass the three-hour limit. Such an excessive runtime used to be afforded to only prestigious auteur projects like The Godfather: Part II or Once Upon A Time In America. However,the last few years have seen films generally surpassing a three-hour length, like The Batman, Oppenheimer, and Killers of the Flower Moonfinding both immense commercial and critical success. In this way, it should be noted that length doesn’t have to be a detriment to enjoyment if a film justifies it in some way. Some stories are so packed with detail that they require an extended running time to be told completely. Although one of those films was originally intended to be a miniseries, the 1993 Civil War film Gettysburg stands as the longest American theatrical movie in history.

This Emmy-Winning Holiday Episode of ‘The West Wing’ Is One of the Series' Best

Jen Vestuto — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 02:30:15 GMT

Over the course of the show's 7 season run, the hit NBC series The West Wingbecame known for having great holiday episodes. While they all are great episodes, it's the show's first one that stands out above the rest. Season 1, Episode 10 "In Excelsis Deo" helped set the stage for all the holiday episodes that came after, using the festivities as a backdrop to the more somber themes that the holiday season brings. Even with the heavier storylines, however, creator Aaron Sorkin always managed to find a glimmer of hope, reminding audiences of the true meaning of Christmas.

This Controversial Genre-Defying Horror Is One of Jodie Foster's Most Underrated Movies

Jasneet Singh — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 14:30:11 GMT

1976 was a prolific and memorable year for Jodie Foster, as the child actor gained fame for her roles in Taxi Driver, Bugsy Malone, and Freaky Friday. Taxi Driver, in particular, saw huge success and was an impressive platform for Foster to showcase her skills in more mature roles as she entered adolescence, playing a child forced into sex work opposite Robert De Niro. These three juggernaut films, which earned an array of awards, completely dominated her filmography that year, leaving The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane lost in their huge shadows. This genre-defying film is often overlooked, even though it has one of Foster's more prolonged and powerful performances that betrays how well she commands the screen. While Foster's successful year has contributed to its underrated quality, the film was controversial upon its release, specifically because of how it treated children in its narrative and themes. Despite this, director Nicolas Gessner’s film is more than deserving of attention, not just for the clever way it evades being defined by a genre, but for the riveting performances from Foster and Michael Sheen.

I Finally Watched 'The West Wing' - Here's What Does and Doesn't Hold Up

Ryan Looney — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:50:11 GMT

Given that we're in an election year, one of the shows I decided to explore this year was The West Wing, which my parents watched when I was still very young. Having been only about four months old when the series first premiered, I knew it would feel very different from the political environment of today, but I was also left pleasantly surprised by how idealistic it could feel. Even after the departure of its creator, the series was enjoyable to watch, but it also reflects an age where television was much longer and difficult to endure at such a fast pace. As a person who only grew up in the streaming era, it could be a difficult adjustment to make, and there is a risk it could turn away younger viewers. However, the stellar cast of characters is where this series truly shines, and every member of the main cast is a joy to watch. No matter how outdated and foreign it can feel, there is a reason why The West Wing still remains the undisputed king of televised political dramas, and it has proven itself to be timeless even a full quarter-century later.

Aaron Sorkin Teases ‘The West Wing’ Sequel Series at White House 25th Anniversary Event

Chris McPherson — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 18:21:53 GMT

A third term for the Bartlet administration? Feel free to sign us up. The cast and crew of The West Wing reunited in the heart of Washington, D.C., to celebrate the iconic show's 25th anniversary — and what better place than the White House itself? First Lady Dr.Jill Biden was on hand to pay tribute to the legendary multi-Emmy winning series that, for many, served as an introduction and a gateway into a love of politics. Dr. Biden joked that, although her husband was out president-ing at that moment, she still wanted to make sure that Martin Sheen's President Josiah Bartlet and his staff got to walk down memory lane.