ENGLEWOOD, CO. (Starz Entertainment Group/ www.starz.com) - Starz has added six exclusive films highlighted by the world premiere of High Rollers, an intriguing true story about the world's greatest poker player starring Emmy Winner Michael Imperioli, and the television premiere of "Tiptoes," an off-beat love story about "little people" starring Matthew McConaughey, Gary Oldman, Kate Beckinsale, and
Peter Dinklage.
"We are very pleased to have acquired these six star-studded, exclusive films, three that are world premieres and three that have never been seen before on television," says Stephan Shelanski, Starz senior vice president program acquisitions, planning and scheduling. "These films represent the diversity that is displayed throughout our many different channels."
"Le Pacte du Silence" (Television Premiere - Mystery December 9 at 11:45 p.m.) Gerard Depardieu stars as a French doctor/priest who becomes first intrigued, then smitten by identical twins (played by Elodie Bouchez) whose physical states directly impact the other. One is a sickly nun and the other is on parole for a heinous crime she committed as a child. As the priest begins to untangle the truth of their pasts, he becomes romantically entangled with the parolee, jeopardizing his status as a Catholic priest.
"High Roller: The Stu Unger Story" (World Premiere - STARZ! January 30th at 9:00 p.m.) In 1980, Stu Unger (Michael Imperioli) stunned Las Vegas when he became the youngest player ever to win the World Series of Poker, and then repeated the feat the following year. After years of self-abuse and heavy gambling, Stu tries to buck the odds by winning the title an unprecedented third time in 1997.
The story flashbacks to Stu's beginnings on the streets of New York, where his father's gaming business lured the young boy into a world that would shape the rest of his life. The film co-stars Michael Nouri, fellow "Sopranos" cast member Steve Schirripa, Todd Susman and Pat Morita.
"The I Inside" (World Premiere - Mystery February 2005) After a near-death experience, a man (Ryan Phillippe) with amnesia wakes up in his hospital bed and discovers that his memory has been replaced by an incredible ability to travel through time, which he hopes to use to solve the mystery behind the murder of his brother. The film co-stars Sarah Polley, Stephen Rea, Robert Sean Leonard, Piper Perabo and Stephan Lang.
"Soccer Dog: European Cup" (Television Premiere - STARZ! Family February 2005) This pooch has got the international soccer scene by the tail. He can outplay everyone on the field and turns a bunch of misfits into a formidable soccer team. The film stars Jake Thomas, Nick Moran, Lori Heuring and Orson Bean.
"Tiptoes" (Television Premiere - STARZ! March 2005) Shortly after getting pregnant, a young woman (Kate Beckinsale) discovers that her fiance's (Matthew McConaughey) entire family is afflicted with dwarfism. After the couple split up from the stress, she goes to live with his twin brother, and learns a thing or two about unconditional love.
The film co-stars Peter Dinklage, Patricia Arquette, David Alan Grier, and Gary Oldman who gives "an astonishingly fine performance" according to Variety.
"Den of Lions" (World Premiere - Action July 2005) A Hungarian-born FBI Agent (Stephen Dorff) goes undercover in Budapest to help the Bureau and the Hungarian government infiltrate the far-reaching operations of a powerful Russian mafia kingpin (Bob Hoskins). The film co-stars Laura Fraser and Ian Hart.
Starz Entertainment Group (SEG) is the largest provider of premium movie services in the United States with approximately 167 million pay units. SEG offerings include the Starz Super Pak, with up to 13 digital movie channels and more than 750 movies per month, Starz On Demand, the only on-demand pay TV subscription service available on the cable and satellite platforms, and its broadband equivalent, STARZ! Ticket.
SEG also offers a suite of advanced video offerings, including STARZ! HD, Encore HD, and Starz On Demand HD. Starz Entertainment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, https://www.starz.com.
For more information, please contact:
Steve Belgard of SEG, +1-720-852-5843, [email protected];
or Tom Chen of MPRM, +1-323-933-3399, [email protected].
