Peter Coyote Movies
There are several theories as to why Peter Cohon chose the stage name of Peter Coyote; for his part, the actor is reluctant to discuss an event that apparently was the end result of an evening's experimentation with controlled substances. In the late 1960s, Coyote quit his job as a dockworker to "turn on, tune in and drop out." With hair so long that he could sit on it (by his own admission), Coyote was a "fringie" with such varied organizations as the Grateful Dead and the Hell's Angels, and also worked for a while with a guerilla mime group. After years of deprivation, Coyote dropped back into society in 1975, accepting a job as a drama teacher at a public school. Rapidly approaching middle age, Coyote entered films with 1980's Die Laughing. Throughout the 1980s, he alternated between good guys, villains, and a vaguely defined stereotype known as "loser boyfriends." As the vengeful public prosecutor in The Jagged Edge (1985), Coyote turns out not to be the film's principal heavy; even so, we leave the picture disliking his character more than anyone else's. Leading roles came his way in such films as Exposure (1991), but even here he could not completely escape an aura of slime (his ostensibly heroic character burrows through the seamy underside of Rio in search of a prostitute's murderer). One of Coyote's few unconditionally "nice" roles was as the enigmatic scientist Keys in the champion moneymaker E.T. (1982). In the late 1990s, Coyote published Sleeping Where I Fall, a candid memoir of his years as a cultural drop out. In 1992 Roman Polanski tapped him to play the lead in his psycho-sexual black comedy Bitter Moon, and he continued to work steadily in a variety of projects after that such as Kika, Buffalo Girls, Patch Adams, and Sphere. With his deep, distinctive voice he became an in demand narrator for documentaries. He had a small but memorable turn in Erin Brokovich, and was cast in Brian De Palma's Femme Fatale. He was in the teen drama A Walk to Remember, and the Polish brothers cast him in their 2003 film Northfork. Although his big-screen appearances began to dwindle, he remained one of the most ubiquitous narrators of non-fiction films of various types. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A woman dealing with an unexpected death has to help her friends with their own crises in this comedy-drama. Rebecca Lott (Elizabeth Perkins) gets an unpleasant surprise while waiting for her husband to return from his daily jog -- he was hit by a car and instantly killed. A handful of Rebecca's friends and relatives rally around her, including her close friend and neighbor Sylvie (Whoopi Goldberg), her former stepmother Alberta (Kathleen Turner), and her younger sister Lucy (Gwyneth Paltrow), but she has a hard time accepting the fact that she's now a widow (or, as she prefers to put it, "the 'W' word"). It also seems that the women trying to offer Rebecca emotional support could use some of their own; Sylvie's marriage is hanging by a thread, and Lucy is depressed and cynical owing to her inexperience with men. But romance begins to find its way back into Rebecca's life when a handsome younger man (Jon Bon Jovi) -- hired to paint the house -- takes a shine to her. Moonlight and Valentino was based on a play written by Ellen Simon, daughter of comic playwright Neil Simon. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Perkins, Whoopi Goldberg, (more)
- 1995
National Geographic: Cyclone inspects the specific causes and attempts to make sense of some of nature's most frightening spectacles. Director Richard J. Wells and his crew make extensive use of real-life footage of particularly famous tornadoes, tropical storms, and hurricanes in order to capture the authentic terror and ruin that storms are capable of inflicting. Storms from the Midwest's infamous Tornado Alley are examined, and there is a lengthy investigation of Hurricane Andrew, the enormously destructive storm that hit South Florida in 1992. In addition, featured scientists in the video discuss their past and future efforts to understand these natural disasters. ~ John Schietinger, Rovi
Set in a near-future world in which "cybersex" has become all the rage and in which wealthy men can have women cloned to match their every fantasy, this thriller centers on the exploits of Pamela, one of the most famous actresses in the virtual porn industry. Because she is so popular, many fans want clones of her, and greedy but brilliant bio technologist Dr. Vivyan is hell-bent on getting a sample of her DNA. Determined to remain unique, Pamela attempts to flee but ends up protected by police sergeant Bobby Chase. Despite his efforts, Vivyan successfully abducts Pamela and holds her captive inside a dangerous virtual reality game, To save her, Chase must enter the game and win. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lorenzo Lamas, Chris Sarandon, (more)
- 1994
Quite possibly the world's most beloved animal, the Chinese Panda is nevertheless threatened with extinction. Human development destroys more of their range every year. Zoo breeding programs are disappointing as cubs rarely survive, and yet one in ten of the world's population of pandas lives in captivity. However, a dedicated team of Chinese scientists spent 10 years in the wild, observing the animals in their natural habitats to learn how to save them. Miraculously, the team found a newborn cub, which they named Hope, and her mother, called Double Lucky. Follow the team as they live in a difficult forest environment to learn everything they can to ensure the survival of the species, both in the wild and in protected areas. ~ Leslie Birdwell, Rovi
- 1994
This film, set in a small Australian community, is adapted from a novel of the same name by Tim Winton. It tells the story of a troubled family offered help by a caring stranger whose intentions are not as selfless as they seem. The Flack family lives a peaceful existence on their farm beside a river. They consist of parents Alice and Sam, their two children Tegwyn, an adolescent girl, and Ort, a curious and sensitive 12 year old boy, and the senile grandmother. The family's happiness is shattered when Sam falls into a deep coma following an auto accident. When stranger Harry Warburton suddenly shows up, Alice who has been exhausted by trying to care for her husband and upset family, gladly accepts his proffered assistance. Harry, who claims to be an evangelist, is quickly accepted into the family by all but Tegwyn who questions his intentions. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Coyote, Lisa Harrow, (more)
- 1994
- PG13
This made-for-cable movie tells the story of a military wife in jeopardy. Tom Verica stars as Lt. Ted Lutz, an Army soldier who has been transferred to a Utah base. When power-hungry commanding officer Col. Andrew Case (Peter Coyote) develops an interest in Lutz' wife Helen (Courtney Thorne-Smith), Lt. Lutz is suddenly shipped off-base, leaving Helen alone on the base to defend herself and fend off the advances of the colonel. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Coyote, Courtney Thorne-Smith, (more)
- 1993
National Geographic Video: Survivors of the Skeleton Coast takes viewers on a scenic tour of the mysterious desert region of southwest Africa. Here, on the Skeleton Coast, desert elephants and giraffes make their home, ship graveyards add to the mystique, and sand storms and droughts stir up big trouble. Named after the wrecked hulls of ships that dot the coastline, Namibia's Skeleton Coast is not the most pleasant host to its native species. Des and Jen Bartlett, who have dwelled in this desert for years, document their homeland's unpredictable forces. ~ Betsy Boyd, Rovi
- 1993
The 16th president of the United States comes fully to life in the one-hour special Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom. This PBS program explores the history of the gentle leader from birth to presidency. Lincoln was unlike any other world leader because of his sense of humanity and justice. Raised in the wilds of Kentucky, the tall gangly pioneer educated himself, eventually earning a law degree. His devotion to freedom was played out during his unique reign in the White House. By far, Lincoln's greatest challenge was navigating the Civil War and its aftereffects. Dedicated to the abolishment of slavery, Lincoln fought hard to maintain that ideal while holding the Union together. All the while, he had to fight the possibility of a British invasion. This in-depth documentary features the voices of Andrew Young, Peter Coyote, and Louis Gossett Jr. It offers a rare glimpse into the motivations of one of America's greatest heroes. ~ Sarah Ing, Rovi
- 1993
Spanish director Pedro Almodovar returns to his recurring framework of offbeat sexuality and death with this colorful comedy. Kika (Veronica Forque) is a Madrid makeup artist who falls in love with Ramon (Alex Casanovas), a dead man whose face Kika is hired to prepare for a funeral. Kika's attraction resurrects Ramon, and the two begin cohabiting. Kika becomes embroiled in a pair of criminal schemes, one involving her maid Juana (Rossy De Palma) and Juana's amorous, retarded brother Pablo (Santiago Lajusticia), the other involving Ramon's father, Nicholas (Peter Coyote). After Kika is raped by Pablo, she learns the incident was videotaped by Ramon, the footage ending up on a tabloid television program hosted by Andrea Scarface (Victoria Abril). Kika and Ramon split, but the latter discovers his father's complicity in the demise of his mother, leading to a violent confrontation. Because of Almodovar's humorous treatment of the film's rape, Kika was his third feature in a row that resulted in critical accusations of misogyny and exploitation. His subsequent material became more dramatic and less tinged with black humor. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Verónica Forqué, Peter Coyote, (more)
- 1992
A vigilante (Anthony LaPaglia) who is systematically killing the crime lords in control of the Chicago mob crosses paths with a veteran detective (Louis Gossett Jr.) in this made-for-cable thriller. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
- Starring:
- Louis Gossett, Jr., Anthony LaPaglia, (more)
A perverse, dark-humored comedy drama, Bitter Moon crosses the line into intentional camp more often than not in its tale of a kinky cripple Oscar (Peter Coyote) and his beautiful wife Mimi (Emmanuelle Seigner). Oscar ensnares a proper British man, Nigel (Hugh Grant) on an ocean-liner and makes him listen to the twisted tale of his relationship with Mimi (related in lengthy flashbacks) and how erotic obsession turned to homicidal hatred. Nigel is married to Fiona (Kristin Scott-Thomas), but is captivated by Mimi and listens to Oscar's grotesque stories because of his fascination. Naturally, the whole thing ends in tragedy, but it's wicked fun getting there, as director Roman Polanski paces the film quite well and the cast (particularly Coyote) is wonderful. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Coyote, Emmanuelle Seigner, (more)
- 1991
- R
A normally gentle photojournalist becomes a raging vigilante down in Rio following the death of the gentle prostitute he had befriended. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Coyote, Tchéky Karyo, (more)
- 1991
A video review of the sixties with Dennis Hopper, Graham Nash, Peter Fonda, Michelle Phillips and John Paul Jones DeJoria. ~ Rovi
- 1991
"Saying 'no' to Melanie could lead to murder--and more." Thus did the CBS Network publicity department lure the viewer into watching the made-for-TV Seduction in Travis County. Based liberally on fact, the film stars Lesley Ann Warren as an accused murderer. Peter Coyote is the dynamic, married young attorney whom Warren twists around her little finger. He wins her acquittal, and also her eternal deadly vigilance. Coyote says "no" to Warren--and we all know where it will lead. With traces of the 1950 Barbara Stanwyck film The File on Thelma Jordon, Seduction in Travis County delivers a few chills but very little believable motivation for the characters' actions. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lesley Ann Warren, Peter Coyote, (more)
- 1991
CBS's scheduled resolution of a Murphy Brown cliffhanger (is she pregnant or not?) cut a vital portion of the audience for Living A Lie upon its initial September 1991 telecast. Those who did tune into this TV movie were in for a well-intentioned if preachy anti-prejudice piece. The scene is a rural Southwestern community, where Jill Eikenberry has been happily married to Peter Coyote for years. An Hispanic family moves into the area, and is promptly subjected to violence. The principal suspect is Coyote--who is, as Eikenberry discovers for the first time, a fire-breathing bigot. As the body of evidence increases, she finds it difficult to stand by her husband, as the community expects her to. Ultimately her conscience wins out over misguided matrimonial loyalty. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Adapted from the Robert Boswell novel, the film focuses on a very troubled family beset from all sides by conflict, arguments and scandal. The father (Peter Coyote) brings his wife (Cindy Pickett) and two sons (Vincent D'Onofrio, Peter Berg) to Washington State to begin a new life, but finds that the same problems have followed them. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vincent D'Onofrio, Jennifer Jason Leigh, (more)
- 1990
- PG
Adapted from a true story, West German investigative journalist Gunther Wallraff (Jurgen Prochnow) decides to fight sleaze with sleaze as he goes undercover at a tabloid newspaper to dig up the dirt on the paper's own unethical practices. Rising to the top of the hierarchy by working at the kind of journalism he despises, Wallraff soon discovers that the paper is waging a campaign against his true-life self; he must fight to emerge with his identity intact. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jürgen Prochnow, Peter Coyote, (more)
- 1990
This documentary chronicles screenwriter Waldo Salt's journey back to the top of the entertainment industry after being notoriously blacklisted. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi
- 1989
- R
Heart of Midnight is a involving, well-above-average erotic, psychological thriller directed by Matthew Chapman. Carol (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is recovering from a nervous breakdown. She inherits a nightclub from her uncle and moves in. There she discovers strange and frightening secrets about her uncle and begins to remember details of their past relationship. She battles for her sanity as her surroundings begin to seem menacing and she cannot be sure what is real and what is a hallucination. This above-average film features good performances by Peter Coyote and Jennifer Jason Leigh who have an unusual, intriguing sexual chemistry. Viewers should note a small supporting role by Steve Buscemi. Heart of Midnight, offbeat and interesting, is highly recommended. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jennifer Jason Leigh, Peter Coyote, (more)
Made for British television, Act of Will focuses on three generations of women in a proud, indomitable family. Australian-born director Don Sharp brings to his soap-opera material the same energy and vitality that he'd previously lavished on such theatrical features as Kiss of the Vampire (1963) and Hennessy (1985). Since a portion of the production money was ponied up by Hollywood, American actor Peter Coyote is given a crucial role in the World War II sequences. Among the distaff cast members are the always welcome Jean Marsh (Upstairs, Downstairs), Victoria Tennant (the former Mrs. Steve Martin) and Elizabeth Hurley (who, as of this writing at least, is the girlfriend of Hugh Grant). Act of Will received its widest American exposure on public and cable television. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1989
This biopic follows physically challenged Richmond Flowers Jr. as he overcomes his difficulties and the conflicts caused by his father's activism in the civil rights movement, and becomes a famous college athlete. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1987
Based on cop-turned-author Joseph Wambaugh's factual chronicle of a 1979 murder investigation in Pennsylvania, this crime drama originally aired as a television mini-series. The story centers on the murder of Susan Reinert, a local school teacher, and the disappearance of her entire class of children. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1987
Based on a 1983 novel by Dan Jenkins, Baja Oklahoma is set sometime in the 1950s. Texas barmaid Lesley Ann Warren wants more than anything to be a rich and famous country-western songwriter. Unfortunately, she spends most of her time sorting out her many dead-end romances. Just when she thinks she's ready for the big move to Nashville, along comes her erstwhile old flame Peter Coyote. Deftly stealing every scene she's in is Swoosie Kurtz as Warren's hot-to-trot best pal. Willie Nelson, who cowrote the film's title song with Dan Jenkins, makes a guest appearance, along with such other C&W favorites as Emmylou Harris and Bob Wills Jr. Actress Alice Krige is superb as songstress Patsy Cline-far better, incidentally, than Jessica Lange in Sweet Dreams. Playing the supporting role of Warren's daughter is Julia Roberts, who was later touted as the film's star when Baja Oklahoma was released to video. Made for the HBO cable service, the film debuted February 20, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lesley Ann Warren, Peter Coyote, (more)
- 1987
- R
A married American actor (Peter Coyote) falls in love with his on-screen flame (Greta Scacchi) while filming an Italian biography of author Cesare Pavese. France's 1987 entry to the Cannes Film Festival, this was the first English-language film for director Diane Kurys. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Coyote, Greta Scacchi, (more)
Two women with serious differences are forced to look out for each other in this anarchic comedy. Sandy (Bette Midler) and Lauren (Shelley Long) are a pair of struggling actresses who don't get along especially well -- and are even less fond of each other when they discover that they're both dating the same man, Michael (Peter Coyote). However, when Michael suddenly goes missing, they discover that he's actually an espionage agent working with a foreign government, and as they set out to find him, they learn that he has implicated them in his schemes. Now Sandy and Lauren are stuck with each other as they look for Michael while trying to outrun the law. Outrageous Fortune also stars George Carlin as Frank, a burned-out '60s holdover who the women meet along the way. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Shelley Long, Bette Midler, (more)
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