Tony Jones Movies
In a rare foray into documentary filmmaking, Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment produced this behind-the-scenes look at professional wrestling, shot on digital video by director (Barry W. Blaustein), screenwriter of several hit Eddie Murphy comedies. An unabashed wrestling fan since childhood, Blaustein nevertheless takes an unflinching look at the dark underbelly of the "sport," as he shadows a trio of wrestlers representing three very different aspects of the profession. Mick Foley is a superstar shown to be the complete opposite of "Mankind," his successful wrestling character. At work, Mankind is a bloodthirsty animal, but when his mask is off, he's a loving, doting father clearly worshipped by his two young kids, who are traumatized when they witness Foley being bloodied at an Anaheim, California, event. Terry Funk is a portrait of what Foley could become, a former legend now at the end of his career and in desperate need of knee surgery, but continuing to perform dangerous stunts in the ring. Jake "The Snake" Roberts, on the other hand, travels in second-class wrestling circles, a recovering drug addict who has a painful reconciliation with his daughter. Blaustein also interviews the World Wrestling Federation's boastful bigwig Vince McMahon. McMahon later tried to block the release and promotion of the film. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry W. Blaustein, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, (more)
- 1998
Diana Ross hosts this four-hour TV special tracing the rise of Berry Gordy's Detroit-based Motown record label during the '60s. Clips were compiled from a variety of sources, including such TV shows as Teen Town, Where the Action Is and It's What's Happening Baby. The history covers the label's leading acts (Temptations, Supremes, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Martha and the Vandellas, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye) and explores the talents who created the Motown style -- songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland and Norman Whitfield, choreographer Cholly Atkins, finishing-school director Maxine Powell, arranger Maurice King, and the rhythm section (pianist Earl van Dyke, drummer Ben Benjamin, and bassist James Jamerson). With background on Gordy, the story moves forward into Motown's film/TV production, the solo career of Diana Ross, the Commodores, Teena Marie, Rick James, and many others. Interviews include Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Branford Marsalis, Clive Davis, Jesse Jackson, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, George Schlatter, Julian Bond, Diahann Carroll, RuPaul, and Rod Stewart. The special premiered as a two-parter (February 15th and 19th, 1998) on ABC. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, (more)
- 1997
Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) are visibly shaken by their latest investigation, centering around the murder of a retired cop. When it turns out that the victim trafficked in illicit sex and murder, the trail leads to a pair of interior decorators who "moonlight" as prostitutes. Once the ball is in the D.A.'s court, McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Ross (Carey Lowell) must again deal with feminist lawyer Lanie Stieglitz (Elaine Stritch). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- PG13
Once-hot singing star Cyndi Lauper heads the cast of the Florida-based thriller Off and Running. Lauper plays a minor TV actress, Cyd Morse, who works nights as an underwater dancer at a posh Miami Beach hotel. While pitching woo with her boyfriend (José Pérez), Cyd is startled by the arrival of two hoods, who murder her man and prepare to do same to her. With a vital piece of evidence in her hot little hand, our heroine bolts her hotel room and runs off into the night. She enlists the reluctant aid of golfer Jack Cornett (David Keith), who tries to keep her from getting "iced" before she can reach the authorities. And guess what, kids? Cyd and Jack fall in love. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cyndi Lauper, David Keith, (more)
- 1988
Twenty-four different directors have taken twenty-four different hours from January 26, 1988 (Australia Day) and have explored the collective lives of Australians in this bicentennial feature. In 1788, the so-called First Fleet sailed into what is now Sydney Harbor. The ways that Australians celebrated that moment are the subject of this documentary. The only sour note in this cheerful feature is the evidence of widespread continued misunderstanding of the aboriginal people and their history. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
Michael Morgan stars as a teen obsessed with losing his virginity, and who gets his wish with Joan Collins, the mother of one of his best friends. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joan Collins, Michael Morgan, (more)
