Elizabeth Bove Movies
A young man leaves his home and family in search of himself in this independent drama. America Brown (Ryan Kwanten) -- called "Ricky" by most of his friends -- was born and raised in a West Texas town where football is treated more like a religion than a game. Raised by a single mother (Karen Black), America's primary male role model has been his older brother Daniel (Michael Rapaport), who has drilled it into Ricky's head that it's his destiny to be a football star. But America has come to hate football, and especially loathes Bo (Leo Burmester), the manipulative coach of his high-school team. Desperate to get away from it all, America runs away to New York City, where he seeks refuge with John Cross (Hill Harper), a one-time football legend from West Texas who gave up the game to become a Catholic priest. As America looks to find a new life, he finds in Cross a man who is still haunted by his past and smitten with a woman in his congregation, Rosie (Élodie Bouchez). America, meanwhile, develops an infatuation of his own with Vera (Natasha Lyonne), a pretty but streetwise girl who waits tables at a neighborhood diner. America Brown was the first feature film from writer and director Paul Black; it was screened at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ryan Kwanten, Hill Harper, (more)
- 1996
The Children's Video Theater presents this charmingly old-fashioned musical that uses Bil Baird's marionettes in place of high-tech computer wizardry to tell the story of dreamy young Joey, who is asked by his unemployed father to mail a sweepstakes entry that has upon it a map to an underwater treasure. En route, Joey falls. When he awakens, he finds himself aboard Captain Barnacle's pirate ship. The Capt. Sends poor Joey into the deep to find the treasure. At the bottom of the briny who should Joey meet but Davy Jones and his long-dead cohorts. Davy is more than happy to share the treasure with Joey and the pirates as they are not gold, but good books. Barnacle is not amused and threatens Joey. Fortunately, by this time, Davy decides to share the gold too. Soon afterward, Joey awakens and finds himself surrounded by his family. Surprise, it was all a dream! ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1993
The seven-year-old daughter (Madeline Zima) of prominent Broadway producer Gary Silver (Barry Primus) is kidnapped. As it turns out, the girl's abductor is her own natural mother. But things get even more complex -- and more unsavory -- when charges of sexual molestation enter the picture, leading to the requisite Law & Order surprise ending. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
