Pamela Garmon Movies
Tim Robbins' second directorial effort (after the political satire Bob Roberts) was this drama based on a true story, which explores the issue of capital punishment. Sister Helen Prejean (Susan Sarandon) is a nun and teacher living in rural Louisiana. One day, she receives a letter from Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn), who is scheduled to be executed soon for the rape and murder of two teenagers. After meeting Matthew, Sister Helen agrees to serve as spiritual counselor and see what she can do to stay the execution. However, Matthew's claims of innocence seem shaky at best, and it's clear he's a reprehensible, amoral racist. When it becomes obvious that Matthew's sentence will be carried out, Sister Helen offers what comfort she can to Matthew, but also tries to guide him to an open admission of the extent of his crimes and an acceptance of divine forgiveness, telling him "I want the last face you see to be the face of love." Susan Sarandon won an Oscar for her performance as Sister Prejean, and Sean Penn was similarly nominated for Best Actor as Matthew. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, (more)
A daughter haunted by the memory of a morbid love affair suspects that the man who once seduced her has returned to kill her after eighteen-years after being convicted and imprisoned for murdering her mother. Mother and daughter have both had a torrid love affair with the same man, and in the end the mother paid for the transgression with her life. Though the diabolical seducer was quickly convicted and sent to prison, nearly twenty-years have passed and now the woman who was once a frightened young girl begins to suspect that the man who killer her mother has returned to claim her life as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 1992
"Based on the Georgia case that shocked the country" (or so said its ad copy), the made-for-TV Stay the Night was originally telecast in two parts in April of 1992. Part One introduces Barbara Hershey as a predatory middle-aged woman who seduces feckless teenager Morgan Wessler. Before this two-hour installment has run its course, Barbara has talked Morgan into murdering her husband and taking sole blame for the deed. In part two, first seen April 27, 1992, Morgan's mother Jane Alexander turns the tables on Barbara, using several of the villainess' own dirty tricks. While Stay the Night is rough sledding during the first half, its denouement is well worth the wait. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The promise made by 15-year-old Georgia boy Ricky Schroder is to his dying mother (Veronica Cartwright). Schroder vows that he'll keep his parentless family--all seven brothers--together, no matter what. He keeps his word, through starvation, deprivation and natural disaster. It says in the ads that the made-for-TV A Son's Promise was based on a true story. Real or fabricated, the film offers a good workout for your tear-ducts, even when lapsing into the Obvious. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rick Schroder, Donald Moffat, (more)
- 1990
Brian Dennehy stars in this made-for-cable drama about a blue-collar family man laid off from his auto-industry job who learns that his resentful son plans to drop out of medical school. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
- 1990
The second In the Line of Duty fact-based TV movie of the 1990-1991 season, In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas stars Michael Gross as an urban FBI agent. His quarry is Gordon Kahl (Rod Steiger), leader of a right-wing extremist movement whose battle against authority has led to murder. Charged with killing two federal marshals, Kahl holes up in the Dakota hills, with his fanatical followers running interference as the feds close in. Though the film takes no sides, it details the sort of financial and social pressures that might bring forth a charismatic madman like Gordon Kahl. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rod Steiger, Michael Gross, (more)
- 1984
In this thriller, based on a novel by Caroline B. Crosney, an insane escaped convict evades cops by hijacking a car and holding the female driver and her baby hostage. He then takes off through rural South Carolina. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
