Cynthia Darlow Movies
A pair of siblings are forced to set aside their discomfort with one another for the sake of their father in this low-key comedy drama from writer/director Tamara Jenkins. Wendy Savage (Laura Linney) is a struggling playwright living in New York City who works a day job to support herself and can't shake the feeling that she's failed as an artist. Wendy isn't especially happy about her love life either, gaining little self-esteem from her on-and-off affair with oversexed, married neighbor Larry (Peter Friedman). Wendy's anxieties about her writing career are intensified by the success of her brother, Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who teaches theater history at a college in Buffalo, NY, and has published a number of books. While Jon's life seems fine on the surface, a case of writer's block has stalled work on his latest project, and he's deeply upset that his girlfriend is soon to leave the United States to return to her native Poland. Wendy and Jon don't get along and prefer not to see one another, but an unfortunate circumstance brings them together -- their father, Lenny Savage (Philip Bosco). Elderly Lenny has began showing signs of dementia, and shortly after he takes to smearing his feces on the walls of his Arizona home, his ailing long-term girlfriend suddenly dies. Wendy and Jon have little choice but to fly to Arizona and see what can be done for Lenny, but their long-simmering animosity makes it hard for them to deal with the realities of Lenny's condition. The Savages received its world premiere at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, (more)
- 2003
The apparent fatal heart attack of a jogger leads detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) on a not-so-merry chase involving a vendetta against a faithless woman perpetrated by two volatile brothers, a kidnapped pregnant woman whose husband is a serial philanderer, and a scorned wife who runs over her husband with her car in full view of dozens of witnesses. It may well be the most hectic day in either detective's life, and it's not over when the sun goes down. This episode was originally sandwiched between an airing of Law & Order's 1990 pilot show and the telecast of the series' 13th-season finale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
An embittered HIV-positive male goes on a sexual rampage, infecting as many women as he can. After one of the perpetrator's partners dies, Assistant D.A. McCoy (Sam Waterston) charges the man with murder. The subsequent prosecution is endangered by a tricky ethical issue involving "right to privacy" -- and this time, McCoy may not be able to implement damage control. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
The detectives are frustrated when their investigation of an apartment co-op manager's murder leads to a dead end. Things pick up again with the possibility that someone else had been the intended victim. Ultimately, the D.A.'s office goes after a shady loan officer, with Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) playing fast and loose with legal ethics to secure a prosecution -- much to the dismay of McCoy's partner Ross (Carey Lowell). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
A midtown auto accident leaves two people dead. The subsequent investigation reveals that one of the "victims," a woman, was placed in the driver's seat after the accident -- and that she was raped before she died. Ultimately, city councilman Spencer Talbot (Anthony Heald) is charged with the crime. He manages to beat the rap, but tireless Assistant D.A. Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) has another ace -- and another charge -- up his sleeve. This episode represents a reunion between former I'll Fly Away co-stars Sam Waterston and Regina Taylor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
The Fat Boys, Kid 'N Play and others are featured in this hip hop-themed music video compilation aimed at pre-teens, hosted by former MTV veejay and Milli Vanilli confidant Downtown Julie Brown. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
