Anibal Lleras Movies
A disgraced Dominican cop fights to clear his name and avenge his father's death in this gritty revenge thriller from director Joshua Crook (Salvage, Rockaway). Luisito's father was an honest butcher who valued hard work. He was a positive role model for a kid from the slums, and Luisito's life was forever changed when notorious drug dealer Rafa (Paul Calderon) shot him down in cold blood. Flash-forward two decades, and Luisito is doing his part to keep the Dominican Republic safe from the criminal element. He's been carefully molded into the perfect crime fighter thanks to the charismatic General Colon (Juan Fernández), who exploited Luisito's childhood trauma before inducting him into the secret police. As a young boy, Luisito fell deeply in love with Jenny. But when Jenny's family moved to New York shortly after Luisito's father was killed, they lost touch. Now, Jenny (Denise Quiñones) is back in the Dominican Republic, and her feelings for Luisito are stronger than ever. If only Luisito could find a way to tell her about his work, perhaps they could find a way to make love work. Unfortunately for Luisito and Jenny, an investigation into General Colon's recent activities reveals an epic betrayal, and sets the stage for a tragic confrontation. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Manny Perez, Denise Quiñones, (more)
Alex Loynaz stars as earnest Real World cast-member Pedro Zamora in this intimate biopic tracing the HIV-positive immigrant's rise from humble roots to becoming one of the most instantly recognizable HIV/AIDS activists in the United States as a result of his high profile role on MTV's pioneering reality television series. In 1992, The Real World made its debut on MTV, forever altering the definition of the term "celebrity," and providing a sympathetic face to the growing AIDS crisis for the millions of Americans who had yet to meet someone suffering from the devastating autoimmune disorder. Born the youngest child in a close-knit Cuban family, Zamora arrived in the United States as part of the 1980 Mariel boatlift. His mother died when he was just thirteen, the pain of the loss prompting the already promising student to hit the books even harder. Three short years and numerous bouts of unprotected sex later, Zamora discovered that he was HIV-positive after donating blood to the Red Cross. It was a crushing blow to the ambitious young student, though one that would unexpectedly give his life new meaning as well. As an activist and educator, Zamora longed to get his message to as many people as possible - and what better medium to do so than television? The producers were quick to recognize Zamora's eagerness to participate in the Real World as well as his openness when it came to discussing his illness, and quickly invited him to join the cast. Not many folks have the opportunity to shine in the spotlight, though Zamora made the most of his fifteen minutes of fame by using it to enlighten and inform those who were still ignorant to the threat posed by the increasingly indiscriminate disease that was once thought only to affect only homosexuals. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alex Loynaz, Justina Machado, (more)
Two women connected by family are drawn closer by fate in this low-key drama. Frances (Jacqueline Bisset) is a woman in her early fifties who had already begun to sense time was running out for her when she learned that she has cancer. While Frances is fighting the disease through medical treatment, she decides it's a good idea to do some travelling before it's too late, and she pays a visit to Bob (Seymour Cassel), a former boyfriend who now owns a farm in rural Pennsylvania. To Bob's surprise, Frances strikes up a fast friendship with his wife Betty (Peggy Gormley), and Frances shares a confession with her -- while Frances maintains a close relationship with her son Morgan (Nick Stahl), she also had a daughter by Bob that she put up for adoption, and she's not certain if she should track down the child while there's still time. Coincidentally, Frances' daughter is Rebecca (Martha Plimpton), a successful lawyer who has begun to express a curiosity about her birth parents. Rebecca has been hired by a large communications firm to deal with the paperwork regarding the purchase of a radio station in Florida, and while in the Sunshine State, Rebecca gets to know the station's manager, Jimmy (Frankie R. Faison). As Jimmy and Rebecca ease into a short-term romance, he shares stories about the "Sleepy Time Gal," a mysterious female disc jockey who worked at the station back in the '50s; what neither Jimmy nor Rebecca know is that the Sleepy Time Gal was actually Frances. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jacqueline Bisset, Martha Plimpton, (more)
- 1994
This episode was clearly inspired by the 1993 arrest of Vietnam-era activist Katherine Anne Power. While pursuing a routine robbery investigation, detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Logan (Chris Noth) follow the trail of clues to 1960s war protester Susan Forrest (Mary-Joan Negro), who has been in hiding ever since participating in a 1971 burglary in which a policeman was killed. As the dead man's widow (Marilyn Chris) presses for full retribution, Forrest enlists the services of none other than "Chicago Seven" defense lawyer William M. Kunstler -- played by Kunstler himself. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1993
In the final episode of NYPD Blue's first season, Kelly (David Caruso) offers to stand by Janice (Amy Brenneman) as she goes to trial. Later on, Robin (Debrah Farentino) and Kelly have a romantic rendezvous. Meanwhile, Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) unearths evidence pertaining to a nearly cold case at an auction, and also tries to make another go of his relationship with Sylvia (Sharon Lawrence). Dominating all these proceedings is the investigation of the killing of a priest. Sherry Stringfield makes her final series appearance as Laura Michaels Kelly. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Following Serpico (1973) and Prince of the City (1981), veteran urban crime film director Sidney Lumet completed a thematic trilogy about New York City police corruption with this noir drama. When New York City cop Mike Brennan (Nick Nolte) shoots an unarmed Hispanic drug dealer in cold blood, he quickly plants a gun on his victim and manufactures some eyewitness testimony. D.A. Kevin Quinn (Patrick O'Neal) calls in his assistant district attorney, Al Reilly (Timothy Hutton), to conduct a perfunctory investigation of the incident, but Brennan's obvious guilt during a question and answer session makes Reilly dig deeper. The crusading lawyer is soon uncovering a web of corruption that reaches from Brennan into Quinn's office. At the same time, Reilly learns that his ex-girlfriend Nancy Bosch (Jenny Lumet, the director's daughter), is now dating his chief witness, Puerto Rican drug dealer Bobby Texador (Armand Assante). Q&A (1990) was based on the novel by Edwin Torres, a New York State Supreme Court judge whose two other novels were later adapted into the film Carlito's Way (1993). Lumet would again return to the subject of New York's corrupt criminal justice system with Night Falls on Manhattan (1997). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nick Nolte, Timothy Hutton, (more)
