Andrew Sabiston Movies
Inspired by a play that has been presented dozens of times to middle- and high-school students throughout the United States, Bang, Bang, You're Dead ponders the possible reasons that outwardly "normal" teenagers periodically resort to Columbine-style violence. The focus here is on Trevor Adams (Ben Foster), an intelligent but hypersensitive high schooler whose troubled past has designated him "at risk." Feeling persecuted by those stronger and more popular than himself, Trevor has already run afoul of classmates and teachers alike by making death threats against the school football team. Now he has aligned himself with a group of fellow "outsiders" who call themselves the Trogs. Indulging in prankery that runs the gamut from merely irritating to potentially dangerous, Trevor and the Trogs plan an all-out deadly assault against their so-called enemies. Although the script points out that peer pressure and bullying has gone beyond the point of harmlessness in today's society, it is careful not to blame any one person or group for what ultimately happens to Trevor; even Trevor himself is shown to be comprised of equal parts villain and victim. First screened at the Seattle International Film Festival, Bang, Bang, You're Dead formally premiered October 13, 2002, over the Showtime cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Cavanagh, Ben Foster, (more)
Joanne Whalley-Kilmer stars as a woman corrupted by the criminal justice system in this courtroom suspense thriller. She plays a civil servant named Valerie Alston, a single mother living in New York City, who gets placed on a jury trying the case of mob boss Rusty Pirone (Armand Assante). A former homicide detective gone bad, Tommy Vesey (William Hurt), is now working for Pirone. He kidnaps Valerie and threatens her and her son with more harm if she votes to convict Pirone. At the trial, District Attorney Daniel Graham (Gabriel Byrne) proves himself to be willing and able to stoop to unethical means to convict Pirone. In the jury room, Valerie skillfully exploits factions among the jurors in order to win an acquittal. Now cynical and corrupt herself, Valerie seduces mob boss Pirone to extract her own rewards for her service. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joanne Whalley, Armand Assante, (more)
- 1990
As indicated by the title, this made-for-TV movie charts the rise and fall of Olympic figure skater Tai Babilonia. Partnered since childhood with Randy Gardner, Tai skated her way to the 1979 World Championship. Her hopes for Olympics success in 1980 are scuttled when her partner Gardner suffers a groin injury and is unable to compete. Tai responds to this disappointment by descending into drug abuse, culminating in an attempted suicide. The plucky skater recovers from all this, and the film ends on a hopeful note. On This Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story stars Rachel Crawford as Tai and Charlie Stratton as Randy, but that's the real Babilonia and Gardner recreating their classic routines in the long shots. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rachel Crawford, Charles Stratton, (more)
- 1985
A pair of inventive kids use their knowledge of science to extricate themselves from a variety of sticky situations in this entry from the Disney Channel series. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1985
A pair of inventive kids use their knowledge of science to extricate themselves from a variety of sticky situations in this entry from the Disney Channel series. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1985
Originally designed for the Disney channel, this informative video shows two youngsters who keep getting into trouble. These two come up with some instructive scientific ways to get themselves out! ~ Rovi
- 1984
A pair of inventive kids use their knowledge of science to extricate themselves from a variety of sticky situations in this entry from the Disney Channel series. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1984
A pair of inventive kids use their knowledge of science to extricate themselves from a variety of sticky situations in this entry from the Disney Channel series. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1981
- PG
This teen comedy/drama, set in a Canadian boarding school, is about growing up while being thrown together in school rooms and residences. Conflicts and passions arise as the teens try to handle issues like a mother dying of cancer, prejudice, the agony of physical "defects," and other more or less debilitating problems. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Colin Skinner, Andrew Sabiston, (more)
