Susan Ruttan Movies
- 1990
In this thriller, a suburban housewife begins playing detective after she overhears a neighborhood conspiracy to kill someone on her baby's intercom. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Mario Van Peebles stars as football play Ricky Bell in this made-for-TV biopic. The film touches upon Bell's gridiron accomplishments, then concentrates on the athlete's final years, when he falls victim to a terminal illness. As Bell's physical state deteriorates, he forges a strong friendship with a young handicapped man, played by Lane Davis. Their relationship provides courage and determination for both men, encouraging Davis to make the most of his life after Bell dies at age 29. Substituting bathos for pathos, Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story is not the Brian's Song it desperately wants to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The sole survivor of a psycho-led mass suicide awakens from a 13-year coma and begins having visions of the cult leader who was also killed in the fiery death scene. She resists his efforts to have her join him in the hereafter, and soon members from her therapy group start dropping like flies. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Rubin, Bruce Abbott, (more)
- 1984
Everyone is a stereotypical extreme in this sometimes mean-spirited black comedy about the vicious staff at an orphanage, the garrulous punk kids who live there, and the pretentious overblown rich couple who adopt one of the orphans -- this is not a happy world. In the Bleeding Heart Orphanage, Sister Serene (Anne De Salvo) applies all the mental and emotional restrictions she can to her wild charges, while Kurtz (Murphy Dunne) applies the electric cattle prod. When one of the children (all around 10 years old, more or less) is adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Fitzpatrick (Martin Mull and Karen Black), his cohorts come to rescue him from the terrors of an upper-class Santa Barbara existence -- and subsequent mayhem ensues. With a low-brow, low-budget approach, the premises are obviously meant to key in to the slapstick characterizations, but for some viewers, even the comic moments may not assuage the meaner undertones of the film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Mull, Karen Black, (more)
This slow-moving occult thriller has Pamela Sue Martin and hubbie Tim Matheson menaced by a coven of witches when they move to an island off the coast of Massachusetts. Director Carl Schenkel -- who went on to make the interesting Knight Moves -- does the best he can with a tedious script and a lot of miscasting, but it doesn't make the movie any more interesting. It looks like a who's who of '80s sitcoms, with Woody Harrelson, Jeff Conaway, and Inga Swenson along for the evil doings, but some viewers will be rolling on the floor when they see Leave It to Beaver's Barbara Billingsley as a 300-year-old witch. The highlight of the film is an exploding church, which may just be loud enough to wake you up so you can rewind the tape. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson, Pamela Sue Martin, (more)
Handsome young Washington attorney Louie Jeffries (Chris McDonald) has it all: a promising career, a beautiful wife, and a baby on the way. But after discovering a local judge is in cahoots with the Mob, Louie bites it in a car crash and finds himself in Heaven. Unsatisfied with the customer service he's receiving, Louie jumps the gun and gets himself reincarnated -- before being administered the magic injection that will remove his memories of his former life. For the next quarter-century, Louie's museum curator wife, Corinne (Cybill Shepherd), remains true to her husband's memory, ignoring the frustrated devotion of Louie's best friend, Philip Train (Ryan O'Neal). Meanwhile, Louie's soul grows up in the body of Alex Finch (Robert Downey Jr.), an aspiring journalist. Alex's memories of his life as Louie return after he becomes romantically involved with Miranda (Mary Stuart Masterson) -- the daughter he never got to meet. Soon, Alex/Louie is romancing his wife, spurning his daughter's advances, and frustrating Philip's attempts finally to woo Corinne. Written by Mystic Pizza scribes Perry and Randy Howze and directed by Emile Ardolino of Dirty Dancing fame, Chances Are didn't score as well at the box office as those earlier comedies. Its soundtrack, however, generated the hit Peter Cetera and Cher ballad "After All." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cybill Shepherd, Robert Downey, Jr., (more)
- 1992
Brian Dennehy makes one of his many TV-movie appearances as Chicago homicide cop John Reed in the two-part Deadly Matrimony. Reed's quarry this time is mob lawyer Treat Williams, who murders his wife and then effectively covers his tracks. The closer Reed comes to the truth, the more he's in jeopardy of losing his job (and possibly his life) thanks to Williams' friends in high places. Based on a true story, part one of Deadly Matrimony was first telecast on November 22, 1992. In part two, which debuted November 23, Reed is victimized by the crooked cops under Williams' thumb, but refuses to knuckle under to mob pressure. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Lisa Eilbacher, (more)
- 1991
Actress Susan Ruttan, who played the quietly efficient legal secretary on LA Law, does an artistic about-face in the TV movie Deadly Medicine. She plays a Texas pediatrics nurse who may have committed several "mercy killings" of her charges. 43 babies die under mysterious circumstances, with Ms. Ruttan seemingly always lurking in the corridor. When confronted by doctor Veronica Hamel, Susan threatens to accuse Ms. Hamel of the murders--and she does, with astonishing success. Though constructed like a network "mystery of the week", Deadly Medicine is founded on fact. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Given the credibility of the story and the sincerity of the players, it is surprising to learn that the made-for-TV Do You Remember Love? is not based on a true story. Joanne Woodward stars as a brilliant college professor and poet, struck down in her prime by Alzheimer's disease. Her husband Richard Kiley tries to cope, but is ultimately disheartened by Woodward's degenerating condition. Even sadder is the fact that Woodward, in her cogent moments, is fully aware that she is losing her ability to function. Written by Vickie Patek, this potentially depressing drama has a logically conceived uplifting finale. Do You Remember Love? was first telecast May 21, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Dick Van Dyke is the Drop-Out Father in this lighthearted TV movie. A successful but unsatisfied insurance executive, Van Dyke decides one day to kick over the traces. As his wife (Mariette Hartley) and family listen in fascinated horror, our hero announces his plans to move from the suburbs to a Manhattan loft, there to "find himself." With the exception of his loyal youngest daughter, Van Dyke's family elects to stay put, permitting him to carve out a new life on his own. Peter Matz won an Emmy nomination for his sprightly musical score. Originally telecast September 17, 1982, Drop-Out Father was followed in 1988 by a made-for-TV sequel, innovatively titled Drop-Out Mother. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
The terrible crash of Delta Airlines Flight 191 provides the basis of this made-for-TV drama-in-real life. The disaster occurred at Dallas in 1985 and during that fateful night many of the ordinary passengers, crew, and rescue workers became true heroes as they worked together to save lives. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Haid, Angie Dickinson, (more)
The once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between star Gene Wilder and director Leonard Nimoy resulted in the charmingly haphazard and anachronistic Funny About Love. Wilder plays political cartoonist Duffy Bergman, who falls in love with much-younger Meg (Christine Lahti) during a book-signing session. Once married, the old "clash of careers" bugaboo arises: Meg wants to continue working as a chef in a fancy New York restaurant, while Duffy would prefer that she think about starting a family. When it seems as though Meg may be incapable of bearing children, the self-involved Duffy impregnates earthy college coed Daphne (Mary Stuart Masterson). How a happy ending can grow from this complication is a puzzlement. Funny About Love was based--extremely loosely--on a speech once delivered by Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene. The laughs tend to be sporadic, though Stephen Toblowsky scores high marks as a jocular fertility doctor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Wilder, Christine Lahti, (more)
As time starts spinning faster and a series of natural disasters send the world plunging into chaos, the disillusioned, self-absorbed suburbanites nestled comfortably in the hills of Northern California find their lives unraveling at an alarming rate. Global cataclysms are on the rise, and the air quality around the world is at an all-time low, and as the pressure begins to build up in the mind of suburban single mother Saura Wu, a sinister charmer appears and disrupts her efforts to rebuild her family. Meanwhile, across town, a troubled girl named Pam seeks comfort in the arms of affable young hipster Scott. But while Scott is more than willing to be a good friend to Pam, he's just now coming to terms with his identity as a gay man - a reality his fundamentalist parents refuse to accept. Now, as a series of disastrous supernormal continue to unfold, Saura's son Timothy realizes that he has been gifted with paranormal powers, which he quickly learns how to develop and hone. By drawing on his unique powers, Timothy is somehow able to alter everyone's reality - but what good can this do in a world overcome by misery and catastrophe? First time feature filmmaker Jennifer Phang crafts an apocalyptic fable that takes a philosophical look at the end of the world, and shows how sometimes hope can still manage to cut through fatalism with extraordinary results. . ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sanoe Lake, Julia Nickson, (more)
- 1983
- R
In this run-of-the-mill romantic drama, the title Independence Day refers to the usual Fourth of July fireworks festival in the U.S. but also to the dilemma of Mary Ann Taylor (Kathleen Quinlan) who lives in a small town but has a big ambition to go to the city and study photography for a profession -- should she go, or should she stay in her hometown with the man she loves? Focus on Mary Ann's dilemma slips to other characters -- her boyfriend's suicidal sister (Dianne Wiest) who is abused by her husband, the abusive husband's equally nasty father, and Mary Ann's boyfriend himself who is preparing his Camaro for the annual Fourth of July race. With the story moving from here to there, hampered by some extraordinary leaps of imagination, the narrative is thinned considerably by the time the Fourth is at hand. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kathleen Quinlan, David Keith, (more)
- 1994
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Chicago's most dedicated police officer Jack Reed (Brian Dennehy) returns in this police drama to solve a murder and to clean up his own corrupt department. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Charles S. Dutton, (more)
- 1993
In this sequel to the 1992 made-for-TV crime drama Deadly Matrimony, police detective Reed (Brian Dennehy) returns, this time to bring in a murderous sociopath. He soon discovers, however, that this routine case is complicated by the U.S. government as they are using the killer as an informant and are therefore willing to go to great lengths to protect him. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Susan Ruttan, (more)
In this fifth TV movie based on the character of incorruptible Chicago detective Jack Reed, Brian Dennehy once again wears two hats as both star and director. A multiple murder has occurred in a suburban cemetery in broad daylight. Most of the victims are Russian immigrants, whose friends and relatives refuse to cooperate in the investigation conducted by Jack Reed (Dennehy). As he pursues the case, Reed learns that the central figure in the mystery is a militant Russian who is organizing several of his fellow émigrés into his own army. Meanwhile, Reed must also contend with influential mayoral candidate Gordon Thomas (Joe Morton), whose minions are strong-arming the department to drop vehicular homicide charges against his son. Despite his tawdry surroundings, Reed retains his patented wicked sense of humor, especially when reciting the required Miranda rights while cuffing perpetrators ("You've got the right to cable TV, and the right to free counseling by Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins.") Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance made its NBC debut on November 17, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Charles S. Dutton, (more)
In this episode of the Jack Reed saga, the Chicago cop takes over where his recently slain partner left off and protects a women from those who would kill her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, Charles S. Dutton, (more)
- 1996
Following the mysterious death of her 19-year-old daughter, a mother attempts to prove that her killer was the woman who not only took the troubled young divorcee under her wing, but also took out a large life insurance policy upon her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peggy Lipton, Susan Ruttan, (more)
- 1986
Though the series proper debuted on Friday, October 3, 1986, L.A. Law was heralded by a two-hour TV movie, which aired Monday, September 15. The Steven Bochco production gets off to a good start, with no fewer than three cases resolved within the first installment. We first meet law-firm partner Michael Kuzak (Harry Hamlin) compromising his personal values with an odious client; our introduction to Arnold Becker (Corbin Bernsen) finds him personally involved in a divorce settlement; and Ann Kelsey (Jill Eikenberry) and Douglas Brackman Jr. (Alan Rachins) spar over a pro-bono case. Also starring is Richard Dysart as senior partner Leland McKenzie, and Jimmy Smits as tyro lawyer Victor Sifuentes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
This film is based on the extraordinary and at times outrageous life of Pamela Digby Churchill Hayward Harriman (aptly played by Ann-Margret), who arrived in America from her native England. During her 40 years in the U.S. she managed to marry powerful and wealthy men and work her way into the highest echelons of New York and Washington's society. Part of her success was due to her ability to periodically reinvent herself to meet the changing face of society and the men she needed to feed her considerable ambitions. It was not until much later in her life that she discovered that she could find success on her own, without a man. The highlight of her new life was when President Bill Clinton appointed her the ambassador to France. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann-Margret, David Dukes, (more)
New Age masseur Poe Finklestein (Mario Van Peebles) has an appointment at the posh estate of widow Evelyn Heiss (Lesley Ann Warren), who lives with her gay stepson Dominique (Donovan Leitch) and her sister-in-law Alena Heiss (Louise Fletcher). The gardener (Melvin Van Peebles) is a bystander observing the con games, betrayals and schemes unleashed in this dysfunctional household. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Van Peebles, Lesley Ann Warren, (more)
- 2005
Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is unexpectedly reunited with Sherry Judd (Donna Bullock), on whom he'd harbored a hopeless crush in his junior high school days. But it's hardly a happy reunion: Someone has murdered Sherry's housekeeper and defaced a valuable painting of her grandmother. As Monk investigates the case on Sherry's behalf, he repeatedly recalls incidents from his troubled childhood, incidents which seem to be paralleled by current events involving Sherry's ex-husband Michael Norfleet (David Hunt)--who of course had been Monk's principal rival for Sherry's affections back in the day. The story reaches its startling climax when a hitherto unsuspected third party--yet another of Sherry's childhood sweethearts--makes himself known. Grant Rosenmeyer is seen as the younger Adrian Monk. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Murder: By Reason of Insanity was inspired by a disastrous series of events occurring in New York State in 1979. Candice Bergen portrays a Polish immigrant housewife whose husband Jurgen Prochnow has subjected her to years of physical abuse. At first, she tells herself that he is acting out of frustration over his business failures, but the attacks become increasingly life-threatening. Adjudged mentally unbalanced, Prochnow cannot be sent to prison, but instead is checked into a hospital. Thanks to bureaucratic oversights and sheer laxity, Prochnow walks out of the hospital, fully intending to carry out his death threat against his wife. Despite her frenzied phone calls to the authorities, and the many empty restraining orders issued by the courts, Ms. Bergen's ultimate fate is inexorable. Made for television, Murder: By Reason of Insanity has been released to videocassette under the irresponsibly antiseptic title My Sweet Victim. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
