Rae Dawn Chong Movies
The daughter of comedian Tommy Chong, actress Rae Dawn Chong began appearing on Canadian television in her preteen years. Chong's first major TV role was on the popular 1974 sitcom The Wiz Kid of Riverton. Seven years later, she exploded onto the big screen as the mud-covered cave dweller Ika in Quest for Fire (1981), which earned her the Canadian equivalent of the Academy Award. Playing a variety of no-nonsense ethnic types, she has been prominently cast in such films as The Color Purple (1985), Choose Me (1985), and Commando (1985). She has also appeared with her dad in Cheech and Chong's The Corsican Brothers (1984) and Far Out Man (1990), and was the central female character in the Mick Jagger music video "Just Another Night." In addition, she has hosted a series of "safe sex" cautionary videos aimed at teens, and both acted in and scripted the 1994 feature Boulevard. Rae Dawn Chong was at one time married to "brat pack" actor C. Thomas Howell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When a keen-eyed scientist discovers that a large asteroid is currently on a deadly collision course with the planet Earth, she must seek the help of a military outcast to jump into action and save humanity from annihilation in a tense, end-of-the-world thriller starring Rae Dawn Chong, Antonio Sabato, Jr., and Michael Moriarty. Dr. Madison Kelsey (Chong) has made a terrifying discovery, but time isn't on her side and in order to prevent the largest disaster ever known to man she is going to have to act fast. Though ex-military scientist Richard Donovan (Sabato, Jr) may be able to help, he is still reeling after being ejected from the armed forces due to his homosexuality. There's little time for old grudges in these final days, however, and when Dr. Kelsey and Donovan agree to work together for the good of mankind, the rest of the world waits with baited breath to receive word of their ultimate fate. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Antonio Sabato, Jr., Rae Dawn Chong, (more)
- 2003
Joely Fisher starred in this weekly, hour-long drama series as Zoe Busiek, a professional blackjack dealer. After her sister Sue was killed in a car chase, Zoe left Vegas, returning to her hometown to care for Sue's three children. Here she came face-to-face with a disreputable insurance company who refused to honor Sue's policy and provide for her kids. This experience led Zoe into a whole new career as a full-time insurance-fraud investigator, with all the adventure and mystery attending this job. Also starring Rae Dawn Chong and Chris Potter, Wild Card premiered August 2, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joely Fisher, Rae Dawn Chong, (more)
- 2000
Over the course of one year, a group of friends gathers for three parties (a birthday dinner party, a Halloween costume party, and a New Year's celebration) at the Brooklyn apartment of a young married couple (Chris Reed, Lauren Katz). Friendships and relationships are formed, dissolved, and re-formed amidst witty banter.
~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide
~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide
A cast of distinguished veterans and promising newcomers headline this stark prison drama from first-time writer-director Jordan Walker-Pearlman. Hill Harper stars as embittered inmate Alex, sentenced to serve time for a rape he claims that he didn't commit. His link to the outside world is his upper-middle class bother Tony (Obba Babatunde), the only family member who's come to visit him in the half-decade he's been in jail. On his latest visit, Alex pleads with Tony to have the rest of the family visit him, admitting that he's in the final stages of his battle with AIDS. Through flashbacks, dream sequences, and real-time encounters, Alex interacts with the people who have shaped his life -- his parents (Marla Gibbs and Billy Dee Williams), his old friend (Rae Dawn Chong), and his therapist (Phylicia Rashad) -- and attempts to overcome the seething anger and resentment that have punctuated his time in prison. The Visit was greeted with much acclaim when it premiered at the 2000 Method Fest Independent Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hill Harper, Obba Babatunde, (more)
- 1999
A successful ad agent (Rae Dawn Chong) begins to question the identity of the men she's been dating after a woman is found murdered and a heady power struggle ensues. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linden Ashby, Rae Dawn Chong, (more)
- 1998
Three small-time hoods are sent off into the desert to deliver a supply of drugs to a distributor and get the distributor's cash. Only the place of the transaction and the amounts involved are set. They do not know exactly when their counterparts will be sent by the distributor. In the meantime, they try to kill time in the corrugated shed they find at the site. They drink beer, quarrel, and, in a truly self-destructive mode, use their cellular phone to arrange for some prostitutes to entertain them. In the course of their liaison with the prostitutes, they use up a fair amount of the drug supply they were to deliver. Will they be lucky enough, or ingenious enough to survive their own stupidity and the wrath of their bosses? ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
This United States/Philippine co-production examines how the real-life closing of the U.S. naval base at Subic Bay profoundly effected both the local Filipino community and the Americans who had served there. As the base's operations slowly wind down and naval manpower begins to dwindle, Commander Hamilton (Wolfgang Bodison) relies on three Navy SEALs to help keep the base secure. William Hawk (John Haymes Newton), a longtime soldier nearing the end of a tour of duty, is involved with Lisa Velasquez (Nannette Medved), a representative of the Mayor's office in nearby Olongapo City. Lisa has to deal with the economic crisis that the base's closing will doubtlessly bring to her community, as well as her own personal problems brought on by William's imminent departure and the strained relationship of her mother Anna (Daria Ramirez) and stepfather Ed (James Brolin). Paul Bladon (Alexis Arquette), another SEAL with the Subic Bay base, is the son of a U.S. Senator (Michael York), who will be visiting Subic Bay for the base's closing ceremonies. Sen. Bladon is bringing along Paul's girlfriend Angela (Maureen Flannigan), though Paul has fallen in love with Emma (Alma Concepcion), a former prostitute who now plans to marry Paul. The third SEAL, John Stryzack (Corin Nemec), is furious over what he sees as America's betrayal of its responsibilities in the Philippines; he winds up behind bars after a violent incident, but he plans to escape to assassinate Sen. Bladon, whom he believes is responsible for the closing of the base. Rae Dawn Chong also appears as a U.S. military investigator. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1997
While at home recovering from an accident, Olympic downhill skier Marti Gerrard (Tori Spelling) receives an unexpected phone call. It turns out to be a wrong number dialed by wealthy computer tycoon Connor Hill (Jason Brooks)--but Marti doesn't mind a bit, and for the next several minutes she and Connor enjoy a delightful conversation. Later on, Hill's wife is murdered, whereupon he approaches Marti with the realization that, thanks to the aforementioned phone call, she is the only person who can provide him with an alibi. This she does, gladly and willingly...but the story is far from over! Made for television, Alibi was first broadcast by ABC on March 16, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Arianna (Rae Dawn Chong), a beautiful, decidedly "New Agey" alien in a stylish spacecraft comes in search of the half-human half-alien being her people created as an experiment to see if her kind could live successfully on the Earth. She and her people feel no qualms about taking over the blue planet because its current residents care so little for its delicate ecological balances. No sooner does she land than she is out saving the hide of the handsome Kieran, who just happens to be the man she's seeking. A real back-to-nature-boy, Kieran (Billy Wirth) sports silky long hair, rippling muscles and carries with him a Chinese flute, something he prefers to play with his shirt off. Having found him, it seems that Arianna can simply take him back home, and this low-budget, unintentionally awful sci-fi outing would end, but alas, there is more trouble afoot when Kieran's evil bio-dad shows up to steal his genes for his own nefarious ends. Fortunately, while evading the nefarious Pallas, Kieran and Arianna have time to romance and make ultra-cosmic love. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Based on a popular Japanese comic, this stylish, romantic French-Canadian actioner features many exciting pyrotechnic effects, elegantly executed murders, and some nifty-doodle gadgets, but very little on-screen bloodshed as it follows the adventures of Yo, one of the world's greatest hit men. Yo works for a mysterious Chinese organization and has been given the dubious honor of being called Freeman, the name the tong gives to its chief enforcer. Yo doesn't want the honor, but there is little he can do; obligation is more important than personal want. Still, after each killing, Yo sheds a few tears for the victims. One day he bumps into Emu O'Hara, a beautiful painter who has avoided people after mobsters killed her father, who was a rigidly honest judge determined to wipe out crime. Emu witnesses Yo's killing three Yakuza on a rugged stretch of California coastline where she is painting. Yo sees her see him, and though they never speak, both know that necessity dictates she be his next victim. Following the police investigation of the killings, Emu goes back to Vancouver, BC. Yo has also been sent there to kill her and a Yakuza don. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Dacascos, Julie Condra, (more)
Howard Himelstein's crime thriller Power of Attorney stars Danny Aiello as mob kingpin Joseph Scassi. In order to escape from a variety of serious charges, Scassi hires Paul Dell (Elias Koteas), seducing him into a life full of quick riches. Scassi turns the tables on Dell, but Dell has a plan to bring the bad guy down once and for all. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This Brazilian film, which presents the dilemma of impoverished Brazilian street kids, is a strange mixture of social commentary and soft-core eroticism. It is particularly interesting in that it has no named director and is actually compiled from several other sources. They include a Brazilian film "Boca de ouro", a local documentary, and clips from "Wild Orchid." The basic plot is based upon the filmed report of JJ, a U.S. TV reporter, who describes her experiences in Brazil. She tells how she and her ex-lover Reb, a photographer, were searching for the truth about the death-squads roving around slaughtering street urchins. She ends up interviewing gold toothed Boca, a vicious crime lord from the slums, who battles the businessmen behind the killings. They have the children killed because they drive away potential customers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rae Dawn Chong, Martin Kemp, (more)
Originally made for television, this prison drama centers on a hard-core convict who for the past decade has been the king of the other prisoners. Just before he is to be paroled, a young inmate challenges him. This creates considerable tension until he learns that he and the youth are related by more than mere circumstance. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1991
This made-for-cable women-in-prison film is an anthology collecting three short subjects. In the first, a pregnant inmate (Rae Dawn Chong) must seek protection from a gang; in the middle film, a prisoner tries to keep her family from following her lead into a life of crime; and in the closer, a killer (Lolita Davidovich) facing parole is loathe to leave the security of life behind bars. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rae Dawn Chong, Lolita Davidovich, (more)
- 1991
Just released from a long prison stay, a man is thrown into fatherhood when he regains custody of the son he's never met. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Finnish director Mika Kaurismaki (who also co-wrote the screenplay) made his English-language feature debut with this tale of foreigners adrift in the treacherous labyrinth of the Brazilian jungle. Kari (Kari Vaananen) is driving down the Trans-Amazonica Highway -- actually a two-lane dirt road that leads out of Rio -- with his two small daughters, Nina (Minna Sovio) and Lea (Ailo Sovio). He is fleeing the Brazilian authorities and is already on the lam from his homeland for taking his wife off life support after a car accident left her in a coma. His car eventually runs out of gas, and the family is rescued by Dan (Robert Davi), a bitter American expatriate and bush pilot who involves Kari in a scheme to use an old bulldozer he has discovered for mining purposes. Dan's plan will wreak havoc with the already devastated rainforest, however, and Kari, under the influence of a native woman (Rae Dawn Chong), starts to doubt his involvement in the project. Good performances, an important message, and excellent photography are all wasted on a story that starts out well but becomes unbalanced when one of the main characters suddenly dies, practically eliminating any conflict or confrontation toward which the plot may have been building. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kari Väänänen, Robert Davi, (more)
- 1990
In this graphically violent and taut made-for-cable actioner an aspiring photographer teams up with a sexy sculptress to take down the hit man who lives in the loft next door. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Several music and film celebrities recall their former lives in this reincarnation-oriented feature with musical accompaniment. K.D. Lang considers herself the reincarnation of the late country singer Patsy Cline, Martin Sheen gives a rambling monologue about his near-death experience while filming Apocalypse Now, and Willie Nelson sings songs about cowboys who come back to live another life. Also included are Rae Dawn Chong, Catherine Oxenberg, Donovan, The Dalai Lama, Ringo Starr, and James Coburn. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Helen Shaver, Rae Dawn Chong, (more)
- 1985
Based on the true story that took place in Harlem during 1971, this made-for-TV crime drama centers on assistant district attorney Robert Tanenbaum's desperate search for a trio of cop killers. Tanenbaum (James Woods) is assisted by an equally determined detective (Yaphet Lau Kotto). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Woods, Yaphet Kotto, (more)
It takes a fierce three-day bicycle race up in the mountains to reunite two formerly feuding brothers in this film written by Steve Tesich, the creator of another cycle movie, 1979's Breaking Away. This film will please the cycling lovers out there, as it includes actual footage taken from the famous Coors International Bicycle Classic, held in the Colorado Rockies. The plot revolves around the suspicion that one of the two brothers -- either the pragmatic sports doctor Marcus (Kevin Costner) or the impudent, driven David (David Marshall Grant) -- is likely afflicted with an inherited tendency toward cerebral aneurysms. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, (more)
- 1980
The 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid provides the setting for this drama that centers on a man's mid-life crisis. While there, he gets involved with love, sex and other diversions. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
- R
In this crime thriller, a detective's face is destroyed when he is shot by a hit man. With nothing left to lose, the gumshoe agrees to undergo radical reconstructive surgery so that he can resemble an FBI fugitive who has connections to the Russian mob. The ensuing plan of action involves a rendezvous with a Russian operative and the pilfering of a valuable microchip. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorenzo Lamas, Rae Dawn Chong, (more)
A man has a near-death experience and awakens to find himself spiritually attached to another who went through a similar experience in this horror movie. The story is based on a Dean Koontz novel. Hatch Harrison, an antique dealer, finds himself in an extraordinary position following the car wreck in which he was broad-sided by a semi-truck. Although his wife and teenage daughter survive, Hatch was actually dead for two hours before innovative resuscitator Dr. Jonas Nybern was able to bring him back. Hatch tries to resume his normal life, but encounters difficulty when he begins having horrific hallucinations. It turns out that the "visions" are really the experiences of Vassago, a Satanist who ritually kills people. Somehow he and the killer are connected. Vassago, too can experience events in Hatch's life; he begins to threaten Hatch by telling him he will use his daughter for a virgin sacrifice. The two men must battle it out spiritually. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Goldblum, Christine Lahti, (more)
- 1994
- R
This suspenseful thriller follows the exploits of a young wife as she tries to escape from an abusive mate and ends up on the gritty city streets. Jenefer manages to get away from her husband but must give her baby up for adoption before she can do so. Alone on the scary streets she encounters Ola, a street-wise hooker who takes her under her wing. Ola also tries to protect Jenefer from the murderous Hassan, her pimp and king of the neighborhood. Ola sees Hassan brutally kill another whore, but refuses to testify against him. She resists McClaren, a harsh police officer, and his attempts to interrogate her. She is then deported. The suddenly bereft Jenefer gives into Hassan and becomes a prostitute. This helps her become stronger and streetwise so that she is finally able to confront and dispatch her husband in the blood-filled conclusion. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rae Dawn Chong, Kari Wuhrer, (more)
