David Gail Movies
As the wife of fading Hollywood producer Kit Freers (Andrew McCarthy), children's book illustrator Holly Freers (Justine Bateman) would love to have some of the fame and fortune of her movie star neighbors rub off on her just once in a while. However, there is one aspect of living in Beverly Hills that Holly despises. Whereas she is deeply devoted to her daughter Chloe (Holliston Coleman), most of the wives in Holly's neighborhood regard their children as mere ornaments, treating motherhood more as a passing fad than as a blessing. This is especially true of Julia Prentice (Angie Everhart), the trophy wife of a popular sitcom star, who is gearing up to stage the baptism of her baby as a major media event. Nor is this the only reason that Holly resents Julia; it seems that the woman had once been Kit's lover. Thus, when Julia's corpse is found floating in the Freers' swimming pool, the police have two ready-made suspects -- and Holly suddenly becomes a celebrity, just like she always wanted...though she certainly didn't want it like this! Hoping to track down the real killer, Holly starts playing Jessica Fletcher (or is it Nancy Drew?) in the company of her handsome neighbor, screenwriter and mystery buff Justin Caffrey (David Gale). Originally telecast by the Hallmark Channel on August 8, 2004, The Hollywood Mom's Mystery is based on Dead Hollywood Moms Society, a novel by Lindsay Maracotta. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Justine Bateman, Elizabeth Peña, (more)
- 2002
Nathan's (Don Cheadle) bedside manner -- or lack of same -- alienates him from his fellow doctors. Kovac's (Goran Visnjic) personal problems again spill over into his work. Abby (Maura Tierney) finds out that her missing brother, Eric, is in big trouble with the Air Force. And Weaver (Laura Innes) is on cloud nine after receiving some good news -- which she dares not reveal to anyone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Rory Kelly (Sleep With Me) directed this romantic comedy-drama about love and infidelity. April (Juliette Lewis) warns insecure Claire (co-scripter Marissa Ribisi) about Chad (Jeremy Sisto), but Claire fails to heed her advice. April cheats on her steady, Neil (Michael Rapaport), sleeping with several men. Giovanni Ribisi portrays Claire's brother Jason. Director Kelly was honored with an award after Some Girl was shown in 1998 at the fourth L.A. Independent Film Festival, an event that rose in admissions from 12,000 to 21,000 that year. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marissa Ribisi, Juliette Lewis, (more)
- 1997
Adapted from Deborah Scaling-Kiley and Meg Noonan's fact-based novel Albatross, Two Came Back stars Melissa Joan Hartas one of five teenaged crew members of the 60-foot yacht they have built themselves.Taking their vessel to sea in order to deliver it to a potential buyer, the kids run into some really nasty weather. The yacht sinks, leaving the teens to fend for themselves against the merciless elements. Well, the title says that two will survive, and the opening scene lets us know which two--but still, there's a reasonable amount of suspense before the heroine and her co-survivor make it back to dry land. Made for television, Two Came Back debuted September 28, 1997 on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Brandis, Melissa Joan Hart, (more)
This interesting action-horror film stars Mario Van Peebles as a tough cop who becomes the latest recruit in a secret faction of the police which not only operates on the fringes of the law, but is also composed entirely of werewolves. Horror fans who choose to embrace the fundamental goofiness of this premise will find an interesting blend of hyperkinetic John Woo-style action, comic-book fantasy, and good old-fashioned monster mayhem. Inducted into the league of lycanthropic lawmen by one of its more aesthetically pleasing members (Patsy Kensit), Van Peebles partakes of a drug which, like the others on the squad, brings out his animal instincts and endows him with superhuman strength and agility (as well as some unsightly body hair). Despite some touches of black comedy, director Anthony Hickox plays the material fairly straight, with a strong emphasis on slick, tightly edited action sequences. Originally produced for HBO, this was later released on video with some of the gorier footage restored. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Van Peebles, Patsy Kensit, (more)
- 1993
Season nine of Murder She Wrote comes to an end as famous romance novelist Sibella Stone (Carroll Baker) descends upon Cabot Cove, home turf of mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). It isn't long before Sibella's assistant is murdered, and at first it appears that the novelist herself was the killer's original target. But when Jessica probes into the situation, she discovers that the dead woman was having an affair with the husband of Sibella Stone's publisher...and there are several other people who would like to have seen the victim get knocked off. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Jason (Alan Thicke) is the only member of the Seaver family who isn't upset that little Chrissy (Ashley Johnson) has invented an imaginary friend named Ike--a six-foot mouse. On the other hand, Maggie (Joanna Kerns) is worried that Chrissy is incapable of separating fantasy from reality. Can it be that the invisible Ike is actually a manifestation of Chrissy's forlorn wish that one of the Seavers start paying more attention to her? Without giving anything away, it can be noted that Ike is played by series regular Kirk Cameron, a.k.a. Mike Seaver. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
