Elena Kudaba Movies
This is an offbeat romantic comedy that's the directorial debut of TV producer Joshua Brand, co-creator of St. Elsewhere (1982-88) and Northern Exposure (1990-95). John Leguizamo stars as Sergio, a Toronto pastry shop worker who faints whenever he sees Hattie (Sadie Frost), a neighborhood girl with whom he is smitten. Hattie, however, wants to see the world and avoids all commitments. Sergio's employer, the kindly Linzer (Armin Mueller-Stahl), wants his shop burned down so that he can use the insurance money to give his wife (Joan Plowright) the lifestyle she deserves, so he offers Sergio $20,000 to torch the store. Sergio refuses but then one night the bakery is burnt to the ground. The real culprit is Garet (William Baldwin), a wealthy pyromaniac with a limp who's madly in love with Stephanie (Erika Eleniak). The slightly unhinged Garet uses the fire as his public declaration of affection. Although innocent, Sergio also claims culpability so that he can use Linzer's payoff to whisk Hattie away. To protect Sergio, however, Linzer confesses to the crime, and to prevent her husband from being jailed, Mrs. Linzer also claims responsibility. With four people confessing, local constable Sgt. Zikowski (Mike Starr) is at a loss. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Baldwin, John Leguizamo, (more)
In this campy, nostalgic comedy based on a popular TV series from the early '60s, the two bungling cops Toody and Muldoon are assigned to guard a key witness who is planning to testify against a crime lord. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Johansen, John C. McGinley, (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, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joanne Whalley, Armand Assante, (more)
- 1994
Newly moved to Chicago to take on his duties as Deputy Liason Officer at the Canadian Consulate, RCMP constable Benton Fraser (Paul Gross) leaps right into his erstwhile partnership with Chi-town police detective Ray Vecchio (David Marciano) when the two of them appoint themselves protectors of 12-year-old purse snatcher Willie Lambert (Chris Babers). Having witnessed an armed robbery, Willie now knows too much to stay alive--or at least that's his story. By the time Fraser and Vecchio have confirmed to their satisfaction that the habitual-liar Willie is telling the truth this time out, the crooks are in hot pursuit, leading to a climactic chase through the streets of Chicago in a horse-drawn carriage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
- 1994
- R
- Add Death Wish 5: The Face of Death to QueueAdd Death Wish 5: The Face of Death to top of Queue
In this final film in the Death Wish series, Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) returns to New York City, where he attempts to resume a normal life by proposing to his girlfriend Olivia (Lesley-Anne Down), a fashion designer. However, Olivia runs afoul of her ex-husband Tommy O'Shea (Michael Thomas Parks), a ruthless gangster, and she's killed by his henchmen. If history has taught us anything, it's that Paul Kersey does not take the death of his loved ones lying down, and soon Paul is heavily armed and ready to take out O'Shea and his goons, while the police politely ask Kersey if he has revenge on his mind (a question not unlike asking if there was a Tuesday last week). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Bronson, Lesley-Anne Down, (more)
- 1993
Following up the goofy big-screen comedies Dragnet and Delirious, director Tom Mankiewicz delivered this made-for-cable thriller starring Tony Goldwyn and Lynn Whitfield. After witnessing a murder, Goldwyn finds himself pursued by a group of thugs led by mafia boss Alan Arkin. Whitfield stars as the detective assigned to ensure that Goldwyn not only doesn't flee out of fear for his life, but stays alive long enough to testify at the murder trial. Along the way, as the two spend more time together, a romance ensues. Peter Boyle, George Segal and Will Patton round out the cast, and the film was scripted by Dan Gordon who would later gain noteriety as a scribe on 1999's The Hurricane. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynn Whitfield, Tony Goldwyn, (more)
- 1992
- R
In Ron Oliver's erotic psychodrama, Shannon Tweed stars as a mother whose teen-age son is traumatized by her new husband and her husband's freeloading brother. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- PG13
In this tuneful teen drama, two disparate high school students, he a street-wise Italian rebel and she a sweet naive Jewish girl, fall in love while preparing for the annual "Sing," a competition between seniors and the other grades attending Brooklyn schools. It is the caring school music teacher who involves the street-tough, for he sees tremendous talent in the youth. With the help of the teacher and the affection of the young woman, the angry youngster, mends his self-destructive ways and makes the annual musical a smashing success. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lorraine Bracco, Peter Dobson, (more)
- 1986
Produced for the HBO Cable service, Act of Vengeance reenacts the 1969 murder of United Mine Workers leader Jock Yablonski. Yablonski (Charles Bronson) virtually writes his own death warrant when, after a "safe" mine collapses and 80 miners are killed, he rebels against the incumbent UMW boss Tony Boyle (Wilford Brimley) to campaign for presidency of the union. Boyle gets the word out that one less Yablonski in the world would be preferable. Yablonski is depicted as being fully aware of the danger he faces in challenging Boyle--and is supported in his decision by his courageous wife (Ellen Burstyn). Based on the book by Trevor Armbrister, Act of Vengeance premiered on April 20, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
- PG13
The present unfolds along with scenes from the past in this intense psychological drama about Edna (Martha Henry), a woman in the hospital who each day writes down her memories. Edna cannot (or will not) talk to her doctor, and nurses have to take care of her ordinary needs, including making her eat when meals arrive. Edna's stark hospital surroundings give way to the bright colors of her homelife as her memories surface while she writes. She is a devoted housewife, an excellent cook, and in love with her husband. Her husband Harry (Neil Munro) often compliments her on her cooking, fills their conversations with his life at work, and they seem quite normal if perhaps a little boring. But then something happens that will change Edna's attitude toward herself, resulting in a hospital stay, and her stubborn unwillingness to talk. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martha Henry, Neil Munro, (more)
- 1985
The self-aggrandizing world of Madison Avenue advertising is the subject of this clichéd, sexist satire that features a cynical ad executive (Loretta Swit) and her minions who choose three regular Joes to represent the Norbecker Beer company in a new ad campaign. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Loretta Swit, Rip Torn, (more)
- 1985
- R
In this frothy drama, the "heavenly bodies" belong to Samantha (Cynthia Dale), a woman determined to open a dance instruction school, and the people who come to learn dance there. Once the deserted warehouse-cum-dance-studio is refurbished, Cynthia's first class already has as much finesse as Fred Astaire at his apogee, so when Cynthia's ideal world is threatened by the owner of a rival health club, it is fairly easy for her students to come to the rescue with their deft dance routines. Life never seems to delve much below the balletic, athletic, or aerobic surface as the adventures of Cynthia, and her students continue along a self-absorbed course. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cynthia Dale, Richard Rebiere, (more)
