Joyce Gordon Movies

Has the search for a better way of life sent a man into a murderous rage? A seemingly respectable husband and father faces this question in this independent drama. Warner (J.R. Bourne) and Claire (Caroline Cave) are a couple in their mid-thirties who've chosen careers that offer greater emotional rewards than financial benefits, and neither seems to regret that -- Claire helps run an art gallery, while Warner is the director of a non-profit organization. Both make enough money to keep their heads above water, and they have two children they love very much. But when Warner and Claire decide to move into a new home, things begin to change -- Claire falls in love with a house that's more than they can practically afford, and they decide to buy it anyway, sending them deep in debt. While Warner is up for a raise at work, he doesn't get it, and as Claire begins to chafe at their newly strained financial status, Warner turns to his family for help, only to discover how disappointed they are with him. One day, Claire is brutally attacked with a hammer, sending her into the hospital with head trauma, and as police detectives begin investigating the crime, Warner discovers he's become the prime suspect. Claire's mother is convinced Werner is guilty, his parents don't know what to think, and Warner realizes its up to him to prove his innocence to those around him -- including Claire. Six Figures was the first feature film from writer and director David Christensen. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The trunk of an abandoned car yields the dead body of a schoolteacher. Detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) suspect that the killing was the result of a gone-bad romance between the teacher and one of her students. But the D.A.'s office ultimately issues warrants for the dead woman's husband (Richard Joseph Paul) and father-in-law (Jon Cypher) -- psychiatrists both. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Master of infantilism Adam Sandler stars as the title character, an overgrown rich kid who wiles away his days poolside, swilling kegs of beer and appreciating fine nudie magazines such as "Drunk Chicks" -- that is, until his father (Darren McGavin) decides to test his mettle as future head of the family business by posing a challenge: retake and pass grades K-12 in 24 weeks or watch control of the business pass to the requisite conniving underling (Bradley Whitford). Forced into action, Billy vows to change his drunken ways. He enrolls in kindergarten, makes new friends, pelts pint-sized kids with playground balls and develops a love interest in a pretty teacher (Bridgitte Wilson). The action culminates in an academic showdown between Billy and the purportedly Harvard-educated underling for the future of the family enterprise -- no small feat for a man fresh out of the first grade. There's gross, moronic, off-color low humor galore in Billy Madison, particularly in one subplot involving a romantically forward elementary school principal (Josh Mostel, son of theater great Zero Mostel) and his secret former life as a professional wrestler; another scene includes the hypertense school bus driver (Chris Farley, in a typical over-the-top cameo) lying in the meadow with a hallucinatory penguin. As one might suspect, Billy Madison is not for every taste; Sandler fans will laugh from start to finish; others beware. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide

Director Jack Sholder followed his surprise sleeper hit The Hidden (1987) with this action drama that re-teamed Young Guns (1988) co-stars Kiefer Sutherland and Lou Diamond Phillips. Sutherland stars as Buster McHenry, a Philadelphia cop working undercover as a thief in the gang of wealthy, sadistic Marino (Rob Knepper). When the gang's heist of some diamonds goes awry, a few innocents are shot, and a valuable Native American spear is stolen landing Buster in bureaucratic hot water. Along comes Hank Storm (Phillips), intent upon retrieving the relic of his Sioux tribesmen and avenge the death of his brother. Hank and Buster team up to take Marino down and expose police corruption in the process. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

In this mystery-thriller based on a novel by Ruth Rendell, Eunice (Rita Tushingham, wife of director Ousama Rawi) is a housekeeper who gets a job working for an older doctor and his wife in the U.S. Eunice is super-sensitive, rather homely, and illiterate. But she makes friends with a religious fanatic (Jackie Burroughs) who is quite willing to go along with whatever she has in mind. When a murder occurs, could Eunice and her good buddy be a bit more disturbed than first assumed? ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Public safety takes a turn for the worse in this hit comedy, which spawned a long-running franchise. As a crime wave sweeps through a major city, the mayor decides that part of the problem may stem from overly restrictive qualifications for police officers, so she opens the door of the city's Police Academy to anyone who wants to join. Soon, the new class is overrun with misfits and losers, including Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), who is given the choice of joining the force or going to jail; Karen Thompson (Kim Cattrall), a pretty cadet whom Mahoney has his eye on; Moses Hightower (Bubba Smith), a mountain of a man who likes to tend flowers; and Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), who has an uncanny ability to imitate the sound of practically anything. Constantly befuddled Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) and his lackey, Lt. Harris (G.W. Bailey), are none too thrilled with their new charges, but as they try to wash their hands of the cadets, Mahoney and his classmates become all the more determined to make good. The surprising success of Police Academy spawned six sequels and two TV series. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

After accidentally killing a rock group's manager, a destitute musician (George Segal) falls in love with the girlfriend (Irene Cara) of the man accused of the murder. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide

Debuting October 4, 1973, the Canadian sitcom Delilah starred Terry Tweed as the title character, the first female barber in a small conservative town. Much of the humor was dispensed by the series' large cast of supporting characters, among them local newspaper editor T.J. (Eric House) and Delilah's opinionated family members. It was a one-joke effort, and as such wore extremely thin after only a few weeks. The 13th and final half-hour installment of Delilah was seen over the CBC network on January 3, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide