Peter Rowley Movies

The first in a series of "true crime" cable-TV films based on the writings of Dominick Dunne, Murder in Greenwich retraces the brutal bludgeoning murder of Martha Moxley, a Greenwich, Connecticut high school girl, in 1975. Although the prime suspect is Martha's teenaged neighbor Michael Skakel (Jon Foster), the boy is able to evade arrest for a variety of reasons, not least of which is the fact that he is related to the politically "untouchable" Kennedy family. Over two decades later, the case is re-opened at the urging of former police detectitve Mark Fuhrman (Christopher Meloni), whose recent association with the O.J. Simpson trial has branded him a racist pariah. Despite his tarnished reputation, Fuhrman is able to enlist the aid of another detective, Steve Carroll (Robert Forster), the original investigator of the Moxley murder. Although Fuhrman and Carroll are clearly never going to be the best of friends, their combined efforts ultimately bring the elusive (and now adult) Michael Skakel to justice. Not surprisingly, the real Mark Fuhrman was one of the producers of Murder in Greenwich, which made its USA Network debut on November 15, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Messianic shaman Eli (Tim Omundson, making his final series appearance) incurs the wrath of Ares (Kevin Smith) when he preaches against the warlike ways of the Olympian Gods. Though they do their best to protect Eli, Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) fail in their mission. But can it be that Eli's demise was all part of a divine master plan -- one which also involves Xena's unborn child? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Wrapping the greedy King Midas (Noel Trevarthen) around her little finger, the beautiful but treacherous Voluptua (Jennifer Ward-Leland) uses Midas' vast wealth to establish the Touch of Gold gambling palace. Upon realizing that the palace is actually a shrine to corruption and evil, Midas demands that it be destroyed, only to be locked up by Voluptua's minions. It is up to Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) to free the repentant Midas and foil Voluptua -- but first he is forced into a boxing match with the fearsome Segallus (Terry Batchelor) in order to rescue Midas' daughter Flaxen (Trac Lindsey), who has been strapped to an archaic booby trap. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Max Falcon (Garry McDonald) is a pompous and immensely popular actor who stars in "Freud The Musical" in this offbeat comedy. His wife Marilyn (Pamela Stephenson) is having an affair with her Polish chauffeur Richard (Marian Dworakowski). The two conspire to murder Max by putting broken glass in his food, by assassination, and by poisoning his drink. The drink is consumed by his manager Norda (Su Cruickshank), who dies as a result. Max is finally killed off but is allowed to return to Earth as a ghost to settle some unfinished business. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Enriched by a phalanx of deeply-etched characters straight out of New Zealand's finest folklore, this winning comedy by Kiwi director Ian Mune tells the story of two buddies out to ride a great horse-racing scam for as long as they can. Based on a story by the late writer Ronald Hugh Morrieson, the setting is around 1949 in rural New Zealand. Wes Pennington (Peter Bland) and his pal Cyril (Philip Gordon) are inveterate gamblers who have joined forces to bilk local bookies by taking advantage of delayed broadcasts of horse races. The duo do not linger long in each place, but when they arrive in Tainuia Junction, fate catches up with them. Through a series of unforeseen circumstances, Cyril and Wes get involved in uncovering a bootlegging ring, arson, murder, and other dastardly deeds. The townspeople are in a class of their own, but outstanding among them is the Tainuia Kid (Billy T. James) who is a kind of protector for the put-upon, gambling duo. The "Kid" is a mix of modern New Zealand ingenuity and traditional patriotic values, with a bit of humor thrown in as well. Viewers do not have to be from New Zealand to appreciate the story, the comedy, and the characters that emerge in this entertaining film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

After wiping out half a village of native South Pacific tribesmen, Captain Bully Hayes (Tommy Lee Jones) is eventually captured, put in prison, and the rest of this swashbuckling action film is told in a series of flashbacks as he remembers the recent past. The lead-in scene may be off-putting, but its larger context is soon revealed. Hayes had just left a young couple, Nate (Michael O'Keefe) and Sophie (Jennie Seagrove) on an island so they could set up housekeeping and follow in the missionary footsteps of an uncle, when the villain Ben Pease (Max Phipps) shows up, kidnaps Sophie and leaves her husband for dead. Pease runs into a German naval officer who feels it would be advantageous to join up with him -- so when Captain Hayes saves Nate and, the two go looking for Sophie, their enemies are formidable villains indeed. Laced with humor and acting in the grand pirate-movie tradition, Nate and Hayes has enough adventure and style to stay entertaining for its 100-minute running time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide