Francois Klanfer Movies
- 2002
In the final episode of Monk's first season, the ultra-phobic Mr. Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is forced to take his first plane ride. Galvanized by sheer terror, Monk spends the first part of the flight driving his fellow passengers crazy with his anxious questions. Before long, he really has something to obsess over when he deduces that passenger Stephan Chabrol (Carl Marotte) has murdered his wife in mid-flight--even though a woman claiming to be Mrs. Chabrol is seated right next to him. The topheavy guest cast includes Tony Shalhoub's former Wings costar Tim Daly) as himself; Shalhoub's real-life wife Brooke Adams as a suspicious stewardess; and prolific producer-director Garry Marshall as a garrulous extension-cord salesman. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
Habitually abused by her arrogant surgeon husband Thomas (Stephen Lang), successful realtor Elizabeth Cooper (Joanna Kerns) has decided to get a divorce. Shortly after this decision, Elizabeth is in conference with a new client, John Davis (Tim Matheson)--who stops her short by announcing that he is a "hit man", hired by Thomas to murder Elizabeth. But after meeting his potential victim, John has had a change of heart, and is now determined to rescue her from her husband. Togther, John and Elizabeth formulate a plan: She will disappear, he will arrange the evidence to make it seem as if he's killed her, and then he'll trap Thomas into a confession. Although she hates the idea of being so long separated from her beloved children, Elizabeth agrees to the scheme. That things don't go off precisely as intended should at this point be a foregone conclusion. Made for television (and based on a true story to boot!), At the Mercy of a Stranger first aired November 3, 1999, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1998
- PG
A teenager travels back in time to Medieval England, where he gets mixed up in a fued between Merlin the Magician and a mean-spirited witch over control of King Arthur's domain. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 1991
First shown on Canadian television in 1991, the two-part A Conspiracy of Silence premiered in America in the Summer of 1992. In 1971, a Cree woman is murdered in a small Manitoba community. Protecting their "own", the white townsfolk choose to close ranks around the four killers and protect them with a cloak of silence. Only after 16 years have passed and the case is reopened by young constable Stephen Ouimette are the witnesses to the murder emboldened enough to speak out. The cast of Conspirary of Silence is dotted with some of Canada's finest character actors, including leading man Ouimette, Jonathan Potts, Neil Munro, Dawn Greenhaigh and Maury Chaykin. Part one was telecast over the CBS network on July 26, 1992; Part two followed on July 28. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stephen Ouimette, Michael Mahonen, (more)
- 1990
Falling Over Backwards was filmed in Quebec through the good graces of the National Film Board of Canada. Saul Rubinek plays a high school teacher, currently in the doldrums over his divorce. Ignoring advice of Thomas Wolfe, Rubinek decides to "go home again" to forget his troubles. With his aged, infirm father in tow, the teacher rents a room in his old neighborhood. Romance blossoms between Rubinek and his landlady Julie St-Pierre. This low-key, rambling, intensely personal effort is virtually as textbook example of a "Canadian Indie". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Saul Rubinek, Paul Soles, (more)
Written and directed by John Bradshaw, The Big Slice stars Casey Siemaszko and Justin Louis as a pair of aspiring mystery novelists. Knowing next to nothing about crime, the two writers decide to "live" their adventures. Venturing out into the Big Bad World, the boys pose as a cop and a criminal-and, not surprisingly, get in way over their heads. Heather Locklear makes a token "femme fatale" appearance in this frenetic farce. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Casey Siemaszko, Justin Louis, (more)
This WW II-set drama follows the creation of the first atomic bomb. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Dennehy, David Strathairn, (more)
- 1989
- R
In this convoluted drama, a CIA agent is finally released after spending the past thirteen years imprisoned in the Soviet Union. The joy of his homecoming is shattered when he discovers his wife married to another and that his daughter has grown up. When he learns that his wife's new husband is busy battling the corrupt family who controls the town, and that this has endangered his former family, he takes action to protect them. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Ontkean, Joanna Kerns, (more)
Though this police and courtroom drama did not do well at the box-office, some reviewers thought that the lead performances by Burt Reynolds and Theresa Russell were first-rate. Joe Paris (Reynolds) is a policeman suspended from active duty. He awakens from an alcoholic binge to discover that he is being charged for a murder he has no memory of. Jenny Hudson (Russell) is his court-appointed defense lawyer, a young feminist eager to prove herself in the courtroom. After some initial difficulties, the two cooperate to unravel the tangled circumstances behind the murder. Michael Crichton directed but did not collaborate on the story or screenplay. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Burt Reynolds, Theresa Russell, (more)
- 1988
Based on a true story, this made-for-TV movie follows the scandal that arises when a prominent judge is discovered to be leading a secret life as the husband and father of two different families. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Foxworth, Michele Greene, (more)
- 1988
- R
Michael A. Gilbert's Office Party was the basis for the Canadian thriller Hostile Takeover (it also bears traces of "Wall to Wall War", an episode of the 1963 TV anthology The Richard Boone Show). David Warner plays a mild-mannered office worker who one morning kicks over protocol and pulls a gun, taking his co-workers hostage. It isn't that Warner is rebelling against a society that has kicked him around all his life, nor has he any beef against the company. It's just that he wants to be totally in control of a situation, a thrill he has never previously experienced. More than likely, the hostage situation could be resolved peaceably, but gonzo mayor John Vernon, jockeying for votes, insists that Warner be neutralized by a SWAT team. As these plans are formulated on the outside, Warner becomes obsessed with his new power, forcing his captives to humiliate themselves in various ways. This, in turns, leads to a breakdown in inhibitions amongst the workers--and an impromptu "group therapy" session! From this point on, dear reader, you're on your own: nothing that follows in Hostile Takeover is what one expects to happen, so henceforth we'll keep mum. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Warner, Michael Ironside, (more)
- 1987
- R
A maverick Big Apple cop sets off on a deadly pursuit of his two murderous brothers after they bomb a series of banks. He must hurry, for they are threatening to explode more banks if they aren't paid a fortune in ransom. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bruce Fairbairn, Kerrie Keane, (more)
- 1987
- PG
- Add Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol to Queue Add Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol to top of Queue
In the third sequel to the hit comedy Police Academy, Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) decides that the police force is overworked and understaffed, and he comes up with the idea of recruiting civilian volunteers to work side-by-side with his officers. Of course, with the hapless Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg) in charge of training the new Neighborhood Watch groups, one might reasonably expect things will not go smoothly; meanwhile, the duplicitous Capt. Harris (G.W. Bailey) sets his sights on Lassard's job, and he schemes to get his aging boss out of the way. Series regulars Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, Bob Goldthwait, and Tim Kazurinsky are on board, as is Sharon Stone, who moved on to bigger and better things a few years later. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, (more)
- 1970
This offbeat serio-comedy performed by the Toronto Workshop is a bizarre combination of Lewis Carroll's "Alice In Wonderland" and the court transcripts from the Chicago 7 conspiracy trial. The feature is filmed in 16mm and has fine performances from all, although the color process is unlisted. Mel Dixon plays Bobby Seale, Calvin Butler is Arlo Guthrie. Neil Walsh has a double role as the pompous Mayor Richard Daley and as Country Joe. A credit disclaimer denies an indictment of the sourpuss conservative Judge Julius Hoffman, no relation to Abby Hoffman (Peter Faulkner). Those with little or no knowledge of the historic trial will be confused. George Metesky plays beat-generation poet Alan Ginsberg. Not all of the Chicago 7 are portrayed; nobody plays Tom Hayden in this surrealistic satire of the American justice system. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
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