Arlene Mazerolle Movies
- 2006
- R
Academy Award-nominee Kathleen Quinlan stars in director Melanie Orr's grim tale of a mother and daughter who seek shelter in a home for abused women, only to discover that the woman in charge harbors a deadly secret. Mavis and Victoria were on the run from an abusive relationship when they wandered into the remote shelter run by matronly mother figure Bea (Quinlan). At first Bea was kind and compassionate, taking young Victoria under her wing as Mavis valiantly battled the demons of her past. But as time wore on Mavis began to sense something strange was happening between her daughter and Bea. Victoria was never a hostile girl, but these days she lashes out at her mother like never before. Upon learning that the women who previously checked into the farmhouse never checked out, Mavis realizes that Bea is attempting to brainwash Victoria into killing her own mother. With little time to spare before Victoria is completely lost, Mavis prepares to do battle with the psychotic Bea and escape from the farm before all hope is lost. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kathleen Quinlan, Ingrid Kavelaars, (more)
A brilliant young man is tapped to join the elite branch of American intelligence, only to discover how complex and dangerous the job can really be in this suspense-drama. James Clayton (Colin Farrell) recently completed his studies at MIT, where he graduated at the top of his class and is pondering his next move while he works as a bartender at an upscale nightspot. One evening, Clayton is approached by Walter Burke (Al Pacino), a recruiter for the Central Intelligence Agency, who describes himself as "a scary judge of talent" and believes Clayton is just the sort of man the CIA is looking for. Clayton, who has little interest in an ordinary nine-to-five career and suspects his father (whom Burke claims to have known) worked for the Agency, accepts the offer and is soon sent to the CIA's secret training camp. It soon becomes obvious that Burke's intuition has not failed him; Clayton is smart, fast on his feet, a crack shot, and possesses a very agile mind. In training, Clayton notices a few things, most notably one of his fellow students, Layla (Bridget Moynahan), a beautiful woman whose skills equal his own. Clayton becomes quite infatuated with Layla, and after a fashion the attraction appears to be mutual, but Clayton has to keep in mind Burke's dictum that "nothing is as it seems," especially when Clayton is given a special assignment -- find the mole within the Agency's training program who is actually feeding information to America's enemies. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, (more)
- 2002
During the running of a citywide marathon, Gwen Zaleski (Brandi Marie Ward) killed in a 21-story fall. Under normal circumstances, the principal suspect would be Gwen's lover, brash young furniture mogul Trevor McDowell (Peter Outerbridge). But McDowell has the perfect alibi: He was running in the marathon, and he has irrefutable evidence to prove it. Still convinced that McDowell is guilty, Monk hopes that he can prove his theory with the roundabout assistance of his lifelong idol, legendary Nigerian marathoner Tonday Mawaaka (Zakes Mokae)--not to mention his own long-suppressed running skills! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The six-part made-for-television Artists' Specials Series is an entertaining and educational collection of children's films. Programs focus on a significant segment of an artist's life. Biographical information is mixed with fiction to create compelling stories reflecting turning points in the lives of revered art world figures. In Degas and the Dancer, children are introduced to one of the undisputed masters of the late 19th century, the Parisian realist/impressionist, painter, and sculptor Edgar Degas. Born into an aristocratic family in 1834, Degas became best-known for his paintings featuring ballet dancers. In this program, the artist becomes acquainted with a young ballerina Marie von Goetham and is inspired by her deep commitment to her art form. Through this relationship, the two make important discoveries true to all artists. Other videos in the series include Mary Cassatt: American Impressionist, Rembrandt: Fathers and Sons, and Monet: Shadow and Light. The highly acclaimed series is suitable for youngsters age eight and older. ~ Sally Barber, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Thomas Jay Ryan, Alison Pill, (more)
- 1998
Adapted by Richard Vetere from his own play, the made-for-TV The Marriage Fool served to reunite Walter Matthau and Carol Burnett, the stars of the 1972 theatrical feature Pete 'n Tillie. Matthau is cast as widowed septuagenarian Frank Walsh, whose sedentary lifestyle is shifted into third gear by the arrival in his life of flamboyant, sixtyish widow Florence (Carol Burnett). Falling in love, Frank and Florence try to convince Frank's son Robert (John Stamos) to tie the knot with his own girlfriend, Susan (Teri Polo). Robert not only resists the entreaties of his father, but he also refuses to give his consent to Frank and Florence's planned marriage. Charles Matthau, son of star Walter, directed the film and has a cute cameo role. First telecast on CBS on September 20, 1998, The Marriage Fool has since been released on cable and video as Love After Death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Walter Matthau, Carol Burnett, (more)
- 1997
Lacey Chabert was still the darling of the television series Party of Five when she accepted the leading role in this suspenseful TV movie. When the biological mother of adoptee Jenny Newhall (Chabert is murdered, Jenny's adoptive father Greg (Gregory Harrison) immediately falls under suspicion. This tragic set of events rocks the small, tranquil town in which the Newhalls live to its foundations, ultimately laying bare a number of unpleasant and long-hidden secrets. Making matters worse, Greg Newhall all but confirms his "guilt" when he escapes custody--but who is the actual culprit? (You'd be surprised--or at least, that's what the film producers hoped!) Based on a novel by Patricia McDonald, When Secrets Kill first aired over CBS on April 6, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
A woman lives in fear as she hides from her abusive husband in this made-for-television thriller. Susan Dey stars as Joanna Matthews, a woman who lives under an assumed name in order to hide from her husband Bradley Matthews (Richard Dean Anderson). A well-liked cop, Matthews has a dark side that only Joanna knows about, and she must fight to expose his true ways in order to survive. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
Tom Cruise juggles Martini shakers and ice cubes as the materialistic Brian Flanagan, a bartender who drops out of school to search for the perfect "rich chick" who will bankroll him into luxury. Brian meets up with bar veteran Doug Couglin (Bryan Brown) and they put together a dance-duo bar-tending act, taking five minutes to a mix a drink as they dance and toss gin bottles behind the bar to cutting-edge rock music circa 1988. The patrons, instead of demanding the booze, are dazzled by their antics and cheer them on. As a result, the bartenders become wildly popular -- in particular, Brian, who finds the bar babes falling all over each other to hop into the sack with him. As a result of their bar-tending success, they get hired to tend bar at a swanky disco, but there Brian and Doug have a falling out, and Brian takes off for Jamaica. There he meets vacationing New York City waitress Jordan Mooney (Elisabeth Shue) and the two fall in love. But then Brian meets rich New York fashion executive Bonnie (Lisa Banes) who wants to take Brian back to Manhattan with her to become her drink-mixing stud. When Jordan sees this, the love affair is put on hold. But not for long, as pangs of consciousness begin to filter through Brian's drunken haze. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, (more)
- 1988
- PG
The 1920s-era play The Front Page was about a Chicago reporter who wants to retire and get married but is tricked by his editor into doing one last story -- which proves to be complicated. It was made into a classic film in 1931 and inspired the 1940 hit movie His Girl Friday, in which the reporter was changed into a woman. Billy Wilder also remade the original film in 1974. Switching Channels is a 1988 remake of His Girl Friday, with Kathleen Turner in the starring role, which has now morphed into that of a cable television network news anchor, Christy Colleran. She wants to marry a rich and handsome sporting goods manufacturer, Blaine Bingham (Christopher Reeve) and move out of town. But her ex-husband, John L. Sullivan IV (Burt Reynolds), who is also her producer and boss, gives her one final assignment to try to keep her around. Her reporting leads her into an investigation of a jail escape that follows a botched-up execution. Writer Jonathan Reynolds updated the original material. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kathleen Turner, Burt Reynolds, (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
- 1985
- PG
Based on the autobiographical novel by Nicholas Gage, Eleni traces Gage's search for the truth behind the execution of his Greek mother Eleni. John Malkovich plays Gage (herein referred to only as Nick), a New York Times journalist assigned to cover a border war in Albania. Intimately familiar with his beat--it's where he grew up--Nick periodically flashes back to his childhood, and his memories of his late mother Eleni (Kate Nelligan). Not at all concerned with politics, Eleni goes to extreme lengths to shelter her children from the ravages of civil unrest. For attempting to smuggle her kids out of the country, Eleni is arrested and executed. Back in the present, Nick manages to locate local politico Katis (Oliver Cotton), the man who signed Eleni's death warrant. He wangles his way into Katis' confidence, then prepares to kill the man--but he's in for a surprise, and something of an epiphany. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kate Nelligan, John Malkovich, (more)
