Henry Strozier Movies
A shocking and tragic event causes the members of a quietly dysfunctional family to reexamine themselves and their lives in this drama. Ben and Sandy Travis (Jeff Daniels and Sigourney Weaver) are a couple whose troubled family begins to crumble when their eldest son, star college athlete Matt (Kip Pardue) commits suicide. Sandy's naturally cynical nature becomes all the more prickly, and while she tries to bond with her surviving teenaged son, Tim (Emile Hirsch), they seem closest when they discover a shared fondness for marijuana. Ben also tries to reach out to Tim, but the young man is never able to shake the feeling that he's never quite been the son his father wanted. Tim has a girlfriend, Steph (Suzanne Santo), but their relationship has been going through a rocky patch, and Tim finds himself questioning his feelings about women and men when his friendship with next-door neighbor Kyle (Ryan Donowho) evolves into something more intimate. Imaginary Heroes was written and directed by Dan Harris, best known for his work as a screenwriter on the blockbuster comic-book adaptation X-Men and projected remakes of Superman and Logan's Run. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sigourney Weaver, Emile Hirsch, (more)
Director Roger Donaldson teams up with star Kevin Costner for another political thriller (after their 1987 pairing, No Way Out), only this time with a film based on the actual events surrounding the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, taking place during the titular thirteen days wherein the U.S. and the Soviet Union nearly engaged in full-scale nuclear war. After President John F. Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood) is shown photographs from a spy plane detailing the presence of missiles in Cuba capable of obliterating massive areas of the U.S., he must immediately decide the most effective course of action for the country. With the aid of best friend and special assistant Kenny O'Donnell (Kevin Costner) and brother Robert (Steven Culp), the President must avoid a dire chain of events that could be dictated by General Curtis LeMay (Kevin Conway), who would rather take immediate action and invade Cuba. After initial reticence about leaking the information to the nation, President Kennedy eventually tells of the conflict, leading to widespread panic and a blockade of Cuba. With the aid of Robert McNamara (Dylan Baker) and Adlai Stevenson (Michael Fairman), the leaders must find a way to alleviate the tension of the situation. Thirteen Days also features Walter Adrian as Lyndon Johnson. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, (more)
Dan Rosen directed this thriller, filmed in and around Baltimore, based on the college urban legend that you get a cool 4.0 semester grade if your roommate commits suicide. Roommates Rand (Randall Batinkoff), manipulative Tim (Matthew Lillard), and good-guy Chris (Michael Vartan) are seniors at a university where this legend is legit. Since Rand mistreats his pregnant girlfriend Natalie (Tamara Craig Thomas), he's the obvious choice. Tim gets Cliff to assist in Rand's "suicidal" leap from a cliff -- but with that foul deed done, Tim points the police in Chris's direction and then seduces Chris' girlfriend Emma (Keri Russell). After Natalie really does commit suicide, students, cops, and the campus psychiatrist (Dana Delaney) begin to ask probing questions. Track tunes include The Cure, Suzanne Vega, Joy Division, and The Smiths. Shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Lillard, Michael Vartan, (more)
- 1997
- R
Presidential advisor Bobby Bishop (Charlie Sheen) is hunted by an unknown assailant in this political thriller. With the help of Chief-of-Staff Jake Conrad (Donald Sutherland) and the newspaper journalist Amanda (Linda Hamilton), he uncovers an assassination plot to kill the President and his most trusted advisors. Bobby battles forces in the government he has sworn to uphold, as his every move is monitored by high-tech surveillance cameras. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlie Sheen, Donald Sutherland, (more)
- 1995
NBC news commentator Tim Russert makes a cameo appearance as himself in this episode, wherein detectives Felton (Daniel Baldwin), Bolander (Ned Beatty), and Howard (Melissa Leo) continue to recover from their physical and emotional wounds as they return to active duty. Tonight's case roster includes two "murders in the family," one involving a walled-up skeleton, the other the double killing of an elderly couple. And though Giordello (Yaphet Kotto) is finally given the satisfaction of literally flushing out the corrupt hiring practices of his longtime nemesis Col. Granger (Gerald F. Gough), "Gee" is none too happy when Granger's exit results in the sudden promotion of Lt. Russert (Isabella Hoffman). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Baldwin, Ned Beatty, (more)
- 1988
An aspiring writer wanders through a city looking for inspiration. Over the course of a day, he has nine distinct encounters. Each encounter was filmed by first time director/cinematographer/screenwriter Rob Tregenza in one uninterrupted and unedited 10 minute take. He later spliced the episodes together at random, so the time frames are fluid and there is no sense of traditional narrative. Only the writer provides continuity. Each segment is given a title and has a unique setting. While the quality of the mini-stories is uneven, the most arresting thing about the film is Tregenza's inventive camera work; this is especially true in "The Soup Kitchen" scene. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Gruz, Sarah Rush, (more)
In a convoluted story of one man's obsession, widower Roger Blackwell (Michael Nouri) has been a media advisor to countless politicians, probably one too many as it turns out. Blackwell is set on using his experience to make a film about the manipulation of the media by unscrupulous politicos. His video obsession is apparent when he has an actress dress up as his deceased wife (a suicide he could have prevented) and films her for playback on monitors around the house. Blackwell hypes an incriminating tape in his possession that implicates the President of the U.S. in some dirty (not sexual!) dealings. Then he cons an old enemy, Molly Grainger (Anne Twomey) into covering his public unveiling of the tape which he plans to do on a talk show. What happens next is a series of events that lead to a surprise ending -- and more questions about whether or not the media is shafting the politicians as well. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Nouri, Anne Twomey, (more)
- 1976
In Birch Interval Eddie Albert and Rip Torn, play Pa Strawacher and Thomas, a pair of Amish patriarchs. Susan McClung plays Jesse, an 11-year-old city girl who undergoes severe culture shock when she moves in with her Amish cousins. Told from McClung's point of view, the film concentrates on such fundamental values as love, faith and loyalty. Sophisticates may not be in step with the film's sentiments, but it is perfect family fare. Birch Interval was scripted by Joanna Crawford from her own novel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Albert, Rip Torn, (more)
- 1974
The made-for-TV Dr. Max is cut from the same cloth as The Last Angry Man. Lee J. Cobb stars as a taciturn elderly doctor who chooses to work in a dingy Baltimore neighborhood and minister to those far less fortunate than themselves. His refusal to succumb to the creature comforts of a more lucrative practice causes a great deal of friction between himself and his family. In traditional "movie of the week" fashion, however, the old medico proves to have a lot more sense than those around him. Dr. Max was first telecast April 4, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
