Joe Cortese Movies
Cortese, a supporting actor, has been on screen since the late '70s. ~ All Movie Guide- 1975
- R
Three female prisoners are liberated by a vengeful woman in this thriller. The woman is angry after her husband is murdered; she uses the fugitives to find the murderers and slay them one-by-one. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1976
- R
Joe Pesci makes one of his earliest screen appearances in Family Enforcer. The main character, played by Joseph Cortese, is a New Jersey street kid who becomes mixed up with gangsters. After getting in over his head, the boy wants out, but this is not to be. Family Enforcer was also released as Death Collector, The Collector and The Enforcer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joe Cortese
- 1977
The Final Eye began life as the pilot for a futuristic TV series. Joe Cortese stars as Mike Stringer, who in the year 1996 is the last private eye left on earth. Stringer is hired by Lisa Korter (Susan George), the daughter of a mysterious financier (Liam Sullivan). Twenty years earlier, the financier had created Eden Isle, a posh resort. Something very odd has been going on at Eden Isle of late, as indicated by the fact that the financier doesn't look a day younger than he did when he opened the place in 1975. Digging a bit too deep, Stringer discovers an insidious conspiracy linked to a master computer. Filmed in 1977, The Final Eye was shelved until August 1, 1982, when it was finally telecast under the new title Computercide. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1980
- R
Slow-moving and dark, this Klute clone stars Talia Shire as Emily Hollander, a retiring, painfully introverted woman with a stutter who advertises her insecurity. She is attacked one day and her anguish recorded on tape by her assailant. It soon becomes apparent that her wacko lesbian neighbor Andrea (Elizabeth Ashley) is in love with her but too demented to express herself openly. She hired the assailant, though exactly why is not clear. Detective Bob Luffrono (Joseph Cortese) is called in to watch over Emily and perhaps corner her attacker. The relationship between Emily and the detective starts to slowly heat up, but meanwhile, there is Andrea with her telescope, spying on Emily and definitely up to no good. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Talia Shire, Joe Cortese, (more)
- 1980
This Israeli drama is based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Amos Kollek. Kollek's father is the mayor of Jerusalem and so Kollek leads a privileged life. He eventually joins the reserves and spends a few days a week fighting the Arabs. He then begins dating an American woman who lives in the Arab quarter. This creates turmoil for him. One day, he sees a notorious terrorist in the quarter. The chase is on and mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1982
- R
An ambitious priest discovers that honoring the Ten Commandments isn't as easy as he imagined in this drama. Father John Flaherty (Christopher Reeve) is a Catholic priest who was ordained during World War II, and soon found himself forced to fight enemy forces while serving as a chaplain in the Army. As his life and career in the church moves on, Flaherty finds himself frequently torn between his duty and devotion to the church and his ambitions, appetites, and the notion that the ends can justify the means. Flaherty eventually rises through the church hirarchy to win an appointment at the Vatican, where he helps to manage the church's finances. When the Vatican's books reveals a major cash flow crisis, Flaherty suggests a rather unusual plan to Cardinal Santoni (Fernando Rey) -- buy hard-to-find American goods at a discount, and then sell them at a profit to mafia kingpins, who will then sell them on the black market at premium prices. As Flaherty and Santoni debate the ethics of this scheme, Flaherty meets and finds himself becoming attracted to Clara (Genevieve Bujold), a postulant nun. Posing as an American businessman, Flaherty romances and seduces Clara, until she discovers his secret. Monsignor also stars Jason Miller, Robert Prosky, and Joe Patoliano.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Reeve, Geneviève Bujold, (more)
Professional weirdo Clint Howard plays one of his more interesting oppressed-geek roles in this occult revenge thriller about a tormented military-school nerd (apparently in his mid-thirties!) whose personal computer provides the only solace from the endless taunts and pranks of his fellow cadets. He also has an intense fascination with the occult, leading him to investigate an arcane tome secreted within an ancient, crumbling chapel. In an attempt to decipher the text, he feeds it into the computer, which translates the writings into actual working spells. As Clint's mind reels with the possibilities of sweet revenge against his cruel classmates and teachers, the demonic forces once trapped within the book begin to exert control over his mind and body. Before long, he is able to summon an army of snarling devil-pigs (no, that's not a misprint) to do his evil bidding. Though this is essentially a gender-bent rip-off of Carrie, there is enough in the way of spooky atmosphere and well-staged shocks to keep less discriminating horror fans interested. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clint Howard, R.G. Armstrong, (more)
- 1985
In this Stephen Cannell-produced pilot for a potential TV detective series, Mac Davis plays an ex-highway patrolman and Joseph Cortese an ex-trucker, related by marriage. Their wives were twin sisters--were, because in addition to all the other "ex" qualifications in their lives, Davis and Cortese are ex-husbands. Still pals after their group divorce, the boys become private eyes. Their first case is to get the goods on a shady tycoon (Robert Culp), who happens to be their former father-in-law. Brothers-in-Law was the first Steven J. Cannell independent production which failed to sell as a series, but it wouldn't be the last. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Letting Go stars John Ritter as a widower and Sharon Gless as a lonely unmarried woman. They meet during a group-therapy session. Romance is inevitable, but the road to true happiness is pockmarked by a series of comic complications. Advertised as a straight romantic drama, Letting Go is actually more akin to the screwball comedies of the 1930s, with a strong satirical bent regarding "behavior modification" theories. The made-for-TV film debuted May 11, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cat's Eye is an uneven, tepid trilogy of stories written by Stephen King connected by a cat which appears at the beginning of each story. The best story, and first episode, concerns chain-smoker Morrison (James Woods) who joins a stop-smoking group run by sadistic Dr. Monatti, played with great relish by Alan King. In the second episode, a gambler named Cressner (Kenneth McMillan) makes a bet with his wife's lover. In the third episode, a young girl (Drew Barrymore) is terrorized by a tiny troll. Although he wrote the screenplay, Stephen King was disappointed with the results and thought the interconnection of the stories using the cat clumsy and distracting. Directer Lewis Teague does an average job of directing the confusing and sometimes foolish script. However, James Woods' fine performance and the special effects by Jeff Jarvis make the film worth a view. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Drew Barrymore, James Woods, (more)
William Friedkin, a product of television, returned to the small screen to direct the made-for-TV feature C.A.T. Squad. The titular acronym stands for Counter Assault Tactical. The heroes and heroines are fitted out with state-of-the-art hardware and weaponry that would make the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pale with envy. Captained by Joe Cortese, the squad is assigned to an anti-terrorist mission, the goal of which is to protect a top-secret laser project. Filmed in Canada and Mexico, C.A.T. Squad was plagued by a tiny budget that grew tinier with each passing day. Friedkin had hoped to include an elaborate car chase in the manner of his earlier French Connection, but the money ran out before the vehicles could gas up. First telecast August 27, 1986, C.A.T Squad was followed by a TV movie sequel, C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
On his deathbed, a syndicate hitman confesses that it was he who killed Hunter's mobster father fifteen years earlier. No sooner has Hunter (Fred Dryer) digested this news than he learns that the man who put out the contract was his father's former partner--still very much alive. To prove the culprit's guilt, Hunter must locate a prostitute (Kay Lenz) who has vital information before the homicidal ex-partner can strike again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
- R
A gumshoe gets in deep kim-chi when he agrees to murder a fellow's wife in exchange for $25,000 up front. No sooner does he accept the money than he is running off to his intended victim to first warn her and then sleep with her. As soon as they finish making love, he learns that she was not the wife and that the real one has been killed. Now the detective finds himself framed for murder and must somehow avoid the determined police detective who constantly dogs him while continuing his own investigation of the circumstances. His search leads him into the fashion-model world where he encounters more deception, double-crossing and danger. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Dee Williams, Vanity, (more)
- 1987
One can only hope that the real-life marriage of actors Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry is more harmonious than the one depicted in the made-for-TV Assault and Matrimony. Tucker plays a meek New England accountant and Eikenberry portrays his nitpicking wife-who becomes even nitpickier when the couple purchases a historic home. When he's driven to distraction by Eikenberry's nagging, Tucker hatches a murder scheme. At the same time, she comes up with a plot to bump off her husband. Adapted from James Anderson's novel by John Binder, this frenetic farce first aired September 28, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Something Is Out There is an expensive (and expansive) sci-fi TV movie in the tradition of the miniseries V and the theatrical picture The Hidden (1988). LA cop Joe Cortese finds himself with an unlikely partner--gorgeous extraterrestrial Maryam D'Abo. Both Earthling and alien are on the hunt for an evil entity called a "xenomorph," which has escaped from D'Abo's spaceship. The xenomorph has the capacity to take over the bodies of humans and to assume any shape (Alien meets The Thing). The creature design is courtesy of makeup maestro Rick Baker, while the special effects are cooked up by Star Wars' John Dykstra. Still, the one element of Something Is Out There that sticks in the memory is also the simplest: Maryam D'Abo is attracted to Joe Cortese because she thinks his hands are beautiful. Too insubstantial to be stretched out over four hours (and two consecutive evenings),it nonetheless resulted in a TV series, which lasted from October to December of 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- PG
In this special-effects laden sci-fi adventure, a specially designed woman with super powers is sent out to insure that the corporation that designed her claims ownership of a priceless antique spaceship. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Davis, Hans Bachmann, (more)
- 1990
- R
Businessman Chester Grant (Danny Aiello) will do anything it takes to get the sale, but finds himself getting older and must choose a successor. Instead of the logical man for the position (James Karen), Grant decides that he will invite two rival salesmen to dinner and then make a decision. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Aiello, Michael Paré, (more)
- 1991
While dining out in Boston, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) and Seth (William Windom) are witness to a mob "hit." The victim is a member of the powerful Abruzzi crime family, who despite Seth's efforts to save him does not survive. Enter the dead man's vengeful son Michael (Vincent Irizarry), who kidnaps both Seth and Jessica--meaning that it is literally a matter of life and death for Jessica to find out who ordered the elder Abruzzi's assassination and prove to Michael that Seth was not responsible for his dad's demise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
TV journalist (and recovering alcoholic) Marcy Singer (Suzanne Somers) is promised an Exclusive by anonymous phone an caller. Singer is advised to show up at a well-known bar at an appointed time. Once she's arrived, she finds six corpses awaiting her. Investigating, Singer follows the trail of evidence to an unexpected-and all-too-close-source. Joe Cortese and Michael Nouri co-star in this made-for-TV melodrama. Exclusive originally aired October 4, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzanne Somers, Michael Nouri, (more)
Here's a fictionalized account of Jack Ruby's perspective of the events leading up to his assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald. Danny Aiello appears convincingly as the nightclub-owner Ruby who (according to this telling) points the finger at an FBI conspiracy as the force behind the Kennedy assassination. The film includes some actual footage from Ruby's Oswald shooting. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danny Aiello, Sherilyn Fenn, (more)
- 1992
- R
In this futuristic film, the controlling corporations of the world gain and lose power by competing with one another in one-on-one death matches. However when fighter Falchion (Paul Coufos) refuses to compete, he must run from the wrath of the big businessmen and his spurned opponent. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- R
In this whodunit, several cops are picked off one-by-one as two young investigators try to make sense of the murders. They soon find that the victims themselves were involved in some violent and less-than-honorable activity. Evidence may lead to fellow cop (C. Thomas Howell) who seems to fit the vigilante profile. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
