Richard Zavaglia Movies
- 1995
An extremely nervous Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) prepares for his marriage to Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence). Andy's best man, Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits), becomes increasingly aware that Diane Russell's (Kim Delaney) drinking is wreaking havoc on her job performance. Bobby and his fellow officers also try to clear up the racially charged crisis involving the brother (Michael Jai White) of Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel). Lesniak (Justine Miceli) finally agrees to date Martinez (Nicholas Turturro). And on the day of the wedding, several surprise guests show up. This was the final episode of NYPD Blue's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
A wealthy young boy is kidnapped by thieves who rob his home, but the crooks are in for a surprise when the kid becomes a pest . ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Danny Aiello, Alex Zuckerman, (more)
A raging ex-wife exacts revenge on her former husband in this made-for-television drama. Based on a true story, Meredith Baxter stars as Betty Broderick, the well-to-do ex-wife of Dan Broderick (Steven Collins). Furious at Dan for divorcing her and attempting to get on with his life, the insanely jealous Betty instigates some nasty encounters that culminate with murder. Baxter gives an all-out, over-the-top performance as the crazed ex-wife. This installment was followed by another TV-movie entry, Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, The Final Chapter. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Meredith Baxter, Stephen Collins, (more)
When unsuccessful writer Bruce Simmons (Dylan McDermott) is kicked out of his apartment, he takes up residence in an old abandoned mansion. When he discovers the gruesome history of the house, he is inspired to begin a novel based on the grisly murders that took place there. However, when a strange border moves in, his input on the novel might be a little too informed for Bruce's taste. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dylan McDermott, Tom Sizemore, (more)
- 1990
Having seen it all an more besides, gonzo investigative journalist Frank Fontana (Joe Regalbuto) barely bats an eyelash as he defuses a dangerous hostage situation. Thus, it's quite a shock to Murphy (Candice Bergen) when she sees Frank quaking with fear at the prospect of his parents arriving in town for their 50th anniversary party--a party that Frank was supposed to arrange, but forgot all about (Small wonder he'd rather have a gun pointed at his head). Why does it come as no surprise that Frank's mom Rose and dad Dominic are respectively played by the former Sally Rogers (Rose Marie) and the future Morty Seinfeld (Barney Martin)? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Forest Whitaker stars as the brilliant jazz saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker in this elegiac biopic. Director Clint Eastwood pays full homage to Parker's musical genius, but also devotes ample time to the musician's twin demons--drugs and alcohol-which accelerated his death at the age of 34. In his struggles to gain widespread acceptance for his music, "Bird" is forever stymied by his own self-destructiveness, and forever bailed out by the love of his life, Chan Richardson Parker (Diane Venora). The film bemoans the decline of the brand of jazz fathered by Parker, which came to be replaced by more conventional material -- as illustrated by the "descent" into the mainstream of Parker's mentor Buster Franklin. Also starring in Bird is Samuel E. Wright as Dizzy Gillespie. That's the real Charlie "Bird" Parker on the film's soundtrack, though most of the background music has been re-orchestrated. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora, (more)
Billionaire Boys Club is the two-part TV adaptation of a book by Sue Horton (unpublished at the time of the film's first telecast). In flashback form, the story recounts the murder of Beverly Hills con artist Ron Levin (Ron Silver). The culprit is yuppie Joe Hunt (Judd Nelson), a sharp young commodities trader who has organized an investment firm with several of his prep school buddies, known as the Billionaire Boys Club. Part one, originally telecast November 8, 1987, traces Hunt's meteoric rise to wealth and power, and the means by which Levin worms his way into Hunt's confidence. In part two, shown the next evening, Hunt has already murdered Levin and carefully disposed of the body. The next step of the scheme is take over where Levin left off by conning an Iranian millionaire out of a huge sum of money. Meanwhile, other members of the Club begin to have qualms over Hunt's finagling. Their whistle-blowing leads to Hunt's arrest and convinction for murder. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Judd Nelson, Ron Silver, (more)
- 1986
Apology stars Lesley Anne Warren (with a Stefanie Powers hairdo) as a Manhattan-based sculptor/performance artist. To enhance her latest project, Warren invites the participation of anonymous phone callers, whose voices she records. One of her unseen "collaborators" calls her up to confess to a murder--several murders, in fact. Warren strongly suspects that the mystery caller may be intending a little "performance" involving her own demise. Peter Weller co-stars as a sympathetic detective who ends up Warren's lover--but can he be trusted? Made for HBO, Apology was originally telecast July 27, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lesley Ann Warren, Peter Weller, (more)
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