Virginia Watson Movies

A white youth is killed in a black neighborhood after a botched drug deal. The victim's racist father (Thomas G. Waites) arouses the ire of Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel), resulting in a controversial confrontation. Elsewhere, Greg (Gordon Clapp) and Jill (Andrea Thompson) investigate when an African-born youth finds his mother's butchered body in their refrigerator. And while taking sick leave, Diane (Kim Delaney) suffers a miscarriage. When originally telecast, this episode ended with a surprise musical rendition by the entire cast of "Stop in the Name of Love" (running during the end credits), as a promotion for an upcoming network special commemorating the 40th anniversary of Motown. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Another Tom Clancy political thriller is put to film with this made-for-television movie. Harry Hamlin stars as Paul Hood, the new director of an obsolete government crisis management center. Hood is assigned to downsize the center, but during first day on the job some nuclear warheads are hijacked by terrorists. Hood has to rise to the occasion and prove himself as a leader in unfamiliar territory. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi

Dead On is the 1994 edition of Strangers on a Train, Double Indemnity, or what have you. Marla (Tracy Scoggins), unhappily married, finds a kindred spirit in the likewise dolefully hitched Ted (Matt McCoy). In the throes of purple passion, Marla suggests that she and Ted knock off each other's spouses. From this point forward, steamy sex scenes alternate with grotesque bursts of violence. Dead On is available on video in both an "R" and an unrated version ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This made-for-TV cop drama is deliberately reminiscent of Joseph Wambaugh's previous video success Police Story. LA Law star John Spencer plays a big-city cop with deep and serious emotional problems. His inner turmoil is exacerbated when he plunges into a troublesome murder case. Among the many personal demons with which the cop is wrestling is the memory of how a brief act of impulsiveness in his past led to tragedy. From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: Jury of One debuted November 29, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The made-for-cable satirical comedy Running Mates is about a bachelor U.S. Senator named Hugh (Ed Harris), who falls in love with Aggie (Diane Keaton), a widowed children's author, while he is running for president. Though she hates politics, she finds something charming in the slick Hugh and agrees to marry him. Unfortunately, the press finds something suspicious within Aggie's past, and it could sink his campaign. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Not to be confused with the 1994 exchange-of-murders melodrama Dead On, this 1991 film was originally shipped out under the title Relentless 2: Dead On. You may recall that in the first Relentless in 1989, Judd Nelson starred as a serial killer. Nelson isn't around for the sequel, though two of his near-victims, a mother (Meg Foster) and her son (Leo Rossi), make return appearances. Relentless 2 elaborates on the possible aftereffects of Nelson's psychotic behavior, as manifested in young Rossi. Could the kid have learned too much about the inner workings of a murderer's mind? The premise is a workable one, and the film makes the most of it, with several genuinely frightening setpieces. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Hunter (Fred Dryer) is given the responsibility of mentoring fledgling detective Jack Ryan (Eric Larson)--the son of his own mentor, police commissioner Bill Ryan (Harry Guardino). Unfortunately, during the search for a robber-murderer who preys upon businessman at check-cashing stores, young Jack commits a number of serious errors. Regretfully, Hunter must inform Jack that he hasn't got what it takes to be a cop--but how can he bring himself to break the news to the boy's father? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Spoiled-rotten teenager Jessie (Ally Sheedy) can't stand the notion that the whole world doesn't jump to the crack of her whip. Her overindulgent father, millionaire Charles Montgomery (Tom Skerritt), wishes he could teach his daughter a lesson, but can't bring himself to deny his little darling everything her heart desires. Unfortunately, she gets her comeuppance when, after finding out that Jessie has been arrested, her father mutters a wish that she'd never been born. Zap! Enter fairy godmother Stella (Beverly D'Angelo), who grants the wish. With no name, no friends, and no money, Jessie has no choice but to look for work. She is hired as a maid by a filthy rich Malibu couple (Valerie Perrine and Dick Shawn), whose selfish excesses make Jessie look like Pollyanna. Worse still, Jessie is compelled by circumstance to meet up with her father, who doesn't even recognize her. The key to the film's success is the wonderfully many-sided performance of Ally Sheedy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi