Jack Clements Movies

In July of 2002, nine men were trapped 240 feet below the ground in a Somerset, PA, coal mine. For the next 77 hours, the attention of a war-beleaguered and economically strapped America was focused upon the rescue efforts, despairing along with the miners' families when the shaft began to fill up with water. Although everyone in the U.S. knows the outcome of the story, this made-for-TV movie manages to sustain a respectable level of suspense, expertly shifting dramatic focus from the entombed miners to the rescuers on the surface and back again. Curiously, the film's climax is inconclusive, as if the film had been made during the crisis rather than several months afterward. Originally titled The Miners' Tale and adapted for television by novelist Elwood Reid from the miners' bestselling joint autobiography, The Pennsylvania Miners' Story premiered November 24, 2002, on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The fourth and final season of the semi-satirical action series V.I.P. finds the generously endowed Pamela Anderson still front and center (so to speak) as Vallery Irons, the nominal head bodyguard of the VIP security agency. Also still on hand are Vallery's employees (who, technically speaking, employ her!), among them former spy Tasha (Molly Culver, munitions expert Nikki (Natalie Raitano), ex-boxer Quick (Leah Bail), onetime Japanese martial-arts star Johnny (Dustin Nguyen), and mild-mannered computer genius Kay (Leah Lail). The season opener is "21 Val Street", an obvious homage to costar Dustin Nguyen's previous series 21 Jump Street. Subsequent episodes features such guest stars as actors Mark Hamill and Erik Estrada, comedian Louie Anderson, sex symbol Yasmine Bleeth, pro wrestler Tyler Mane, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch and even psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In view of her well-publicized divorce from singer Tommy Lee, star Pamela Anderson Lee reverts to just plain Pamela Andersonas the tongue-in-cheek action series V.I.P. enters its third season in syndication. Otherwise, things haven't changed much since Season Two: Anderson's character, gorgeous professional bodyguard Vallery Irons, is still the figurative head of the V.I.P. security agency, still proving her worth to her doubting (and eminently more qualified) coworkers Tasha (Molly Culver), Nikki (Natalie Raitano), Quick (Shaun Baker]) and Kay (Leah Lail). Dustin Nguyen, previously seen on recurring basis in the role of VIP's resident martial-arts whiz Johnny Yuh, is now a full regular, acknowledged as such in the opening credits of each episode. The celebrity cameos which were so much a part of the series' previous seasons have diminished to trickle this year, though we are still graced with the presence of such luminaries as Engelbert Humperdinck and Weird Al Yankovic. Otherwise, the Big Names appearing herein--Stephanie Zimbalist, Corben Bernsen, George Takei et al--are relegated to standard guest appearances as characters other than themselves. Also weaving throughout the season's proceedings is a shadowy assassin named The Owl, who befitting his mysterious nature is nearly always portrayed by an uncredited actor. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lynda La Plante (Prime Suspect) scripted this TV miniseries about the family life surrounding a Mafia don. Sicilian magnate Don Luciano (Dennis Farina) and his wife Graziella (Vanessa Redgrave) live comfortably at Villa Rosa in Palermo, Italy. Their son Michael (Michael Hayden) has an affair with Sophia (Nastassja Kinski), leaving her pregnant but unmarried. After Luciano refuses to traffic drugs, angry U.S. mob boss Carolla (Tony Lo Bianco) retaliates by having Michael killed. When Sophia secretly gives birth to Luka, her child by Michael, she then marries another Luciano brother and bears twins. Later, Carolla unwittingly adopts the teenage Luka (James Marsden), who is unaware of his own past. Carolla's vengeance continues through the years, and he passes the hatred on to Luka -- who sees that all males in the Luciano family are eliminated. Despite the slaughter, Luca charms the unsuspecting Luciano widows when he arrives at Villa Rosa, claiming to be the son of a wealthy, concerned American. How long before they learn the truth? Film director Peter Bogdanovich is seen in the role of Luciano's American contact, Giancamo. Bella Mafia first aired 11/16/97 and 11/18/97 on CBS. The feature-length video version was edited down to 117 min. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

16-year-old Jade Larson (Jenny Lewis) isn't terribly keen on the fact that her divorced mom Jesse (Beverly D'Angelo) has fallen in love with Billy Stone (Rob Estes), who in addition to being divorced himself is much closer to Jade's age than Jesse. As the relationship deepens, the impressionable Jade wonders if her ambivalent feelings toward Billy are actually born of resentment or her own attraction to him. Perhaps inevitably, Jade and Billy end up spending a night together--leading to a chain reaction of consequences that provide the substance of this surprisingly non-exploitational "triangle" drama. Produced for the CBS TV network, Sweet Temptation debuted March 6, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally a television mini-series, this drama chronicles the painful and lively reminiscences of a 100 year old woman. Much of the story centers on her tumultuous marriage to a Civil War vet. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

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, All Movie Guide

Aaron Kim Johnston both wrote and directed the intimate Canadian drama Last Winter. 10-year-old Joshua Murray is perfectly happy as a "country boy." When his parents announce their impending move to the city, Joshua becomes sullen and disconsolate. It takes the soothing words of the boy's grandfather (Gerard Parkes), himself no great lover of the city, to convince Joshua that the move is for the best. This lovingly assembled coming-of-age tale was jointly underwritten by the CBC TV network and the National Film Board of Canada. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Christopher Collet stars as real-life teenager Richard Jahnke Jr. in the made-for-TV Right to Kill. After suffering years of torment and abuse from his father (Frederic Forrest), Jahnke can stand no more. Hiding in the closet of his Wyoming home, Jahnke hears the familiar sounds of his father beating his mother. "I just wanted to make him stop," Jahnke later explained to the authorities--after he killed his father with a rifle. Written for television by Joyce Eliason, it initially aired on May 22, 1985 ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide