Melanie Johnson Movies
Music video cinematographer Zack Winestine made his debut as a writer and director with this deeply psychological drama about an angst-ridden New York City woman, Lisa (Jennifer Van Dyck), who embarks on a quest to achieve an authenticity that her complacent existence lacks. An office manager for an underground Manhattan theater, Lisa feels that her life and her marriage to an impotent professor, Abel (Stephen Bogardus), are going nowhere fast. After she decides not to sleep anymore, Lisa embarks on a series of choices that seem ill-advised and impulsive, including an affair with a bitter, cynical stage director, Paul (John Cunningham), who preaches a neo-fascist philosophy. Lisa also takes an interest in the seamy world of pornography, which her actress friend Carol (Ellen Greene) knows all too much about -- but Lisa's nerve fails her in her effort to mimic Carol's sexual liberation. A fresh start on the West Coast with her husband fails to assuage the inner torment of the increasingly militant and violent Lisa. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Van Dyck, Stephen Bogardus, (more)
In this comedy, a hard-luck gambler learns a new commandment: Honor Thy Mother's Lottery Winnings. Johnny Amico (Mike Starr) runs a delicatessen in New York City; regarded as a nice guy by his friends and regular customers, he has a weakness for gambling and is usually in debt. Johnny is constantly nagged by his well-meaning but domineering mother (Judith Malina), who gives him ten dollars to play the same number every week in the lottery. One week, her number turns up a winner, but this is bad news for Johnny: convinced that the number would never win, he's been using the money to place bets of his own. Now Mom expects Johnny to come up with the prize money for a winning ticket he never bought; Johnny hatches a scheme to raise the money, but, given his usual success as a gambler, no one is very optimistic that he can pull it off. The Deli features an impressive list of supporting names, including actors Michael Imperioli, Frank Vincent, and Debi Mazar; rappers Heavy D and Ice T; singer David Johansen; and model Iman. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In this comedy drama, a winning lottery ticket gives four aspiring actors the chance of a lifetime. The quartet is first seen commiserating over the failure of their latest off-Broadway production in the Cottonwood Diner in Greenwich Village. To ease the sting of a scathing review, the four buy a lottery ticket and promise that they will use the wealth to make a film. Sure enough, they win $3 million. After viewing many popular hit movies including The Godfather, Rocky and When Harry Met Sally, they set to penning a highly derivative script. Trouble comes when one of them, a compulsive gambler, backs out and uses his share to bet the ponies. The remaining trio then bring in a new partner, the daughter of famed vaudevillian Danny Rose. After that they convince a relative to manage them and head off to solicit a hot young director. More trouble comes when the Screenwriter's Guild tries to sue them for plagiarism. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
- R
In this independent drama, Vivian Saunders (Elizabeth Pena) comes home one day to an unusual surprise: her boyfriend Reggie (Andrew McCarthy) is lying on the kitchen table with a large sword sticking out of his body. At first Vivian thinks this must be some sort of joke, but she discovers that Reggie is indeed dead, and as she calls her best friend Louise (Paige Turco) to figure out what might have happened and what to do, it occurs to her that she blacked out after too much wine the night before and isn't sure what she did before she passed out. After a few phone calls, Vivian's women's support group arrives, and what to do about Reggie soon takes second place to what Vivian should do for herself. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elizabeth Peña, Andrew McCarthy, (more)
- 1994
The subject of this urban comedy could be "Two-timing men, and the women that despise them" as it presents the scathing opinions of women observing an adulterous misogynist in action. The adulterer in question is Scott who swears fealty to his beloved fiance, but then goes out and chases anything with ovaries when she is not around. He is cheered on by his equally misogynistic uncle. Scott's many sexploits are interrupted by female observers, who offer their commentary upon his actions. Their comments upon Scott can apply to adulterers everywhere. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Doug DeLuca, Ellia Thompson, (more)
- 1992
Ever since the 1960s, Alice has been trying to make a documentary film about...the '60s. Since its now nearly thirty years later, her project has become a running joke among her friends and family. Her heart still beats to the tune the student radicals played all those years ago, and she is more than usually upset by such events as the Tienanmen Square massacre, and the unpleasant fate of Abbie Hoffman. She finds a kindred spirit in an angry twenty-four-year old who's working on independent shows at a local access cable outlet, and through his influence she gradually emerges into the 1990s, with its concerns about AIDS and corporate power. Not only that, but she makes real progress on finishing her previously unworkable documentary. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kathryn Walker, Mark Blum, (more)
