Julia Weldon Movies
- 1998
A teacher who worked in a school where a mentally challenged student was gang-raped is shot. The killing is revealed to be part of a vendetta, possibly tied in with the sexual assault. When time comes for prosecution, the attorney for the three rapists tries to secure a lesser sentence by arguing his clients did not know their victim was handicapped. Jennifer Bill makes her final appearance as Cathy, the troubled daughter of detective Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Director Barbet Schroeder and screenwriter Ted Tally adapted the novel by Rosellen Brown into this intriguing drama that, while heavily criticized for a third-act revelation that is something of a cop-out, nevertheless features -- typically of Schroeder's work -- compelling performances, domestic discord, and a search for the truth. Meryl Streep stars as Carolyn Ryan, a rural Massachusetts pediatrician married to Ben (Liam Neeson), a handsome, rugged sculptor. Although theirs is not a picture-perfect marriage, the Ryans consider themselves happy, until police arrive at their home one morning to inform them that their son Jacob (Edward Furlong) was the last person seen the night before with a teenage girl who has been murdered. Jacob is missing, and the Ryans frantically search for him, but when the boy returns, it is obvious that he's not being completely truthful about the night's events. While Carolyn wants the truth, Ben is willing to go to whatever lengths are necessary to defend Jacob, hiring an expensive lawyer (Alfred Molina), destroying evidence, and encouraging Jacob to be deceitful. Carolyn and Ben's opposing views of their son's legal trouble cause serious turmoil in the Ryans' marriage, which may be irreparably harmed in spite of the 11th hour appearance of the truth. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Meryl Streep, Liam Neeson, (more)
A young white man living in rural upstate New York tries to emulate the African-American culture he adores in this melodrama. Recent high school graduate Seth Carlson secretly dreams of being an art student in Manhattan. Because his father refuses financial aid he cannot and so ends up waiting tables in a small restaurant. In lieu of actually becoming an artist, Seth opts to affect their mannerisms, especially those of African American artists. He even dresses and speaks as they do. One night, as he is closing the restaurant, he is held up by an escaped convict, Knowledge Johnson. The convict is seriously wounded and passes out before he can escape. He is black and Seth, decides to help him by dragging him to an empty shed and nursing him to health. Knowledge is at first wary of Seth's attention. He is also appalled by Seth's obsession. But gradually the two become grudging friends. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
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