Jordan Brower Movies
The true story of the formation of the Texas Rangers provides the backdrop for this youth-oriented Western. In 1875, after the Civil War, Leander McNelly (Dylan McDermott) organizes the Texas Rangers to battle the outlaws terrorizing Texas, notably crime kingpin John King Fisher (Alfred Molina). With a team of experienced gunmen (Robert Patrick and Randy Travis) and enthusiastic but green recruits (James Van Der Beek, Usher Raymond, and Ashton Kutcher), McNelly and his Rangers bring law and order to the wild Texas plains; McNelly must also keep order among his charges when two rangers fall in love with the same woman, Caroline Dukes (Rachael Leigh Cook). Tom Skerritt and Vincent Spano are also featured in the supporting cast; the screenplay, adapted from a script by John Milius, was at one time set to be filmed by Sam Peckinpah, shortly before the legendary Western director's death in 1984. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Van Der Beek, Dylan McDermott, (more)
This suspense film features Dennis Hopper as JD, a crazed kidnapper who hijacks a school bus (not unlike his crazed kidnapper in Speed) and holds the students hostage (one of the students is played by former Home Improvement star Zachery Ty Bryan). Even if the hostages are able to break free from their captors, they would have to survive the harsh terrain that surrounds the cabin in which they are being held. Lee Stanley's film was sold directly to Blockbuster Video, never gaining a theatrical release in the United States. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Based on the novel by Barbara Esstman, this made-for-TV drama concerns Neal (Keith Carradine) and Nora (Rebecca DeMornay), a married couple who run a horse ranch. Neal and Nora have slowly but surely drifted apart; while they still live together, they no longer feel that they have anything to say to each other. Nora dotes on their 17-year-old son Simon (Jordan Brower), while Neal has bonded with his daughter, 15-year-old Clea (Thora Birch). One day, Simon is killed in a riding accident, which throws Nora into a severe depression. Nora's mother Maggie (Ellen Burstyn), along with Neal, struggle to reach out to Nora for the first time in years, as Nora, who blames herself for Simon's death, tries to persuade Neal to sell the ranch and leave behind the life they've known all their lives. Night Ride Home was the 200th production shown as part of the acclaimed dramatic anthology series Hallmark Hall of Fame. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keith Carradine, Rebecca De Mornay, (more)
In this gritty drama executive-produced by Gus Van Sant, a teenaged would-be stock-car driver gets more than he bargained for when he makes a pit stop in Las Vegas to earn a little cash. Almost as soon as he arrives in the city, high-school dropout Johnny (Jesse Bradford) finds himself victimized at the slot machines by a slick little vixen. His journey to glory on the racetrack thus sidetracked, he soon falls in with a group of hoods and street urchins. Befriended by solicitous hustler Steven (Jordan Brower) and condescended to by gay-for-pay stud Eric (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), Johnny gets a quick introduction to the sleazy Vegas landscape. At first he rejects his new acquaintances, but after a disastrous liaison with a buxom young lady (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen), he finds himself the reluctant new best friend of the besotted Steven. Adamantly professing his own heterosexuality, Johnny tries to find female clients to bankroll his ticket out of town. But soon Eric arrives, promising big bucks from his wealthy male patrons, setting the stage for conflict with Steven and unexpected bloodshed. Shown during the Panorama program at the 1999 International Berlin Film Festival, Speedway Junky was the debut feature from writer/director Nickolas Perry. Daryl Hannah co-stars as an older ex-prostitute who serves as a sort of foster mother for both Johnny and Steven. The film also marked the acting debut of musical artist Warren G and features a cameo appearance from Patsy Kensit. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jesse Bradford, Jordan Brower, (more)
- 1996
- PG13
In this youthful drama, three 13 year olds come of age when they learn to stand up to a vicious local bully. Joey, Book and Mouth live for baseball. Joey is a superb pitcher and Book an excellent catcher while Mouth dreams of becoming Joey's agent. All three boys have less than perfect home lives, with their chief problem being that their parents are too often gone. Still, they have a good summer until Hayes, a nearly psycho bully begins tormenting them in increasingly violent ways. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
In this Disney comedy that bears a suspicious resemblance to The Mighty Ducks, the down-trodden cynical young misfits of a run-down Texas town, devastated by the closing of its one major industry, find renewed hope and spirit at the hands of a plucky British foreign-exchange teacher who introduces them to soccer. When British elementary school teacher Anna Montgomery arrives in the dusty town and first meets the depressed and frequently angry youths, she immediately knows she must do something to somehow make them feel better about themselves and so decides to enroll them into a soccer league. Naturally the kids are at first awful and are soundly pummeled during their first game. Fortunately, former high school football champ, Deputy Sheriff Tom Palmer decides to give the pretty and single Anna a helping hand, and between the two of them manage to whip the kids into shape so they can beat the arrogant state champion team, helmed by Palmer's old rival Jay Huffer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
