John Apicella Movies

Finally fed up with having abuse (and other things) heaped upon him, Drew (Drew Carey) quits his job at the cafeteria and returns to the store, only to find that his old cubicle is now occupied by a frozen yogurt machine. But salvation may be on the way when Drew's brother Steve (John Carroll Lynch) reveals that their late Uncle Cecil has left them small but substantial amounts of money in his will--provided that each heir pass a specific test. In Drew's case, he will collect $10,000 if he is married within 72 hours. Are Drew and Kate willing to go through a wedding ceremony that neither one really wants, or will honor, courage and integrity prevail? (Hint: the climax of a story involves a phony drunken minister and two strangely familiar "best men"). With this episode, John Carroll Lynch becomes a regular in the hitherto recurring role of Steve Carey. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Originally made for cable television, this imaginative biopic chronicles the life of Marilyn Monroe (Mira Sorvino), including the years before she changed her name from Norma Jean Baker (Ashley Judd) and was transformed into the screen persona that made her a legendary sex symbol. The movie employs unconventional, dream-like storytelling techniques in which Marilyn and her former self, Norma Jean, frequently appear in scenes together, with Norma Jean often taunting Marilyn for not living up to her earlier aspirations. Many facets of Monroe's life are examined, including her childhood and adolescence when Norma Jean had to live with foster families because of her mother's psychological problems. In addition to referencing Monroe's work on such films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), The Seven Year Itch (1955), and Some Like It Hot (1959), the movie explores her marriages to baseball great Joe DiMaggio (Peter Dobson) and famous playwright Arthur Miller (David Dukes), and her romances, including her purported relationship with U.S. President John F. Kennedy (Steven Culp). The film also offers a hard-hitting look at Monroe's struggle with drug- and alcohol-dependency. ~ All Movie Guide

Todd Haynes presents a revisionist take on the paranoia thriller with this story of a Southern California housewife who suddenly falls victim to an inexplicable, apparently incurable illness. Carol White (Julianne Moore) lives with her husband and son in suburban comfort until she collapses one day, for no apparent reason. Her condition worsens in the weeks that follow, as she suffers from coughing fits, exhaustion, and spontaneous nose bleeds, triggered by sources as disparate as car exhaust, cologne, and the sun. Failing to find any medical explanation for her maladies, her doctor refers her to a psychiatrist, who suggests that her physical ailments are psychosomatic -- a theory echoed by her callous and increasingly frustrated husband. At her wits' end, Carol withdraws to an expensive New Age retreat for sufferers of "20th century disease," where the community's guru (Peter Friedman) champions a dubious regimen of diet, climate control, introspection, and self-love. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide

Sex and death are the main themes running through this thriller. Matt Dickson is a former hockey player turned L.A. cop. Since his wife left him he has become a hard-drinking carouser. Dickson is on the trail of Welton, a psychotic boxer, using the names of famous fighters for his aliases has left a grisly trail of dead women found in cheap motels throughout the city. He is assisted by Catherine Briggs, a journalist, who helps him see the connection between these murders and similar ones in the past. But Catherine is not only there to help Dickson. She is also there because of a recent one-nighter Dickson had with her sister. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In this drama, a convicted rapist is released from prison and immediately returns into the lives of his victim and the son he sired during the rape. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Doctor Mordrid (Jeffrey Combs) is an interdimensional sorcerer whose earth cover consists of acting as a super for a Manhattan apartment building. He gets word from his contact that a rival sorcerer, Kabal (Brian Thompson), has escaped and is coming to earth to take over the planet. Framed by Kabal for murder, Mordrid is sent to jail where his girlfriend (Yvette Nipar) is the only one who can help him escape -- and prevent the destruction of Earth. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

Originally prepared for European release under the title Catchfire, Backtrack wasn't given a wide distribution until 1991, and then only to capitalize on the Oscar win of Silence of the Lambs star Jodie Foster. In Backtrack, Foster plays a youngish innocent who witnesses a mob hit. Professional assassin Dennis Hopper is contracted to silence Foster for keeps. Instead, he falls in love with her. Directed by star Hopper, Backtrack has some of the feel of his earlier, better Easy Rider: the cast is populated by such old Hopper chums as Dean Stockwell, Charlie Sheen, Joe Pesci, Bob Dylan, Vincent Price and Julie Adams; and, like Easy Rider, it looks as though the story was improvised during filming. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason listens to the pleas of a 13-year-old girl and helps her father who was falsely accused of murdering a gambler. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Dyed-in-the-wool activist Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) is determined to be the first woman to storm the battlements of the Dunfries, the last male-only club left in Washington DC. Not surprisingly, the members resist this onslaught of raw feminism, but Murphy is able to gain entry by digging up a loophole in the club's bylaws (Evidently, any professional person willing to wear a necktie can appear in the reception hall!) All this brouhaha does nothing to assuage the emotional pain suffered by Murphy's coworker Jim (Charles Kimbrough)--who happens to be a Dunfries Club member of long standing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This film, loosely-based on the book by Bob Woodward, follows the career of comedian John Belushi (Michael Chiklis) as his spirit is guided through the past by the Angel Velasquez (Ray Sharkey). ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, the high-school rivalry between Peg (Katey Sagal) and Connie (Lisa Raggio) continues spilling over into adulthood as the two women vie for the honor of prom queen at their class reunion. The proceedings get down and dirty (or, to be precise, downer and dirtier than usual) as Peg bribes the voters and Al (Ed O'Neill) squares off against Connie's husband Jack (Jack Yates). Meanwhile, Al and Peg's kids Kelly (Christina Applegate) and Bud (David Faustino) dress up as hippies in hopes of crashing the prom banquet. Playboy centerfold Lynne Austin makes a cameo appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cop Killers was one of five Police Story specials, telecast in the fall of 1988. These "new" 2-hour specials were actually rewrites of scripts from the original Police Story series of 1973-80; there was an industry strike going on in '88, and networks needed material in a hurry. Ken Olin stars in Cop Killers as a police officer who feels unworthy of his medal of valor. He acted "correctly" during a shootout, but his partner was killed in the crossfire. Olin's guilt gradually begins to take a toll on his marriage to Patricia Wettig (the real-life Mrs. Ken Olin). Police Story: Cop Killers was first telecast October 29, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide