Barry Berman Movies
A woman dealing with a family crisis learns about faith and an elderly man learns about tolerance and forgiveness in this Christian drama. Tyree Battle (April Grace) is a single mother trying to raise her 11-year-old son Thaniel (Cordereau Dye) on her own in a rough-and-tumble neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Thaniel, like many of his friends, has fallen under the influence of a violent street gang, and, against his better judgment, he becomes involved in a robbery attempt on a local store. Shopkeeper Eli Zeal (Burt Reynolds), a Jewish immigrant who settled into the neighborhood years ago and refuses to leave, won't cooperate with the would-be thieves, and in the confusion, Thaniel shoots him. Eli is seriously wounded and unable to care for himself; hoping Eli won't turn her son into the police, and thinking it's best that they both stay away from the police and the gangs for a while, Tyree brings the wounded shopkeeper along as she and her son pay a visit to her family in Waterproof, LA. As Grandpa Sugar (Whitman Mayo) helps look after Eli and Thaniel gets to know his Uncle Big (Anthony Lee) and Cousin Natty (Orlando Jones), Tyree tries to mend her strained relationship with her mother (Ja'net DuBois), and learns about the faith that has helped keep her family together. Waterproof was the first feature film directed by former screenwriter Barry Berman. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- April Grace
Unlike the more familiar animated Pinocchio by Disney, there are no song interludes here, and characters added to the story by Disney (such as Jiminy Cricket) are not included. Producer Francis Ford Coppola and director Steve Barron, (known for the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film) closely adhere to Carlo Collodi's 1883 novel and use the visually timeless setting of a Czechoslovakian village. Jim Henson's puppet studio skillfully brings this Pinocchio to life. Long ago, in his youth, Gepetto (Martin Landau) loved but did not court Leona (Genvieve Bujold), who married Gepetto's brother instead. In that earlier time, he carved her initials with his onto a tree. Now his brother is dead, and though he still feels for Leona, he is still too shy to woo her. Instead, the old puppet-maker goes into the forest and cuts down a tree in order to make a puppet just for himself. The tree is the same one he carved his initials into when he was younger, and it has the magic of his love in it. Soon after the puppet Pinocchio is made, he comes to life. Aside from being made of wood, he begins to live the life of a perfectly normal little boy. He even goes to school. Lorenzini, an evil magician who runs a children's puppet show, hears of Pinocchio and wants to use him in his show. Lorenzini lures children to his show, only to later turn them into donkeys. Donkeys are useful creatures, and Lorenzini makes a lot of money selling them. Through many trials and tribulations, the puppet-boy earns the right to become the human boy Pinocchio (Jonathan Taylor Thomas). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Landau, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, (more)
Johnny Depp was nominated for a Golden Globe for his astonishing performance in Benny & Joon, though the entire cast is equally impressive. Benny (Aidan Quinn) runs a small car repair shop. He must also take care of his mentally ill sister Juniper, better known as Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson). After losing a bet, Benny is forced to bring another eccentric into his house: Sam (Johnny Depp), the cousin of a friend. Not inclined to conversation, Sam expresses himself by performing Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton routines (and brilliantly!) Not surprisingly, he immediately hits it off with Joon. As Sam and Joon fall deeper in love, Benny for the first time in life experiences the pangs of jealousy. As can be gathered by this synopsis, Benny and Joon may not strike responsive chord with everyone; those who like the film, however, are almost militant in their devotion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, (more)
