Jeff Lipsky Movies

A successful psychiatrist and doting grandfather resurrects his dormant dream of becoming a professional singer while experiencing a personal crisis that mirrors that of his increasingly neurotic daughter in this endearing comedy drama from Flannel Pajamas director Jeff Lipsky. Frank Gregorio (Chazz Palminteri) lives a charmed life; he has a unique gift for helping his patients work through their problems, a beautiful wife, and two gorgeous grandchildren thanks to his eldest daughter Lana (Drea de Matteo). Introduced to karaoke through a patient with parent issues, and then again at his granddaughter's birthday party, Frank finds himself drifting back to the days when all he wanted in life was to become a professional singer. Instead of following his dream back then, Frank chose the practical route in life. When Frank starts exercising his rusty vocal chords, his wife Angela (Maria Tucci) assumes that he's just practicing to sing at their younger daughter's upcoming wedding. Lately, the wannabe crooner is spending more and more time with femme fatale karaoke aficionado Lydia (Linda Fiorentino), who hasn't been entirely forthright about her true intentions towards Frank. Meanwhile, Lana is becoming increasingly neurotic about her post-pregnancy weight, considering plastic surgery and an affair with a strapping police officer in hopes of boosting her self-esteem. As the rash decisions made by Frank and Lana yield unexpectedly dire consequences, the family comes together in a sincere attempt to ensure that the insecure father and daughter realize they will always be loved despite their insecurities. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

A handful of Minneapolis teenagers, just out of high school and on the cusp of adult responsibilities, try to sort out their messy romantic and emotional lives in this independent comedy/drama. Greg (Sam Trammell) is a cocky aspiring photographer who has already been accepted for a job at a major magazine; in his spare time, he takes nude photos of his sister Clhoe (Bridget White), while discussing her physical flaws with a highly professional detachment. Greg is friends with the cynical Denise (Colleen Werthmann), who is attracted to other women. Denise confesses her lesbianism to a shy classmate, Rebecca (Heather Gottlieb), who responds with enthusiasm to Denise's advances, even though she's already written Greg a letter in which she declares that she's infatuated with him. Greg does some confessing of his own when he tells Denise's mother, the recently divorced Evelyn (Cameron Foord), that he's long had a crush on her. Evelyn responds by leading Greg to his bedroom and seducing him; She is soon involved in an ongoing affair with Greg that she sees no reason to hide, which causes much tension and misunderstanding among Greg's friends, especially Denise. Childhood's End was the debut feature for writer/director Jeff Lipsky. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide