Nicola Cavendish Movies
- 1998
This fact-based four-hour miniseries is set in the 1950s, an era when the CIA was actively researching the possibilities of brainwashing and other forms of mind-control. The chilling tale takes place in a Montreal mental facility and centers on a ruthless CIA-funded experiment in which 150 patients were brainwashed without their consent. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Pownall, Eric Peterson, (more)
The heartwarming story of a boy, his dog and a basketball forms the basis of this family comedy from Disney. Snively (Michael Jeter) is an unfunny clown whose appearances at children's parties are usually upstaged by his dog Buddy, who has learned how to shoot a basketball. Snively is tired of being upstaged by the pooch, and he eventually abandons him. Buddy is taken in by Josh (Kevin Zegers), a shy boy whose father recently died. Josh's mother Jackie (Wendy Makkena) moves them to a small town in Washington, where the naturally withdrawn Josh doesn't quite fit in. Too shy to try out for the basketball team, he instead becomes team manager, and he practices on his own after the team goes home. One night, Josh discovers Buddy that can not only shoot hoops, but he's a better shot than anyone on the team. Coach Barker (Stephen E. Miller), hungry for victory, adds Buddy to the team and soon the dog with game is famous -- just famous enough, in fact, for Snively to return, demanding the return of his pet. Buddy the Dog was spotted by the film's producers shooting baskets on the "Stupid Pet Tricks" segment of The Late Show with David Letterman. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Jeter, Kevin Zegers, (more)
- 1995
- NR
- Add Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story to QueueAdd Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story to top of Queue
Glenn Close won the "Outstanding Lead Actress" Emmy for her performance in this made-for-television drama about the rights of homosexuals in the military. Close stars as Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer, an Army medical officer with an eye on a promotion who is suddenly tossed into discharge proceedings after admitting to being homosexual. The film shows how she fought the system with the help her family and the support of gay rights activists. Judy Davis stars as her lover and also won the Emmy for "Outstanding Supporting Actress." Barbra Streisand was among the executive producers and the film was nominated for several Emmy and Golden Globe awards. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenn Close, Judy Davis, (more)
- 1992
In writer/director Anne Wheeler's Bye Bye Blues, a blue-collar family finds all sorts of unorthodox means to confront the tribulations of World War II. In Angel Square, Wheeler deals with a more contemporary subject: random street crime. Ned Beatty stars as a standard-issue husband and father in a "safe" neighborhood. Beatty's sense of security is violated when he is brutally beaten by a youth gang. The familial spirit of Bye Bye Blues is carried over into the climax of Angel Square, with Beatty's neighbors uniting to track down his assailants. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
This drama follows the erotic adventures of Tim Midley, a mild-mannered fellow who lives with his domineering mother. Tim is an attractive fellow, and early in the story he must fend off the advances of Mrs. Friendly, the title wife. Later, his mother is hospitalized, and Tim invites a sexy exotic dancer into his home. This proves to be a big mistake. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrew Rankin, Simon Webb, (more)
- 1989
This semisweet backwards glance at 1960s impulsiveness stars Margaret Langrick as a Canadian college freshman. She undergoes a bit of a culture shock when her white-bread values are challenged by her new hippie friend Liisa Repo-Martell. With a trio of her new and old chums, Langrick heads to Portland to attend a wedding. Once they arrive at the ceremony, the girls wreak a little bit of sexual havoc amongst the male guests before deciding to journey on to California. Thus a pattern is set for the previously shy and sheltered Langrick of letting her heart rule her head-a pattern ending up as far afield as Europe! American Boyfriends was the sequel to the equally fey, funny and freewheeling My American Cousin (1985). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margaret Langrick, John Wildman, (more)
- 1985
- PG
Set in the late '50s, the life of a young Canadian girl (Margaret Langrick) is plagued by boredom until her older California cousin Butch (John Wildman) visits her house. With a healthy dose of James Dean rebelliousness, Butch introduces her to rock & roll and chewing gum, among other things. The film won big at Canada's 1985 Genie Awards, carting off the Best Picture trophy, as well as Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Screenplay. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margaret Langrick, Richard Donat, (more)
