James Eckhouse Movies
Probably best known as Jim Walsh, the father of Brandon and Brenda on Beverly Hills 90210, actor James Eckhouse hadn't yet set his sites on acting when he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976. He didn't start appearing onscreen until the early '80s, when he began scoring minor roles in films like Will There Really Be a Morning? and Trading Places. Then, in 1990, Eckhouse was cast in Beverly Hills 90210 when it was a brand new series. It turned out to be a major hit, and Eckhouse stayed with the show for the next eight years. Afterward, he maintained a thriving acting career, making appearances on a wide variety of popular TV shows such as Without a Trace, Dharma & Greg, and CSI. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
Helene Hanff's book 84 Charing Cross Road had previously been a TV program and a stage play before it was converted into this 1986 film. The scene is New York, 1949: Anne Bancroft plays a struggling writer and passionate bibliophile, who answers an advertisement from a rare-volumes bookshop at 84 Charing Cross Road in London. Thus begins a two-decade romance by correspondence between Bancroft and Briton Anthony Hopkins, the man in charge of the overseas department of Marks and Company. Though several meetings are arranged, Bancroft and Hopkins never come face to face thanks to mitigating circumstances. But Anne finally makes it to London, and finds that much has changed. 84 Charing Cross Road was produced by Mel Brooks, the husband of star Anne Bancroft. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins, (more)
Cute but geeky high-school student Samantha Martin (Hilary Duff) is knocked off her feet by her father's untimely death, which leaves his diner and Samantha's well-being in the care of Fiona (Jennifer Coolidge), Sam's thoroughly wicked stepmother. Not one to take on such menial tasks as dishwashing and mopping floors, Fiona exploits Sam's dependence as a method of hoisting any dirty work off her own shoulders. School is hardly a break for Samantha, particularly when Shelby (Julie Gonzalo) is around; spoiled, wealthy, and popular, Shelby treats Samantha nearly as badly as Fiona does. Samantha's life is irrevocably changed, however, by two events: a makeover of epic proportions and a sudden electronic correspondence with a mysterious young man. Due to a misplaced cell phone and a series of fateful coincidences, Samantha and her Prince Charming develop a romance through text messages and e-mails, and ultimately promise to meet face-to-face at the biggest school dance of the year. Of course, getting there doesn't go smoothly, and Samantha may miss her chance to meet her dream date -- none other than Austin (Chad Michael Murray), the most popular boy in school. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hilary Duff, Jennifer Coolidge, (more)
One of the definitive, landmark shows of the 1990s, "90210" quickly became an important fixture on the FOX and in the popular discourse of adolescents and young adults. The first season's main characters, Dylan, Kelly, Donna, Steve, David, Andrea and twins Brandon and Brenda all attended West Beverly Hills High School. Brandon and Brenda Walsh and their parents, transplants from Minneapolis, were the stable nuclear family with strong values; their home was a safe haven for the whole gang and the center of much of the drama. The show dealt with a steady stream of love triangles and other romantic entanglements and occasionally touched on more serious issues as well.
- Starring:
- Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, (more)
The prime television destination for many younger viewers during the early '90s, Beverly Hills 90210 delivered scandal, controversy, and sexy story lines on a weekly basis. The series centered on the lives of the teenage Walsh twins, Brenda (Shannen Doherty) and Brandon (Jason Priestly), who move with their parents from rural Minnesota to drama-rich Beverly Hills at the beginning of Season 1. Learning to assimilate to the California lifestyle isn't easy; it takes the help of their high school friends Kelly (Jennie Garth), Donna (Tori Spelling), Steve (Ian Ziering), Andrea (Gabrielle Carteris), and David (Brian Austin Green), as well as bad boy (and teen heartthrob) Dylan (Luke Perry) to get Brenda and Brandon to come out their shells. Season 2 (1991-92) of the Aaron Spelling/Darren Star-created drama features a pregnancy scare for Brenda; Dylan's rehab stint; the truth about Steve's birth mother; an accidental shooting; and the introduction of the fascinating but troubled Emily Valentine (Christine Elise). Also new to the scene is Jake Hanson (Grant Show), who eventually went on to anchor the 90210 spin-off Melrose Place, which launched in the autumn of 1992. Bonus features in this eight-disc include: "Our Favorite Valentine," Elise's look back at Emily; "Meet the Walshes," during which actors Carol Potter and James Eckhouse discuss their roles as the "perfect" Beverly Hills parents Cindy and Jim Walsh; and "Everything You Need to Know About Beverly Hills 90210 Season 2," featuring pop-culture experts and comedians Michael Colton and John Aboud.
One of the definitive shows of the 1990s, Aaron Spelling's Beverly Hills, 90210 joined the elite TV club in 1992, spinning off the slightly more grown up ensemble soap Melrose Place. The series focus remains on the lives of the teenage Walsh twins -- Brenda (Shannen Doherty) and Brandon (Jason Priestly) -- who move with their parents from rural Minnesota to drama-rich Beverly Hills. Season 3 marks senior year for Brenda, Brandon, and their high school friends: Kelly (Jennie Garth), Donna (Tori Spelling), Steve (Ian Ziering), Andrea (Gabrielle Carteris), David (Brian Austin Green), and bad boy heartthrob Dylan (Luke Perry). Naturally, they all get closer together as they make the high-stakes decisions for their post-graduation lives. Every juicy moment from 1992-93's Season 3 is highlighted on this 8-disc set, including the prom, overseas travels, addictions, summer jobs, secret liaisons, and of course, graduation.
- Starring:
- Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, (more)
The ensemble drama about young adults growing up in Beverly Hills is a blend of romantic drama and subject matter that crosses all cultural boundaries. The storyline has followed the Walsh family as they moved from a middle-class Midwestern neighborhood to wealthy and glamorous Beverly Hills, maturing from high school to college students, facing new challenges as they continue to grow and discover more about themselves and their personal ambitions. As their worlds evolve, old friendships will be tested as new relationships develop, but no matter how complicated their worlds become, they will always share in their strengths and experiences.
- Starring:
- Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, (more)
The friends of Beverly Hills, 90210 are just getting warmed up! Join Brandon (Jason Priestley), Dylan (Luke Perry), Kelly (Jennie Garth), Donna (Tori Spelling), David (Brian Austin Green), Steve (Ian Ziering), Val (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen), and Clare (Kathleen Robertson) as they discover new love, battle addictions, and test the waters outside the college campus in all 31 sizzling episode of 1995-6's Season 6. Witness Kelly's terrifying descent into drugs; Dylan's unlikely marriage proposal; and a porno that is filmed at Brandon's house! As their lives twist, turn, and bend in different directions, it's the bonds of friendship that will never break.
- Starring:
- Jason Priestley, Luke Perry, (more)
The ensemble drama about young adults growing up in Beverly Hills is a blend of romantic drama and subject matter that crosses all cultural boundaries. The storyline has followed the Walsh family as they moved from a middle-class Midwestern neighborhood to wealthy and glamorous Beverly Hills, maturing from high school to college students, facing new challenges as they continue to grow and discover more about themselves and their personal ambitions. As their worlds evolve, old friendships will be tested as new relationships develop, but no matter how complicated their worlds become, they will always share in their strengths and experiences.
- Starring:
- Jason Priestley, Luke Perry, (more)
More than anything else, 13-year old New Jerseyite Josh (David Moscow) wants to be "big". That's the wish he makes at an odd-looking amusement pier fortunetelling machine. The next morning, Josh wakes up-only to discover that he's grown to manhood overnight! (At this point, the part is taken over by Tom Hanks). Still a 13-year-old mentally and emotionally, Josh decides to hide out in New York City until he can figure out what to do next. He lucks into a job with a major toy company run by kid-at-heart McMillan (Robert Loggia). By cannily bringing a child's eye view to McMillan's business, Josh rises to the top-and in process, he falls in love with fellow employee Susan (Elizabeth Perkins). But he's still a kid, and he'd like to go back to his own world and own body. Written by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg, Big proved a crucial success for budding director Penny Marshall, who'd work harmoniously with Hanks again on the radically different A League of Their Own. The cinematography was by Barry Sonenfeld, who went on to become a director himself with The Addams Family. That Big was heavily reliant upon the input of Tom Hanks and Penny Marshall was proven by the failed attempt to turn the property into a Broadway musical. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, (more)
- 1984
In this misfired drama on the inflammable topic of spousal abuse, Carol Sabella's (Leslie Denniston) husband Tony (James Eckhouse) becomes increasingly more violent, yet nothing is done to stop his behavior. At first there is a "spanking" when Carol "misbehaves" -- that is weird enough, and in a sexploitation film something that would introduce a few whips and leather. In this yuppie setting, the husband's abuse gets steadily worse, but Carol keeps hanging in there -- even when she looks death in the face -- until finally she finds a safe house. For some viewers, the story may hew much too close to everyone's stereotype of the battered woman, rather than providing some insight into the "whys" of her responses -- seemingly inane here. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Eckhouse, Lisa Sloan, (more)
- 2001
Early evidence indicates that the man found killed at a pottery store died while attempting to rob the establishment. But Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) soon discovers a link between this death and an unsolved kidnapping 16 years before. And, in another development, Sara (Jorja Fox) is convinced that a woman has died of spontaneous combustion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Tom Cruise juggles Martini shakers and ice cubes as the materialistic Brian Flanagan, a bartender who drops out of school to search for the perfect "rich chick" who will bankroll him into luxury. Brian meets up with bar veteran Doug Couglin (Bryan Brown) and they put together a dance-duo bar-tending act, taking five minutes to a mix a drink as they dance and toss gin bottles behind the bar to cutting-edge rock music circa 1988. The patrons, instead of demanding the booze, are dazzled by their antics and cheer them on. As a result, the bartenders become wildly popular -- in particular, Brian, who finds the bar babes falling all over each other to hop into the sack with him. As a result of their bar-tending success, they get hired to tend bar at a swanky disco, but there Brian and Doug have a falling out, and Brian takes off for Jamaica. There he meets vacationing New York City waitress Jordan Mooney (Elisabeth Shue) and the two fall in love. But then Brian meets rich New York fashion executive Bonnie (Lisa Banes) who wants to take Brian back to Manhattan with her to become her drink-mixing stud. When Jordan sees this, the love affair is put on hold. But not for long, as pangs of consciousness begin to filter through Brian's drunken haze. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, (more)
Albert Brooks wrote, directed, and stars in this philosophical comedy about a man having a hard time making a case for himself in the afterlife. When advertising executive Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks) finds himself in a fatal car crash minutes after taking delivery on a new BMW, he's whisked away to Judgment City, where the recently dead are put on a sort of trial to decide their fate. If in your time on Earth you were able to face your fears and learn from your mistakes, you get to move on to a life in a better world. However, if you didn't, you have to go back to Earth and try again. As he spends the next several days watching various episodes from his life, Daniel gets the impression he doesn't stand much of a chance of moving on -- and his representative, Bob Diamond (Rip Torn), seems to have little confidence in his case. In the meantime, he frequents Judgment City's many restaurants (where the food is delicious and you can eat all you want without gaining an ounce), pays a visit to the Past Life Pavilion, and meets Julia (Meryl Streep), who seems so kind, sweet, and noble that her advancement is practically assured. Daniel and Julia fall in love, but what's going to happen if they don't end up in the same place? Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep make a witty and engaging romantic team in Defending Your Life, and Shirley MacLaine appears in a highly appropriate cameo. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, (more)
"Fat Man" and "Little Boy" were the nicknames given the atomic bombs that were dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the waning days of World War II. This elaborately assembled film is the story of the events leading up to the dawn of the atomic age. Paul Newman plays General Leslie Groves, a hard-nosed career soldier who in 1942 finds himself the reluctant "nursemaid" to a group of idealistic scientists in Los Alamos, New Mexico. As the military head of the top-secret Manhattan Project, Groves intends to have the operation run by the book--and failing that, to have things his way at all costs. The film's storyline narrows down to a battle of egos between Groves and atomic scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer (Dwight Schultz), in his own way as contentious and childishly single-purposed as the general. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Newman, Dwight Schultz, (more)
"Fatal attraction" has become a household term for love turned to murderous obsession, thanks to the success of Adrian Lyne's 1987 movie. Dan (Michael Douglas) is a family man whose one-night affair with Alex (Glenn Close) turns into a nightmare when she insists on continuing the relationship, claiming to be carrying his baby. Alex systematically terrorizes Dan, even temporarily kidnapping his daughter, in her attempts to win back his affection. Douglas' besieged family man guiltily tries to preserve his marriage and family from the consequences of his own indiscretion. Close's performance as the love-struck psycho-siren remains her signature role: She conveys the buried feminist message of the film in her challenge to Dan to take responsibility for his sexual behavior. Though many critics acknowlegded the film's striking similarities to Clint Eastwood's 1971 film Play Misty for Me, Fatal Attraction spawned numerous other movies about middle-class families besieged by a lone psychotic intent on infiltrating and destroying the fabric of the family unit, including The Stepfather (1987), Pacific Heights (1990), The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), and Fear (1996). ~ Laura Abraham, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Douglas, Glenn Close, (more)
As time starts spinning faster and a series of natural disasters send the world plunging into chaos, the disillusioned, self-absorbed suburbanites nestled comfortably in the hills of Northern California find their lives unraveling at an alarming rate. Global cataclysms are on the rise, and the air quality around the world is at an all-time low, and as the pressure begins to build up in the mind of suburban single mother Saura Wu, a sinister charmer appears and disrupts her efforts to rebuild her family. Meanwhile, across town, a troubled girl named Pam seeks comfort in the arms of affable young hipster Scott. But while Scott is more than willing to be a good friend to Pam, he's just now coming to terms with his identity as a gay man - a reality his fundamentalist parents refuse to accept. Now, as a series of disastrous supernormal continue to unfold, Saura's son Timothy realizes that he has been gifted with paranormal powers, which he quickly learns how to develop and hone. By drawing on his unique powers, Timothy is somehow able to alter everyone's reality - but what good can this do in a world overcome by misery and catastrophe? First time feature filmmaker Jennifer Phang crafts an apocalyptic fable that takes a philosophical look at the end of the world, and shows how sometimes hope can still manage to cut through fatalism with extraordinary results. . ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sanoe Lake, Julia Nickson, (more)
- 1990
In the Best Interest of the Child was not based on a true story. That's the official line adopted by producer Robert A. Papazian, even though the plot of this made-for-TV movie would seem to be inspired by the exploits of the real-life Dr. Elizabeth Morgan. True or no, there's plenty of conviction in this story of a young woman (Meg Tilly) who risks imprisonment for the sake of her daughter. Having learned that her ex-husband is molesting the child, Ms. Tilly "kidnaps" the girl and heads off to parts unknown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meg Tilly, Ed Begley, Jr., (more)
- 1996
- R
In this independent melodrama, Mack's upcoming marriage to Katie is jeopardized when he goes too far with his estranged friend's girlfriend after his bachelor party concludes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dwier Brown, Jessica Hecht, (more)
A pair of violent young lovers armed with a video camera and plenty of attitude take flight as directors Jon Schroder and Randall K. Rueben instill Natural Born Killers sentiment with a heaping helping of Blair Witch Project style. Judy (Rachael Bella) is a high school outcast who just can't seem to shake her bullies. Jimmy (Edward Furlong) is a recently de-institutionalized suburbanite with a serious video camera obsession. Though Judy is at first unimpressed by Jimmy's reckless rebel attitude, her option soon shifts when the unstable newcomer captures himself on camera delivering a little vigilante justice to her unrelenting tormentors. Tragedy soon strikes, however, when the increasingly unpredictable Jimmy accidentally kills a cop, and the frightened pair are send fleeing into a remote commune presided over with Manson-like fervor by the malevolent Uncle Rodney (William Sadler). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Furlong, Rachael Bella, (more)
The animated Christmas story Jingle Bells concerns a poor family headed by a father who sacrifices something the rest of the family wanted to keep in order to buy everyone a present. Luckily, Santa saves the day. This film features the voices of Don Knotts, Shelley Long, and Jason Alexander. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
The Biblical story of Joseph comes to life in this animated feature from the creators of The Prince of Egypt. Adventure and music set the stage for this tale of a boy named Joseph (voice of Ben Affleck) whose dreams bring him powerful visions of the future. Joseph's abilities to prognosticate win him a favored position with the Pharaoh of Egypt, but only inflames his contentious relationship with his brothers. Featuring the same top-notch artwork and animation that impressed audiences in The Prince of Egypt, Joseph: King of Dreams also features several original songs sung by Maureen McGovern and Jodi Benson. The film was released directly to home video in the United States, but enjoyed a theatrical release in Europe. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Affleck, Mark Hamill, (more)
