Alice Eisner Movies
- 2003
Pittsburgh-based filmmaker Brady Lewis makes his feature debut as a writer/director with the retro-styled B-movie Daddy Cool. Shot in various black-and-white and color film formats, this bizarre film borrows plot elements from film noir, science fiction, and horror classics. Transgendered adult female Roxanne Alter (Streeter Nelson) hates her father (John Amplas), a televangelist who used to be a the host of a TV science program. She finds herself becoming obsessed with her mysteriously missing twin sister (also Nelson) and soon she's seeing strange things in her TV set. She tells her story to a therapist, Dr. Talbot (Larry John Meyers), who also happens to be a werewolf. Daddy Cool was shown at the 2003 L.A. Outfest. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Streeter Nelson, Larry John Meyers, (more)
Based on the play by Ivan Menchell, this drama concerns three friends, Doris (Olympia Dukakis), Lucille (Diane Ladd), and Esther (Ellen Burstyn). All three live in the same Jewish community in Pittsburgh, are in their mid-to-late 50s, and have become widows within the past few months. Once a week, they gather to visit their husbands' graves and meet at a deli afterward to talk about their lives. Doris remains fiercely devoted to her late husband and takes her responsibilities as a widow seriously. Lucille is eager to get her feet back in the waters of dating, partly as revenge against her late husband, who often cheated on her, and partly because she's very lonely by herself. Esther is also not used to being alone after 39 years of marriage, but she doesn't feel ready to start dating again, at least not until she meets Ben (Danny Aiello), a former cop turned cab driver who gradually but firmly eases his way into her life. Doris is appalled when she discovers that Esther is dating again and loudly protests that she's being disrespectful to her late husband, while Lucille is more than a bit jealous that Esther snagged a good man before she could. Jerry Orbach and Lee Richardson appear in a brief prologue sequence. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ellen Burstyn, Olympia Dukakis, (more)
- 1992
- PG13
In this black comedy, elderly Jack Scanlan (Jack Warden) passes away just as he's about to tell his oldest son Johnny (Bob Hoskins) what he's decided is truly important in life, which does little to ease Johnny's mid-life anxieties. Jack's funeral and the subsequent wake brings together the various members of the Scanlan Family, most of whom are having troubles of their own. Johnny's mother Mary (Maureen Stapleton) is not dealing well with losing her husband. His brother Frank (William Petersen), a would-be union delegate, has a nagging wife, Denise (Debra Rush), and a pregnant daughter, Rachel (Teri Polo). His sister Nora (Frances McDormand) is a leftist nun who has brought along a guest, a South American dissident wanted by the INS. Terry (Pamela Reed) is splitting up with her husband Boyd (Tim Curry) after finally realizing that he's gay. And Johnny is thinking of quitting his job and leaving his wife Amy (Blair Brown), which makes the mysterious Cassie (Nancy Travis) seem all the more attractive. Passed Away marked the directorial debut of successful screenwriter Charlie Peters. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hoskins, Jack Warden, (more)
- 1991
- R
Iron Maze updates the Akira Kurosawa Rashomon tale and works it into a story involving the Japanese corporate takeover of a Pennsylvania steel mill. When Junich Sugita (Hiroaki Murakami), the son of a Japanese businessman, is found beaten to death in the steel mill just purchased by the father, the film examines four different points of view as Junich's murder is reconstructed. Barry Mikowski (Jeff Fahey), a steelworker angered by the shutdown of the steel plant, immediately surrenders to local police-chief Jack Ruhle (J.T. Walsh). Barry claims it was self-defense, because Junich attacked him when he found out he was having an affair with his wife Chris (Bridget Fonda). But Chris has her own version of the murder, Junich and Chris's versions are later both heard, and finally a young boy, Mikey (Gabriel Damon), appears with a story of his own that ties up all the loose ends. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Fahey, Bridget Fonda, (more)
- 1990
In this drama a bride, widowed on her wedding day when her husband was shot, investigates her late groom's past. She soon discovers why he was killed. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Lucci, David Soul, (more)
