Maria Syrgiannis Movies
- 1999
Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates directed this made-for-cable feature inspired by the true story of one of America's greatest literary couples, Lillian Hellman and Dashiell Hammett. Hellman (Judy Davis) was an award-winning playwright whose successes included The Children's Hour and The Little Foxes, while Hammett (Sam Shepard) was a superlative mystery writer whose books inspired such classic films as The Thin Man and The Maltese Falcon. The couple met in the 1930s, while Hammett was working in Hollywood as a screenwriter. They remained together until Hammett's death from lung cancer in 1961 (never married despite the conventions of the day) in a relationship strained by Hammett's infidelity and their shared alcoholism. Dash and Lilly uses Hellman's 1950s testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee as a springboard to look back at their relationship; both Hammett and Hellman were branded as Communists and called before HUAC, leading to a prison term for Hammett. The film also features Bebe Neuwirth as Dorothy Parker, Laurence Luckinbill as Joseph Rauh, and Mark Zimmerman as Walter Winchell. Hellman's relationship with Hammett formed one of the plot points of the 1977 biopic Julia, which starred Jane Fonda as Hellman and Jason Robards in an Oscar-winning performance as Hammett. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Shepard, Judy Davis, (more)
- 1997
As she approaches her 40th year, all Viv wants is to have a baby. But despite her many efforts with her husband Paul, she cannot conceive. One day, they meet a mysterious immigrant who pleads for their help. Unable to turn away from his need, Viv brings the poor Markus home. Paul too feels pity and offers Markus food and a place to stay until his life gets better. Meanwhile, Viv struggles harder to get pregnant. Unfortunately, Paul, who is not sure he wants a family so late in life, is hedging. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Retired from rock 'n roll, ex-musician Joe is busy preparing for his upcoming wedding to the conservative daughter of a wealthy demolitions expert, in the full expectation of being trained in the family business. His dreams are shattered when he is kidnapped by a leather-clad performance artist who is upset that the boy's soon-to-be father-in-law is evicting her from her groovy loft apartment. She chains him to a huge metal ball, claiming that it is a mine, and holds him hostage. Since she is a "performance artist," it's difficult at first to determine whether she is serious or not. In time, it becomes clear that, demented or not, she is a more suitable spouse for the hapless musician than his fiancee. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- D.W. Moffett, Kate Vernon, (more)
- 1988
One year to the day after Trans-Regional Airline Flight 332 crashed and burned, the same airline's Flight 662 meets a similar grisly fate. Renee Brennan (Jaclyn Smith) of the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the tragedy, with the "assistance" of her FAA rival (and current boyfriend!) Mark Ettinger (Bruce Boxleitner). By and by, Renee begins receiving cryptic messages from a mysterious man who seems to know a lot about both crashes. He should: The man is the widower of the female pilot who was blamed for the Flight 332 disaster, and who, seeking revenge against those whom he feels unfairly persecuted his late wife, has caused the crash of Flight 662. And now, he has targeted Trans-Regional Flight 795 for "extermination"--and only Renee can stop him. Made for cable, Free Fall premiered January 17, 1999 on the Fox Family network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
