Ramon Franco Movies
Frank McBain (Gary Busey) is a cop who earned the nickname of "bulletproof" from the dozens of shootings he has survived over his career. He is called on to retrieve a tank held by communists across the border of Mexico. The enemies are cardboard caricatures of Arabs, Russians, and Mexicans led by the evil Colonel Kartiff (Henry Silva). Darlanne Fluegel co-stars with Juan Fernandez and Rene Enriquez in this forgettable feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gary Busey, Darlanne Fluegel, (more)
- 1992
- R
In this made-for-cable actioner a good-hearted social worker embarks upon a one-man crusade to save Miami teens from getting further involved with a gang of crack dealers. The social worker does this in large part to ease his own guilt at having been responsible for the death of his own son back when he was drinking heavily. To save the teen, he pretends to be a dealer and infiltrates the gang. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1983
- R
After being kicked off the force, Stoney Cooper (Wings Hauser) turns private detective for special cases; one involves tracking down a serial killer noted for carving X's into the forehead of each woman he kills. While Cooper is on the case, he's harassed by an old job partner (Lincoln Kilpatrick) and his ex-wife (Joyce Ingalls). ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Wings Hauser, Joyce Ingalls, (more)
Having spent much of his directorial career emulating Don Siegel and John Ford, Clint Eastwood borrows a page from the catalogue of Sam Fuller in Heartbreak Ridge. Eastwood casts himself as an old-fashioned Marine Corps sergeant who is out of step with the new-fashioned military. He returns to his old outfit as a gunnery sergeant, where he runs afoul of 1980s-style superior officers to whom the words "Gung Ho" are foolish anachronisms. But through his tough tutelage, Eastwood's lackadaisical platoon is whipped into a first-rate fighting machine, favoring teamwork over such New Age gobbledygook as "self-fulfillment." Eastwood's men prove their mettle during the invasion of Grenada. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Clint Eastwood, Marsha Mason, (more)
- 2005
Vogler (Chi McBride) cuts a deal with Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), agreeing to postpone the dismissal of Dr. House (Hugh Laurie). But there's a price to pay for this concession: House must immediately fire one member of his team. As tension mounts among House's coworkers, they still find time to look into the case of an obese 10-year-old (Jennifer Simms) who has suffered a heart attack--but not because of her extra poundage. Another overweight patient (Lucille Hernandez) lies to both House and her husband regarding what may be a malignant tumor...or a unborn child. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
- R
Marcus De Leon directed this standard erotic thriller for Roger Corman's Concorde Pictures. Sexy Julie Carmen stars as Teresa Bozman, wife of Jake (Guy Boyd), a sadistic bar-owner in East Los Angeles. When a handsome singer named Tony Montero (Robert Beltran) is hired, his music boosts the club's business and steals Teresa's heart. Together, they plot to kill Jake and live happily ever after, but the usual complications ensue. A mostly Latino cast and authentic locations give this film more credibility than Dan Golden's tiresome redneck remake (also for Concorde), Saturday Night Special (1994). ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Starring:
- Julie Carmen, Robert Beltran, (more)
- 1996
Through the invention of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), a Latin instrumental band fronted by a blind musician cuts a demo record at Manhattan University. Before long, the band is being offered a prestigious contract by a record company--but a mobster makes a count-offer that would be unhealthy to refuse. This, coupled with the murder of a petty crook from the band leader's past, prompts Jessica to take more than an academic interest in the situation. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1995
An extremely nervous Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) prepares for his marriage to Sylvia Costas (Sharon Lawrence). Andy's best man, Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits), becomes increasingly aware that Diane Russell's (Kim Delaney) drinking is wreaking havoc on her job performance. Bobby and his fellow officers also try to clear up the racially charged crisis involving the brother (Michael Jai White) of Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel). Lesniak (Justine Miceli) finally agrees to date Martinez (Nicholas Turturro). And on the day of the wedding, several surprise guests show up. This was the final episode of NYPD Blue's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2002
The investigation of a deli robbery in which the owner was killed is bollixed up by Daron Hodges (Daniel Baldwin), an overzealous detective from another precinct who inadvertently leads a witness to finger the wrong man for the crime. In another development, a phony priest is apparently victimizing a young girl -- but this turns out to be the tip of the iceberg in an ever-developing confidence scam. And in the aftermath of the previous week's hostage crisis, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) decides to live for the moment and admit his affection for Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross) -- even unto inviting Connie to join him and his son Theo (Austin Majors) on their trip to Disney World. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Simmons
- 1996
Detective Stu Morrissey (Conor O'Farrell) thinks that a father knows more than he's letting on about a missing baby. Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) makes a bet that he can lose more weight than Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) campaigns to be elected the squad's union delegate. Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) has a run-in with Henry (Willie Garson) when a woman is killed outside the building Simone inherited from Henry's aunt. And Bobby and Dianne Russell (Kim Delaney) talk over their relationship. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 2001
Andy (Dennis Franz) is relieved to learn that his son Theo is out of the woods regarding his medical condition -- at least for the present. Danny (Rick Schroder) and Diane (Kim Delaney), back together again, decide to keep their renewed relationship quiet. On the job, Andy and Danny investigate a series of violent attacks on cabbies; Capt. Brass (Larry Joshua) takes over Fancy's (James McDaniel) office for his new task force; and Diane's contact Danny DiSalvo (Jay Acovone) offers to "take out" drug smuggler Don Kirkendall (if and when he is ever found), thereby absolving the 15th precinct of any complicity in Kirkendall's activities. In a related development, the ex-wife of Diane's old nemesis Denby (Scott Cohen) may be able to clear up matters in the Kirkendall case -- or maybe not. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Director Russell Mulcahy takes over for the third chapter in the Resident Evil film franchise, which finds genetically altered Alice (Milla Jovovich) joining forces with Carlos (Oded Fehr) and L.J. (Mike Epps) to take down the Umbrella Corporation once and for all. Upon emerging from her hideout in the Nevada desert, Alice is quickly joined by old friends Carlos and L.J., as well as survivors Claire (Ali Larter), K-Mart (Spencer Locke), and Nurse Betty (Ashanti). Now instilled with super-human strength, senses, and dexterity as a result of the biogenetic experimentation conducted on her by the Umbrella Corporation, Alice and the rest of the survivors set out to eliminate a virus that threatens to turn every living human undead, and ensure that the mysterious organization pays the price for their horrific crimes against humanity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, (more)
- 1996
Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) goes to great lengths to peek at her diagnosis after visiting a doctor about a rash. Refusing delivery of a package with no return address, Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld) is faced with a charge of mail fraud -- and worse still, a "basic instinct" moment with Newman (Wayne Knight). Kramer (Michael Richards) urges George (Jason Alexander) to act upon the "fact" that a photo clerk has including a sexy picture of herself in a batch of photos. And Uncle Leo's (Len Lesser) stove explodes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1994
- R
Unorthodox FBI agent Jack Scalia is assigned to investigate the kidnapping of a prominent clothing manufacturer. It seems to Scalia that the whole event has been staged as part of a large-scale fraud. The principal suspect is onetime fashion model Bo Derek, the victim's much-younger wife. Despite his seen-it-all veneer, Scalia finds it difficult to maintain objectivity when he falls in love with Bo. Made for television, Shattered Image debuted January 21, 1994 on the USA Cable Network. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1993
- R
In this violent urban drama, an LA cop is deeply traumatized after he tries to save a child in a hostage situation and fails. He leaves the force and returns to his old gritty South Central neighborhood to help Rebecca Sanchez find her brother Carlos who has mysteriously disappeared shortly after a gang truce, between the African-American gang the Blades and the Latin Lords, begins disintegrating thanks to a number of drive-by shootings in either territory. The cop's investigation soon reveals that both gangs are being manipulated by a third party. Poor Carlos seems to hold the key and finds his life in grave danger. When the cop figures it all out, his life is also jeopardized. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jeff Speakman, Christopher Neame, (more)
The First Deadly Sin was Frank Sinatra's final starring movie vehicle. Based on a novel by Lawrence Sanders, it casts Sinatra as Edward Delaney, a big-city detective on the verge of retirement. Beset with profound personal problems--including a gravely ill wife (Faye Dunaway)--Delaney nonetheless tackles the case of an axe murderer who seemingly strikes at random. Be on the lookout for an unbilled Bruce Willis. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Frank Sinatra, Faye Dunaway, (more)
- 1988
The Hill would have made a terrific Samuel Fuller war film. In the absence of Fuller, director Robert Iscove performs yeoman service in bringing the story to life. Terence Knox is among the members of Bravo Company, assigned to capture a strategic hill. Before the company can begin to take on the enemy, the individual soldiers must overcome their own hostilities, both external and internal. Beyond sharing a wartime background, the 1988 The Hill bears no relation to the 1965 POW drama of the same name. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
William Dear (Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann) helms the period baseball drama The Perfect Game, a cinematization of real-life events that transpired in 1957. Clifton Collins Jr. stars as Cesar Faz, a 1950s baseball player who immigrated from Mexico to the U.S. with the intent of making it as a Major League player. After encountering racism and hostility that stand squarely in the way of his success, Faz high-tails it south of the border and decides instead to coach a Little League team, ultimately guiding it all the way to the Little League World Series. The film co-stars Emilie de Ravin (Lost); W. William Winokur authored the script. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Clifton Collins, Jr., Cheech Marin, (more)
Two runaway teens face life on the streets in New York City with a devil-may-care attitude and a punk-rock image. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tim Curry, Trini Alvarado, (more)
U.S. Army Company B reports for its first Tour of Duty in the Vietnam of 1967. B's spiritual leader, Sgt. Zeke Anderson (Terence Knox), doesn't quite see eye to eye with rules-are-rules Lt. Myron Goldman (Stephen Caffrey), a shave-tail straight out of OSC. New platoon members Roger Horn (Joshua Maurer), Danny Percell (Tony Becker), Alberto Ruiz (Ramon Franco), and Scott Baker (Eric Bruskotter) don't think much of Goldman either, preferring to turn to Anderson in moments of crisis. Also signed for this tour are seasoned troopers Marvin Johnson (Stan Foster) and Marcus Taylor (Miguel A. Nunez Jr.), and company commander Captain Wallace (Kevin Conroy). Before the season has run its course, both Wallace and company medic "Doc" Matsuda (Steve Akahoshi) will have fallen in battle. ~ Rovi
By the time Tour of Duty commenced its (extremely belated) second season on CBS, there'd been a considerable personnel turnover in Company B, not to mention a complete change of scenery. Though it's still the Vietnam of 1967, the platoon has been reassigned to the Tan Son Nhut air base, not far from Saigon. Lt. Myron Goldman (Stephen Caffrey) and Sgt. Zeke Anderson (Stephen Caffrey) are still in charge, and troopers Percell (Tony Becker), Johnson (Stan Foster), Taylor (Miguel A. Nunez), and Ruiz (Ramon Franco) are present and accounted for; but Wallace, Horn, Baker, and "Doc" are all gone. New to the landscape are chopper-pilot John McCay (Dan Gauthier), attractive army shrink Dr. Jennifer Seymour (Betsy Brantley), and female news correspondent Alex Devlin (Kim Delaney). The addition of two female regulars not only insured Tour of Duty an increase in viewership but also allowed the scriptwriters to inject some romance in the proceedings: namely, Sgt. Anderson's fling with Dr. Seymour, and Lt. Goldman's liaison with Alex. ~ Rovi
Most of the cast members present in Tour of Duty's second season, both male and female, have re-upped for season three. In charge of U.S. Army Company B stationed at Tan Son Nhut air base in the Vietnam of 1967-1968 are Lt. Myron Goldman (Stephen Caffrey) and Sgt. Zeke Anderson (Terence Knox). Also back for another hitch are platoon members Percell (Tony Becker), Ruiz (Ramon Franco), and Taylor (Miguel A. Nunez); chopper-pilot Lt. McCay (Dan Gauthier); army psychologist Jennifer Seymour (Betsy Brantley); and sexy female wire-service reporter Alex Devlin (Kim Delaney). New faces include company commander Col. Brewster (Carl Weathers), and the outspokenly antiwar medic "Doc Hock" (John Dye), and battle-weary vet "Pop" Scarlet (Lee Majors). Whereas morale had been reasonably high during the series' first two seasons, things are beginning to break down as Company B enters its third year in 'Nam. Things are particularly dismal for Cpl. Percell, who becomes addicted to morphine. Even when the troopers are demobilized and sent home, they find it difficult, if not impossible, to adjust to the civilian world. In other words, this final season of Tour of Duty is a fairly accurate representation of what was really going on in both Vietnam and America in the late '60s. ~ Rovi
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