Michael A. Goorjian Movies

Brooke Adams, the wife of Monk star Tony Shalhoub, appears in this final episode of the series' third season as Abigail Carlyle, the mother of violin prodigy Daniel Carlyle...and a key player in a bizarre extortion plot. Monk is called in to investigate after a 22-month-old kid named Tommy (played by twins Preston Shores and Trevor Shores) shows up carrying a severed human finger in his tiny fist. The clues lead Monk to deduce that the finger belonged to a violin player, and this leads him to a meeting with the Carlyles. It doesn't take long for Monk to realize that "Daniel Carlyle" is an impostor, and that the real Daniel has been kidnapped--and to top it off, THIS crime is inextricably linked to little Tommy's grisly discovery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The made-for-cable musical satire Reefer Madness is based on the award-winning play of the same name, which in turn was inspired by the notorious -- and deliciously awful -- 1936 anti-marijuana film originally titled Tell Your Children. A smarmy lecturer (Alan Cumming in the first of his three roles in the film) arrives in a typical small town of the late '30s to warn the populace of the dangers of the "evil weed," bringing along a lurid propaganda film to dramatize his message. In broad, unsubtle, and hilarious strokes, the movie-within-a-movie shows how even a squeaky-clean pair of highschoolers named Mary Lane (Kristen Bell) and Jimmy Harper (Christian Campbell) can become hopeless dope addicts by succumbing to the lure of marijuana. Reefer Madness is not only a savage skewering of the original black-and-white movie (some of the musical's campiest lines are taken directly from the earlier script!), but also a devastating attack on what playwrights Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney consider to be the real reason that the 1936 movie was made: to frighten the public out of their wits in order to keep them under the thumb of an oppressive government. Thus, the musical manages to take a number of not-so-veiled swipes at xenophobia, racism, McCarthyism, the Bush Administration's Homeland Security policy, and even the recent FCC clampdown on "offensive" TV fare (one of the film's highlights is a garish nightclub number featuring Jesus Christ). The ebulliently staged songs include "The Stuff," "Down at the Ol' Five and Dime," "Lonely Pew," "Listen to Jesus Jimmy," "Mary Jane/Mary Lane," "The Brownie Song," "Tell 'Em the Truth," and the title number. Officially titled Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical, this film first aired April 16, 2005, on the Showtime cable service. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jean Claude La Marre directs the urban comedy Go for Broke. Two guys win the New York lottery, then get held up by a robber at a cafe. The woman robbing the place gets caught, taking their winning lottery ticket with her to prison. In order to get the stolen ticket back, the two guys dress in drag to infiltrate a women's prison. Starring Pras, Michael A. Goorjian, and Marjorie Jean. Go for Broke was shown at the Urbanworld Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Most parents say their children grow up too quickly, but one man finds such a problem is a matter of life and death in this sci-fi thriller. Peter Hamilton (Michael Goorjian) is a researcher working with a scientist studying new techniques to escalate the growth of cells. Eager to see how the scientist's latest formula would work, Peter steals a sample and inoculates his pregnant girlfriend with it; however, Peter's private experiment goes horribly wrong when his girlfriend gives birth and the child begins to grow at an alarming rate. Unless Peter and his associates can find a way to stop it, his child will grow to adulthood and die in the space of a few days. Life In A Day also stars Zachary Bennett, Roberta Maxwell, and Wayne Best. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This independent drama about rock stars, models and the drugs they share was shown as part of the "American Spectrum" series at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Jude (Michael Goorjian) is a rock star whose heroin habit has become too much for his bandmates; while on a European tour, they send him to a detox center in Paris to dry out. Jude escapes from detox faster than you can say "Kurt Cobain" and passes out on a sidestreet, where he's found by Joy (Portia de Rossi), a model who's also addicted to heroin. Joy takes Jude back to her flat, where they hide out from the world (where a reward has been posted for Jude's return) and debate the pros and cons of getting off junk. The Invisibles features a score by former Camper Van Beethoven member Jonathan Segel, who also plays the apparition of John Lennon. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Thanks to the bad influence of his new college pals, the normally levelheaded Bailey (Scott Wolf) is torn between knuckling down to his schoolwork and taking "short cuts" in order to have a good time. High school seniors Julia (Neve Campbell), Sarah (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Justin (Michael Goorjian) compete in a writing contest, with Justin overstepping all bounds of taste and propriety by penning a tell-all piece about Julia. And Charlie (Matthew Fox) makes a shocking discovery about his troubled ex-fiancee Kirsten (Paula Devicq). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Julia (Neve Campbell) and Justin (Michael Goorjian) feel both sad and guilty when their classmate Libby commits suicide--and also begin to wonder what the future holds in store for them. For her part, Sarah (Jennifer Love Hewitt) thinks she has the answer to that question, and finally breaks up with Bailey (Scott Wolf), who has failed her once too often. Meanwhile, Charlie (Matthew Fox) is forced to do some serious soul-searching when an unpleasant secret comes to light during a reunion with his high school buddies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Kirstie Alley earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in this moving made-for-TV drama. She plays Sally Goodson, the devoted mother of autistic child David. Abandoned by her husband years before, Sally has sacrificed much for her son but has felt it in his best interest. One of the key things she accomplished was keeping her son out of the institution that the government feels is in his best interest. Unfortunately, she could not avoid "the System" forever and when a well-meaning social worker learns that the boy is still in Sally's care, a heated battle ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

While the rest of the Seavers stay home for spring (actually winter) cleaning, Jason (Alan Thicke) and Mike (Kirk Cameron) head off for a communications workshop intended for dysfunctional families. Their purpose is to find some common ground in order to iron out their many differences. The workshop succeeds beyond imagination when, during a lively role-reversal exercise, it turns out that Mike and Jason aren't that much different after all--in fact, they're so alike that it's almost frightening! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A waitress looking to make good on a series of bad life choices finds her noble quest for redemption stifled when a deeply disturbed ex-boyfriend comes looking to win her back in a dark psychological drama from director Alan White. Hope (Heather Graham) has traveled quite a few darkened roadways in her relatively brief existence, but now the time has come to leave her past behind and realize her dreams of becoming an entertainer. Soon after moving to the big city, Hope makes the acquaintance of Will (Jeremy Sisto). When the pair subsequently gets involved with drugs Hope realizes that in order to truly get her life together she must jettison her enabler once and for all, she cuts off all ties to Will. Unfortunately for Hope, Will is determined to take deadly measures to ensure that he and his true love always remain together - whether in the comforting light of life, or the cold embrace of death. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

A natural disaster breeds man-made treachery in this suspense thriller. Severe flooding threatens an Indiana town after a massive rainstorm taxes dams to the breaking point. As part of an emergency evacuation effort, armored car driver Tom (Christian Slater) and his uncle Charlie (Edward Asner) are recruited to collect cash from the town's banks and drive it to safety. However, a gang of thieves led by Jim (Morgan Freeman) plan to lay siege to the truck and steal the $3 million on board. After Jim attempts to ambush the truck, Tom hides the cash and reports the attempted theft to the local sheriff (Randy Quaid). However, the sheriff's lack of honesty soon becomes apparent; he puts Tom in a lockup and sets out to take the money for himself. As the flood waters rise, Tom has to escape from jail if he is to save both the townspeople's savings and his own life. Meanwhile, Jim and the sheriff are locked in a race to see who can find the $3 million first. Minnie Driver, Richard A. Dysart, and Betty White highlight Hard Rain's supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this off-beat western, a gunfighter single-handedly takes on a band of ruthless bandits and prevents them from stealing a cache of government silver from a beleaguered little town. The gunslinger (Armand Assante) is not only remarkable for his quick draw and deadly aim, but also for the fact that a Civil War injury left him nearly blind. He carries with him the little baby he vowed to rear and protect after the war. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide