Josh Hamilton Movies
A founding member of the Malaparte Theater Company, where he spent two years alongside such actors as Ethan Hawke and Robert Sean Leonard, Josh Hamilton has performed on the stage, screen, and television. His notable stage work includes roles in Pirandello's The Joke and in Eric Bogosian's SubUrbia. In 1991, Hamilton earned acclaim for his starring role in the CBS Schoolbreak Special "Abby, My Love," and he subsequently appeared in American Playhouse teleplays and in two CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame specials, including the highly praised "O Pioneers!" Hamilton entered feature films playing small roles in Old Enough and Firstborn (both 1984), but did not appear in any other films until Alive (1993), in which he portrayed a plane crash survivor stranded in the Andes with Ethan Hawke. In 1995, the actor earned greater recognition as one of the stars of Noah Baumbach's Generation X ensemble comedy Kicking and Screaming. Two years later, he earned additional recognition for his starring role as the wacko brother of sociopathic Parker Posey in The House of Yes; he subsequently continued to work largely on television and in various independent films. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1987
This PBS American Playhouse presentation is based on one of the many "Lawrenceville Stories" by Owen Johnson (which also served as the basis of the 1950 MGM feature The Happy Years). Zach Galligan stars as William Hicks, something of a legend at turn-of-century Lawrenceville Boy's School because of his elaborate pranks and practical jokes. This term, however, uptight housemaster Tapping (Robert Joy) has vowed to catch young Hicks in the act of horseplay. "Hickey" considers this threat to be a flung gauntlet, and thus plans his most spectacular prank ever. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
The endurance of an upper-middle-class family is put to the test in this well-made television drama about drug abuse. Based on the book of the same name by Beth Polson, Viveka Davis (Shoot The Moon) stars as Susan Bowers, the teenage daughter of a successful surgeon (George Segal) and homemaker (Stockard Channing). When innocent-looking Susan's secret life as a druggie comes to light, her parents try anything and everything to get her clean. Unable to make any headway, they turn to a strict drug-treatment center, where streetwise counselors deal with tough kids on their own terms. The Bowers soon learn that their daughter's rehabilitation will not only be a long haul but also an exercise in family dynamic exploration. Young Davis is compelling as the rebellious daughter, and Channing and Segal are wholly believable as the bewildered parents. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1984
- PG13
A teenager and his kid brother spar with their mother's shady new boyfriend in this dramatic thriller from veteran British director Michael Apted. When her ex-husband remarries, Wendy (Teri Garr) feels despondent -- until she starts dating handsome, unctuous Sam (Peter Weller), an underemployed salesman with no shortage of big ideas. Excited to finally feel good about herself again, Wendy invites Sam to move in and offers to invest in his get-rich-quick schemes. None of this sits well with her sons, Jake (Christopher Collet) and Brian (Corey Haim), who remain unimpressed with Sam even after he convinces Wendy to buy Jake a motorbike. They're even less jazzed when Sam stops currying favor and turns disciplinarian even while pulling Wendy into his hard-partying lifestyle. Within a few months, Brian's on the verge of expulsion for picking fights at school, and even honor-role student Jake is mouthing off to his teachers. As for Wendy, she's too busy taking beatings and doing cocaine to notice that her family has fallen apart. It isn't until Jake gets wise to the industrial quantities of white powder squirreled away under the floorboards that he comes up with a plan to get Sam out of their lives forever. Although onetime Tiger Beat heartthrob Christopher Collet plays Firstborn's title role, the films' supporting cast is littered with actors whose stars would far eclipse his (Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Downey Jr.) -- though in some cases only for a little while (Corey Haim). ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Teri Garr, Peter Weller, (more)
- 1984
Director and writer Marissa Silver debuted with this captivating film on the friendship of two young girls from opposite sides of the economic tracks but same side of town. Twelve-year-old Lonnie Sloan (Sarah Boyd) is a well-to-do New York rich kid and Karen Bruckner (Rainbow Harvest) is the more ordinary, impoverished New York kid. They happen to meet one day on the street in their neighborhood and hit it off just because each is fascinated with unknown quantities. As they learn that they were taught to perceive and react to the world differently, their relationship becomes one of unfolding adventure -- even for the grown-up viewers. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sarah Boyd, Rainbow Harvest, (more)
- 1984
Often cited as a rip-off of such "parent-kid personality switch" films of the 1980s as Like Father, Like Son and Vice Versa, this ABC Afterschool Special actually predates those projects by several years. Summer camper Ben Andrews (Scott Schwartz) would like to be a grown-up. Ben's father, Bill Andrews (Robert Klein), a harried movie executive, yearns for the carefree days of childhood. Inevitably, Ben and Bill switch personalities, with uproarious results. Amazingly, no one seems to notice the switch, not even when 12-year-old Ben puffs away on a pipe while heading a movie conference, and middle-aged Bill totes a teddy bear all around summer camp. (One would think that the overacting of both stars would rather give the game away, but we shouldn't be seeking logic here, should we?) Summer Switch is based on a novel by Bruce Rodgers. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Klein, Scott Schwartz, (more)
