Joel Berti Movies
- 2006
Debuting over MyNetwork TV on September 5, 2006, Fashion House (working title: Secret Obsessions) was one of two nightly hour-long continuing dramas seen over the fledgling network during its first season on the air; both this series and its companion show Desire were inspired by the Spanish-language telenova genre, and both were filmed in San Diego. Fashion House unfolded the tale of two rival fashion designers: Maria Gianni (Bo Derek), beautiful but ruthless owner of Fashion House, and her hated rival, the wealthy Sophia Blakely (Morgan Fairchild), whose mission in life was to put Maria out of business via a hostile takeover. The sinister machinations of these two ladies were seen through the eyes of Michelle Miller (Natalie Martinez), a housewife who aspired to be a top designer, and who began pursuing that goal after discovering that her husband Lance (Mike Begovich) had cheated on her with his vixenish business assistant Gloria (Donna Feldman). For her part, Michelle entered into a torrid affair with Michelle's son Luke (Taylor Kinney), a would-be painter. Weaving and sometimes skulking through the proceedings were sinister dealmaker William Chandler (Joel Berti), who aligned himself with Sophia for the purpose of destroying Maria; and supermodel Nikki Clark (Nicole Pulliam), Michelle's best friend. Telecast on a Monday through Friday basis with a weekend recap, Fashion House was destined for a 13-week, 65-episode run, at which point MyNetwork would replace it with a new nightly soaper, Watch Over Me. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bo Derek, Morgan Fairchild, (more)
- 2001
The second of two made-for-TV biopics on the same topic (the first was Side by Side: The True Story of the Osmond Family), Inside the Osmonds was co-produced by Jimmy Osmond and Dick Clark, and as such can be regarded as reasonably accurate, if a tad on the hokey side. Matt Dorff's teleplay recounts the rise in popularity of the singing Osmond clan, from their humble beginnings in Utah onward. The act is strictly stag -- that is, it consisted largely of the Osmond Brothers -- until siblings Donny and Marie break out and matriculate to superstardom. Perhaps inevitably, the Osmond juggernaut begins to collapse under its own weight, due to dissension, jealousy, and the questionable financial escapade of the singers' father, George (played by Bruce McGill). The story ends in a tune-filled concert re-creation, featuring the real-life Osmonds (or as many as could be assembled herein). Standouts in the cast are Thomas Dekker and Patrick Levis as the younger and older Donny Osmond, Janaya Stephens as Marie, and Veronica Cartwright as the siblings' mother, Olive; there are also adequate Hollywood casting-service approximations of musician/politician Mike Curb and the Osmonds' longtime TV director Jack Regas. The abruptness of the continuity suggests that the film was originally much longer than its present two hours. Largely filmed in Toronto, Inside the Osmonds made its ABC network debut on February 5, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce McGill, Veronica Cartwright, (more)
- 2000
Throughout his life, Max Rigney (Jacob Tierney) has been bullied by his wealthy father Sam (Jere Burns), who holds the family purse strings. Not only has Sam strongarmed Max into attending the same college as he did, but he has also forced his son to pledge to his old fraternity, which is notorious for its brutal hazing practices. Monica (Roma Downey) arrives on campus as a philosophy professor, which pleases the sensitive Max--but curiously strikes terror into the heart of Sam. Ultimately, Max must confront his father about a long-suppressed incident in the fraternity's past; and with the help of Monica's fellow angel Andrew (John Dye), the boy must also learn to make his own life decisions, based not on fear of what might happen, but on faith in himself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Although actor-director-producer Michael Landon died of pancreatic cancer in 1991, his life and career remained indelibly etched on the collective consciousness of America for many years afterward, as witness this warts-and-all TV biopic written and directed by Michael Landon Jr. Although it is clear throughout that the younger Landon loved and adored his father, the film is unstinting in its depiction of the emotional damage wrought upon the boy when, at age 15, his parents were divorced. In fact, it is the elder Landon's infidelities (and his almost casual selfishness) that galvanize the storyline, creating a schism between father and son that would not be repaired until the two Landons came to terms during Michael Sr.'s long and painful terminal illness. To be fair, the film allows Michael Sr. to score points vis-à-vis his tireless dedication to his work and his sincere efforts to be a loving and protective father to his enormous family. John Schneider is cast as the elder Landon, with Joel Berti as the adult Michael Jr., Cheryl Ladd as his mother (and his dad's second wife) Lynn, and Julie Condra as Michael Sr's third wife Cindy, a makeup artist whom the actor had met on the set of Little House on the Prairie (is it any surprise that Lynn comes off far more sympathetically than Cindy in the context of the film?) Michael Landon, the Father I Knew premiered May 23, 1999 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
