A. Jay Sweet Movies
Jordan Alan directs this B-movie about a thief wanting to go straight. Nick (Charlie Mattera) and Manny (Peter Greene) are partners in crime, but only Nick winds up in prison after a setup. Eight years later, he gets released and goes to Los Angeles to reunite with his ex-girlfriend, Maria (Justine Miceli). While Nick was locked up, she married and divorced Manny, who had turned into a violent and abusive cop. In his quest to settle down with Maria and her daughter, Nick meets her landlord, retired criminal Harry (Ed Lauter), and the two begin a series of bank robberies before the inevitable battle with the crazed Manny. Also stars Ryan O'Neal. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ed Lauter, Justine Miceli, (more)
West of Here, the directorial debut of filmmaker Peter Masterson's son Peter C.B. Masterson, centers around the aftermath of the death of songwriter Gil Blackwell's (Josh Hamilton) cousin and collaborator, Josiah (Norbert Leo Butz). After Josiah's death, Gil starts off on a cross-country trek from Boston to San Francisco in order to settle his cousin's affairs. Once there, he meets Josiah's ex-girlfriend (Mary Stuart Masterson). West of Here also features Tate Donovan, Elisabeth Moss, Guillermo Diaz, John Elsen, Kevin Cooney, and Carlin Glynn. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Josh Hamilton, Mary Stuart Masterson, (more)
American independent filmmaker Jay Craven directs the Vietnam-era coming-of-age drama The Year That Trembled, based on the novel by Scott Lax. Using stock footage along with a traditional narrative, the film takes place in Ohio following the 1970 student murders at Kent State. Right after high school, best friends Casey (Jonathan Brandis), Jim (Charlie Finn), and Phil (Sean Nelson) move into a cottage with activist-on-the-run Judy Woods (Meredith Monroe). The cottage is next door to their former teacher Helen (Marin Hinkle), who gets fired for her antiwar activities. Her husband, Charlie Kerrigan (Jonathan M. Woodward), is a lawyer torn between his moral opposition to the war and his own ambitions. Also starring Fred Willard, Martin Mull, and Henry Gibson. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jonathan Brandis, Meredith Monroe, (more)
