Charles Howerton Movies

Partly based on Charlie Chaplin's My Autobiography, this humorous and dramatic biopic features an all-star cast including Oscar nominee Robert Downey Jr., Dan Aykroyd, Anthony Hopkins, Kevin Kline, Diane Lane, and Chaplin's real-life daughter, Geraldine Chaplin, who portrays his mentally ill mother. With the use of flashback, an elderly Chaplin discusses his autobiography with his editor (Hopkins), who urges him to be more vulnerable and emotionally honest with his memoirs while journeying through his poverty-stricken childhood, closest friendships, many marriages, merciless pursuit by J. Edgar Hoover (Kevin Dunn), and ingenious invention of "The Little Tramp." Highlighted works such as The Gold Rush (1925) and The Great Dictator (1940) illustrate significant turning points in Chaplin's prolific filmography. Director Richard Attenborough's film also explores the circumstances surrounding Chaplin's exile from America and his eventual return to receive an honorary Academy Award. ~ Lisa Kropiewnicki, All Movie Guide

Ed O'Neill (Al Bundy) is the only Married. . .With Children regular to appear in the series' 100th episode, which serves as the pilot for the spinoff series Top of the Heap. The focus is on Al Bundy's lifelong buddy Charlie Verducci (Joseph Bologna), Charlie's dimwitted son Vinnie (a pre-Friends Matt LeBlanc) and hot-to-trot Kathleen Morgan (Diana Bellamy). Plot complications include Charlie's efforts to land a wealthy bride for his son at a fundraiser, Vinnie's attempt to be champion boxer, and Al's revenge after losing his TV in a bet. Watch for future film favorite Renee Zellwegger in a minor role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After Al (Ed O'Neill) beats up four of her boyfriends in a row, Kelly moves out of the Bundy household and into a $246-a-month apartment. Upset by Kelly's defection, Peg (Katey Sagal) begins babying Bud (David Faustino) so that he won't leave as well (not bad treatment for a kid who, when he really was a baby, had to learn to change his own diapers). Meanwhile, Al imagines all sorts of awful things as he attempts to figure out how Kelly can afford her luxurious new living quarters. Series creators Ron Leavitt and Michael Moye make unbilled cameo appearances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In Assassination, a routine political thriller directed by Peter Hunt, Jay Hillion (Charles Bronson) is a secret service agent assigned to protect First Lady Lara Royce Craig (Jill Ireland). Lara hates Hillion and tries to get away from him but finds she needs him when her life is threatened by a series of assassination attempts which may have originated from the White House. This routine actioner has little to offer that is new or different, but it tells its tale at a good pace and has some nice location photography. Charles Bronson gives his usual steely performance, while Jill Ireland is more sympathetic as the First Lady who likes her independence but must learn to trust a man she detests. This film, while routine and somewhat predictable will be enjoyed by Bronson fans. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide

This made-for-television drama chronicles an atypical May-December romance involving a twenty-something doctor and a middle-aged woman. The two soon fall passionately in love and this causes a little friction between the woman and her full-grown daughters. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Wolfen, a frightening horror movie based upon a novel by Whitley Strieber, is an absorbing update on the werewolf legend. Detective Dewey Wilson (Albert Finney) is assigned to investigate the strange murder of a millionaire and his wife in a downtown park. Wilson and his friend, city coroner Whittington (Gregory Hines), aided by criminal psychologist Rebecca Neff (Diane Venora) connect the killing to those of several others, primarily winos, drug addicts and derelicts, all of whom seem to have been mutilated by wild animals. Their search leads them to a group of Native Americans led by Edward James Olmos who tell them of a legend of a superior species that once roamed the area, but now are living and hunting in the slums of New York. The film is engrossing, frightening and intelligent, with sensational special effects. Director Michael Wadleigh uses these effects to great advantage, frequently showing the movements of the characters through the eyes of the "Wolfen." This film is also the screen debut of Gregory Hines. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide

A group of fishermen and seamen band together to fight a monstrous finny fiend that is terrorizing a resort. They are in humorous competition with hotel guests, who hope to win a prize by killing the beast. In one particularly grisly bit of humor, a dead fisherman's body is put to really good use. The director was a scriptwriter for the Roger Corman version of A Little Shop of Horrors, and the antic sensibilities he showed there also inform this peculiar little movie. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Charles B. Griffith, author of Little Shop of Horrors, was the writer/director of the low-budget Eat My Dust!. Ron Howard heads the cast as Hoover Niebold, the hell-raising son of rural sheriff Harry Niebold (Warren Kemmerling). The sheriff is forced to chase after his own son when Hoover and his girlfriend Darlene (Christopher Norris) steal a racing car and zoom off to parts unknown. Joining the pursuit is the car's owner, professional racer Big Bubba Jones (Dave Madden). Watch for Ron Howard's dad Rance and brother Clint in supporting parts, and also for Paul Bartel in a bit role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide