Ray Demattis Movies

A family takes on the difficult task of learning how to get along with one another in this emotional comedy drama. Alex Gromberg (Michael Douglas) is a middle-aged man who feels caught in the middle of his familial obligations as he muddles he way through a midlife crisis. While a successful businessman, Alex sometimes still feels as if he's under the shadow of his father, Mitchell Gromberg (Kirk Douglas), a successful attorney whose skills in the courtroom outstripped his gifts as a parent. Elderly Mitchell has recently survived a stroke, and Alex and Mitchell want to mend their relationship while there's still time, but making it so proves difficult, even with Alex getting advice from his wife, psychologist Rebecca (Bernadette Peters), and Mitchell being prodded by his long-suffering wife, Evelyn (Diana Douglas). Alex is also trying to reach out to his two sons, who are as different as night and day; college student Asher (Cameron Douglas) is an aspiring club DJ who seems to be styling himself to bear no resemblance to his father, while 11-year-old Eli (Rory Culkin) is an overly serious lad who is having trouble navigating the first steps of adolescence. It Runs in the Family marked the first time Kirk Douglas acted in a film with his son Michael Douglas; adding to the family atmosphere was Michael's son Cameron Douglas, working with his family for the first time, and Diana Douglas, Kirk's former wife and Michael's mother. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Timothy Landfield guest stars as Ron Weber, an unemployed ad executive whose drinking has ruined his career. When his wife and son are murdered and his daughter is wounded, Weber claims to know nothing of the tragic event, insisting he was out boozing on the night it occurred. As the D.A.'s office sets about to prove that Weber is an inherent "family annihilator," new evidence suggests that someone else committed the crime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A double homicide yields two likely suspects: Melanie Cullen (Shirley Knight), widow of the male victim, and Douglas Phillips (David Lansbury), the obsessive ex-boyfriend of the female victim. The key to the case ultimately rests in the hands of Melanie's son, James (Geoffrey Nauffts). Jerry Orbach, who would later join the series' regular cast as detective Lennie Briscoe, is here seen in the adversarial role of the Cullens' defense attorney, Frank Lehrman. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cliff (Bill Cosby) makes plans to attend an auction so he can be against his friendly rival Dr. Harmon (Sullivan Walker) for an original Charlie Parker recording. Unfortunately, Denise (Lisa Bonet) is unable to fulfill her obligation to supervise Olivia's preschool class, forcing Cliff to take over the assignment. Undaunted, Cliff continues the bidding over the phone--little realizing that the person who is most arduously bidding against him is NOT Dr. Harmon but instead his own wife Clair (Phylicia Rashad)! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide