Bonita Friedericy Movies
A man with the ability to see the future and change the outcome of events before they occur is forced to choose between saving himself and saving the world in this supernatural thriller starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Lee Tamahori (Die Another Day, The Edge). Cris Johnson (Cage) is a Las Vegas magician who possesses the unique ability to witness the events of the immediate future moments before they happen. As a child Cris was subjected to a series of cruel experiments by government scientists and doctors, but a change of name and a new identity allowed the tortured psychic to elude detection and start a new life away from the prying eyes of his former captors. Though his clairvoyant vision only extends a few minutes into the future, it has still allowed Cris to eke out a living as a low-rent Las Vegas magician while earning a little extra cash at the blackjack tables. Up to this point in his life Cris has never used his power for anything substantial, but when he experiences a vision of Los Angeles being incinerated in a nuclear holocaust, the small-time magician realizes that he could hold the key to saving millions of lives. But as low as he has tried to lie in recent years, Cris has never completely escaped detection by the government. Now, as terrorists prepare to unleash the ultimate horror on an unsuspecting city, FBI counter terror agent Callie Ferris (Julianne Moore) sets out to capture Cris and convince him to use his exceptional gift to prevent the nuclear nightmare from becoming a terrifying reality. Jessica Biel, Peter Falk, and Thomas Kretschmann co-star in the film, which is based on a short story by acclaimed sci-fi author Philip K. Dick. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, (more)
A young girl learns to believe in herself and value her intelligence in this critically-acclaimed, family-friendly drama. Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) is an 11-year-old being raised by her mother, Tanya (Angela Bassett), who was left on her own after the death of her husband. While Akeelah is a very bright girl, she's hardly a star student and seems afraid of acting like a bookworm around her friends and classmates. However, Akeelah's teacher sees genuine potential in her student and encourages her to enter the school's spelling bee, convinced Akeelah has the brains and the talent to win. Akeelah applies herself and emerges victorious in the local competition, but discovers the going gets tougher when she goes to a statewide bee, studying for the regionals under the aegis of strict English teacher Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), who consents to act as her coach A college professor who was a spelling-bee champ as a child, Larabee is a stubborn taskmaster who questions Akeelah's ability and commitment, but in time he develops a respect for his pupil and helps her prove her talent as she climbs the ladder to the National Spelling Bee. Meanwhile, Tanya feels intimidated when she finds the contests are dominated by children from wealthy families and privileged backgrounds, and argues that the competition may not be in Akeelah's best interest, believing instead that homework should be the one and only priority in Akeelah's life. It soon becomes apparent that if Akeelah has any intention of entering the national spelling bee championships in Washington, D.C., she will not do so with Tanya's permission or blessing. This marks the first onscreen reunion of Bassett and Fishburne since their Academy Award-nommed performances as Ike Turner and Tina Turner in Brian Gibson's 1993 biopic, What's Love Got to Do with It.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, (more)
A youthful indiscretion threatens to derail the relationship between an otherwise predictable young woman and her nice-guy fiancé in director Bob Goldthwait's revealing look at the high price of honesty in committed relationships. To the unassuming eye, Amy is a normal young woman with a bright future and a fabulous fiancé, but when Amy's probing husband-to-be suggests that the both parties come clean about their pasts before exchanging rings, the revelation that follows may be more than he's able to handle. Encouraged by her co-worker and mother to speak her peace and put the sexual secret of her past to bed once and for all, Amy's admission to having once participated in an uncharacteristically impulsive sexual encounter throws her wedding plans into chaos and her entire future into question. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Melinda Page Hamilton, Steve Agee, (more)
Based on John Grisham's novel Skipping Christmas, Christmas With the Kranks revolves around Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Luther Krank's (Tim Allen) decision to put their normally fanatical enthusiasm for the holidays aside for a tropical cruise. With their daughter in Peru with the Peace Corps, the Kranks believe it just isn't worth it; thus, no presents, Christmas trees, or decorations of any kind will adorn their house to the great consternation of their neighbor Vic (Dan Aykroyd). Just as it looks like Christmas will be successfully skipped, Blair (Julie Gonzalo) throws a major kink into her plans when she suddenly has a change of heart and announces she'll be coming home for Christmas after all. The film ran into troubles early on in production when Ben Affleck's similar sounding bomb Surviving Christmas won the race to the theaters, forcing the filmmakers to depart from the book title in favor of the catchy Kranks one. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, (more)
The 12 Dogs of Christmas concerns a twelve-year-old girl named Emma who lives in a town that has outlawed owning dogs. She attempts to win over the hearts and minds of the town's mayor by putting together a memorable Christmas pageant using many of her canine friends. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jordan-Claire Green, Adam Hicks, (more)
- 2003
As Jasmine (Gina Torres) prepares to secure her dominion over the entire planet via a worldwide satellite broadcast, Angel (David Boreanaz) makes his way through the last dimension to enjoy her oppressive love. There, amidst a desolate, otherworldly landscape, he encounters Jasmine's High Priest (Robert Towers), who taunts the vampire champion about all that Jasmine has taken from him. Back on earth, Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) captures Wesley (Alexis Denisof), Fred (Amy Acker), Gunn (J. August Richards), and Lorne (Andy Hallett), but Jasmine keeps them as bargaining chips rather than killing them. As the interloping higher power devours another flock of her followers, Connor stuns his prisoners by revealing that he's been able to see her pestilent true face all along. Upset that Jasmine still won't divulge what happened to Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), Connor beats the information out of some acolytes. Rather than being eaten by her demon love-child, it seems that Cordy has been squirreled away for safekeeping. Connor finds his paramour and confesses to her still-unconscious form that despite his desperate need for belonging, he recognizes the danger of Jasmine's coercive agenda for peace. Back at the hotel, as the bug-faced one begins her global address, Angel arrives to reveal her true name to the assembled throng. All across the planet, people are suddenly able to see the higher being for what she truly is. Rioting breaks out, and in the climactic battle that follows, Jasmine is felled once and for all by an unlikely opponent. A battered Angel returns to the hotel, sick with worry about Connor, only to find a surprise visitor: the late Lilah Morgan (Stephanie Romanov), who was last seen as a headless corpse (see "Salvage"). Originally broadcast April 30, 2003, on the WB network, "Peace Out" marked season four, episode 21 of the supernatural soap opera. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is looking forward to trading in her stakes for a corsage as she and her friends prepare for their senior prom. Angel (David Boreanaz) is less enthused about the big dance, especially since Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) wants him to end his relationship with Buffy. Meanwhile, a Hell Hound mauls a shopper at the dress shop where Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) is working. Reviewing the store video camera recording, Buffy clues in on the Hell Hound's possible owner. Despite her friends' insistance, Buffy won't let anyone else miss the prom to help her track down the Hell Hound. This is the first episode where Anya (Emma Caulfield) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) actually date. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
On orders from the Mayor (Harry Groener), Faith (Eliza Dushku) retrieves the Box of Gavrok and returns it to him. Buffy soon learns of the box, an apparent accoutrement for the Ascension -- see "Graduation Day, Pt. 1." She decides to curtail the Mayor's efforts and employs Willow (Alyson Hannigan) to magically lift the supernatural protection around the box. Later, while commandeering the box, Angel (David Boreanaz) and Buffy run into some vampires, but escape with the box. Meanwhile, Faith has kidnapped Willow and the Mayor is holding her for ransom to get the Box of Gavrok back. While captured, Willow manages to sneak a look at some of the pages in the Book of Ascension. Wesley argues that holding on to the box is more important than trading for Willow, but Buffy and friends decide otherwise. As the characters near the end of their senior year, Willow and Buffy discuss attending college together in Sunnydale. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
The titular first date takes place at the planetarium where Drew (Steve Carey) and Kate (Christa Miller) first met in grade school. When they trade stories about their most unforgettable experiences, Kate reveals that she once picked up a guy at the airport who was butt-naked except for a trenchcoat, a story that Drew cannot match no matter how hard he tries. Worried that now Kate will find him too dull for her tastes, Drew decides to prove he can be just as exciting as the next guy by duplicating the naked-under-the-coat incident; unfortunately, he has chosen the precise moment that Kate has invited him to a Greek restaurant with her grandparents! Meanwhile, Mrs. Louder (Nan Martin) offers to treat Mimi (Kathy Kinney) and Steve (John Carroll Lynch) to an expensive honeymoon--on condition that she be allowed to watch when the couple consummates their marriage. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Filmmaker Paul (Paul Reiser), his writer-wife Jamie (Helen Hunt), and his producer-cousin Ira (John Pankow) collaborate on a video aimed at children. Alas, Paul's "method" portrayal of the Sandman is too frightening for younger viewers (and a few older viewers). Adding to this headache, Paul's parents (Louis Zorich, Cynthia Harris) reveal that our hero has a hitherto unknown half-brother. ~ All Movie Guide
