Larry Joshua Movies
A thief and a lawman join forces to hunt down a common enemy in this action thriller. Tony Fait (DMX) is a master thief who, along with his crew (Gabrielle Union, Anthony Anderson, and Drag-On), pulls off a major score when they steal a cache of highly valuable black diamonds. However, the hard-as-nails Tony has a soft spot for his young daughter Vanessa (Paige Hurd), and Ling (Mark Dacascos), a former detective turned ruthless criminal, kidnaps Vanessa, demanding a ransom from Tony for her return -- the stash of black diamonds. The jewels have already been stolen, however, from Tony's fence Archie (Tom Arnold), and are now in the hands of a powerful underworld boss (Chi McBride). Determined to get back his daughter whatever the cost, Tony and his gang set out to find both Ling and the diamonds, but he soon gets some invaluable help from an unlikely corner -- Su (Jet Li), a government agent from Taiwan who was once Ling's partner, and has an old score to settle with him. Cradle 2 the Grave also features Kelly Hu and Roxana Brusso. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Abby's (Maura Tierney) bipolar brother, Eric (Tom Everett Scott), raises a ruckus at the funeral of Millicent Carter. To save a dying Croatian boy, Kovac (Goran Visnjic) may destroy his own future -- or completely alter his purpose in life. And both Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) and Romano (Paul McCrane) are faced with two different but equally critical decisions. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Recent scandals within the rarefied world of Little League baseball provided the inspiration for this episode. The murder of a private eye leads the detectives to unearth a case of fraud involving a youthful ballplayer from South America and a phony birth certificate. A ruthless Little League coach may have been responsible for the scam -- but is he also capable of murder? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
In his zeal to nail a vicious drug dealer, white narcotics detective Frank McCovey (Scott Baio) accidentally shoots down an 11-year-old black kid named Jamal (J.B. Potter). Inasmuch as Frank had previously lost his own daughter in a similar racially-charged tragedy, many in the black community are persuaded that the shooting was an act of vengeance--and before long, the flames of an impending riot are being fanned by media-manipulating ghetto activist Reverend Davis (a pre-Grey's Anatomy Isaiah Washington. Who, wonders angel Monica (Roma Downey, is most in need of Heaven's assistance in this case: McCovey, Davis...or Jamal's grieving parents? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
The detectives at the 15th precinct go to great lengths to avoid meeting their new skipper, the notorious by-the-book disciplinarian Lt. Susan Dalto (Denise Crosby). Also new to the precinct is Lt. Tony Rodriguez (Esai Morales), whose impact will not be felt until the next episode. In other developments, a cash-register thief (Max Perlich) tries to get a lighter sentence by offering to lead the detectives to the dead body of a teenaged crack whore. And Eddie Gibson (John F. O'Donohue) doesn't like being in the middle of the romantic intrigues between his niece Cynthia and Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz). With this episode, James McDaniel makes his final appearance as Lt. Arthur Fancy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
The men of the 15th precinct come to the aid of troublesome cop Szymanski (Christopher Stanley) when his cousin is mixed up in a bar brawl that ends in tragedy. Diane (Kim Delaney) investigates when the wife (Cordelia Richards) of Capt. Bass (Larry Joshua) is the victim of a stabbing. As Bass puts pressure on Fancy (James McDaniel) to track down the perp, Diane learns that the case is not as cut-and-dried as it seem. Gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) may be able to sell an item from his toy collection for a hefty sum. And after hours, Andy (Dennis Franz) again goes out with Cynthia (Juliana Donald), while Baldwin (Henry Simmons) and Valerie (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) embark upon a "doo-wop" date. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Realizing that Danny (Rick Schroder) and Diane (Kim Delaney) are too tense and high-strung to continue working together, Fancy (James McDaniel) assigns each of them to a different case. While on assignment, Diane again runs into her old nemesis Denby (Scott Cohen), who may be using a courier service for an illegal operation. And after tracking down Sid Thompson (Phil LaMarr), a suspect in two brutal subway murders, Danny completely loses it and beats Thompson to a pulp -- thereby seriously damaging his case against the alleged perp. At this, Andy (Dennis Franz), who has tried to keep Danny on an even keel, angrily washes his hands of his partner. The episode comes to an explosive conclusion when Denby shows up at the precinct for a final showdown with the relentless Diane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Andy (Dennis Franz) is relieved to learn that his son Theo is out of the woods regarding his medical condition -- at least for the present. Danny (Rick Schroder) and Diane (Kim Delaney), back together again, decide to keep their renewed relationship quiet. On the job, Andy and Danny investigate a series of violent attacks on cabbies; Capt. Brass (Larry Joshua) takes over Fancy's (James McDaniel) office for his new task force; and Diane's contact Danny DiSalvo (Jay Acovone) offers to "take out" drug smuggler Don Kirkendall (if and when he is ever found), thereby absolving the 15th precinct of any complicity in Kirkendall's activities. In a related development, the ex-wife of Diane's old nemesis Denby (Scott Cohen) may be able to clear up matters in the Kirkendall case -- or maybe not. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Pulled over for a burned-out tail light, Fancy (James McDaniel) gets into a procedural hassle with a white cop and takes the issue to Capt. Bass (Larry Joshua). Still grieving over the death of his son Andy Jr., Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) is unnerved by a most unusual "drop-in." Simone (Jimmy Smits) clashes with an overenthusiastic detective who may have gathered incorrect evidence. Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) and Diane (Kim Delaney) team up to help a paraplegic woman who has been swindled. And despite her professed preference for members of her own sex, Abby (Paige Turco) accepts a dinner invitation from Medavoy (Gordon Clapp). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Lucy Liu guest stars as a babysitter suspected of shaking an infant to death. Assigned to this case are Diane (Kim Delaney) and Jill (Andrea Thompson), both of whom have dated Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) -- and at least one of whom wants Bobby to make a definite commitment. Elsewhere, Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) and Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) try using different approaches to get a confession from a likely murderer, and a would-be cop gets into trouble by helping an old friend (Jose Soto) -- a gang leader who killed one of the other members for trying to defect. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Awakening in bed with hoodlum Jimmy Liery (Christopher Meloni), Diane Russell (Kim Delaney) can remember nothing that happened after Jimmy drugged her. Back at the 15th precinct, a victim of muscular dystrophy is murdered, and the victim's neighbors seem extremely nervous about providing information. As Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) and Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) investigate a frustrating homicide involving a clever married couple, Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) nervously anticipates informing Bobby and Andy that only one of them has been promoted to detective first grade. And back in Liery's apartment, a confrontation ends in gunfire -- and guess who pulled the trigger? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
The IAB wants Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) to keep an eye on a possibly "dirty" cop, Detective Drucker (Michael MacRae). This causes some discomfort for Bobby as he and Drucker investigate the case of an alleged flasher. In another development, a young woman claims to have witnessed the murder of a pimp in a laundromat. And while cutting Sipowicz's (Dennis Franz) hair, gay cop John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup) asks for advice as to how to approach the equally "uncloseted" Adrianne Lesniak (Justine Miceli). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Fancy (James McDaniel) overenthusiastically "helps" Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) train for the upcoming boxing tournament. A woman whom Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) urged to testify against the man who assaulted her ends up dead. And while working on an arson sting, Simone (Jimmy Smits) is somewhat taken aback by the behavior of his temporary partner, undercover detective Diane Russell (Kim Delaney, in her first series appearance). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Simone (Jimmy Smits) investigates a gunman's shooting spree, while the media focuses on the bystander who was killed by a rookie cop's stray bullet. Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) learns that his brother Reginald (Michael Jai White), a uniform cop in the eighth precinct, is at the center of a tense racial crisis. Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) receives disturbing news from his doctor. And when the spree-shooter strikes again, one of the cops saves his partner's life -- a turning point in their somewhat prickly relationship. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Although the corrupt Borough commander Haverell has been forcibly retired, Haverell's replacement, Clifford Bass (Larry Joshua), proves to be just as big a bureaucratic pain in the neck to Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel). Bass' interference bogs down the investigation of a woman's charges that her ex-husband murdered her daughter. On other fronts, Simone (Jimmy Smits) is distressed to learn that a childhood friend is mixed up in a mob-controlled nightclub. And Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) and Lesniak (Justine Miceli) go after a "cosmetic" con artist. Guest star Shirley Knight won an Emmy award for her performance as Agnes Cantwell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A crime fighter created in the 1930s and popularized in movies, pulp novels, and a radio show starring a young Orson Welles, The Shadow came back to life in 1994 in this slick, well-cast production. Alec Baldwin stars as Lamont Cranston, a murderous opium dealer reformed by a Tibetan mystic, who teaches him how to use his keen mental powers to manipulate others. As penance for his past misdeeds, Cranston masquerades as a degenerate New York City playboy by day and secretly plays the heroic Shadow by night, staving off evildoers with a network of agents and a cab-driving sidekick (Peter Boyle). A greater challenge arrives when Cranston must fight Shiwan Khan (John Lone), the final descendent of Genghis Khan, who has received training from the same Tibetan master who instructed Cranston. Shiwan plans to use atomic weapons to take over New York and then the world. At the same time, Cranston meets socialite Margo Lane (Penelope Ann Miller), and, although he's instantly enamored of her, he discovers that her psychic abilities render his secret identity vulnerable. The Shadow was directed by former music video creator Russell Mulcahy, whose feature film debut Highlander (1986) was a cult classic. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alec Baldwin, John Lone, (more)
New York cop Jack Grimaldi (Gary Oldman) has a nice home, a stunning wife Natalie (Annabella Sciorra), and a sweet, if stupid mistress, Sheri (Juliette Lewis). Jack also earns extra money by betraying mob witnesses to Mafia-boss Don Falcone (Roy Scheider). Assigned to guard the viciously sexy Russian-born hit woman, Mona Demarkov (Lena Olin), Jack is almost instantly seduced and allows Mona to escape. Falcone orders Jack to find and kill Mona, and threatens to murder him if he fails. Mona offers to pay Jack to help her eliminate Falcone and fake her own death. Several plot twists and turns later, Jack is left with his life in shambles. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Oldman, Lena Olin, (more)
Wesley Snipes and Michael Wright play druglord brothers who have a mob-like crime empire in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem. Through flashbacks, we see how Roemello Skuggs (Snipes) and Raynathan Skuggs (Wright) entered the drug culture, with Raynathan helping his mother inject heroin. She died when the boys were young, but their father A.R. Skuggs (Clarence Williams III) survived, remaining a hopeless and frightful heroin addict. Roemello has grown up to be an educated, culturally pretentious businessman who stays away from his own merchandise, wears expensive cashmere coats and other colorful clothes, and lives in a beautiful uptown apartment, while being plagued by guilt. Raynathan, however, is losing his battle with drug addiction and spiraling downward. Roemello runs the family drug business with the help of an old-fashioned mob boss, Gus Molino (Abe Vigoda), whose grocery is a front for the dealing. To fuel his doubts, Roemello becomes involved with a beautiful aspiring actress, Melissa (Theresa Randle), and she urges him to get out of the drug business. But a rival dealer, Lolly Jonas (Ernie Hudson), cuts into Roemello territory, there is a brutally violent turf war, and Roemello must decide whether to defend or abandon his livelihood. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Wesley Snipes, Michael Wright, (more)
Dedicated to his mentors Sergio Leone and Don Siegel, Clint Eastwood's 1992 Oscar-winner examines the mythic violence of the Western, taking on the ghosts of his own star past. Disgusted by Sheriff "Little Bill" Daggett's decree that several ponies make up for a cowhand's slashing a whore's face, Big Whiskey prostitutes, led by fierce Strawberry Alice (Frances Fisher), take justice into their own hands and put a $1000 bounty on the lives of the perpetrators. Notorious outlaw-turned-hog farmer William Munny (Eastwood) is sought out by neophyte gunslinger the Schofield Kid (Jaimz Woolvett) to go with him to Big Whiskey and collect the bounty. While Munny insists, "I ain't like that no more," he needs the bounty money for his children, and the two men convince Munny's clean-living comrade Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) to join them in righting a wrong done to a woman. Little Bill (Oscar-winner Gene Hackman), however, has no intention of letting any bounty hunters impinge on his iron-clad authority. When pompous gunman English Bob (Richard Harris) arrives in Big Whiskey with pulp biographer W.W. Beauchamp (Saul Rubinek) in tow, Little Bill beats Bob senseless and promises to tell Beauchamp the real story about violent frontier life and justice. But when Munny, the true unwritten legend, comes to town, everyone soon learns a harsh lesson about the price of vindictive bloodshed and the malleability of ideas like "justice." "I don't deserve this," pleads Little Bill. "Deserve's got nothin' to do with it," growls Munny, simultaneously summing up the insanity of western violence and the legacy of Eastwood's Man With No Name. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, (more)
- 1992
Long before co-starring on The Practice, Kelli Williams appeared in this Law & Order episode as a young drug addict living in a teen shelter. When the girl accuses Sister Bettina (Kate Burton), the nun in charge of the shelter, of molesting her, detectives Logan (Chris Noth) and Cerreta (Paul Sorvino) investigate. As it happens, the solution to the case may hinge upon a secret being withheld by the center's male supervisor (William H. Macy). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Based on a novel by William Wharton, A Midnight Clear is set in the Adriennes Forest in December of 1944. A group of American GIs, all of whom have been together a bit too long, cling to the vestiges of their peacetime interests to remain sane. None are brilliant soldiers, though Will Knot Ethan Hawke is the one who exhibits the strongest leadership qualities. Billeted at a chateau, the soldiers begin hearing strange noises emanating from a graveyard, the handiwork of a group of mischievous German soldiers. The two enemy camps draw closer to one another as Christmas approaches, due in great part to the influence of GI Vince "Mother" Wilkins Gary Sinise. A sudden, impulsive hostile act results in the wholesale -- and unnecessary -- slaughter of the German soldiers. Though the exteriors are convincingly mid-European, the film was actually lensed in Utah. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, (more)
John Cusack and James Spader play against type in Kevin Wade's morality play, directed by Herbert Ross. Spader plays Tim Gerrity, a well-heeled WASP blueblood, who has dedicated his life to justice and public service. Engaged to Diana Stiles (Imogene Stubbs), the daughter of a powerful senator (Richard Widmark), Tim seems to have a rosy future ahead of him. Enter Peter Burton (John Cusack), Peter's working-class roommate at the University of Virginia. Peter, a ravenous and devouring go-getter, is out to climb the political ladder at any cost. He sees Tim and latches onto him. Their friendship blooms at the university and continues afterwards, with the weak-willed Tim constantly deferring to the antagonistic and aggressive Peter. But they finally come to blows on skis when Tim finds out that Peter has bedded Diana, who has decided to drop Tim for his lack of ambition. When Peter blackmails Senator Stiles to secure a House seat, Tim rouses himself from his lethargy to fight Peter politically. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Cusack, James Spader, (more)
A historical drama about the relationship between a Civil War soldier and a band of Sioux Indians, Kevin Costner's directorial debut was also a surprisingly popular hit, considering its length, period setting, and often somber tone. The film opens on a particularly dark note, as melancholy Union lieutenant John W. Dunbar attempts to kill himself on a suicide mission, but instead becomes an unintentional hero. His actions lead to his reassignment to a remote post in remote South Dakota, where he encounters the Sioux. Attracted by the natural simplicity of their lifestyle, he chooses to leave his former life behind to join them, taking on the name Dances with Wolves. Soon, Dances with Wolves has become a welcome member of the tribe and fallen in love with a white woman who has been raised amongst the tribe. His peaceful existence is threatened, however, when Union soldiers arrive with designs on the Sioux land. Some detractors have criticized the film's depiction of the tribes as simplistic; such objections did not dissuade audiences or the Hollywood establishment, however, which awarded the film seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, (more)
Bill Murray co-directed (along with Howard Franklin) this mixture of The Out-of-Towners and After Hours, concerning Grimm (Bill Murray), a frustrated city planner who is fed up with the corruption and venality of New York City. Getting together a couple of accomplices -- Phyllis (Geena Davis), who admires Grimm for his audacity, and Loomis (Randy Quaid), a follower to Grimm's leader since grade school -- Grimm decides to rob a bank, pocket the money, get out of town and take off to tropical splendor. Dressing in a clown suit, Grimm devises a unique way to rob a bank -- taking a group of hostages at the bank and inviting the police to surround the bank. Amazingly, although pursued by a police chief (Jason Robards), the trio manage to pull off the robbery. However, the problems really start when they try to get from the bank to the airport -- which proves to be more difficult than the robbery. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Murray, Geena Davis, (more)
Sea of Love is a sexy, atmospheric thriller, very much in the style of Alfred Hitchcock, with involving characters, steamy love scenes, and surprising plot twists. Frank Keller (Al Pacino), is a lonely, tired, disillusioned, police detective, who has a problem with alcohol. Frank is investigating a serial killer, whom he believes finds victims by using personal ads in magazines, killing them while playing the old record "Sea of Love." In a scene both amusing and touching, Frank and his partner, Sherman (John Goodman) --aided by Frank's father (William Hickey in a lovely cameo) place a personal ad, hoping to lure the killer. Helen Cruger (Ellen Barkin), a tough, sexy single mother answers the ad and begins an affair with Frank, despite the fact that she is one of the prime suspects in the case. The suspense builds as Frank, though deeply drawn to Helen, becomes more and more suspicious of her. In a splendidly crafted script from Richard Price, the plot is compelling, with plenty of action, terrific authentic dialogue and superb characterization. Ellen Barkin gives a marvelous performance as an independent, sensual and intriguing femme fatale; John Goodman is excellent as Sherman, giving a likable, shrewd, and subtly comic performance; and Pacino, in perhaps his best performance since Dog Day Afternoon, plays Frank as a man on the edge, reckless and self-destructive, lost and alone. Frank falls in love with Helen, in spite of himself, because of his loneliness and need. Pacino's skill in showing the vulnerability and neediness of Frank explains the somewhat implausible actions of his character in continuing their affair despite the mounting evidence against Helen. Harold Becker directs with great flair, bringing the story believability, without lapsing into false sentimentality. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Al Pacino, Ellen Barkin, (more)
