David Spates Movies
Billy Hayes' drama Cock & Bull Story concerns boxers struggling with their sexual instincts. Set in working-class New Jersey, the film stars Bret Roberts as Travis, a young fighter on the rise. Those close to him, especially his trainer Pascoe (Greg Mullavey), object to Travis hanging around best friend Jacko (Brian Austin Green). Perpetually the subject of rumors concerning his sexual orientation, Travis ends up unwittingly taking part in a gay bashing incident. Jacko begins hiding out from tough guy Dumiak (Darin Heames). Even though he has a girlfriend, Annie (Wendy Fowler), Travis admits that his style of boxing may have something to do with his hidden homosexual yearnings. Cock & Bull Story was screened at the 2003 San Francisco Lesbian & Gay Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Austin Green, Bret Roberts, (more)
An ex-mercenary (Tom Berenger) becomes a take-no-prisoners teacher in a drug-ridden, gang-infested Miami high school in this campy morality tale about restoring lost American virtues to the inner city. Berenger's character, Shale, has no first name, a shadowy past as a patriotic gun-for-hire, and is temporarily unemployed and living with an idealistic teacher, Jane Hetzko (Diane Verona). Jane has angered a school gang leader, Juan Lucas (Marc Anthony), by asking the principal to get him transferred after he has threatened her in the schoolyard. After Jane is kneecapped by a gang member, Shale fakes a resume and becomes a substitute teacher, Mr. Smith. He lectures his class on the lessons of Vietnam ("We were fighting Communism") while looking for a way to get revenge on Juan. When he challenges the school's tolerance for student misbehavior, Smith is fired by the slimy principal, Claude Rolle (Ernie Hudson), an ex-cop who is running for City Council and doesn't want to rock the boat. Shale stays because he cites a union rule requiring two weeks' notice. During that period, tensions escalate and eventually Shale intervenes in a gang war that degenerates into a school-destroying inferno of violence. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Berenger, Ernie Hudson, (more)
