Thomas Kopache Movies
- 1993
- R
In this crime drama, a talented, ambitious young lawyer takes the case when one of his colleagues, jealous of the other attorney's flawless court record, is found murdered. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Suddenly diagnosed with a potentially terminal illness, a woman facing the darkest days of her life discovers lightness and hope in the last place she ever expected. Samantha Mathis, Peter Dobson, and Mary Matilyn Mouser star in a romantic drama that highlights how sometimes that once in a lifetime love can happen twice. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Samantha Mathis, Peter Dobson, (more)
- 1986
The CIA plays footsie with the Mob in Agent on Ice. Secret service boss Clifford David conspires with Mafia chieftan Louis Pastore in a plot to assassinate "inconvenient" political leaders. Young CIA operative Tom Ormeny, who has no inkling of David's plan, is ordered to kill Pastore-who, as it turns out, isn't killed at all. Set up as a fall guy, Ormeny is disgraced and fired from the service. His only hope for redemption is to prove that Pastore is still alive, still doing the CIA's dirty work. Though partially set in Europe, Agent on Ice was filmed entirely in New Jersey-and looks it. John Pastore, who plays the "assassinated" Mafia boss, also produced the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Ormeny, Clifford David, (more)
- 1997
Having played a cop for several seasons on NYPD Blue, Kim Delaney shows up as a cop's wife in the made-for-TV All Lies End in Murder. Content to bask in the popularity of her highly respected detective husband Daniel (Jamey Sheridan), Meredith Scialo (Delaney) is totally unprepared to confront the possibility that Daniel is up to his neck in corruption. But the evidence is irrefutable, and Meredith is forced to do something about it--if she can convince Daniel's fellow cops to help her, AND if she can live long enough to do so! Originally seen over CBS on January 19, 1997, All Lies End in Murder has since been retitled Behind Every Good Man for cable-TV play. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The late journalist Randy Shilts' best-selling book on the burgeoning AIDS crisis was adapted for cable TV by Arnold Schulman. In 1981, researchers begin discerning a mysterious new disease that apparently affects only homosexual males (or so they thought at that time). Working independently, and with marked hostility toward one another, an American and a French research team manage to identify and name the dreaded HIV virus. The long-range effects of AIDS is experienced through the first- and secondhand experiences of several unfortunates, including a choreographer (Richard Gere) whose character is said to be based on Michael Bennett. The all-star cast (most of whom eschewed their usual high salaries) includes Lily Tomlin as San Francisco health official Selma Dritz, Matthew Modine as Centers for Disease Control researcher Don Francis, Alan Alda as NIH official Robert Gallo (who emerges as the villain of the piece), Ian McKellan as gay activist Bill Kraus, and Glenne Headley, Steve Martin and Anjelica Huston in cameo roles. And the Band Played On debuted September 11, 1993, on HBO. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Babylon 5 plays host when the representatives of different alien religions gather for a conference. Just before the conference gets under way, G'Kar learns that he has been targeted for assassination, literally from beyond from the grave. Meanwhile, Sinclair has a reunion with his ex-sweetheart Catherine Sakai (Julie Nickson). Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "The Parliament of Dreams" (alternate title: "Carnival") earned Babylon 5 its second Emmy for makeup design. The episode first aired on February 23, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael O'Hare, Claudia Christian, (more)
In this suspense thriller, a man discovers the unexpected danger of trusting a good Samaritan. Jeff Taylor (Kurt Russell) and his wife Amy (Kathleen Quinlan) are driving through the New Mexico desert en route to California when an incident with a lunatic driver causes their jeep to break down in the middle of nowhere. Jeff is trying to fix the vehicle when an apparently friendly truck driver, Red Barr (J.T. Walsh), stops by to offer help. Red tells the couple that there's a diner a few miles down the road where they can call for help; Jeff decides to stay with the car while Amy hops a ride with Red to see if she can find a mechanic to help them. After a long wait, Jeff is able to get the jeep running again, and he discovers that the diner is indeed a few miles down the road. But everyone there claims they've seen no sign of Amy, and Red claims to know nothing about picking her up. When Jeff attempts to file a missing person's report, he discovers mysterious disappearances are disturbingly common in this stretch of the desert; he soon realizes that someone has kidnapped his wife, but he's not sure who, or for what purpose. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kurt Russell, J.T. Walsh, (more)
- 1996
This fact-based TV movie stars JoBeth Williams as Pam Willis, a case worker for the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women. In the course of a standard investigation, Pam comes upon Laura Keyes (Kellie Martin), a 14-year-old deafmute girl who has been locked up since childhood and never taught sign language. Even worse, Laura has endured a lifetime of unspeakable abuse at the hands of her father. Taking Laura under her wing, Pam endeavors to teach the terrified girl how to communicate and function in the "outside" world--and in the process, awakens the soul that has been so long buried within Laura's battered consciousness. This mission turns out to be a desperate race against time when Laura's bestial father begins scouring the slums in search of his "runaway" daughter. Breaking Through debuted December 30, 1996 on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kellie Martin, JoBeth Williams, (more)
- 2001
The bodies of two girls are found stuffed in pipes at a rural highway construction site. Investigating, Grissom (William L. Petersen) and Sara (Jorja Fox) determine that the girls were sisters, and that one of them was intimate with a recently paroled convict. Elsewhere, another body found in the woods seems to have been the victim of a hunting accident, but Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) and Nick (George Eads) have their doubts. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A gifted forger and confidence man attempts to stay one step ahead of the lawman determined to bring him to justice in this comedy-drama from Steven Spielberg, based on a true story. Frank W. Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a 16-year-old high school student who finds himself emotionally cut adrift when his mother, Paula (Nathalie Baye), leaves his father, Frank Abagnale Sr. (Christopher Walken), after Frank Sr. falls into arrears with the Internal Revenue Service. One day at school, Frank Jr. attempts to pass himself off as a substitute teacher, and easily makes the subterfuge work. His small-scale success gives Frank some ideas, and he soon discovers bigger and more profitable ways of hoaxing others, passing himself off as an airline pilot, a doctor, and an attorney. Along the way, Frank learns how to become a master forger, and uses his talent and charm to pass over 2.5 million dollars in phony checks. Frank's increasingly audacious work soon attracts the attention of Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), an FBI agent who is determined to put Frank behind bars. Frank seems to enjoy being pursued by Carl, and even goes so far as to call Carl on the phone to chat every once in a while. While posing as a doctor, Frank falls in love with Brenda Strong (Amy Adams), a sweet girl working as a candy striper. When Frank asks Brenda to marry him, he decides to assume a new identity to impress her father, Roger (Martin Sheen) -- who happens to be the District Attorney of New Orleans, LA. Catch Me If You Can was based on the autobiography of the real Frank W. Abagnale Jr., who has a cameo in the film and today works on the side of the law as a top consultant on preventing forgery and designing secure checking systems. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, (more)
Corporate women launch a bitter courtroom battle when their avaricious employer tells them that they will lose their jobs if they do not get sterilized. The fight takes the women through a disillusioning jungle of government red tape. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Sentenced to 300 hours of community service (beginning with a term as a member of a road crew picking up trash), and informed of the engagement of her mother Lorelei (Lauren Graham) to Luke Danes (Scott Patterson), Rory (Alexis Bledel) feels more lonely and isolated than ever. Likewise suffering from a void in her life after her falling out with Rory, Lorelai adopts a dog from Miss Patty, naming the mutt Paul Anka. And while helping to fix up Lorelai's house (or, to be more precise, her shelves), Luke's boorish brother-in-law T.J. (Michael DeLuise) once again puts his foot in his mouth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Stefanie Powers and Robert Wagner return as the Harts, married private eyes who in this made-for-TV movie interrupt their carefree lives to investigate a group of corrupt government contractors. Lionel Stander also returns as their sidekick Max, with Mike Connors and Ken Howard as guest stars. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1983
This well-wrought, perceptive comedy drama about the differing adjustments of three Vietnam vets to life in the Big City focuses on Barry Simon (Allan Nicholls), whose involvement in radical politics just after he came back from Southeast Asia slowly gave way to the pressures of more ordinary life, and so he is now making a living as a writer in New York. Miserable after his girlfriend walks out on him, Barry looks up another Vietnam vet, Al (Roland Caccavo), who is a model of the standard suburban life with one wife and 1.2 children, but Al himself has not adjusted to his mundane existence, and out of that dissatisfaction he moves in with Barry for awhile. The two buddies hang out together, doing guy stuff like playing handball and chasing women -- enough to show Al that a bachelor life is not everything it's cracked up to be and to show Barry that a roommate who treats him like a servant (read: wife) is not highly desirable. Then Marvin (Lorry Goldman), the third vet in this trio, comes menacingly into the picture when Barry gets some work from him -- even though Marvin is clearly a Jewish Mafia power-broker who eventually lets Barry off the hook when the writer changes his mind about his job assignment. As Barry and Al continue learning from their choices, the two make new decisions about where they want to be in life, indicating that the psychological scars of the war may have finally healed over. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Allan Nicholls, Roland Caccavo, (more)
- 1986
- PG13
An ex-convict turned sheriff's deputy must face his guilty conscience, which is obsessed with his identity change following a million-dollar heist. With a notoriously troubled production history, this Canadian picture was shot in 1979 and sat on the shelf for half a decade, until Orson Welles had died. In the credits, the name of the director -- Selig Usher -- is a pseudonym for both George McCowan and Zale Magder. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Orson Welles, Michael Murphy, (more)
- 1994
At first, it appears that a wealthy woman's death was the result of suicide. But as the detectives and the lawyers dig deeper, it becomes obvious that the woman was murdered. This time the suspects include the dead woman's teenaged daughter and the victim's husband -- or, in this case, husbands. Prominent among the supporting cast are such powerhouse performers as Sarah Paulson and Victor Raider-Wexler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In another headline-inspired episode of Law & Order, a baby is accidentally murdered by a teenaged hired killer (Justin Crozier). Though assistant D.A. Stone (Michael Moriarty) is understandably outraged by the concept of kids killing kids, he is more interested in nailing the person who hired the youthful assassin. The trail of evidence ultimately leads to a low-life drug dealer and a supposedly respectable real estate agent. S. Epatha Merkerson, who later became a Law & Order regular in the role of Lt. Anita Van Buren, is here cast as Mrs. Denise Winters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Mike Figgis' grim drama documents a romantic triangle of sorts involving prostitute Sera (Elisabeth Shue), failed Hollywood screenwriter Ben (Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage), and the constant flow of booze which he loves more dearly than life itself. Arriving in Las Vegas with the intention of drinking himself to death, Ben meets Sera, and they gradually begin falling for one another. From the outset, however, Ben warns Sera that no matter what, she can never ask him to quit drinking, a condition to which she grudgingly agrees. A darkly comic tragedy, Leaving Las Vegas charts the brief romantic convergence of two desperately needy people who together find a brief flicker of happiness. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicolas Cage, Elisabeth Shue, (more)
Liebestraum is a moody, stylish suspense thriller written and directed by British director Mike Figgis. Nick (Kevin Anderson) is an architectural writer who goes home to be with his dying mother, Mrs. Anderssen (Kim Novak) from whom he was separated as a baby. There he meets an old friend and has an affair with the friend's wife, who was herself adopted after her mother went insane. Through a series of coincidences and a good deal of investigation Nick learns some terrible truths concerning everyone. The film, while beautiful to look at, and with a wonderful score composed by Figgis, is more interested in style and emotion rather than cogent explanations for the actions of the characters, however, taken for what it is, a mood piece, Liebestraum succeeds beautifully. Figgis has beautiful technique and is greatly aided by Juan Ruiz-Anchia's stark and evocative images. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Anderson, Pam Gidley, (more)
Loose Cannons may be a wacky buddy-cop comedy, but it starts with a chilling premise. It seems that a film is discovered that depicts the final moments of Adolf Hitler's life. The climax features young German officer Von Metz, who is seen putting Hitler to death. Von Metz (Robert Prosky) is now running for chancellor of West Germany. If this film gets out, his political career is finished, so Von Metz has arranged for the murder of anyone who has seen the film. The killings have taken place in the Washington area and Mac (Gene Hackman) and Ellis (Dan Aykroyd) are sent to investigate the crimes. Mac is a middle-aged veteran of the force, a professional who gets things done. But Ellis is a different ball of wax. Suffering from a multiple personality disorder, he has spent two years in a Benedictine monastery to recover from his problems. But he is far from cured -- as Mac discovers, whenever Ellis is confronted by violence, he blacks out and begins to assume the characters of popular culture icons like Popeye, Captain Kirk, and the Road Runner. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Hackman, Dan Aykroyd, (more)
The title character, a manic depressive prone to very irrational behavior (Richard Gere), is hospitalized for treatment. While there, the psychiatrist responsible for his rehabilitation (Lena Olin) becomes involved with him and cannot stand to allow his check-out. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Gere, Lena Olin, (more)
- 1995
In the first episode of a two-part story, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is in Ireland, staying at a bed-and-breakfast at Ballynook Castle. Rumor has it that the castle is haunted by the ghost of a murdered woman, and the locals are convinced that the spirt is responsible for the death of a kitchen worker. Suspecting that the victim was murdered by "live" culprits who are searching for a hidden treasure, Jessica follows a trail of clues that may well lead her into a death trap! Rod Taylor and Fionnula Flanagan, both of whom had appeared in previous episodes filmed in Ireland, show up here in different roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is still in Ireland, investigating the mysterious (and deadly) goings-on at ancient Ballynook Castle. In her efforts to prove that a legendary ghost was not responsible for the death of a kitchen worker, Jessica had become trapped in the castle's dank and gloomy dungeon. Meanwhile, the genuine culprits, who may or may not be involved in an intricate antique-smuggling scheme, remain at large. Rod Taylor and Fionnula Flanagan, both of whom had appeared in previous episodes filmed in Ireland, show up here in different roles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
