John LaMotta Movies
- 1998
Missing the good old days of Boston when he and his friends gathered at a certain watering hole called "Cheers", Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) seeks out a similar Seattle bar "where everybody knows your name." He settles upon an English-style pub called the Fox and Whistle, which in many ways (except for the accents and decor) is quite similar to his favorite Beantown haunt. The more Frasier feels at home with his new drinking buddies, the more annoyed Daphne (Jane Leeves) becomes -- it seems that the Fox and Whistle is her favorite bar as well, and she feels that Frasier is muscling in on her "territory." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
16-year-old Jade Larson (Jenny Lewis) isn't terribly keen on the fact that her divorced mom Jesse (Beverly D'Angelo) has fallen in love with Billy Stone (Rob Estes), who in addition to being divorced himself is much closer to Jade's age than Jesse. As the relationship deepens, the impressionable Jade wonders if her ambivalent feelings toward Billy are actually born of resentment or her own attraction to him. Perhaps inevitably, Jade and Billy end up spending a night together--leading to a chain reaction of consequences that provide the substance of this surprisingly non-exploitational "triangle" drama. Produced for the CBS TV network, Sweet Temptation debuted March 6, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Beverly D'Angelo, Jenny Lewis, (more)
Comedian Eddie Murphy tried something different with this 1995 film that he produced and co-wrote, enlisting veteran horror director Wes Craven to give the story some chills. The uneven comedy-horror tale features Murphy as a vampire named Maximillian who arrives in Brooklyn on a ship full of people who have been brutally murdered. One of the corpses on board closely resembles that of Rita (Angela Bassett), one of the detectives assigned to the case. Maximillian targets Rita, hoping to get a dance with her that will bring her under his control. He enlists the help of a worker named Julius (Kadeem Hardison), biting his neck and turning him into a slowly decaying ghoul. Also seeking to romance Rita, though in a less sinister way, is her longtime detective partner Justice (Allen Payne). Maximillian uses his supernatural powers to interfere with the budding romance. Murphy also plays a preacher and an Italian gangster in this bizarre film. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie Murphy, Angela Bassett, (more)
- 1994
Accompanying Martin (John Mahoney) to Duke's, his favorite tavern, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles (David Hyde Pierce) learn that the establishment is about to be torn down to make way for a new mini-mall. Our heroes spend the rest of the episode trying to keep this depressing news from their father. They're less worried about hurting Martin's feelings than incurring his anger; it seems that both Frasier and Niles have a considerable financial interest in that mini-mall. Listen for a cute in-joke referring to Kelsey Grammer's previous series, Cheers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
After several weeks filming The Scout in the late 1970s, star Peter Falk and director Howard Zieff abandoned the project. Two decades later, writer Andrew Bergman gave his original script to Albert Brooks and Monica Johnson, who polished it as a vehicle for Brooks and director Michael Ritchie. Brooks stars as Al Percolo, a talent scout for the New York Yankees whose latest recruit (Michael Rapaport) has just vomited on the field and fled. Sent to Mexico as punishment by his boss (Lane Smith), Percolo finds phenomenal young pitcher Steve Nebraska (Brendan Fraser). Before he can get back to the Big Apple, however, Percolo gets pink-slipped by the Yankees, so he offers Nebraska as a free agent. After a stellar tryout, Nebraska is signed for millions. Soon after, he starts to exhibit odd behaviors that may be linked to psychological problems. A psychiatrist (Dianne Wiest) hired by the ball club wants Nebraska in daily therapy, so Percolo ends up babysitting a mentally unstable pitcher. Brooks' normally winning mix of laughs with psychological insights didn't add up to box office or critical success, despite cameos from real-life sports figures such as George Steinbrenner and Steve Garvey. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Albert Brooks, Brendan Fraser, (more)
- 1994
A malfunctioning air conditioner and an overload of patients bedevils the ER during a stifling heat wave. In other developments, Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) is thrown off balance by a visit from her young, irresponsible sister, Chloe (Kathleen Wilhoite). Carol (Julianna Margulies) is upset by Doug's (George Clooney) girl friend du jour. And when Greene (Anthony Edwards) brings his daughter, Rachel (Yvonne Zima), to work, she realizes with startling suddenness that her dad is far from omnipotent. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Eight weeks after attempting suicide, head nurse Carol (Julianna Margulies) returns to work at the ER. Meanwhile, Greene (Anthony Edwards) forces a family to come to grips with a domestic abuser in their midst. And Carter (Noah Wyle) learns a lesson in compassion from a mysterious female patient (played by Rosemary Clooney, the aunt of series regular George Clooney), who bursts into song at the slightest provocation. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
In the first "official" episode of ER, Ross (George Clooney) tries to save the eight-year-old victim of a drunk driver, and finds time to visit Carol Hathaway (Julianna Margulies), still recovering from her botched suicide attempt (for which Ross holds himself partially responsible). Elsewhere, Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) has trouble securing psychiatric help for a mentally ill patient, and novice Carter (Noah Wyle) tackles the members of a wedding party who have been brought into the ER suffering from food poisoning. As for Greene (Anthony Edwards), his attentions are divided between his patients and his wife, Jenn (Christine Harnos), who is anxiously awaiting word as to whether or not she passed her bar exam. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Greene (Anthony Edwards) tries to find a heart transplant for a seriously ill business contractor (Alan Rosenberg) who has already resigned himself to his impending death. Ross (George Clooney) comes to the aid of an asthmatic teenager whose parents can't afford the necessary medication. Greene's wife, Jenn (Christine Harnos), moves out of their home. And Carter (Noah Wyle) worries that his fling with Liz (Liz Vassey) may have exposed him to a sexually transmitted disease. This episode was originally slated to air on October 6, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Developed by Tina Sinatra and approved by Frank himself, Sinatra is a made-for-television mini-series following the life and times of Frank Sinatra, one of the most popular and acclaimed singers of the 20th century. Opening with his childhood in Hoboken, New Jersey, the film follows Sinatra's (Philip Casnoff) rise to the top in the '40s, through the dark days of the early '50s and his triumphant re-emergence in the mid-'50s, to his status as pop culture icon in the '60s, '70s and '80s. In between, the film hits all of the main events, including his three marriages, his connections with the Mafia and his notorious friendship with the Rat Pack. Even with the presence of Tina Sinatra as executive producer, Sinatra doesn't gloss over the more unsavory portions of Frank's life, which makes it all the more impressive. With the exception of a couple of early songs, all the music in the movie is taken from the original Sinatra recordings. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1992
- PG
When Sal (Dennis Farina) and his friend Charlie (Leo Rossi) are cheated out of $10,000 of borrowed money in an implausible money-making scheme, the two must flee to Los Angeles to avoid the wrath of the gangster debt collectors. Once there, they become embroiled in an underhanded scheme that leaves them running from the FBI and the mob. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Farina, Leo Rossi, (more)
- 1991
In this wild spoof of The Twilight Zone in general and that series' 1960 episode "A World of Difference" in particular, Ben (Jeremy Miller) expresses the wish that Real Life were more like TV. In true "be careful what you wish for" fashion, Ben dreams that he and his family are actually characters in a TV sitcom called "Meet the Seavers"--and that he is really an actor named Jeremy Miller! The concept is played for all it is worth, with the rest of the Growing Pains cast members identified by their real names, not to mention cameo appearances by the series' production staff and by Joanna Kerns' daughter Ashley Kerns. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
In this comedy, the ancient curse of a priceless ruby, known as the Byzantine Fire, comes into play when it is accidentally stolen by a group of thieves, headed by Gus Cardinale (Christopher Lambert). The crooks soon discover that their heist might have been more trouble than it was worth when they are pursued by the police, the CIA, the Turkish government, and the local underworld. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lambert, Christopher Lloyd, (more)
- 1989
In this entry in the long-running mystery series, Perry Mason has a conflict with an old friend after he begins representing the law student who is the prime suspect in the murder of his friend's son. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
The cozy, respectable, and rather dull existence of the Tanner family is inexorably altered when an alien spaceship crashes into the family's garage in the opening episode of ALF's first season. Out pops a short, furry, orange-haired, and long-nosed space creature, who explains that he is Gordon Shumway from the recently destroyed planet Melmac. Nicknamed ALF (Alien Life Form) by the Tanners, our hero is invited to join the household, though before long, dad Willie Tanner (Max Wright) wishes he'd turned ALF over to the authorities. Not only does ALF stick his huge nose into everyone's business, but he also breaks everything he touches and eats like food is going out of style -- and he never tires of trying to chow down on the family's pet cat, Lucky. Meanwhile, Willie Tanner, his wife, Kate (Anne Schedeen), and their kids, Lynn (Andrea Elson) and Brian (Benji Gregory), work overtime trying to hide ALF's presence from their boorish neighbors, Trevor and Raquel Ochmonek (John LaMotta, Liz Sheridan). Additionally, the Tanners attempt to keep ALF a secret from Kate's overbearing mother, Dorothy (Anne Meara), though she eventually tumbles to his existence and agrees to keep mum. Though ALF was not the most popular sitcom on NBC's 1986-1987 schedule (that honor was bestowed upon The Cosby Show), the series performed well in the ratings during its first season, ranking at number 28 right between Miami Vice and Hunter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Max Wright, Anne Schedeen, (more)
- 1986
After attending a PTA meeting, Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) argue over a proposed school dress code (he's for it, she's against it). In mid-tirade, Jason accuses Maggie of being "ignorant"--and ends up being exiled from the bedroom! The whole family pitches in to resolve this crisis without causing further damage. Listen for a neat "inside" reference to the fact that series regular Joanna Kerns is the real-life sister of Olympic swimming champ Donna DeVarona. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Distinguished by a sharp, witty dialogue between its two cop protagonists, Ray and Danny (Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal), this entertaining crime drama is well worth a visit. Ray and Danny are nearly blown away by super bad guy Julio (Jimmy Smits), and their boss is peeved at them as usual. So the two are given a holiday from their beat in Chicago and travel to the sunny shores of Key West. They like it enough to retire from police work and open a business there. But when the duo returns to the Windy City, Julio is about to pull off a big drug deal and retirement may not be such a good idea. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gregory Hines, Billy Crystal, (more)
- 1986
This episode originally marked the return of Growing Pains to ABC's Tuesday-night schedule, after a two-month hiatus in which the series' timeslot was occupied by the brand-new sitcom Perfect Strangers. The plot finds both Jason (Alan Thicke) and Maggie (Joanna Kerns) facing the possibility of a radical career change, with Jason being offered a more lucrative job at Long Island Hospital, while Maggie considers quitting the newspaper after being humiliated by her boss. But will the couple agree to return to their former status quo, with Jason going to work while Maggie stays at home? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In American Ninja, Michael Dudikoff plays American "GI Joe" who, based in the Philippines, gets hip to a crooked arms racket involving none other than the military itself. There's no end to the rib-cracking opportunities Dudikoff encounters as he knee-knocks his way through a host of bad guys as he rescues a lady in distress and ventures to thwart the thieving arms vendors. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Dudikoff, Steve James, (more)
- 1984
In this slick exploitation, martial arts fantasy from schlockmeisters Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, an evil ninja is killed off in a sandtrap on a golf course in Phoenix -- the police riddle him with bullets, foolishly thinking that is the end of it. But as he is dying, the ninja throws a smoke bomb and, hidden by the dark cloud, he crawls into a phone-company van driven by the acrobatic Christie (Lucinda Dickey of Breakin'). As he dies there, his soul possesses her body, much to the consternation of her boyfriend, Secord (Jordan Bennett). Christie periodically uses exotic Eastern skills to slaughter the evil ninja's foes until good ninja Yamada (Sho Kosugi) comes to her rescue. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucinda Dickey, Jordan Bennett, (more)
Breakdancing, hip-hop, rap, and a good time are the main stars of this standard teen movie about youths trying to raise money to save their community club from being razed for a shopping mall. Ozone (Adolfo Quiñones) and Turbo (Michael Chambers) are two master breakdancers who have started a community club to teach other teens how to manage the acrobatics of the dance without literally breaking anything. Their efforts create some choreographed, group breakdancing that is rather innovative. But an evil developer (Peter MacLean) sees their property as ideal for a shopping mall project -- and a crooked politician is willing to back him up for a fee. As the teens do their best to raise money to keep their center, some are also battling with restrictive parents or trying to ease into romantic liaisons that offer their own challenges. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lucinda Dickey, Adolpho "Shabba Doo" Quinones, (more)
Sam Firstenberg directs Sho Kosugi in the martial arts action film Revenge of the Ninja. Kosugi plays a former ninja assassin whose family is killed by other ninjas. He begins life anew in America, but unexpectedly comes to work for drug traffickers who he must face off against. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sho Kosugi, Keith Vitali, (more)
- 1977
It is the year 2076, and in this parody, the effect of commercial sponsorship on the Olympic Games has had a logical effect. This year, the leading bidder for the telecasting rights for the games is the erotic entertainment channel, and gold medals are given for endurance competitions that are not entirely athletic. One of the film's highlights is the color commentary given to certain games by a man sounding very much like Howard Cosell. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sandy Martin, Dean Bennett, (more)
- 1972
City in Fear was an attempt at socio-political commentary by soft-core porno star Cheri Caffaro and her director/husband Don Schain. The film takes place during a heated political campaign, wherein the "race card" is played up for all it's worth. The bigoted whites attack the blacks, the militant blacks attack the whites, and gallons of blood are spilled. Playing the mistress of a candidate, Caffaro is kidnapped and murdered in a particularly repulsive fashion -- and that isn't the end of the film. Originally released as A Place Called Today, this is no more or less than an ultraviolent sexploitationer masquerading as a "statement." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1969
Dragged to the Collins mausoleum, Magda (Grayson Hall) is placed on trial by the gypsies for the murder of Julianka, with King Johnny summoning the spirits of the dead -- including Magda's husband, Sandor (Thayer David) -- as witnesses. Found guilty, Magda is released into the woods, but only so that she may be hunted down like an animal. This episode originally aired on August 25, 1969. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
