Sal Landi Movies
- 2002
While investigating the death of a grotesquely disfigured man who might or might not have been pushed off a six-story building, Grissom (William L. Petersen) begins experiencing hearing problems. It soon develops that Grissom is suffering from hereditary otosclerosis, which may eventually lead to total deafness. Elsewhere, Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) investigates the point-blank shooting of a man in the parking lot of the bar which he frequented. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1999
A none-too-bright fellow named Ted (Ray McKinnon) claims that he came into possession of a murdered man's credit card through the "benevolence" of a third party, leading Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) to pose as Ted's brother in hopes of nailing the killer. Elsewhere, Danny (Rick Schroder) is noncommittal when his girlfriend, Nadine (Michele Maika), announces that she's pregnant. Later, Andy offers advice to Danny regarding his "dilemma" with Nadine -- advice that is rudely disregarded. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1996
A one night stand goes awry and the would-be lovers end up spending the night talking about the nature of men, women, sex and relationships in this largely improvised independent drama. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1995
Sex, drugs, lies and betrayal form the basis of this gritty crime thriller that centers on two white guys, Pooch and Big Boy, lifelong friends who decide they want a piece of the local drug trade action in their old neighborhood. They end up being distracted by aspiring-model and pathological-liar Eva, who involves them in an increasingly kinky menage-a-trois that results in jealousy between the friends. Still the two, with the help of their pal Juanito, are getting close to having total control and will be able to make a proposition to the mob behind it all. Unbeknownst to the others, Pooch is working as a spy for the police, but toward the end, he is undecided about whether he should help them, or help himself. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1995
In this actioner, a smart alecky bounty hunter teams up with a G-man to take on a drug-smuggling ring. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Billy Blanks, Roddy Piper, (more)
- 1995
The owner of a gay bar is killed and a suspect is hauled in. The pregnant wife of Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel) goes into a very difficult labor. Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) investigates when a neighbor breaks out in a rash, ostensibly the result of a curse invoked by a crooked fortuneteller. And Dan Breen (Peter Boyle), the AA sponsor for Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz), ignores Andy's advice and pays a visit to his disturbed son Danny (Enrico Colantoni) -- with tragic results. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In this terrifying science fiction drama, a Marine platoon is assigned to a desert island, where as part of their mission they're told of a terrible secret. The government has not only been aware of visits by creatures from other worlds for years, they have several aliens in captivity and have been performing brutal medical experiments on them. One of the aliens escapes, however, and is now determined to get revenge on his tormentors. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sal Landi, Andrew Divoff, (more)
- 1994
Racketeer Paul Avensino (Tony LoBianco) buys a controlling interest in a popular restaurant, but he finds that he exercises no control over the establishment's egotistical chef Bernard Bonelli (John Saxon). Shortly after a confrontation between the two men, Bonelli is murdered--and lest anyone suspect Avensino of the crime, he turns up dead as well. Jessica (Angela Lansbury) becomes involved in the case when her friend Lorna (Heidi Swedberg), host of a TV cooking show, is charged with one of the murders. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
In this comedy, police detectives on the trail of a dangerous criminal are confronted with a new and unexpected danger: a typical suburban family. Osborn (Robert Davi) is a underworld figure with plenty of blood on his hands who, in hopes of keeping his dealings quiet, is operating out of an unassuming home in the suburbs. The police are determined to put Osborn behind bars, so rough-hewn veteran cop Jake Stone (Jack Palance) and his young partner Tony Moore (David Barry Gray) are assigned to stake out Osborn's home, and they get permission to keep watch from the house next door, which belongs to the Robberson family. However, Jake and Tony soon discover that this prime location may be more trouble than it's worth; Norman Robberson (Chevy Chase) is a dunderhead addicted to TV police shows who insists on helping whether it's a good idea or not, mother Helen (Dianne Wiest) keeps pestering Jake about why he shouldn't smoke, teenage daughter Cindy (Fay Masterson) develops a furious crush on Tony, and five-year-old son Billy (Miko Hughes) wants the cops to play vampire with him. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Chevy Chase, Jack Palance, (more)
- 1994
- R
In the tradition of Mel Brooks, this Italian comedy offers an episodic parody of classic thrillers and horror movies. Film includes cameos from several stars including Mel Brooks, John Astin, Larry Storch, Phyllis Diller, John Carpenter, and John Landis. The story begins as director Ezio Greggio is being stabbed ala Psycho in his shower. Before he dies he recaps the events leading to his death. The scene was L.A. and FBI rookie Jo Dee Fostar has been assigned to interview psycho inmate Dr. Animal Cannibal Pizza. Meanwhile Fostar's girlfriend swipes $400,000 bucks from her boss and ends up hiding in the Cemetery Hotel, run by Antonio Motel. Inspector Balsam investigates cases of dead hotel victims. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dom DeLuise, Ezio Greggio, (more)
- 1993
- R
In this violent urban drama, an LA cop is deeply traumatized after he tries to save a child in a hostage situation and fails. He leaves the force and returns to his old gritty South Central neighborhood to help Rebecca Sanchez find her brother Carlos who has mysteriously disappeared shortly after a gang truce, between the African-American gang the Blades and the Latin Lords, begins disintegrating thanks to a number of drive-by shootings in either territory. The cop's investigation soon reveals that both gangs are being manipulated by a third party. Poor Carlos seems to hold the key and finds his life in grave danger. When the cop figures it all out, his life is also jeopardized. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jeff Speakman, Christopher Neame, (more)
Glenn Plummer delivers a powerful performance in this angry film based on Crips, a novel written by South Central Los Angeles high school teacher Donald Baker, and directed by Steve Anderson, who served time in prison. Plummer plays Bobby, a young black man trapped in a self-perpetuating cycle of hatred, incarceration, and bloodshed. On his first day out of prison, he comes back to the streets of South Central LA and the only family he knows --the gang. He finds that his best friend Ray-Ray (Byron Keith Minns) is now the leader of the Deuces. Ray-Ray, with plenty of sweet talk, easily talks Bobby into committing a murder, killing a rival gang leader. But before the killing Bobby finds that his girlfriend Carole (LaRita Shelby) has given birth to his son. He also sees that she is becoming too dependent on her drug supply. After the killing, Bobby is hauled back into jail for a ten-year stretch. In jail, Bobby undergoes a transformation. Introduced to the Muslim community and mentored by an older convict named Ali (Carl Lumbly), Bobby begins to read W.E.B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King. He learns about self-respect and how gangs use people like him. When he is once again released from prison, Bobby is a new man. But South Central has gone from bad to worse. Carole, now completely addicted to cocaine, works as a hooker to support her habit. He also discovers that Ray-Ray has recruited his 10-year-old son Jimmie (Christian Coleman) as a junior gang member, stealing car stereos. Jimmie looks upon Ray-Ray as a role model and Bobbie must find a way to save his child from the violent and doomed future of a gang member. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Glenn Plummer, Byron Minns, (more)
Bette Midler stars as a Martha Raye-type entertainer during the World War II era in this big-budget nostalgia piece. Midler plays big-band singer Dixie Leonard, who is chosen to perform at an overseas USO Christmas show by her uncle Art Silver (George Segal), a comedy writer for famed comedian Eddie Sparks (James Caan). Dixie is shuttled to London, where she is thrown on-stage with Eddie, who takes an immediate dislike to her. But her performance is a sensation, and the audience can't stop howling at Dixie's smart one-liner comebacks to Eddie. Dixie is catapulted to stardom, and the repartee between Eddie and Dixie becomes the stuff of legend. The two spar together through World War II, the McCarthy era, and Vietnam. But Dixie stops speaking to Eddie when he fires a writer for being a communist sympathizer and, later, she doesn't speak to him again after he arranges for a reunion between her and her son on the battlefields of Vietnam. Finally, Dixie, now an old woman, is cajoled to appear on a television awards show to reunite with a now decrepit Eddie, age 91. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bette Midler, James Caan, (more)
- 1991
With Marilyn Monroe permanently unavailable for comment, everybody and his uncle has come out of the woodwork since 1962 claiming an intimate relationship with the legendary film star (how did she ever find the time to be a film star?) Marilyn and Me is based on the reminiscences of one Robert Slatzer, who claimed to have been secretly married to Monroe back in her Norma Jean days. Jesse Dobson manages to keep a straight face as he recites his lines as Slatzer, while Susan Griffiths is as good a Monroe impersonator as any. Better still is Joel Grey as Marilyn's first and most influential agent Johnny Hyde, whose own close relationship with La Monroe is a bit easier to believe. Actress Terry Moore, who in the early 1950s was briefly groomed as a Monroe "substitute," plays a bit as Johnny Hyde's widow. Marilyn and Me is about as convincing as the Bugs Bunny cartoon What's Opera, Doc?, and not nearly as entertaining. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1991
- G
Mr. "No Respect" Rodney Dangerfield appears as cartoon character "Rover Dangerfield" in this animated effort dreamed up by the irrepressible comedian. The cartoon dog has to leave his Las Vegas home and ends up on a small farm in nowheresville USA, where his big-city ways aren't always appreciated by a more genteel folk. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Rodney Dangerfield, Susan Boyd, (more)
- 1990
In the conclusion of Hunter's two-part Season Six finale, Hunter (Fred Dryer) swears vengeance after his mentor Dave Peterson (Ryan Cutrona) is killed just before his retirement, persumably by the thieves associated with a demented street fence called "The Captain". Meanwhile, McCall mulls over the prospect of marrying her former flame Dr. Turnan (Robert Connor Newman) and moving with him to London. Without giving too much away, it can be noted that this episode marks the final appearance of series costar Stepfanie Kramer--who, of course, plays McCall. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1990
High in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona, a cache of stolen bank money was hidden back in the 1960s. LA based lawyer Bill Paxton, whose security-guard father (David Michael-Standing) has long been held responsible for the heist-he was the only survivor when his armored car was ambushed-conducts a search for witnesses in order to clear his dad's name. Working from his late father's notes, Paxton and his mentally handicapped brother Todd Field attempt to reconstruct the crime and recover the loot. Expressing inordinate fascination in Paxton's efforts are mysterious hitchiker Apollonia Kotero, as well as local sheriff Luke Askew, whose brother was murdered during the robbery. A great many hidden truths and deep dark secrets come to surface during a final bloody confrontation in the mountains. All evidence indicates that director John Kincade intended Back to Back as a tribute to filmmaker Sam Peckinpah-as evidenced by the presence of Peckinpah regular Ben Johnson in a pivotal role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1990
In the first episode of Hunter's two-part Season Six finale, Hunter (Fred Dryer) goes after a vicious fence who is persecuting homeless war veterans. It turns out that the perpetrator, a lunatic known as "The Captain", is obsessed with medals of valor and purple hearts; unfortunately, before he can make an arrest, Hunter is ordered off the case by his police mentor Dave Peterson (Ryan Cutrona). Meanwhile, McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) rekindles an old romance with Dr. Alex Turnan (Robert Connor Newman). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1990
- PG
Professional wrestlers Peter Paul and David Paul star in this muscle-bound comedy about two slowwitted truck drivers who are hired to transport a heap of toxic waste across the country to Los Angeles. Along the way, the boys run into a 16-year-old girl genius who is on the run from a secret government research center because she holds plans for a mysterious secret weapon. With government agents in pursuit, the two lunkheads and the teen prodigy have to make it to L.A. with their toxic waste and avoid being captured by amoral government forces. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Paul, David Paul, (more)
- 1987
- R
In this suspenseful thriller, lonely young women subscribe to "The Dream Date Video Club" and end up going out to their deaths, all of which are captured on video tape. The cops get involved and end up accusing a hacker, but he is innocent and must set out to prove it before more women die horrible deaths.
. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lawrence Monoson, Brenda Bakke, (more)
- 1987
- R
Jillian Grey (Nancy Allen) is a television reporter who investigates the disappearance of young women in this routine action drama. She is kidnapped with three other woman from the streets of Los Angeles and sold into slavery in Southeast Asia. Martin Landau plays Cicero, the villainous head of the white slave trade, with Ted Shackelford as the heroic soldier of fortune Boone. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nancy Allen, Ted Shackelford, (more)
- 1985
- R
King of the City died on the vine when it was released under its original title in 1985; conditions hardly improved when it was reissued a year later as Club Life. Merely a recycling of the disco films of the 1970s, King of the City is lots of sound and fury, signifying nothing: one prominent TV reference book gave up on reciting its plot line, choosing instead to review the neon lighting! For what it's worth, the story involves Tom Parsekean (the idol of millions), who comes to LA to be an actor but winds up a bouncer in a disco owned by Tony Curtis. If you remain awake during the first minutes of King of the City, you'll get a kick out of Pat Ast, playing a lesbian bar owner. What Dee Wallace, who still had a career in 1985, is doing in this film is anybody's guess. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Heather (Linnea Quigley), the deaf-mute sister of Brenda (Linda Blair) is gang-raped in a drawn-out, violent scene at the beginning of this routine vengeance movie, a scene that provides the motivation for Brenda's rampage through the rest of the film. Dressed in a special outfit that bares enough skin to suit the standards of this genre and armed with a crossbow, Brenda goes after the young punks in the "Scars" gang who raped her sister -- with predictably gory results. Surrounding this miniature Charles Bronson is a society burdened with parodies of "good" people: the school principal who is only superficially tough, and the upper-class teens whose thought processes were arrested shortly after kindergarten. Stereotypical and transparent, this teen movie is interesting because it does promote a woman in a "hero" role, but the subject matter and violence will not appeal to everyone. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Linda Blair, John Vernon, (more)
- 1981
In this socially conscious drama, set in 1955, three tough New York youths must learn to deal with a troubled world. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
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