Jordan Marder Movies
Tony Kaye made his feature directorial debut with this dramatic exploration into the roots of race hatred in America. In a shocking opening scene, teen Danny Vinyard (Edward Furlong) races to tell his older brother, neo-Nazi Derek (Edward Norton), about the young blacks breaking into his car in front of the house, whereupon Derek gets his gun and with no forethought shoots the youths in their tracks. Tried and convicted, Derek is sent away for three years in prison, where he acquires a different outlook as he contrasts white-power prisoners with black Lamont (Guy Torry), his prison laundry co-worker and eventual pal. Meanwhile, Danny, with a shaved head and a rebellious attitude, seems destined to follow in his big brother's footsteps. After Danny writes a favorable review of Hitler's Mein Kampf, black high-school principal Sweeney (Avery Brooks) puts Danny in his private "American History X" course and assigns him to do a paper about his older brother, who was a former student of Sweeney's. This serves to introduce flashbacks, with the film backtracking to illustrate Danny's account of Derek's life prior to the night of the shooting. Monochrome sequences of Derek leading a Venice, California gang are intercut with color footage of the mature Derek ending his past neo-Nazi associations and attempting to detour Danny away from the group led by white supremacist, Cameron (Stacy Keach), who once influenced Derek. Director Tony Kaye, with a background in TV commercials and music videos, filmed in L.A. beach communities. Rated R "for graphic brutal violence including rape, pervasive language, strong sexuality and nudity." ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, (more)
Vulgar, slapstick comedy abounds in this feature film debut for television sitcom star Kelsey Grammer. Almost everyone else thinks of Lieutenant Commander Tom Dodge is a class "A" goof who messes up every task he is assigned, but Adm. Dean Winslow thinks otherwise and decides to give Dodge one last chance by assigning him to helm an outmoded, diesel powered, rusty in a series of wargames. Dodge's sub is to be the enemy and must somehow outsmart their high tech opponents. Though ostensibly only games, Admiral Yancy Graham, who considers Dodge an embarrassment to the Navy, decides to do everything he can to scuttle Dodge and his ragtag crew's mission. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelsey Grammer, Lauren Holly, (more)
- 1999
To stir up new business for Buzz Beer, Lewis (Ryan Styles) and Oswald (Diedrich Bader) create a website (www.buybuzzbeer.com)--and are promptly arrested for unwittingly selling liquor to minors. In his efforts to help his friends during their court hearing, Drew (Drew Caerey) succeeds only in making things worse, inspiring the judge (Paul Gleason) to use Cleveland's new "anti-gang" law to force Drew and his friends to stay 100 feet away from one another--for the rest of their lives. After a futile effort to replace his pals with goldfish, Drew decides to risk a jail sentence by holding a birthday party for Kate, wherein he and his buddies will be cleverly disguised in "Wizard of Oz" costumes. Meanwhile, Mimi (Kathy Kinney) isn't amused when Steve (John Carroll Lynch) announces his plan to wear his mom's bridal gown at their wedding. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In a futuristic, high-tech world run by huge corporations, Parker Barnes (Denzel Washington) is an L.A. policeman serving time for killing the psychotic who murdered his wife and child. Lindenmeyer (Stephen Spinella), a Dr. Frankenstein of the computer era, has created a monster, Sid 6.7 (Russell Crowe), a virtual reality entity which is programmed with the character traits of scores of mass murderers. Sid 6.7 has escaped the control of its creator and is now running amok. The privatized police force in charge of keeping the peace in the city is run by Elizabeth Deane (Louise Fletcher). Barnes has volunteered to test a new criminal tracking system based on a virtual reality device. His job is to find Sid 6.7, with the help of psychologist Madison Carter (Kelly Lynch). Barnes gets out of prison and reinstated to the police force to pursue his dangerous prey. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Denzel Washington, Kelly Lynch, (more)
- 1987
Originally telecast on PBS' Wonderworks, Walking on Air stars Lynn Redgrave as a dotty science teacher. One of Lynn's students is a paralyzed youth (Jordan Marder), who inexplicably has the ability to float around in the air. With Redgrave's help, the boy offers his services to NASA as a "natural-born astronaut." Never condescending and always credible, Walking on Air is ideal "feel good" entertainment. This 58-minute film was based on a story by Ray Bradbury. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
