Hilary Beane Movies
Jack Butler (Michael Keaton) is a Detroit automobile engineer unjustly fired by his boss. Jack's wife Caroline (Teri Garr) is compelled to get a job to make ends meet, and is soon hired on as an advertising executive in a firm run by the shifty Ron Richardson (Martin Mull). This leaves Jack at home doing the housework and taking care of the kids, which he discovers is a lot more complicated than he ever imagined. Moving from breadwinner to househusband doesn't do much for his self-esteem, and he bides his time playing poker for coupons with a gaggle of neighborhood housewifes and pondering infidelity with dedicated homewrecker Joan (Ann Jillian). Among Keaton's fish-out-of-water bits: trying to maneuver a shopping cart with the inevitable wobbly wheels; and imagining a soap opera/film-noir episode in which he gives in to Joan's advances, only to be found out by Caroline. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Keaton, Teri Garr, (more)
- 1982
This for Remembrance, the autobiography of popular singer Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002), was the source for this made-for-TV biopic. Played herein by Sondra Locke, the Kentucky-born Clooney begins her career as one-half of a musical act with her sister Betty (Penelope Milford), performing at the election rallies of her politician uncle (John Karlen). Achieving radio popularity in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rosemary goes on to enjoy nationwide fame in the 1950s with such hit recordings as "Come On A' My House", "Tenderly" and "Hey There". Though her success in movies is negligible (White Christmas notwithstanding), she makes a huge impact on television, hosting several of her own weekly series. All the while, however, Rosemary's private life is in turmoil, due in great part to a tempestuous marriage to actor-director Jose Ferrer (played by, of all people, Tony Orlando). After the assassination of her great friend Robert Kennedy in 1968, Rosemary suffers a nervous breakdown, and it is many years before she is able to make a triumphant comeback on the concert trail. Rosemary Clooney herself serves as the singing voice of Sondra Locke, and also dubs in the tunes performed by the actress playing sister Betty. Had Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story aired on CBS a decade or so after its original telecast on December 18, 1982, mention might have been made of the subsequent success of Clooney's actor son Miguel Ferrer and her TV-star nephew George Clooney; there might even have been a re-enactment of Rosemary's third marriage, capriciously staged at a White Castle restaurant in Cincinnati. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
With the Jerry Zucker-Jim Abrahams-David Zucker team absent, this sequel to the cash-cow 1980 spoof Airplane once again finds garrulous man-with-a-past Ted Striker (Robert Hays) compelled to take over the controls of crippled aircraft, all the while trying to patch up his relationship with stewardess Elaine (Julie Hagerty). This time, the first passenger space shuttle is launched into orbit -- and takes off for the moon - but the on-board computer malfunctions and sends the craft hurtling toward the sun, threatening the lives of everyone on board. Lloyd Bridges and Peter Graves return from the first Airplane, while William Shatner, Chad Everett, Sonny Bono, Raymond Burr and Chuck Conners join the cast, as they too lampoon their established images. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, (more)
Carrie meets Porky's as Charles in Charge co-stars Scott Baio and Willie Aames re-team for this mischievous-minded teen comedy about a hormonal high school science student suddenly bestowed with telekinetic powers. Emerson High School genius Barney Springboro (Baio) has a keen understanding of the periodic table of the elements, and a curious knack for experimentation. One day, while Barney is conducting a particularly sensitive experiment in horticulture, the lab is suddenly set ablaze, and his dreams appear to go up in flames. But any scientist will tell you that some of the best discoveries appear from the ashes of failure, and when Barney realizes that he now possesses the power of telekinesis his high school life suddenly becomes a lot more interesting. Of course the jocks don't stand a chance against a geek who can knock out a home run with the power of his mind, and as Barney's hormones take hold the skirts begin to flip and the tops begin to pop. Now, as the senior prom draws near, Barney does his best to land a date for the dance as his horrified parents put in a call to the local exorcist, his best friend Peyton (Aames) joins in on the fun, and a local reporter attempts to break the biggest story this small town has ever known. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Scott Baio, Willie Aames, (more)
The rise and growth of American popular music through the 20th century is reflected in the lives of four generations of one family in this animated drama directed by Ralph Bakshi. Zalmie (voice of Jeffrey Lippa), a Russian Jew, emigrates to America, and tries to struggle along as a comic and musician in vaudeville, until an injury suffered in World War I ends his singing career. Zalmie's son Benny (voice of Richard Singer) inherits his father's love for music, and when he grows to adulthood, he joins a jazz combo as a pianist; his career is cut short, however, when he's killed while fighting in World War II. Benny's son Tony (voice of Ron Thompson) is also bitten by the music bug and is determined to make his mark as a songwriter; he becomes involved in the Beat poetry and music community in San Francisco, and later falls in with a pioneering psychedelic band. Along the way, Tony fathers an illegitimate son named Pete (voice of Eric Taslitz), and ends up becoming Pete's guardian in New York City without realizing he's the boy's father. After Tony's death, Pete supports himself by dealing drugs, while struggling to make his dream of becoming a rock star a reality. Ralph Bakshi achieved American Pop's unique look through a process called "rotoscoping" -- shooting the scenes with live actors, and then tracing their movements onto animation cells.
~ Mark Deming, Rovi
~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ron Thompson, Marya Small, (more)
The Zoo is the hottest disco in town, and on the night of the big dance contest, a wild assortment of disparate characters find themselves out on the floor together. DJ Bobby Speed (Ray Vitte) is convinced that broadcasting the show live on the radio waves and having the Commodores as musical entertainment will boost his career, but when their equipment gets lost on the highway, he starts to lose his cool. Nicole (Donna Summer) is a bumbling but beautiful neophyte singer who schemes to earn her big break on the disco's stage. Frannie and Jeannie (Valerie Landsberg and Terri Nunn) are underage high school girls who need the contest prize money to buy Kiss concert tickets. A bored married couple (Mark Lonow and Andrea Howard) stumble into the Zoo on their anniversary; their relationship is tested by a wacky pill-popping vixen (Marya Small) and the disco's womanizing owner (Jeff Goldblum). A host of mismatched singles make the scene hoping for a chance at love (or at least a one night stand), though the exuberant Marv "Leather Man" Gomez (Chick Vennera) lives only to dance, and expounds on his philosophy at length. There's plenty of thumping disco action and nothing but happy endings in this colorful period comedy. ~ Fred Beldin, Rovi
- Starring:
- Donna Summer, Valerie Landsburg, (more)
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