Tom Melissis Movies
- 2002
Pregnant Toronto-based performance artist Stephanie (portrayed by a very pregnant Valerie Buhagiar) accidentally sets labor into motion after a rather rambunctious round of lovemaking with her current boyfriend, Ian (Tom Melissis), whose unsure whether or not he's the baby's dad, but is willing to take on the job if he is. In her resultant giddiness, Stephanie proceeds to gather all of her closest friends and family -- and all their problems and neuroses -- for the much-anticipated event. Included in the birthing party are Anita (Debra McGrath), Stephanie's high-strung older sister and ex-friend of Stephanie's midwife, Julia (Angela Gei); Jack (Karl Pruner), Anita's husband and corporate lawyer big shot, who is beginning to have concerns about his marriage; food photographer and official birth documentarian Gary (Colin Mochrie), who was also a lover of Stephanie's and also wishes to be the baby's father; Dani (Barbara Radecki), who dislikes children and is only present because of a drunken oath she made to Stephanie; and Azaan (Derwin Jordan), Stephanie's neighbor and frequent artistic partner. As Julia arrives on the scene and sets up a birthing tub in the middle of Stephanie's expansive loft, each participant does what he or she can to help the expectant mother comfortably give birth while trying to deal with his or her own personal crises. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- Starring:
- Valerie Buhagiar, Angela Gei, (more)
- 1999
Originally titled Milgaard, this made-for-TV drama is a disturbingly accurate account of one of the most infamous miscarriages of justice in Canadian history. In 1969, 17-year-old hippie David Milgaard (Ian Tracey) is arrested on suspicion for the rape and murder on nursing assistant Gail Miller (Ardith Boxall). Anxious for a quick conviction despite a paucity of conclusive evidence, the authorities in Saskatchewan rush David's trial through, and within less than two months of the murder he is sent to prison for life. As David's mother Joyce (Gabrielle Rose) and a team of dedicated pro bono attorneys battle to clear her son's name, David goes through hell behind bars--for the next twenty-three years. First telecast in Canada in April of 1999 (though banned from viewing in Saskatchewan, where the events took place), Milgaard was retitled Hard Time: The David Milgaard Story for airing in the US via the Lifetime channel. Since that time, a third title has been bestowed on the film at the behest of David's family: Innocent: The David Milgaard Story. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This crime drama, based on the best-selling novel by Mario Puzo, follows 20 years in the long reign of powerful Mafia kingpin Don Domenico Clericuzio (Danny Aiello). For years, the Clericuzios have been warring with a rival crime family, the Santadios, which is not helped when Domenico's daughter Rose Marie (Kirstie Alley) decides to marry the son of the head of the Santadio clan. On the night of Rose Marie's wedding, Domenico orders the execution of the entire Santadio family, including his new son-in-law. Rose Marie is pregnant as a result of her brief honeymoon, and her son Dante (Rory Cochrane) grows up to become a hired killer with a bitter hatred of his grandfather. Meanwhile, Pippi De Lena (Joe Mantegna), Domenico's key enforcer who carried out the slaughter of the Santadinos, has been grooming his son Croccifixio (Jason Gedrick) to take over as the Clericuzio's new trigger man. However, after he muffs a crucial execution, Croccifixio is sent to work with the family's operations in Las Vegas, where he becomes involved with starlet Athena Aquitane (Daryl Hannah). Soon Dante makes a risky bid to seize control of the Santadio family's crime empire. Originally produced as a television miniseries, the home video release of The Last Don is 262-min. long and it includes material not used for television broadcast. The video version features adult language and nudity and received an R rating. The Last Don co-stars Robert Wuhl, Penelope Ann Miller, Seymour Cassel, Burt Young, and k.d. lang. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Danny Aiello, Joe Mantegna, (more)
This Canadian drama tells the tale of Camille, who works at an uptight Protestant college as a professor of mythology. She has been going out with career theologian Martin for three years, but it appears her real true love is her dog, Bob. Bob dies in a tragic car accident and poor Camille is devastated. She is so upset that she grabs the wrong clothes from the laundromat. The clothes belong to the beautifully predatory Petra. Camille discovers the error and returns them to Petra's workplace, an avant-garde circus in an empty warehouse where Petra confesses that she switched them on purpose so she could seduce Camille. Camille demurs. Petra begins following her, and gets to kiss her in the lobby. Eventually the persistent Petra succeeds and the two become lovers. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Pascale Bussières, Rachael Crawford, (more)
- 1995
In yet another modern-dress version of The Prince and the Pauper, Joey Lawrence plays Ricky Prince, a famous pop star who has grown tired of the spotlight and the pressures of fame. Ricky makes the aquaintance of Ralph Bitondo (also played by Joey Lawrence), a pizza delivery boy who looks almost exactly like Ricky -- so much so that the two decide to trade identities for a while. Ricky enjoys being able to live like an average guy for a change, and Ralph gets a kick out of the perks of stardom, but predictably enough they both learn the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Also known as The Prince and the Pizza Boy, Prince for a Day also stars Richard Belzer and Khrystyne Haje. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joey Lawrence, Richard Belzer, (more)
- 1994
Pop-singer and actress Madonna's meteoric rise to fame is chronicled in this trashy made-for-television movie of her life. Terumi Matthews stars as the dancer-turned-musician, who came to New York City in search of fame and fortune. Based on the book Madonna: Unauthorized, the docudrama follows her rocky road from the streets of New York to the top of the charts in the 1980s. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi
Based on an autobiography by Betty Rollin, this is a heart-tugger which finds a woman with cancer seeking the assistance of her daughter in fulfilling her last wish--a wish to die with dignity. ~ Tana Hobart, Rovi
- 1991
- R
This lively and off-beat Canadian comedy tells the tale of a regular Joe whose life is turned topsy turvy when he teams up with a strange restaurateur who convinces the fellow to invest in his latest project: an Italian restaurant with operatic waiters. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robbie Coltrane, Michael Riley, (more)
- 1989
A wealthy invalid discovers her husband's scheme to have her killed in this made-for-cable thriller--remade from the 1948 feature starring Barbara Stanwyck. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- Starring:
- Loni Anderson, Carl Weintraub, (more)
- 1987
- R
The sublimely derivative Blindside stirs up a modicum of tension. The principal character is a onetime surveillance expert, who after purchasing a motel can't resist the temptation of spying on his guests. No, there's no shower stabbing here, but there isa brutal murder. Before long, our peeping-tom protagonist is up to his chin in drug-traffic intrigue. As the voyeuristic hero, Harvey Keitel is the most recognizable performer in Blindside; with the exception of the always welcome Lolita Davidovich, the rest of the cast is unremarkable. Filmed in 1986, Blindside was released in the US in 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Harvey Keitel, Lori Hallier, (more)
- 1986
- R
A scheming police chief wants the mayor out so he can gain control, so he hires a ridiculous bunch of misfits to fill the local police force. His plan is that the city look so bad the mayor will get the bounce. The city's real policemen all get food poisoning at a party and the misfits must take over and get the job done. There's lots of dirty jokes and jiggling breasts here. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Steve Osmond, Doug Annear, (more)
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