Jim Metzler Movies
Jim Metzler has appeared on stage since the 1970s, and in films from 1981's Four Friends. Bright, handsome and possessed of above-average talent, Metzler has proven a valuable asset to such so-so films as 976 Evil (1988) and Circuitry Man (1990). The actor has been offered better opportunities on TV; he was top billed as Dr. Andy Fenton in the 1983 series Cutter to Houston, and was seen as science teacher Dan Braden in the 1985 weekly The Best Times. Jim Metzler also co-starred as James Huntoon on the hit 1985 miniseries North and South and its 1986 sequel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this combination sequel and prequel to the surprise box-office success The Omega Code, one man becomes the leader of an evil empire that could destroy the world, and his brother must rise against him in the defense of good. Stone Alexander (played as a child by Gavin Fink) is a moody, dark-tempered child whose parents died shortly after he was born. The mother who adopted Stone died several years later while giving birth to another son, David, and Stone is unable to forgive his brother for unwittingly taking his mother from him. Stone goes so far as to attempt to murder David, and their father, prominent businessman Daniel Alexander (David Hedison), responds by shipping Stone off to military school. There, Stone falls under the tutelage of The Guardian (Udo Kier), an instructor at the school who is actually an emissary of Satan. While the enmity between Stone (played as a teenager by Noah Huntley) and David (played by Chad Michael Murray) cools a bit with time, Stone once again finds himself in a bitter rivalry with his brother when they both fall in love with the same woman, Gabriella (played as a teenager by Elisa Scialpi). Stone eventually wins Gabriella's hand and they marry, as Stone (played as an adult by Michael York) rises to power as the ruthless leader of the military arm of the European Union; David (played as an adult by Michael Biehn), meanwhile, becomes a powerful figure in American politics, and is elected to the office of Vice President. What neither David nor Gabriella (played as an adult by Diane Venora) fully understand is that, under the influence of The Guardian, Stone has taken on the role of the Antichrist, and he attempts to curry his brother's favor (and arrange events that will make David president) in a bid for world domination. When it becomes clear to David that the goal of his brother's campaign is to put the world in the power of Satan, David realizes America and its allies must join forces against Stone's troops in a battle in Megiddo, Israel -- predicted in the Book of Revelations as the place of the final battle of good versus evil. Megiddo: Omega Code 2 also features Franco Nero, R. Lee Ermey, and Gil Colon. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael York, Michael Biehn, (more)
Hank Kirk (Kevin Anderson) is a Caucasian man who objects to his half-Cherokee son Hunter's (James Duval) tendency to believe the stories of his Native American grandfather. Hunter is a hemophiliac, which makes it difficult (and dangerous) for him to take part in the same outdoor activities that dominate his father's life, especially as his mother, Maggie (Jeri Arredondo), worries about her son and tries to keep him away from danger. As Hunter grows older, he feels the need to prove himself to his father despite his medical condition, but his father objects to the Cherokee method of hunting and insists that the boy hunt like a white man, by sitting by the side of the road with a gun and waiting for game to appear. When Hunter goes deer hunting with Hank for the first time, he mistakenly bags a doe instead of a buck -- a tremendous embarrassment for both Hunter and Hank, because the animal has no antlers to show off and thus is not considered a great catch. Humiliated, Hunter seeks the advice of his grandfather, Marvin Fishinghawk (Gordon Tootoosis), and finds love for the first time with a girl his age. The Doe Boy was the first feature film from writer and director Randy Redroad, which was based on his own experiences growing up in a Native American family; the film was shown in competition at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Duval, Kevin Anderson, (more)
Set against the backdrop of a small, west Texas border town, writer/director Jane Cusumano's modern-day take on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet details the forbidden love affair between a working class teen and the wealthy son of a prominent cattle magnate. Lucas (Chad Allen) and Heather (Polly Cusumano) grew up together in the close-knit community of Vega, Texas. They've been close friends since childhood, and now that they're teens that bond is blossoming into true love. But Lucas' father (Marshall Teague) is the basketball coach and wealthiest man in town, and makes no attempt to hide the fact that he isn't pleased with the relationship. He wants Lucas to take over the family cattle business and marry the "right girl" rather than spend his life with the strong-willed free spirit who never even knew her father. Heather's mother (Tamara Clatterbuck) has worked hard to raise her daughter right, and that work has paid off in the form of a girl who is intelligent, independent, and completely non-judgmental. At first, Lucas and Heather's romance seems perfect; Heather is preparing to attend college and Lucas shows great promise as a young athlete. Things start to change, however, when Lucas' father attempts to steer his son's fate by force. Increasingly withdrawn and rebellious, Lucas is preparing to play in the basketball state championships when Heather reveals that she is pregnant with his child. Elated, Lucas vows to marry Heather and start a new life together despite his father's misgivings about the girl. Pushed too hard by his father during the big game, Lucas suffers a tragic injury that leaves him comatose for over a year. During that time, Heather gives birth to Lucas' son, sparking a bitter feud between the young mother and the disapproving grandfather. Later, upon emerging from his coma, Lucas slowly comes to terms with his turbulent past and pledges to do the right thing for everyone involved. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chad Allen, Polly Cusumano, (more)
- 1999
On the eve of the "Civil Rights Day" celebration in Aynesville, Illinois, Monica (Roma Downey) stumbles across the dead body of an elderly black man, apparently the victim of a hate crime. Over the protests of Sheriff McKinsley (John Ritter) and his black deputy James (Rick Worthy), the organizers of the celebration choose to hush up the murder so as not to spoil the festivities--and for good measure, they order Monica to be locked up in jail "for her own good" until the whole thing blows over. The next morning, Monica awakens to discover that she is no long an angel, but instead a human being...a black human being. The reason for this metamophosis has as much to do with Monica's attitudes towards race as it does with the events of the past few days, but she does not realize this until she meets the celebration's guest of honor, Rosa Parks (playing herself, and appropriately making her first appearance on a bus). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
An unproduced screenplay written by the late Orson Welles (penned in collaboration with actress Oja Kodar, Welles' significant other in his later years) forms the basis of this drama of political gamesmanship and blackmail. Blake Pellarin (William Hurt) is running for governor of Missouri in a close race going into its final week when a figure from his past reappears. Kim Mennaker (Nigel Hawthorne) was Pellarin's one-time mentor and father figure (after Blake's dad died in the Korean war) who left the United States when public disclosure of his homosexuality ended his political career. This visit from an old friend soon proves less then welcome; when Pellarin was a teenager, he participated in a photo session organized by Mennaker in which he was snapped in sexually compromising positions with both a woman and a man. These photos could put a stake through the heart of Pellarin's life in politics, and Mennaker soon makes clear this is hardly the only dirt he has on Blake. Mennaker also has a ready audience for his stories -- Cela Brandini (Irene Jacob), a European reporter looking for scandal, even though she's having an affair with Pellarin. When Pellarin's wife (Miranda Richardson) and bodyguard (Ewan Stewart) get wind of Blake's indiscretions, his candidacy becomes a disaster waiting to happen. Director George Hickenlooper adapted Welles and Kodar's screenplay with critic F.X. Feeney; among his previous credits, Hickenlooper directed the short film Some Folks Call It A Sling Blade, a short film later expanded by Billy Bob Thornton into his award-winning feature Sling Blade. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hurt, Nigel Hawthorne, (more)
- 1999
Director Michael Stevens debuts with this two-fisted ultra-violent crime drama about redemption and revenge. Adapted from British author Tim Willocks' 1991 novel, the movie weaves together four stories resulting from a botched bank robbery. Callilou (Judith Hoag), the wounded girlfriend of the robbery's mastermind Luther (Jim Metzler), seeks refuge with kind-hearted doctor Eugene Grimes (Michael Massee), who lives among the impoverished in New Orleans' worst neighborhood. Hot on Callilou's trail is rakish but corrupt Vice Squad Captain Clarence Jefferson (Michael McGrady), who is looking to horn in on the robbers. He eventually catches up with Eugene, and, after a great deal of physical and emotional abuse, Eugene reveals both his odd connection with the criminal ringleader and his hideout. Soon after Jefferson and his gang converge on Luther's lair, a bloody gunfight ensues. Bad City Blues was screened at the L.A./AFI Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Massee, Michael McGrady, (more)
In this suspense drama, a Marine Corps veteran (played by Steven Bauer) finds himself defending a woman's honor one night, which leads to a fight, an accidental death, and two years in prison for the former Leatherneck. After he's released, he happens by chance to meet the same woman, who is now married. It isn't long before finds himself drawn into a dangerous scheme regarding both her spouse and her sister. The supporting cast includes Frankie Thorn, Fred Dryer, and Louis Mandylor. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Steven Bauer, Frankie Thorn, (more)
- 1998
- PG
In this horror-western with a dash of offbeat humor, three kids arrive in the town of Longhand looking for their missing parents, only to discover the town is overrun with people who behave more like zombies than humans. They eventually discover that the city is a haven for body snatchers and, if they're not careful, they could be the next targets. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Christina Griffin (Natalie Radord), the mother of a half-human, half-Kromagg child, escapes with her baby from a Kromagg breeder camp and links up with Quinn (Jerry O'Connell) and his fellow Sliders. Claiming to be a friend of their missing colleague Wade Wells, who'd likewise been captured for breeding purposes, Christina offers to help them track Wade down. Instead, the Sliders are sidetracked by Christina's own litany of woes, including an unforgiving family, a relentless assassin, and a deadly virus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A man discovers that his fantasies and his real life are beginning to look a lot alike in this drama. Richard (Jim Metzler) is battling cancer of the spinal column, and while it's currently in remission, the disease has left his body in sad shape; Richard is tired, anxious, depressed, and confined to a wheelchair, and while his sister Peep (Kay Lenz) is helping to care for him, Richard is convinced that she's more interested in making a claim on his estate than protecting his well being. Richard's friend Duncan (John Ritter), a frequent visitor, is an aficionado of New Age healing and pain-management techniques, and he teaches Richard how to hypnotize himself, willing his mind into a dream state when his discomfort is too much to bear. Soon Richard is regularly visiting an elaborate fantasy world in which he's Rick Stone, a hard-boiled private eye living in a world straight out of a 1940's film noir. Rick is helping the beautiful Jade Norfleet (Andrea Thompson) track down the mysterious stranger who is trying to kill her, but Jade bears a striking resemblance to Richard's next door neighbor, while Rick's favorite bartender looks just like Duncan, and the conniving Madge is the spitting image of Peep. Billy Bob Thornton and Victor Love also appear. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Metzler, Kay Lenz, (more)
- 1996
Having shown up at the wrong house for her latest assignment, Monica (Roma Downey) innocently finds herself under arrest for drug possession--and when she insists that she is an angel, she ends up in a mental hospital. Monica's court-appointed lawyer Jake Stone (Joe Morton) is a cynical, athestic Vietnam veteran, whose lack of faith colors his attitude toward his client. Likewise having served a tour of duty in 'Nam is Monica's fellow inmate Claire (Cindy Williams)--who also claims to be an angel in disguise! This inspiring episode is a classic example of "what comes around, goes around"...but we don't know that until the very last scene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Three disparate Texas sisters reunite to celebrate the wedding of the youngest and end-up having a thrilling adventure racing across the prairie with a fortune in stolen loot. The sisters, Francis, Mary Katherine, and the irrepressible spitfire CJ Crowley, whom the other two had to bail out of jail, were abandoned by their father in 1974 (this situation is presented via black and white flashback in the prologue and at various points throughout the story). No sooner is CJ free than she returns to the strip joint where she works. The owner is an ex-Texas Ranger, Wood Grimes. It was he who had their father sent to prison. CJ isn't there long, before Grimes fires her for sassing back. To get even, the sisters swipe a key and steal the loot that Grimes, their father, and another stole many years before. It was the murder of the third crook that got their father, Travis, sent to prison, but the girls think Grimes is the real killer. As the women flee with the booty, they have time to rehash their pasts and discuss their feelings about their father. At one point they encounter Beau, a handsome, overly-polite cowboy with whom Francis has a romantic fling. The story begins and ends at the famous"Cadillac Ranch" a combination burial ground and art gallery devoted to the luxurious old cars. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzy Amis, Renee Humphrey, (more)
- 1996
Originally made for cable, this drama chronicles the ordeals endured by those endeavoring to be the first men on the moon. Set in 1969, the story pays particular attention to the three astronauts who embarked upon the dangerous, historic mission. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Xander Berkeley, Jeffrey Nordling, (more)
- 1995
In part one of this episode, a freak accident transported Sisko, Bashir, and Dax back to San Francisco in the year 2024. Their visit occurs a few days before the Bell Riots, the outcome of which will profoundly effect the future, specifically, their future. When legendary homeless advocate Gabriel Bell, in whose honor the riot will occur, dies ahead of schedule, Sisko is forced to assume Bell's identity, and, possibly, to be martyred for Bell's cause. Scripted by Ira Steven Behr and Rene Echevarria from a story by Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe, part two of "Past Tense" first aired January 9, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
On January 2, 1995, Deep Space Nine belatedly rang in the New Year with part one of this two-part adventure. A transporter accident sends Sisko, Bashir, and Dax hurtling back to 21st Century San Francisco. Upon their arrival, they are forced to confront the plight of the city's homeless and to avoid contact with those unfortunates, lest they alter events that could profoundly and dangerously change the course of the Future. Part one of "Past Tense" was scripted by Robert Hewitt Wolfe from a story by Wolfe and Ira Steven Behr. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
This science fiction adventure, set in the future, depicts an Earth so polluted that people must live underground to avoid the deadly air. It is the sequel to 1989's Circuitry Man. In this new world, people who once would have plugged into drugs for illicit fun, now turn on with computer chips. The evil Plughead, a biosynthetic man, has a revolutionary chip that allows humans to live a decade beyond normal life expectancy but to manufacture it they must torture innocent people until they die. Plughead has no problem with that; in fact, he rather enjoys it. Plughead's nemesis, Danner is also a biosynthetic man, but he is a good guy. FBI agent Kyle is using Danner to help her find Plughead. Together they travel to a barren desert in search of their foe. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vernon Wells, Deborah Shelton, (more)
- 1994
- R
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With no more rural Midwestern adults left to slaughter, two brothers from Gatling, Nebraska are sent to foster homes in the Windy City. The little brother, who murdered his own father, is a disciple of the dreaded "He Who Walks Behind the Rows" and has brought a few corn seeds with him so his evil mentor will have a place to stay. The seeds grow and soon the demon is harvesting a fresh crop of recruits to do his murderous bidding. Though based on a novel and film by Stephen King, the author had nothing to do with this sequel. Those turned off by gore and bloodshed may not want to watch. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Danny Shaffer (Jim Metzler) used to be a poet. He's settled down now, and is a regular businessman living in L.A. His girlfriend has recently split with him to move to Berlin. Apparently, she wanted him to come with her, because she has sent two German emissaries, Barbara and Ingrid, to bring videotaped messages from her and see to it that he watches them. There are plenty of suggestions that sexual intimacies might be forthcoming from the unexpected visitors, but nothing transpires along those lines. Despite the unpromising storyline, reviewers found this festival film well enough made to hold their attention. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Metzler, Anna Katarina, (more)
The erotic thriller French Silk stars Susan Lucci as the owner of a very successful lingerie company. An influential television preacher who has spoken out against her and her company dies. The lead detective (Lee Horsley) into the death believes she is the number one suspect, but he also begins a sexual affair with her. Soon she begins to get him to act in ways that may be detrimental to his own investigation. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lee Horsley
- 1992
Directed by Vinci Vogue-Anzlovar, Gypsy Eyes revolves around fugitive government operative Harry Noble (Jim Metzler), who was forced to run from the CIA after a serious misunderstanding. Aide comes in the form of Katarina (Claire Forlani), a young gypsy who may be the only person Harry can trust to help mend the situation without getting killed in the process. The film also features Zachary Bogatz and George DiCenzo. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Metzler, Claire Forlani, (more)
- 1991
- R
In this fast-paced, noirish road movie, a computer expert embezzles half a million dollars and races off to Reno to start anew. Unfortunately, en route, he picks up a pair of hitchers and ends up entangled with a crazed couple who commandeer his car and leave him alone in the desert to die. As soon as he can, he hits the road to get revenge and to find his money before they do. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Metzler, Jennifer Rubin, (more)
- 1991
In this made-for-cable thriller, Virginia Madsen portrays a photographer who discovers that her husband has hired a hit man to rub her out. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1991
This is one of several seventh-season Murder She Wrote episodes introduced by Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) but starring Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell), a jewel thief turned insurance investigator. On this occasion, Stanton is probing into the curious case of a neurotic ventriloquist named Woody Perkins (Grant Shaud) and Woody's prize dummy Billy Boy. Not longer after Woody reports that Billy Boy has been "kidnapped", the dummy turns up in a locked room--along with the corpse of Katie Kelly (Georgia Brown), a nasty comedy-club owner with whom Woody had previously had a violent argument. Stanton tries to unravel the attendant mystery with the help and hindrance of Rhoda Markowitz (Hallie Todd) and Lt. Perry Catalano (Ken Swofford). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- R
In the sequel to Waxwork, young Mark Loftmore (Zach Galligan) and his girlfriend Sarah (Monika Schnarre) manage to escape the deadly wax museum before it is destroyed. However, one deadly wax hand escapes destruction and follows Sarah home, murdering her stepfather before she manages to destroy it. When Sarah is accused of the murder, she and Mark must travel back in time to stop the still-present evil. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zach Galligan, Sophie Ward, (more)
Carl Franklin made his directorial bow with the story of three LA drug dealers who, after committing a rather messy murder, hide out in a rural Arkansas town. Assuming that the local "rubes" will offer them little interference, the criminals have not reckoned with sheriff "Hurricane" Dixon (Bill Paxton). Despite the arrogance of the LAPD agents sent to Arkansas to collar the crooks, it is down-home Dixon who puts the final bloody showdown into motion (the fact that the thieves have been falling out throughout the film doesn't hurt things either). Carl Franklin knows where he's going in every frenetic frame of One False Move, and his movie was one of the most acclaimed independent releases of 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Paxton, Cynda Williams, (more)
