Megan Murphy Movies
- 2001
This ambitious and unusual feature from Seattle-based independent filmmaker Gregg Lachow was shot without a soundtrack, and is exhibited by Lachow with a troupe of seven actors providing the narration and dialogue live at each screening, accompanied by a six-piece jazz combo who perform the film's score. Silence! begins with a young boy watching a home movie of his parents from the days when they were still just dating; the boy begins to imagine that his folks were the stars of a vintage silent film, and soon Megan (Megan Murphy) and Michael (Michael Chick) find themselves living in a pre-sound Hollywood production, directed by an autocratic German filmmaker (Judith Weber), with both the parents and the "real" cast dumbfounded by the eccentricities of the production crew. Gregg Lachow generally performs with the film as the narrator, and his son Sam Lachow often tags along to provide the voice of the young boy. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Megan Murphy, Michael Chick, (more)
In this drama from experimental filmmaker Gregg Lachow, a man named Money (Jeff Weatherford) and his wife Georgia (Megan Murphy) are looking for happiness, though neither seems sure just where to find it. While Money believes they should renounce all their material possessions to celebrate the new millennium, Georgia is disinterested and instead tries to make contact with a former lover named V. When a close friend of the couple commits suicide, they are given his piano, which they have to push 50 blocks back to their house. While Money tries to lug the piano back home, Georgia takes care of their son and goes off to work, where she records voice-overs for commercials and telephone announcements. In seemingly mundane events, we are shown how far Money and Georgia have drifted apart, and how little they care for one another. Money Buys Happiness received positive notices in its screening at the 1999 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Megan Murphy, Jeff Weatherford, (more)
- 1998
Paul (Paul Reiser) takes a tumble in the shower, and in that split second his whole life flashes before his eyes. Highlights (or lowlights) include Paul's first kiss, and his mother Sylvia's (Cynthia Harris) outraged reaction; the sage advice of Paul's dad, Burt (Louis Zorich), specifically "you ain't ever going to win"; and the testimony of wife Jamie (Helen Hunt) regarding Paul's ability (or lack of same) to tell a lie. Gordon Hunt, frequent Mad About You director and the father of series star Helen Hunt, has a cameo role. ~ Rovi
- 1997
A bizarre historical spoof from independent writer-director Gregg Lachow, this film takes many liberties with the famous story of the Ohio brothers who were the first to launch a manned airplane flight. Megan Murphy plays Orville Wright as a cross-dresser, though his brother Wilbur (E.B. Molloy) is straight. In the 1890s and 1900s Kitty Hawk of Lachow's imagination, some people already are driving modern cars and wearing 1990s-style clothing. After repeated failures, the brothers succeed in their efforts to fly, but their accomplishment is virtually ignored. Years later, Orville visits a museum devoted to their history-making flight. The Wright Brothers is a very different kind of documentary reenactment. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi
- 1995
This whimsical fantasy set in Seattle, chronicles the inventive exploits of Gregg and his young "slacker" friends. It seems that Gregg has devised a working time machine and wants to return to 1865 to see if he can prevent the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Gregg, with friends Kara and Meagan, take the contraption to an isolated beach. Gregg climbs in and promptly disappears. Meanwhile his two friends are left to wander aimlessly about until he gets back. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1990
Ravens' gang leader Goose (Jim VanBebber) has decided to give up his violent lifestyle in order to seek a peaceful existence with his girlfriend Christy (Megan Murphy) after a particularly brutal confrontation with rival gang the Spiders. After Christy is brutally murdered by two members of the Spiders, Goose must once again take up his guns and seek vengeance against the Spiders while avoiding the Ravens, who have acquired a new leader with a taste for Goose's blood. Navigating the deadly and desolate streets of Dayton, OH, the lines between reality and dementia are blurred as the grief-stricken Goose attempts suicide and is saved by one of his former gangster cohorts. Convinced to aid the Ravens in teaming with the Spiders for a dangerous security truck robbery, Goose is double-crossed by the Spiders and must fight for his life in order to get the payload to Christy's desperate younger sister. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 1989
In this film, a rock star's wife is in danger and he must travel through Hell on a skateboard in order to rescue her and stop a series of killer television signals. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert McGinley, Megan Murphy, (more)
Milos Forman's adaptation of the tribal rock musical Hair stars John Savage as Claude, a quiet young man from the Midwest who becomes friendly with a group of New York hippies on his way to begin basic training in the military. The repressed Claude is quite taken with Berger (Treat Williams) and the group of freedom seekers who reside in Central Park. The group encourages Claude to go after a debutante named Sheila (Beverly D'Angelo). Legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp masterminded the dances, which attempt to flow from the natural settings of the film. The film includes most of the more famous songs from the original play, including "Donna," "Aquarius," "Easy to Be Hard," "Let the Sunshine In," "Good Morning Starshine," and the title number. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Savage, Treat Williams, (more)
