Joe Palese Movies

It looks like a clear-cut case of suicide when a young woman plunges off a bridge. However, disturbing questions are raised during the ensuing investigation thanks to the evasive behavior of the witnesses. The subsequent prosecution boils down to a case of arson, a probable instance of blackmail, and a grown-up version of the traditional "big bully." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

It was impossible back in September of 1991 to objectively critique the TV movie Us. The film had been intended as the pilot for a new series, to be produced, directed and written by its star Michael Landon. Landon had died of a lingering illness only six months earlier, thus the film was heralded by the publicity people as "His final gift to us all." One publication, which had devoted no fewer than three cover stories in a row to Landon in his final weeks, labelled as "compassionate" this story of a man released from prison after 18 years for a crime he didn't commit, who now needed to touch base with his long-estranged family. Removed from the understandable emotionalism surrounding its premiere, it must be noted that Us was fair to middling at best. Its premise of having Landon and his family stage a reunion while on a cross-country trip was a viable one, but in execution Us was far below Michael Landon's usual standard. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this film, the violence and despair that runs rampant in their New York City neighborhood forces an Italian family to find a way to survive in their unpleasant surroundings. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

To paraphrase 1930s wit Wilson Mizner, Fear City is like a trip through a sewer in a glass-bottom boat. In exploitation-flick fashion, the film exposes the seedy "nether world" of contemporary Manhattan. Unsavory Matt (Tom Berenger) and Nick (Jack Scalia) run a topless bar/booking agency, in direct competition with equally scuzzy Goldstein (Jan Murray). It's hard to imagine anyone lower than these low-lives until we're apprised of a serial killer who dutifully keeps a record of his murders in a diary. The killer's victims are all exotic dancers and hookers, prompting Matt to suspect that Goldstein is behind the crimes, and vice versa. Once they've decided that it's better to unite against a common enemy than to throw volleys at each other, Matt and Goldstein arrange between themselves to insure the safety of the women in their employ. Meanwhile, Matt's ex-girlfriend Loretta (Melanie Griffith), saddened by the murder of her lesbian lover Leila (Rae Dawn Chong), resumes her drug habit, while a dispirited Matt begins harking back to his own sordid past. The one redeeming aspect of Fear City is the ultimate triumph over the odds by Loretta, who by process of elimination emerges as the most likeable character in the bunch. For a film of this nature, Fear City boasts an unexpectedly strong cast, including the aforementioned actors and Billy Dee Williams, Rosanno Brazzi, Joe Santos and Michael V. Gazzo. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi