Ron Parady Movies
- 2002
At first glance, it is assumed that a murdered woman was a professional escort. But a clue found in the corpse's pocket leads the detectives to a "swingers party," where the victim had been in a fight with another woman. It is then revealed that the dead woman was a doctor who had been writing fraudulent prescriptions for the illegal painkiller Oxycodone. The outcome of the case is determined by an apparent betrayal within the ranks of a mob family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
In this conclusion of a two-part story, the detectives and the lawyers vow to avenge the slaying of a woman whose son witnessed a Russian Mafia hit. Relentlessly digging up every possible lead, the forces of law and order endeavor to expose a widespread money-laundering scheme -- and to prevent any more killing of witnesses or destruction of evidence. As ADAs McCoy (Sam Waterston) and Carmichael (Angie Harmon) risk violating the civil liberties of witnesses by keeping them in protective custody, detective Curtis (Benjamin Bratt) is hit with a tragedy in his own household. Both parts one and two of "Refuge" were broadcast May 25, 1999, as the finale of Law & Order's ninth season -- and, incidentally, as the swan song of series regular Benjamin Bratt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
The murder of a rare coin dealer puts the spotlight of suspicion on the dealer's millionaire friend Richard Peterson (Michael Wilson). The wheels of justice move slowly as the D.A.'s office tries to establish provenance for the dead man's missing coin collection. A pivotal player in the proceedings is Judith Sandler (Karen Allen), daughter of two Holocaust survivors. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
A gay councilman is murdered, leading detectives Logan (Chris Noth) and Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) to question such "probables" as the dead man's roommate, Joe Gibb (Michael Lichtenstein), and a married man (Robert Joy) with whom the decedent might have had a brief affair. When the investigation narrows down to Councilman Kevin Crossley (Daniel Hugh Kelly) who, despite his outspoken homophobia, insists that he was a good friend of the victim, an outraged Logan completely loses his cool. Suffice to say that this final fifth-season Law & Order episode also represented the last regular appearance of co-star Chris Noth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
There is no shortage of suspects when a famous Wall Street corporate raider is murdered. Virtually everyone in New York had ample reason to hate the "King of the Takeovers" -- but did that hatred extend to the ailing union leader (Eli Wallach) whose gun was stolen to possibly commit the crime? Worse still, one of the prime suspects is former governor Dwight Corcoran (William Prince), a lifelong friend of District Attorney Adam Schiff (Steven Hill). This episode of Law & Order brought the series' second season to a powerful conclusion. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
First-timer Daniel Irom wrote and directed Bum Rap, which represents something of a variation on Fielder Cook's superior Seize the Day (1986). The picture concentrates on taxi driver and striving actor Paul Colson (Craig Wasson of Four Friends and Go Tell the Spartans), whose life goes through the floor. He's informed by the girl he's been pining for (Frances Fisher) that she wants to remain platonic friends (only) and by a physician that he has an exceptionally rare illness which will give him about seventy-two more hours to live. He subsequently lives out that age-old epicurean adage by patching things up with his folks, reconnecting with poker buddies, and spending a great deal of time with a well-meaning hooker.
(Blanche Baker). The late Al Lewis (AKA Grandpa Munster) has a bit part as a lunatic neighbor. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Craig Wasson, Blanche Baker, (more)
- 1984
In this fast-paced, often complex murder mystery, a psychiatrist's patient and later his secretary are killed, yet the police seem unable to come up with any answers so the doc takes matters into his own hands. Roger Moore is Dr. Judd Stevens, a rather meek Chicago psychiatrist whose patient is killed while wearing a jacket borrowed from Stevens. After Stevens' secretary is brutally slain, Lieutenant McGreavy (Rod Steiger) is certain that Stevens is guilty and is ready to prove it, but when his vendetta gets too obvious, he is taken off the case. That leaves his partner Angeli (Elliott Gould), a much more sympathetic cop, to continue on with the investigation. Even then, the killings continue, so Stevens gives up on the police and goes for help to a wacky P.I. (Art Carney) who lives surrounded by clocks and at first seems like a hopeless nitwit. As Stevens continues in his pursuit of the killers, life is complicated by a Mafia bride who seeks his professional help and clues that lead increasingly to the Mafia and cops on the take. The acting may be a bit uneven, and Moore might have fared better if allowed a little Bond action, but the movie is engaging enough to maintain interest throughout. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roger Moore, Rod Steiger, (more)
To overcome his shyness, hardware store clerk Christopher Walken gets involved with his local community theatre group. Proving himself a powerful stage presence, Walken is cast as Stanley Kowalski in the group's upcoming production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Still, he remains as bashful as ever offstage-at least until he meets his "Stella", phone-company employe Susan Sarandon. Touchingly adapted from a story by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., the 60-minute Who Am I This Time? was originally an installment of PBS' American Playhouse anthology. It made its debut on February 2, 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Coach of the Year is the pilot film for a potential Robert Conrad TV series. Conrad plays Jim Brandon, formerly a star athlete, now a wheelchair-bound Vietnam vet. The embittered, self-involved Brandon is hired to coach a team of teenagers at a correctional facility. Once he's "reached" these so-called incorrigibles, Brandon begins to see his own life in a different light. The film was co-produced by John Ashley of Filipino horror-flick fame. Originally titled The Coach, then 4 Down Behind Bars, Coach of the Year debuted December 20, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
