James Parks Movies
A romantic rivalry strains the bonds of an already fragile family relationship in this independent drama. Jake Sands (Michael Parks) runs a ranch on the plains of Montana with his wife Rachel (Olivia Hussey). Jake and Rachel have two grown sons; Joe (Aaron Duffey) is a dutiful young cowboy who helps his father look after the cattle, while Dusty (Alexander Martin) is a nomadic rodeo rider with an eye for the ladies and a knack for getting in trouble. Jake makes no secret of the fact he doesn't approve of Dusty's wild ways and he dotes on his younger and more devoted son. Familial tension simmers beneath the surface when Dusty comes home for a visit, but the rivalry between the two brothers explodes when Joe learns that he and Dusty have both been dating Abby (Julia Jones), a local beauty they've known since childhood. When Joe and Dusty's anger explodes into deadly violence, Jake is forced to make some painful choices that could poison his future. Three Priests was an official selection at the 2008 Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Parks, Olivia Hussey, (more)
In Death Proof -- director Tarantino's take on such peddle-to-the-metal shockers as White Line Fever -- Kurt Russell stars as an engine-revving psychopath who prefers to take out his beautiful victims at 200 mph. Originally released into theaters on a double bill with Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror under the Grindhouse banner, Death Proof finds a group of ladies out on the town pitted against a mysterious figured named Stuntman Mike (Russell), whose vintage automobile has been partially modified to withstand even the most extreme auto collision. Though the maniacal driver himself always comes out relatively unscathed, the same certainly can't be said for the poor young lass in his passenger seat -- or anyone unfortunate enough to be on the road when the urge to kill strikes for that matter. With a list of potential road-kill candidates that includes Rose McGowan, Jordan Ladd, Rosario Dawson, and Vanessa Ferlito, Death Proof takes viewers on an adrenaline-infused drive that's as sexy as it is shocking. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, (more)
A spy discovers a new tool of his trade has put an innocent woman in danger in this political thriller. In the late 1990's, the National Security Agency teams up with a computer software firm, Wendell Crenshaw, to implement a new surveillance technology called Echelon, which will allow intelligence operatives to tap into telephone systems (both cellular and land line) to watch and listen to nearly anyone they choose. Francesca (Maya Sansa), who works at an art gallery in Italy, one day finds a briefcase containing classified documents regarding the Echelon system, and it isn't long before both the NSA and Wendell Crenshaw realize she now has some very damning information in her possession. Ashe (James Parks), a top executive at Wendell Crenshaw, takes it upon himself to find Francesca and use violence to find out what she knows about the contents of the briefcase; James (Michael Parks), an NSA operative, has been following Ashe's actions and is forced to blow his cover and intervene before an innocent woman is killed. Inspired by actual incidents, The Listening was shot in Rome by Italian filmmakers with an English-speaking cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Parks, Maya Sansa, (more)
A crack commando squad investigates a college campus inflected with a zombie virus in House of the Dead 2, a film that boldly continues where Uwe Boll's inept first film left off. When a demented professor (Sid Haig) starts to conduct experiments on fresh corpses, all hell breaks loose at Cuesta Verde University as hordes of undead college kids roam the secluded school. Now it's up to government agents Alex (Emmanuelle Vaugier) and Ellis (Ed Quinn) to find the zombie blood strain that initially started the epidemic so that a cure can be discovered. In their way are a student body of flesh-eating zombies and an inexperienced army unit headed by Dalton (Sticky Fingaz) that is assigned to aide them. Broadcast as a Sci-fi Channel exclusive in early 2006, the film was released to DVD in all its gory goodness shortly thereafter. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Emmanuelle Vaugier, Ed Quinn, (more)
A man tries to rebuild his life and reconnect with his family after a stretch in prison in this independent drama. Eben Cole (Thomas Hildreth) is a lobster fisherman who lives and works on a small island off the coast of Maine. Eben takes pride in his work and works hard to provide for his wife, Cheryl (Amy Jo Johnson), and daughter, Sara (Mackenzie Young). However, Eben also has a temper, and when a pair of commercial fishermen from the mainland try to take over one of his fishing spots, the argument escalates into violence. Eben's attack on the fishermen earns him five years behind bars, and his father (Larry Pine) tells him he'll no longer have anything to do with him. After serving his time, Eben is released from jail only to find that many of his worst fears have been confirmed: Cheryl refuses to see him anymore, she's moved in with Jimmy (Mark Kiely), another local lobster trapper, and she won't allow Eben to visit with Sara (now played by Emma Ford). Regarded as a black sheep by the local fisherman, Eben takes a job at a scrap yard to keep body and soul together, but it's not until Popper (Philip Baker Hall), a veteran fisherman, befriends him that he begins to regain his self-respect and show the world he's changed. Islander was screened at the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Thomas Hildreth, Amy Jo Johnson, (more)
When seed and sod entrepreneur Daltry Calhoun's (Johnny Knoxville) abandoned ex-girlfriend shows up on his doorstep with the daughter he never knew he had, the reformed ladies' man finds out that you can never truly escape your past -- even when it seems you may have no future. Calhoun is a local celebrity and self-made entrepreneur who made a name for himself by selling locally produced turf that blankets many of the nation's most exclusive golf courses, and his quirky television spots have won the hearts of television viewers across Ducktown, TN. When Daltry's ex-girlfriend May (Elizabeth Banks) arrives unannounced with talented teenage daughter June (Sophie Traub) in tow, she confides that her terminal illness has forced her to seek him out in hopes that he can care for their daughter after she is gone. Despite the early success of Daltry's business and the popularity of his kitschy commercials, things have been looking rather grim lately and Daltry has begun liquidating his assets in hopes of keeping his head above water. Though smitten shopkeeper Flora (Juliette Lewis) has offered financial help to Daltry, the kindly offers have fallen on deaf ears. Now, with the odds weighing heavily against him, Daltry vows to make up for lost time by doing right in the eyes of his family and community and caring for his daughter while getting his business back on track. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Johnny Knoxville, Juliette Lewis, (more)
Twenty-something L.A. hipsters make some earnest and not-so-earnest attempts at growing up in this ensemble comedy-drama from writer/director Gil Cates Jr., which premiered at the 2000 South-by-Southwest Film Festival in Austin, TX. The film's central dysfunctional relationship concerns Max (Jason London), a writer who agrees to give up his gambling habit for his significant other Brigette (Charlie Spradling) -- but only if she promises to give up her drinking habit. Meanwhile, Max's buddy Doug attempts to hound none other than Jack Nicholson (who does not appear in the film) in hopes that the perma-smirk star will produce his script. To this end, he employs the comely Brigette to woo the superstar at a Lakers game. On the home front, Max's roomie Grant (James Parks) is struggling with the issue of his closeted sexuality -- and more specifically, with the massive crush he harbors for his strapping rent-sharer. Spent is the first feature from Cates, whose father is veteran TV producer/director Gilbert Cates; his cousin is actress Phoebe Cates. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason London, Charlie Spradling, (more)
Produced for U.S. cable outlet TNT, You Know My Name is based on the colorful true story of Bill Tilghman, who went from Wild West lawman to Hollywood filmmaker to lawman again. Tilghman, played by Sam Elliott, was once an associate of Wyatt Earp and had run-ins with such famous outlaws as Cattle Annie and Little Britches. After retiring from law enforcement, Tilghman moved to California and began producing a series of silent Westerns that stressed historical authenticity over the grand-standing heroics of Tom Mix and William S. Hart. However, his films lacked name stars and failed to click at the box office. After his career in film went bust, Tilghman, nearly 70, answered a call from a friend to help him reform Cromwell, Oklahoma. Once called "the most sinful town in America," Cromwell was a place where vice was freely traded in many forms and the only peace officer was a violent, cocaine-addicted tyrant named Wiley (Arliss Howard). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Elliott, Arliss Howard, (more)
- 1998
- R
- Add From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money to QueueAdd From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money to top of Queue
This sequel attempts to ape the inventive blend of horror, comedy, and crime melodrama of its predecessor, with some creative direction by actor Sam Spiegel, a protégé of Sam Raimi. Buck (Robert Patrick) is a former bank robber who's being watched closely by Sheriff Lawson (Bo Hopkins). Lawson's suspicions are well-founded, because Buck is indeed planning a multimillion-dollar bank heist in Mexico, to be aided by prison escapee Luther (Duane Whitaker), rodeo star C.W. (Muse Watson), dog trainer Jesus (Raymond Cruz) and security guard Ray Bob (Brett Harrelson). While on his way to meet up with the gang, Luther encounters bat-related car trouble near the Titty Twister, a dive bar featured in the first film. Offered a lift by Razor Eddie (Danny Trejo), Luther ends up with a pair of fangs in his neck. When he finally meets up with his cronies, Luther turns Jesus into a fellow vampire, unbeknownst to the rest of the gang, who proceed with their caper plans accompanied by two cohorts now more interested in blood than cash. The film was followed by a prequel, From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman's Daughter (2000). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Cowboy vampires and parenthood health class models take center stage in this second season episode. The Gorch brothers -- the rootinest, tootinest pair of insane bloodsucking vampire cowpokes ever to come a'ridin' out of the Old West -- have just ridden into Sunnydale. While researching them with Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) misses her health class, where everybody pairs off and is given egg to care for as a real child. Subsequently, Buffy gets to play single mother to little "Eggbert." Unfortunately, these aren't free-range chicken eggs, but bezoar eggs -- a prehistoric parasite living under Sunnydale High. As the eggs hatch the little bezoars attach themselves to their "parents," creating human drones to help release their trapped mother. Buffy catches her egg hatching and kills the bezoar. Along with help from Xander (Nicholas Brendon) -- who hard-boiled his egg -- Buffy attempts to stop the bezoar from escaping. Of course, the Gorch brothers attack at the same time. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1996
Appalled by the civil unrest on Earth, Sheridan declares Babylon 5 as an independent state. As President Clark summons his forces to seize control of B5, Delenn asks Minbari for help. A Ranger arrives with news that throws Delenn for a loss. And that is all that can be said without giving away the many plot surprises in "Severed Dreams." Written J. Michael Straczynski, this episode won the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. In America, it was first made available for syndication during the week of April 1 , 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Boxleitner, Claudia Christian, (more)
David Lynch's prequel to his cult television series "Twin Peaks" concerns the last seven days in the life of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), whose plastic-wrapped corpse, found floating in a river, was the fulcrum for the television series. During the day in the town of Twin Peaks, Laura is a top honors student at the local high school. By night, she is a sex-crazed cokehead, prostituting herself at a sleazy sex club to get money to feed her drug habit. Her race to oblivion is fueled by her father, Leland (Ray Wise), who, as his alter ego Bob (Frank Silva), has been sexually abusing Laura since she was a child. But Laura has an attack of conscience when she realizes that she is leading her best friend Donna (Moira Kelly) down the same rocky road. Leland, however, discovers Laura's nocturnal debauchery when, during a business trip out-of-town, his mistress for a sexual tryst sets him up with his own daughter. In a fit of jealous rage, Leland follows Laura as she travels to a sex party in an abandoned railroad car. Consumed by insatiable longing, Leland transforms himself into Bob, with tragic results for Laura and her friends. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sheryl Lee, Chris Isaak, (more)
This well-wrought made-for-cable television western is faithfully adapted from a Louis L'Amour novel and centers on the budding relationship between brave but lonely widow (Katharine Ross) who runs a remote stagecoach way station and the handsome cowpoke (Sam Elliot) who comes to help her out. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Elliott, Katharine Ross, (more)
- 1991
Corbin Bernsen, fresh out of LA Law, plays a real-life attorney in Line of Fire: The Morris Dees Story. As Dees, Bernsen goes head to head with the Ku Klux Klan in the Alabama of the 1980s. Despite having his name included on the "hit list" of every wacko white supremacist in the Nation, Dees manages to break the back of the KKK is his own particular corner of the world. Line of Fire is elaborately produced and hits all the right emotional buttons, but falls short of perfection thanks to stereotypical villains and excessive melodrama. The film was first telecast on Martin Luther King Day in 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Garr Hagar's Gerald McRaney son is killed by white supremacists. Expecting justice from the usual legal channels, Hagar is outraged when the jury acquits his son's murderers. Though the audience is primed to expect violence, this doesn't happen: Hagar opts for an insidious, psychological cat-and-mouse game to exact vengeance on the criminals. And he's always in the shadows -- always watching. Sustaining its subtlety and restraint throughout, Blind Vengeance is infinitely preferable to the usual USA Cable Network mayhem-fests. The film was first telecast on August 22, 1990. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
