Sandra Reaves-Phillips Movies
- 2001
The detectives' investigation of a stabbing murder reveals that the victim, a derelict, served in Vietnam. Following the trail of clues, the authorities learn that the dead man was one of three soldiers who were involved in the same wartime incident. One of these three, a high-ranking municipal official, is clearly harboring an unpleasant secret. Originally scheduled to air on September 26, 2001, this episode was delayed until October 3. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
A riot erupts in the Little Jamaica section of Baltimore when a white bus driver strikes a black pedestrian. In the ensuing fracas, both the driver and a Jamaican man are killed -- and without credible witnesses, it looks as if the killings were racially motivated. Mike Giardello (Giancarlo Esposito) doesn't buy this and opens what promises to be a very long and controversial investigation. By episode's end, a seriously injured Detective Rene Sheppard (Michael Michele) is ordered to turn in her gun. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Belzer, Giancarlo Esposito, (more)
- 1999
Jerri's (Amy Sedaris) role in the Flatpoint High Shool production of A Raisin in the Sun leads her stepmother into an alcoholic haze in this installment of the irreverent and outrageous Comedy Central series. Passing over Flatpoint's African-American students to give the lead roles to the three sole white students in his class, Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) casts the remaining students as trees. Elated that she has been chosen as the lead, Jerri rushes home to share her excitement with her stepmother, Sara (Deborah Rush), who had once taken the stage as Peter Pan. With Sara soon diving headlong into a haze of jealousy, regret, and hard liquor, Jerri worries that her upcoming Parent-Teacher day is heading for disaster. Her fears are soon confirmed when her slurring stepmother drunkenly comes on to Mr. Noblet (Stephen Colbert) and insults Jerri in front of the her peers, their parents, and the teachers. Though Jerri is soon buried in denial and preparation for the play, Mr. Jellineck threatens to replace her following a disastrous rehearsal the following day. When Jerri arrives home that night to find Sara passed out in a Peter Pan costume, she decides to attend an Ala Colholics meeting in a desperate bid to remain in the play. With Mr. Jellineck feeding Jerri her lines the night of the play, everything seems to go as planned until a drunken Sara storms the stage resulting in a total fiasco. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, (more)
Ann-Margret stars as a recently widowed woman who pursues her dream of becoming a country singer by heading to Nashville on a bus tour. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann-Margret, George Segal, (more)
Michael J. Fox stars as Doug Ireland in this romantic comedy about a brash concierge at a swanky New York hotel who always makes it a point to go out of his way for the hotel guests. But Doug doesn't want to be a concierge forever. What he would really like to do is build a swanky hotel of his own, and all he needs is $3 million to do it. When haughty and patronizing tycoon Christian Hanover (Anthony Higgins) comes to the hotel for a rendezvous with his mistress Andy Hart (Gabrielle Anwar), Doug sees the opportunity to convince Christian to invest the $3 million in his dream of a hotel. So, Doug willingly agrees to baby-sit Andy when Christian has to leave her to see his wife. But the more time he spends with Andy, the more affectionate he feels toward her, until finally he has fallen in love with her. Now Doug must make a choice concerning what he really wants -- his dream of a hotel or the love of Andy. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael J. Fox, Gabrielle Anwar, (more)
- 1990
In a fictionalized replay of the notorious Tawana Brawley incident, African-American teenager Astrea Crawford (Kisha Miller) claims that she was gang-raped by white policemen. As Greevey (George Dzundza) and Logan (Chris Noth) pursue their investigation, assistant D.A.'s Stone (Michael Moriarty) and Robinette (Richard Brooks) attempt to build a case against the accused -- if indeed there is a case. The inevitable racial tensions are exacerbated by the interference, and inflammatory rhetoric, of flamboyant black congressman Ronald Eaton (J.A. Preston). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
After earning rave notices for powerful supporting turns as a pimp in Street Smart (1987) and an alcohol abuse counselor in Clean and Sober (1988), actor Morgan Freeman began his ascent to stardom with this, his first lead role in a major motion picture. Freeman is real-life high school principal Joe Clark, a tough, harsh educator and administrator who in 1987 is given a nearly impossible task by his old friend, school superintendent Dr. Frank Napier (Robert Guillaume). Clark is asked to reform inner city Eastside High School in Paterson, NJ, a hotbed of delinquent kids and drug dealers. Considered the worst school in New Jersey, the state is threatening to take control of Eastside away from the local school board. If Clark can straighten out Eastside in time to get the school's basic-skills test scores up, he can have the job permanently. Although Clark's tyrannical approach and hard-line policies alienate many members of the staff and the community, his uncompromising campaign gets results and even makes him famous, much to the chagrin of his powerful enemies. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Morgan Freeman, Robert Guillaume, (more)
A French music lover befriends a once-great American jazz artist and attempts to save him from self-destruction in this moody drama. Saxophonist Dexter Gordon portrays Dale Turner, a fictional musician inspired by a number of famed jazz figures, including Bud Powell and Lester Young. Largely forgotten in his home country, Turner has moved to Paris in search of a more appreciative audience. He finds it in the form of Francis Borler (Francois Cluzet), a bebop aficionado who befriends the expatriate player. Borler soon becomes familiar with Turner's darker side, including his struggles with alcoholism, drug addiction, and depression. Fearing for the musician's life, the fan becomes his caretaker, an arrangement that leads to a brief improvement in Turner's health and fortunes but places great emotional strain upon them both. Director Bertrand Tavernier pays great attention to the visual and aural details of the jazz world, with outstanding musical supervision provided by Herbie Hancock. 'Round Midnight's greatest asset, however, is Gordon's Academy Award-nominated performance, informed by his own life experiences. His naturally fascinating presence combines with the film's obvious love of the music and its milieu to provide what many have hailed as one of the more authentic and affectionate presentations of the jazz world on the silver screen. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dexter Gordon, François Cluzet, (more)
