Jason Robards III Movies
The key figure in this two-part TV mob miniseries is Mafia snitch Sammy "The Bull" Gravano (Nicholas Turturro). Gravano ratted on John Gotti (Tom Sizemore), who manipulated the 1985 murder of mob boss Paul Castellano (Abe Vigoda). Gravano is seen rising in the mob ranks through various blood-brother ceremonies, coercions, threats, family meetings, and confrontations over loyalties. In part two, informant Gravano blows the whistle on Gotti. Turturro, as Gravano, also narrates the drama, which manages to alter accuracy and bend history behind this disclaimer: "Certain events in this film that are based on fact are interpretive, certain characters are composites or have been fictionalized, and some names and locations have been changed." Premiered May 10, 1998 on NBC. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nicholas Turturro, Tom Sizemore, (more)
- 1994
A talk show host confronts his friend's murderer on live TV in this Italian psychodrama. Outspoken journalist Arnold Gardner was deeply upset by the death of a good friend in a Chicago hotel room. He believes his friend's death was involved in a recent deal with a TV network to become a talk show host. Despite the network's initial reservations, Gardner, known for his no-holds-barred reporting style, becomes his friend's successor. He becomes quite popular, but his rise is fraught with personal difficulties. He is divorced from an upper crust woman, but soon begins getting mail and phone calls from a nut in his Indiana hometown. Gardner, under tremendous pressure, offers the murderer a chance to call into his live call-in show. During the conversation it is revealed that twenty years ago both Gardner and the killer raped the same girl. The confrontation eventually ends in a shoot-out. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Robards III, Amy Galper, (more)
John Carpenter wrote and directed this science fiction thriller about a group of aliens who try to take over the world by disguising themselves as Young Republicans. Wrestler Roddy Piper stars as John Nada, a drifted who makes his way into an immense encampment for the homeless. There he stumbles upon a conspiracy concerning aliens who have hypnotized the populace through subliminal messages transmitted through television, magazines, posters, and movies. When Nada looks through special Ray-Bans developed by the resistance leaders, the aliens lose their clean-cut "Dan Quayle" looks and resemble crusty-looking reptiles. Nada joins the underground, teaming up with rebel-leader Frank (Keith David) to eradicate the lizard-like aliens from the body politic. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roddy Piper, Keith David, (more)
In this suspenseful made-for-television thriller a homicidal maniac kidnaps a young girl and a female television reporter and holds them hostage in the bowels of Grand Central Station. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kate Mulgrew, Rip Torn, (more)
