Jeff Sanders Movies
D.J. Caruso's Two for the Money stars Matthew McConaughey as Brandon Lang, a former college quarterback whose life plans changed when he suffered a career-ending injury. Brandon turns out to have remarkable skill at picking winning football bets. Eventually, he comes to the attention of Walter Abrams (Al Pacino), a very successful business tycoon who runs a giant gambling operation. Walter brings Brandon to New York and introduces him to a glitzy, fast-paced, money-drenched lifestyle that Brandon eagerly soaks up. When Brandon's magic touch begins to falter, Walter starts to turn on his protégé. Soon the two men are attempting to outwit each other, with Walter's wife (Rene Russo) caught in the middle. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, (more)
Robert DeNiro continues to lampoon his tough-guy persona with this spoof of buddy cop movies that teams him with comic co-star Eddie Murphy. DeNiro is L.A.P.D. detective Mitch Preston, a gruff, no-nonsense 28-year veteran whose bust of a drug gang is botched one night by Trey Sellars (Murphy), a bumbling patrolman who's really a frustrated actor at heart. When Mitch's aggravation is captured by a television news crew, he fires his gun in their direction and becomes an instant media celebrity, while earning himself a temporary suspension at work. After his fame draws the attention of network TV producer Chase Renzi (Rene Russo), Mitch is soon informed that the only way he can get back to work is to allow a production crew to trail him on the job for a new cop reality series called "Showtime". In order to make the taciturn lawman more palatable to the viewing public, he's paired with the camera-friendly, fast-talking Trey. The new partners drive each other crazy, but their mismatched sensibilities make for great TV, while their newfound fame has its advantages in getting them back on the trail of those escaped drug dealers, who possess a powerful new weapon. Showtime co-stars Frankie Faison and William Shatner, who sends up his own TV cop role in T.J. Hooker. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert De Niro, Eddie Murphy, (more)
- 1999
Director Robert Mugge created this documentary about Robert Johnson, one of the most enigmatic pioneers in American music. Created as part of a week-long tribute to the legendary bluesman at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the film sorts through the numerous myths about Johnson -- most notably that he sold his soul to the devil to become a blues maestro -- and the few extant facts about his life. How he died or where his body is located is simply not known. What does remain from this shadowy figure is a collection of songs that have influenced several generations of artists. Eric Clapton and Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir are just two of the sundry rock and blues musicians that appear in this documentary extolling Johnson's wizardry, which was screened at the 1999 Mills Valley Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Weir, Rob Wasserman, (more)
The first of several sight gag and slapstick-rich comedies he produced without the team of Jerry Zucker, David Zucker, and Jim Abrahams, this lowbrow comedy from executive producer and star Leslie Nielsen suffers by comparison to his work with the "ZAZ" team. Nielsen plays Dick Steele, secret agent WD-40, called out of retirement to stop the world-conquering plans of his old nemesis, General Rancor (Andy Griffith), an armless madman determined to avenge himself upon Steele (who is responsible for Rancor's lack of appendages). With the help of Russian agent Veronique Ukrinsky (Nicolette Sheridan), Steele prepares to battle Rancor at his tropical island lair, where the daughter of Steele's long-ago love is being held captive. Along the way, such films as True Lies (1994), Speed (1994), Jurassic Park (1993), Pulp Fiction (1994), and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) are spoofed. Director Richard Friedberg had previously directed Nielsen in a series of automobile rental commercials and goofy "how-to" golf videos. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leslie Nielsen, Nicollette Sheridan, (more)
- 1991
- R
Featuring plenty of high, hard kicks, and flailing furious fists, this martial arts actioner tells an exciting tale of vengeance as a tough American street fighter stalks the streets of L.A.'s Chinatown in search of the organized criminals responsible for his guardian's death. Movie newcomer Jeff Speakman makes an appealing action hero, with fluid direction from genre veteran Mark DiSalle. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Speakman, John Dye, (more)
- 1985
Hannibal (George Peppard) is reunited with his old flame Dana (played by Toni Hudson, real-life wife of A-Team costar Toni Hudson), who is the mother of race-car driver Kid Harmon (Ken Clandt). Naturally, Harmon is in dire need of assistant from Hannibal and the rest of the A-Team; one of his racetrack rivals, Kyle Ludwig (Wings Hauser), is the nephew of a vicious gangster, and as such will resort to any means necessary to win an upcoming race. In his efforts to thwart Ludwig, Hannibal becomes a hero to Dana's son--which arouses the jealousy of Dana's current husband Jack (Stuart Whitman), whose anger nearly scuttles the Team's mission. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
