Victoria Snow Movies

World famous hockey dad Walter Gretzky struggles to remember his superstar son's remarkable rise to fame and realize the true impact he had on the legendary athlete's spectacular career in the ice in this biographical drama based on the best-selling book Walter Gretzky: On Family, Hockey, and Healing. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The time: June 1998. The place: The sleepy town of Jasper, TX. Three young, self-styled white supremists overpower a 49-year-old black man named James Byrd Jr., chain him to the back of their pickup, and literally drag him to death. What follows is a media firestorm, exacerbated by scores of network and cable-TV news services, the grim pronouncements of so-called pundits, and the intrusion upon Jasper of several extremist activists, ranging from members of the Ku Klux Klan to the newly formed Black Panthers. As the frenzy continues, the heretofore peaceful, if somewhat tenuous, relationship between the white and black residents of Jasper is severely strained, with echoes of past racism resounding throughout the area. In the center of the controversy are two decent, hard-working public servants: R.C. Horn, the first black mayor of Jasper, and Billy Rowles, the town's white sheriff. Also profoundly affected by the appalling murder of Byrd are the respective parents of the victim and the killers. Happily, when the dust clears, justice is done (two of the murderers are condemned to death, the third sentenced to life imprisonment), and, instead of being wrenched apart, the black and white communities of Jasper draw closer together than they have ever been. Made for cable TV, this feature-length reenactment stars Louis Gossett Jr. as Horn and Jon Voight as Rowles. Although certain liberties are taken (the actor playing Byrd is clearly much younger than his real-life counterpart and the Black Panthers and KKK are incorrectly shown descending upon Jasper the same day), the film is, by and large, accurate. Better still, there is a minimum of preaching and proselytizing. Previewed at the Philadelphia Film Festival, Jasper, Texas was given its official Showtime network cable premiere on June 8, 2003 -- almost five years to the day after Byrd's death. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on the "Oprah Book Club" selection by Anna Quindlen, Black and Blue stars Mary Stuart Masterson as New York City housewife Fran Benedetto. Outwardly living an ideal existence, Fran harbors a painful secret: She is regularly abused, both verbally and physically, by her husband Bobby (Anthony LaPaglia). But why does not Fran go to the police? The answer is tragically simple: Bobby is a cop himself. Ultimately, Fran goes into hiding in Florida -- whereupon Bobby grimly applies the skills gleaned from years of detective work to track his hapless spouse down. Benefiting from believable characterizations and logical plot twists, the made-for-TV Black and Blue originally aired November 14, 1999 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lacey Chabert was still the darling of the television series Party of Five when she accepted the leading role in this suspenseful TV movie. When the biological mother of adoptee Jenny Newhall (Chabert is murdered, Jenny's adoptive father Greg (Gregory Harrison) immediately falls under suspicion. This tragic set of events rocks the small, tranquil town in which the Newhalls live to its foundations, ultimately laying bare a number of unpleasant and long-hidden secrets. Making matters worse, Greg Newhall all but confirms his "guilt" when he escapes custody--but who is the actual culprit? (You'd be surprised--or at least, that's what the film producers hoped!) Based on a novel by Patricia McDonald, When Secrets Kill first aired over CBS on April 6, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sight unseen, anthropologist David Moore (Jimmy Smits) adopts a Native American child named Adam. As Adam grows older (he is played as a boy by Michael Spears, and as a teenager by Fredrick Leader-Charge), Moore becomes painfully aware that the boy is developmentally delayed and emotionally disturbed. Doing some investigating on his own, Moore discovers that Adam is a victim of fetal alcohol syndrome. Despite the nagging temptation to divest himself of Adam, Moore loves the boy, and is determined to help him come to terms with his inherited handicaps. Directed by thirtysomething star Ken Olin, the made-for-TV Broken Cord debuted February 3, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Based on fact, this TV drama details the life of New York property magnate, Leona Helmsley, her personal ups and downs and her well publicised run in with the IRS. ~ Mark Hockley, All Movie Guide

Versatile Canadian actor and voiceover artist Stephen Ouimette is afforded top billing in Destiny to Order. Ouimette plays a successful author, currently suffering from writer's block. As he hacks away at his computer, the machine is struck by lightning. Suddenly, all of Ouimette's fictional characters come to life. We wish it were truly that easy! The inescapable Michael Ironside costars as one of the author's less appealing creations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This Canadian made-for-TV film stars Wendy Crewson as a Toronto woman who inherits the family ranch in Alberta. Ignoring the pleas of her mother (Malan Gilsenan) to sell the rundown place, Wendy opts for the life of a rancher. She soon finds herself over her head financially, and turns to an old friend, Alex (Paul Gross), to help her manage her land holdings. Alex proposes to Wendy for business reasons, thus launching a rocky relationship that ends inevitably in genuine love. Originally telecast over the CBC Network in 1990, Getting Married in Buffalo Jump was released directly to video in the States, where its title was pared down to Buffalo Jump. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After 20 years of marriage, Steve Giardino (Alan Alda) and his wife Jackie (Ann-Margret) agree to a divorce in this situation comedy. The focus is on both of them as they suffer through matchmaking, blind dates, and their new life as eligible singles. Donna (Mary Kay Place) is Jackie's friend, while Mel Arons (Hal Linden) is the confidante of the vain but likeable Steve. Steven worries that he will never find anyone decent to date until he meets the pretty Dr. Kay Hutton (Veronica Hamel). Jackie is enamored with a sculptor (John Shea) before his glaring faults become too much for her. While Jackie's new relationship is on the outs, Steve prepares for a new life with Kay. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide