Lynne Stewart Movies
It's the last night of summer 1962, and the teenagers of Modesto, California, want to have some fun before adult responsibilities close in. Among them are Steve (Ron Howard) and Curt (Richard Dreyfuss), college-bound with mixed feelings about leaving home; nerdy Terry "The Toad" (Charles Martin Smith), who scores a dream date with blonde Debbie (Candy Clark); and John (Paul Le Mat ), a 22-year-old drag racer who wonders how much longer he can stay champion and how he got stuck with 13-year-old Carol (Mackenzie Phillips) in his deuce coupe. As D. J. Wolfman Jack spins 41 vintage tunes on the radio throughout the night, Steve ponders a future with girlfriend Laurie (Cindy Williams), Curt chases a mystery blonde, Terry tries to act cool, and Paul prepares for a race against Bob Falfa (Harrison Ford), but nothing can stop the next day from coming, and with it the vastly different future ushered in by the 1960s. Fresh off The Godfather (1972), producer Francis Ford Coppola had the clout to get his friend George Lucas's project made, but only for $750,000 on a 28-day shooting schedule. Despite technical obstacles, and having to shoot at night, cinematographer Haskell Wexler gave the film the neon-lit aura that Lucas wanted, evoking the authentic look of a suburban strip to go with the authentic sound of rock-n-roll. Universal, which wanted to call the film Another Slow Night in Modesto, thought it was unreleasable. But Lucas' period detail, co-writers Willard Huyck's and Gloria Katz's realistic dialogue, and the film's nostalgia for the pre-Vietnam years apparently appealed to a 1973 audience embroiled in cultural chaos: American Graffiti became the third most popular movie of 1973 (after The Exorcist and The Sting), establishing the reputations of Lucas (whose next film would be Star Wars) and his young cast, and furthering the onset of soundtrack-driven, youth-oriented movies. Although the film helped spark 1970s nostalgia for the 1950s, nothing else would capture the flavor of the era with the same humorous candor and latent sense of foreboding. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, (more)
A cow learns to walk like a man, both literally and figuratively, in this computer-animated comedy written and directed by Steve Oedekerk, the creator of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Ben (voice of Sam Elliott) is a cow who for years has been the leader and sober voice of reason among the animals at a farm where the critters are a bit unusual -- they can walk on two legs, talk, swim, and act like humans, though they have the good sense to avoid doing these things while humans are around. Ben has long dreamed that his son Otis (voice of Kevin James) would someday take over his duties on the farm, but Otis is a carefree and irresponsible type who would rather party with his friends and hang out with his girlfriend, Daisy (voice of Courteney Cox). Ben and his friend Miles (voice of Danny Glover), a wise and patient mule, wonder if Otis will ever make anything of himself, while Dasiy's best friend, Bessy (voice of Wanda Sykes), is convinced she can do better. However, one night Otis decides to do something about an obnoxious kid who enjoys tipping his fellow cows, and for the first time in his life he gets a taste of leadership -- and he likes it. Barnyard also features the voice talents of Andie MacDowell, Maria Bamford, and Maurice LaMarche. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin James, Courteney Cox Arquette, (more)
Paul Reubens's followup to the box-office hit Pee-Wee's Big Adventure is just as outrageous and cartoonish, though not as good. This time, child-man Pee-Wee runs a colorful farm, chock full of talking animals and outsized produce. On the morning after a tornado of Wizard of Oz dimensions, Pee-Wee awakens to discover that a travelling circus has been deposited in his back yard. Befriended by circus owner Kris Kristofferson, Pee-Wee takes an acrobatic job, hoping to impress lovely trapeze artist Valeria Golino--thereby incurring the jealous rage of his hometown sweetie Penelope Ann Miller. When the circus is faced with bankruptcy, Pee-Wee comes up with a brilliant idea: why not stage a three-ring spectacular celebrating the wonders of agriculture? A partial takeoff of such earlier sawdust-trail flicks as Martin and Lewis' Three Ring Circus and Disney's Toby Tyler, Big Top Pee-Wee is generally entertaining, but goes off in too many directions at once, leaving a lot of loose plot ends and underdeveloped characters. Also, Pee-Wee's overactive libido (at least in this film!) is not all that suitable for his younger fans. Even so, there are plenty of hilarious set-pieces. Big Top Pee-Wee was produced and cowritten by Paul Reubens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens, Kris Kristofferson, (more)
Children of a Lesser God is a love story about a speech teacher who falls for a beautiful yet distant deaf girl in a small New England school for the deaf, and the obstacles that they face due to their differences. William Hurt plays James Leeds, a renegade teacher with an unconventional approach to education and a resume that includes stints as a bartender and a disk jockey. Upon his arrival, he is warned by school administrator Dr. Franklin (Philip Bosco) not to get creative with his instruction. Naturally, Leeds already has his mind set on his teaching plan and proceeds to play loud rock music in class in order to teach the students to feel the vibrations of the music and get them to try to speak phonetically. But a new element enters his life when he meets the attractive custodian, Sarah (Marlee Matlin). An exceptionally intelligent yet extremely bitter young woman, Sarah is a graduate of the school who has decided to remain there, in the confines of her world of silence; it's safer for her to be with her own "people" than to face what she perceives as a cruel and uncaring world. She hardly seems interested in James and will only communicate with him through signing, although she can read lips and even speak a little. James learns from Sarah's mother (Piper Laurie) that Sarah was sexually molested as a teenager; this explains why she is so wary of his attempts to form a relationship with her and why she is so full of fear. Eventually, James does get through to Sarah and the two fall in love, although both have to learn new ways to communicate their feelings. Though it seldom resembles the Mark Medoff play on which it was based, this directing debut from Randa Haines won an Best Actress Oscar for Matlin, for her first screen performance. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hurt, Marlee Matlin, (more)
This is the third film based on Tom Clancy's high-tech espionage potboilers starring CIA deputy director Jack Ryan. Harrison Ford, returning to the Ryan role after his first go-round in 1992's Patriot Games, is assigned to a delicate anti-drug investigation after a close friend of the President (a Reaganesque Donald Moffat) is murdered by a Colombian drug cartel. When Ryan discovers that the President's wealthy friend was in league with the cartel, the President's devious national security adviser (Harris Yulin) and an ambitious CIA deputy director (Henry Czerny) send a secret paramilitary force into Colombia to wipe out the drug lords. The force is captured and then abandoned by the President's lackeys. It falls to Ryan to enter Colombia and rescue them, aided only by a renegade operative named Clark (Willem Dafoe), with both his life and career on the line. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harrison Ford, Willem Dafoe, (more)
- 2005
Larry (Larry David) almost drowns while swimming in the ocean. As he later tells it, in a moment of panic, he cries out to God, and is deposited safely on the beach. "Now maybe you'll start to be more respectful to people," Susie (Susie Essman) suggests, but Larry doesn't get her point. With his newfound faith, he decides to go to temple for the High Holy Days, but Jeff (Jeff Garlin) explains that one has to order tickets months in advance, and that the services are sold out. Larry eventually decides to go to a scalper (Paul Ben-Victor). Larry is initially thrilled to learn that his favorite deli, Leo's, has named a sandwich after him. But, when he finds out the ingredients are whitefish, sable, cream cheese, capers, and onions ("That's a disgusting sandwich"), he tries to have it changed. Leo (Ed O'Ross) agrees to allow Larry to change if someone will switch with him. Nat (Shelley Berman) seems to enjoy the whitefish, but suffers some kind of attack while eating it, and has to be rushed to the hospital, where, delirious, he whispers something that to Larry sounds like "You're adopted." Later, Ted Danson refuses to switch sandwiches with Larry, and at temple, he gets into a spat with Richard Lewis, who is jealous of Larry's sandwich. Also, a chief surgeon (Kenneth Kimmins) appears to get "the yips" on the golf course, and when Cheryl (Cheryl Himes) complains about Larry interrupting sex to answer the phone, he responds sarcastically, "Oh, sacred intercourse cannot be interrupted!" ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- R
Two beefed-up twins (played by the Paul brothers, Peter and David, who have appeared in several programmers as "The Barbarian Brothers") operating on opposing sides of the law, team up to stop a nefarious crook in this actioner. Peter Jade is a notoriously arrogant burglar who ends up with the key to an enormous underground cache of diamonds. David Jade is a cop who joins forces with Peter after greedy Philip Chamberlain, wanting the diamonds for himself, kills David's partner. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Paul, David Paul, (more)
A nervous hotel manager has all sorts of monkey business to deal with (actually orangutan business, but you get the idea) in this comedy for the family. Robert Grant (Jason Alexander) is the manager of The Majestic Hotel, a large and highly luxurious five-star facility. Grant is harried, overworked, and wants to take his two sons, Kyle (Eric Lloyd) and Brian (Graham Sack), on a well-deserved vacation, but when the owner of the Majestic, Mrs. Dubrow (Faye Dunnaway), hears that the hotel is being considered for the newly-minted and very prestigious six-star rating by the Le Monde Guide, it falls on Robert to make sure that everything is perfect when the guide's staff arrives. Since the inspectors will arrive unannounced, Robert has to chase after anyone who looks like they could be a VIP, so he finds himself giving the star treatment to new guest Lord Rutledge (Rupert Everett) when he spots Rutledge using a pocket camera to snap pictures in the lobby. However, Rutledge is actually a skilled jewel thief who has come to the Majestic to take advantage of its wealthy clientele, and he's arrived with his pet orangutan, Dunston, who has been trained to be Rutledge's partner in crime. Dunston gets lost in the hotel's air duct system; Kyle finds the friendly ape and discovers he makes a great playmate, which makes things all the more difficult for Robert. Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman) also appears as a trigger-happy animal control officer. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Alexander, Faye Dunaway, (more)
This lightweight and slightly ribald comedy marks the feature film debut of Elvira (Cassandra Peterson), a buxom seductress best known for hosting a popular syndicated television show that features wonderfully bad old horror movies. After losing her latest job for refusing to sleep with her new boss, Elvira tries to launch a Vegas career. Just before that scheme falls flat, she finds salvation when an aunt dies and leaves her a huge old New England mansion. When the black-clad and sexy Elvira, with her flamboyant make-up and acres of cleavage hit the town, she creates an instant scandal amongst the old folks and inspires lusty dreams in the minds of the young. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cassandra Peterson, Edie McClurg, (more)
- 2005
It's a grueling and eventful first 48 hours for the new crop of surgical interns at Seattle Grace Hospital in the debut episode of Grey's Anatomy. Among the newcomers are Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), still struggling to emerge from the shadow of her celebrated surgeon mother Ellis Grey (Kate Burton); fiercely competitive Stanford grad Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), who will in time become Meredith's best friend; former fashion model Isobel "Izzie" Stevens (Katherine Heigl), a bit put off that she's no longer the sole center of attention; amiable, naïve George O'Malley (T.R. Knight); and Alex Karev (Justin Chambers), who wastes no time proving himself to be a pompous jerk. After a pep talk from chief surgeon Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.), the interns are placed in the not-so-tender care of supervising doctor Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), also known as "The Nazi" for reasons that become instantly obvious. During their two-day shakedown cruise, the rookies come face to face with the harsh realities of hospital life, with Meredith tending to a girl suffering from seizures, George enduring his first appendectomy, and Cristina finds that it's no picnic workiing under veteran surgeon Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington). But the biggest shock of all is reserved for Ellis, when she discovers that her handsome "one-night stand" from the previous evening happens to be her new boss, Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey)! Peter Horton received an Emmy nomination for his direction of this inaugural episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Penny Marshall in her feature film directing debut, four screenwriters, and a ebullient Whoopi Goldberg join forces to make Jumpin' Jack Flash, a modern espionage comedy. Goldberg plays Terry Doolittle, a computer operator in a large New York City bank who picks up a cry of help on her computer. The signal is from a man who signs off as Jumpin' Jack Flash. Based on the Rolling Stones tune of that name, she figures out his secret password and opens up a Pandora's box of international intrigue. It seems Jack Flash is a pseudonym for a British agent who is trapped in Russia and desperate for information from the British Embassy that will help him escape. When Terry agrees to help him, the CIA, the KGB, British intelligence, and sundry other law enforcement organizations are all hot on her tail as she tries to help the beleaguered British agent. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Pryce, (more)
- 1978
In addition to being the title of a classic cult film directed by David Lynch, "Eraserhead" also happens to be the nickname of the character played by Paul Willson in this episode of Laverne and Shirley. Hoping to get even with her faithless boyfriend Carmine (Eddie Mekka), Shirley (Cindy Williams) accepts a blind date with the creepy "Eraserhead"--with truly surprising results. Linda Gillen, cast in a previous episode of the mentally challenged daughter of Shirley's landlady, is here seen in a radically different role. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1983
Vicki Lawrence returns in the role of bombastic WAC sergeant Alvinia T. Plout. Now extremely pregnant, Sgt. Plout hopes to win a lucrative expectant-mothers contest, and strongarms her former "grunt" Laverne (Penny Marshall) into helping her. As often happens, one thing leads to another, culminating in a typically wacky finale wherein Sgt. Plout goes into labor during the funeral services for one of Frank's (Phil Foster) old pals. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Ed Begley Jr. returns in the role of Shirley's brother Bobby Feeney. Evidently Bobby's years in the Navy have not been altogether beneficial; during her sibling's shore leave, Shirley becomes painfully aware that Bobby has developed into a full-fledged alcoholic. Featured in the supporting cast of this surprisingly somber episode is future 24 and The Unit star Dennis Haysbert. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
The gang returns to Milwaukee for their 10th reunion at Fillmore High School. Upon their arrival, it turns out that Lenny (Michael McKean) and Squiggy (David L. Lander) have been sending some rather misleading letters to the other Fillmore grads--who are now laboring under the misapprehension that Laverne (Penny Marshall) and Shirley (Cindy Williams) are movie stars, and that Carmine (Eddie Mekka) is now a famous Las Vegas lounge singer! Former series regular Carole Ita White returns in the role of the insufferable "Big Rosie" Greenbaum, while frequent Laverene & Shirley scriptwriter Judy Pioli reprises her characterization of Terry Buttafuco. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
This time it is Radar's (Gary Burghoff) turn to recap the zany happenings at the 4077th in a letter home. Writing to his mother, Radar invokes such highlights as the camp's annual foot inspection, this year handled by a reluctant Hawkeye (Alan Alda). On a more delicate note, Radar recalls the shrapnel wound endured by Col. Potter (Harry Morgan)--an injury as embarrassing as it is painful. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
The title of this episode is a gross understatement. Actually the 4077th is plagued with three deluges: rain, fire, and an overabundance of incoming wounded. An unexpected enemy offensive has exarcerbated the situation--and as the men and women of M*A*S*H go to work, it is with the realization that things could become far worse at any minute. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
As the result of a bet made during a poker game, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike Farrell) are able to cut phony orders "promoting" Corporal Radar O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) to the rank of second lieutenant. Unaware that it's all a joke, Radar nervously does his best to take his new rank seriously. But if Radar proves to be uncomfortable as an officer, his discomfiture pales in comparison to the envy displayed by Major Frank Burns (Larry Linville). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
The men and women of the 4077th finally get to meet Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan's fiancee, Col. Donald Penobscott (here played by Beeson Carroll). Despite the predictions of sullen Frank Burns (Larry Linville), who still carries a torch for Hot Lips (Loretta Swit) and is convinced that the belated wedding ceremony will never take place, Donald agrees to be married in camp immediately. What follows is a riotous bachelor party and an equally hilarious wedding, replete with hung-over commanding officers, unnecessary body casts, an off-key piano solo, and a gorgeous "ensemble" from fashionable cross-dresser Klinger (Jamie Farr). This was the final episode of M*A*S*H's fifth season--and the last series appearance of Larry Linville. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
When Margaret (Loretta Swit) disappears, rumors begin spreading that she's been abducted by the North Koreans. Truth to tell, Margaret has ventured into enemy territory, but on an entirely voluntary mission of mercy. But neurotic CIA operative Colonel Flagg (Edward Winter) doesn't know this, and his ensuing "investigation" turns the 4077th inside out. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
A transit engineer and his family must face the gargantuan task of moving from New Jersey to Boise, Idaho in this lively comedy starring Richard Pryor. It all begins after he gets a really great job out West. Unfortunately, his family is less than thrilled with the prospect. The furniture movers, who prove to be crooks, and their crazy neighbors conspire to make matters all the worse. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Pryor, Beverly Todd, (more)
- 1990
Christine (Markie Post) has fallen in love with undercover cop Tony (Ray Abruzzo), but he seems to be in love only with his job. Seeking advice from the Night Court staffers, Christine gets a lot of comfort and encouragement, but no answers. In desperation, she turns to a famous pair of twin-sister advice columnists (Jodi Carlisle, Lynne Stewart) who have been feuding with one another for years. (Sound familiar?) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Co-written by Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman, Pee Wee's Big Adventure marks the debut of director Tim Burton, who stamps the entire film with his quirky trademark style. The premise: Pee Wee (Reubens), an overgrown pre-pubescent boy sporting a molded Princeton cut, blush, lipstick, and a shrunken gray flannel suit, lives an idyllic life in his bizarre home (some have compared the remarkable set design to the expressionistic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) until someone nabs his most prized possession: a fire engine-red customized bicycle. He then embarks on an epic cross-country search to find his lost love, not to mention more than a little adventure. Along the way, he makes friends with various oddball characters, visits the Alamo, endures various hallucinatory nightmares, and has a supernatural run-in with a spectral trucker. In this reprisal of his popular standup routine, Reubens is wonderful as the nerdy man child; he plays it silly, yet he manages to imbue the role with some sensitivity without ever seeming maudlin. The score by Danny Elfman is terrific -- as is the case in nearly every film Burton has directed -- and the script is fresh and inventive. Some of the most memorable moments: the opening sequence involving Pee Wee's morning activities is a stroke of genius (note the bunny slippers and talking breakfast), as are the scenes at the truck stop, and the "Hollywood" version of Pee Wee's story at the end (starring James Brolin and Morgan Fairchild in surprise cameos). In all, Pee Wee's Big Adventure is a delightful film, enjoyable for children as well as adults. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, (more)
- 1988
There's a breakout from the Ant Farm while the Playhouse gang is playing House (Miss Yvonne is Mommy, of course -- and wait until you see the baby). The fugitive ants roam all around the furniture, pay an unwelcome visit to the Claymation Dinosaurs, and steal a frosty cake. What (today's secret word!) can be done to rid the Playhouse of the tiny scourges? Pee-wee comes up with a delightful solution: the "Ants in Your Pants Dance." "Ants in Your Pants" was first released on video in tandem with "Why Wasn't I Invited?" in Volume 16 of Pee-wee's Playhouse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens
- 1990
Pee-wee's efforts to fix the malfunctioning Conky the computer just make things worse. Enter the handsome repairman (an up-and-coming Jimmy Smits) who fortunately has "the right tools and knows how to use them." When flirtatious Miss Yvonne hears this declaration, her lovestruck reaction is "Great!" -- which just so happens to be today's secret word. "Conky's Breakdown" was first released on video in tandem with "I Remember Curtis" in Volume 2 of Pee-wee's Playhouse. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Reubens
