Chad Taylor Movies
A pair of low-rent hoods botch their shot at the big time in this stylish crime-drama. Ross (Andrew Roperto) and Martin (Richmond Arquette) are a pair of close friends and small-time hustlers looking for a bigger score. Ross and Martin are regulars at a downtown saloon, where they make the acquaintance of Dino (Seymour Cassel), a good-natured drunk who likes showing off his collection of rare and valuable coins after he's had a few cocktails. Ross and Martin hatch a plan to steal Dino's coins, with a little help from Madeline (Cynda Williams), Ross' sometime girlfriend, but things quickly go very wrong -- Dino ends up seriously hurt, Madeline runs off with the loot, and Ross and Martin have to figure out how to clear their names or they're dead meat. Originally released under the title Last Call, Stingers also stars Udo Kier, Marvin Krueger, and John Marzilli. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Scott Reynolds directed this New Zealand thriller about a transsexual stripper. Architect Robert Marling (Martin Donovan) has mounting problems that include drinking, gambling, and alimony payments to his ex, Jennifer (Joanna Going), who's attempting to gain custody of their son. Redesigning a strip club for his psycho friend Stanner (Richard Schiff), Marling meets transsexual dancer Heaven (Danny Edwards), who has precognitive visions. Heaven's therapist, Dr. Melrose (Patrick Malahide), employs his patient's predictions to boost his own bank account. With all professional ethics evaporating, the evil Melrose sleeps with Jennifer while counseling Marling. Hallucinatory visions prompt Heaven to warn Marling of even more hellish events awaiting in his future. Shown at the 1998 Montreal World Film Festival and the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Martin Donovan, Danny Edwards, (more)
- 1993
- R
Bud Cort's directorial debut is a dark comedy about a romantic obsession that leads to tragedy, featuring a wide array of cameo performances including James Brolin, Carol Kane, Rhea Perlman, Martin Mull, Andrea Martin, Woody Harrelson, Timothy Leary, and Gena Rowlands. Cort is Ted Whitley, a local poet celebrity in Venice Beach, California, who spends his time drifting along the boardwalk and delivering his beat poetry inspirations at a local dive. As he sits on a pier composing his latest art work, a vision of incredible beauty --Linda Turner (Kim Adams)-- strolls by in a bikini and Ted is immediately smitten. Linda turns out to be the manager of the agency that Ted has used to try to find a new apartment. He flatters her with his attentions and his poetic rambles. For her part, she likes Ted but doesn't consider him romantic material. Ted misinterprets Linda's friendliness for amorousness and when Linda tries to back off from Ted, Ted cannot be stopped. His out-of-control obsession for Linda turns Linda's once-friendly demeanor into one of terror. But Ted continues stalking her until tragedy strikes. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bud Cort, James Brolin, (more)
- 1991
- R
Corey Haim takes on white supremacist rollerbladers in Prayer of the Rollerboys, the futuristic tale of teen angst and sweet love on skates. Haim stars as Chris Griffin, a pizza delivery boy whose younger brother Miltie (Devin Clark) gets caught up with the local drug-pusher gang, the Rollerboys. With the help of Casey (Patricia Arquette), a female cop out for revenge for her own brother's death, they help bring down the dreaded 'boys for good. But the deeper Chris and Miltie get into the crew, the scarier their racist attitudes become, especially when its revealed that repeated use of their drug will sterilize the entire population of L.A. outside of the Rollerboys' inner circle. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
- Starring:
- Corey Haim, Patricia Arquette, (more)
- 1990
- PG
Allen Mills is a naive accountant from Cleveland who buys the Hollywood Tax Service from Lionel Goldberg before thoroughly investigating the various aspects of the business, let alone even seeing it. When he actually goes to take over his new business, he finds he got more than he bargained for. Business client Tagasaki submits his books detailing the accounts of his cookie business--and then realizes he mistakenly submitted records of his cocaine-smuggling business instead. Before Mills can take action, the books are stolen back and a contract is taken out on him. Among the ensuing action, cocaine-filled fortune cookies turn out to be the evidence needed to catch Tagasaki, who desperately tries to thwart the authorities. ~ Kristie Hassen, Rovi
- 1989
- R
John McNaughton's flawed but interesting follow-up to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer languished in distribution limbo for years before its brief theatrical run and subsequent video release. It presents a completely different breed of killer: an alien criminal who is exiled to life on Earth in human form. As if that weren't punishment enough, the creature's human guise is susceptible to frequent head-eruptions, creating the constant need for replacement heads. This leads to a grim and violent series of episodes in which the creature pops the tops of various citizens, ranging from a kindly, homeless eccentric (Antonio Fargas) to a lascivious doctor (Tony Amendola)... at one point, he even "borrows" the head of a dog! Following the trail of discarded heads are two cops (Rae Dawn Chong and Don Gordon), who eventually begin to suspect they're not dealing with the M.O. of the average serial killer. A few creative plot twists (particularly at the conclusion), grim atmosphere and generally good performances enliven this one-note material, which nevertheless fails to measure up to the harrowing, character-driven horror of McNaughton's acclaimed debut feature. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rae Dawn Chong, Don Gordon, (more)
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