Kate Trotter Movies
- 2006
A trio of married women who are all cheating on their husbands find themselves stalked by a vicious serial killer in this made-for-cable drama. Dr. Bobbie Adler (Wendy Anderson), an unorthodox psychiatrist and radio host, advises her patients to seek out no-strings hook-ups if their husbands aren't meeting their sexual needs. But when Bobbie and her own paramour are found stabbed to death, it soon becomes clear that somebody's unhappy with the shrink's advice ... and those who follow it. That leaves Adler's patients -- neglected housewife Linda (Charisma Carpenter), bossy lawyer Meredith (Krista Bridges) and uptight realtor Cindy (Katya Gardner) -- to worry that Detective Rollins (Kate Trotter), the cop assigned to the case, will expose their adulterous ways. But with a revenge-crazed killer at large, cuckolded husbands are the least of their worries. Cheater's Club premiered June 26, 2006 on the Lifetime cable network. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charisma Carpenter, Wendy Anderson, (more)
A lawyer immerses herself in an unfamiliar culture to represent an unusual client in this made-for-TV drama. Katie (Alison Pill) is an 18-year-old girl who lives in a small Amish community in the Pennsylvania farm country. When a newborn baby is found dead, police suspect foul play, and Katie is accused of having given birth to the child, then taking its life. Katie protests her innocence on both charges, and Ellie Harrison (Mariska Hargitay), a tough and well-respected attorney, is brought in to defend her in court. Ellie discovers she's a big-city fish out of water among Katie's family as she uncovers a number of untold stories in a community that has cut itself off from the world, and learns a few things about herself as well. Produced for the Lifetime cable network, Plain Truth first aired on October 4, 2004. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Successful LA attorney Terry McQuinn (Gary Sinise) returns to his Maine home town, intent upon settling the estate of his late, long-estranged father Mac (Michael Rhoades), then returning home as soon as possible. But once he has arrived, Terry finds that he is inexorably bound to his old house by vague and fragmentary memories of a horrendous tragedy in his childhood. Figuring into Terry's plight is Katherine Wentworth (Joely Richardson), a girl from his past who, unbeknownst to either one of them, is also a key player in that tragedy. The story then takes a number of surprising turns, especially with the arrival of a "dead" man who isn't, and a wintertime pilgrimage to a most unusual parking garage (where, incidentally, the viewer finally learns the significance of the film's title. Adapted by Don Snyder from his own novel, Fallen Angel was produced for the CBS "Hallmark Hall of Fame" TV series, and was originally telecast on November 23, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, 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
- Starring:
- Jon Voight, Louis Gossett, Jr., (more)
Martin Campbell directs the romantic adventure Beyond Borders. Angelina Jolie stars as Sarah Jordan, a American living with her wealthy British husband, Henry Bauford (Linus Roache), in London during the early '80s. At a charity benefit, she meets passionate relief worker Nick Callahan (Clive Owen), who chastises the rich people for not helping out the needy in war-torn countries. Sarah is quickly compelled to join his humanitarian cause to fight the famine in Ethopia. She then follows him to Cambodia, where they start up a love affair and Nick gets involved in an arms-smuggling operation before they finally end up in Chechnya. Teri Polo appears as Sarah's international journalist sister, Charlotte. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angelina Jolie, Clive Owen, (more)
- 2002
Not long after the wife of former San Francisco Police Commissioner Harry Ashcombe (John Bourgeois) disappears, the woman's body, buried in a mudslide, is located by self-styled psychic Dolly Flint (Linda Kash). Recognizing Dolly as a notorious con artist, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) has trouble accepting the "miracle" of finding the body--and he also doesn't believe that Mrs. Ashcombe died accidentally. The solution to the mystery may well be in the hands of Aschombe's mistress Jennifer Zeppetelli (Jenny Levine)...and may also hinge on the fact that Dolly Flint is a narcoleptic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
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Originally presented in two parts by the CBS network, Master Spy is the true story of Robert Hanssen, a disgruntled FBI agent who, for 20 years, systematically sold out his country to the former Soviet Union. The film depicts Hanssen (played by William Hurt) as hyper-intelligent and hyper-sensitive, frustrated by what he perceives to be the mediocrity of his fellow federal agents (at one point in the story, Hanssen's boss advises him to "dumb down" if he hopes to survive in the agency). Hanssen's self-imposed lofty standards and values are somewhat at odds with his rather kinky sexual preferences, and with his habit of spending far more than he earns. In danger of losing everything he owns due to improvident financial transactions, Hanssen proves to be ripe for plucking by the Soviet KGB, which offers him wealth beyond his wildest dreams if he will simply transfer top secret information to the Russians. Throughout his career of duplicity and treachery, Hanssen enjoys the unswerving loyalty of his wife, Bonnie (Mary-Louise Parker), who remains blissfully ignorant of his double-agent activities until the day of his arrest. Scripted by the inimitable Norman Mailer, Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story aired over two consecutive weekends, on November 10 and 17, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hurt, Mary-Louise Parker, (more)
- 1999
Gene Wilder wrote and starred in this detective story produced for the A&E cable television network. Set in 1938, Wilder plays Larry "Cash" Carter, a one-time Broadway theatrical director who has moved to a quiet Connecticut town, where he oversees a community theater group and works as a private investigator. When a local philanthropist with strong anti-Nazi sentiments is murdered, the police ask Cash to help them track down the killer. Cash discovers his little town isn't as quiet as he imagined, with nefarious servants, devious relatives, and an Axis agent all figuring into the deadly puzzle before he can determine the killer's identity. The Lady in Question was the second in a projected series of made-for-cable "Cash" Carter mysteries written by Wilder; the character was introduced in the first film, 1999's Murder in a Small Town. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gene Wilder, Mike Starr, (more)
- 1996
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The waltz was all the rage in 1860s Europe, and composer Johann Strauss Jr. was the known as the "King of Three-Quarter Time." In this video from HBO's composer series, Strauss, played by Michael Riley, is stressed by the pressure of outdoing himself with each new composition and the memory of his late father's disapproval of his music. Retreating to a country estate, Strauss meets Nicholas, a stable boy who is brutally abused by his stepfather. Together, the two find the strength to overcome their emotional and physical scars and collaborate on music that will thrill generations to come. Designed to introduce children to classical music and composers, the video features music from Strauss' "Tales from the Vienna Woods," "The Blue Danube," "Vienna Blood," "Roses from the South," "Perpetual Motion," and "Explosions Polka." Highly recommended for ages 8 to 12. ~ Heather M. Fierst, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Derek Senft, Michael Riley, (more)
- 1995
Fraser (Paul Gross) witnesses an apparent suicide attempt by a delusional man who is searching for someone who has been dead for five years. Further investigating the situation, Fraser comes to the conclusion that a local private mental institution is a hotbed of crime. Going undercover as a patient (he has no trouble being committed after mentioning the fact that he owns a deaf wolf named Diefenbaker), Fraser tries to find out the secret behind the institution's ominous "Blue Room"--and stumbles upon a sinister wholesale-murder scheme. Due South creator Paul Haggis shows up unbilled as one of Fraser's fellow inmates. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Gross, David Marciano, (more)
- 1989
After a series of setbacks and mishaps have resulted in the suicide of her fisherman husband, Jodie Cauldwell (Christine Hirt) hires Eric (R. H. Thomson), a reluctant, very troubled Vietnam War veteran, to man their boat in an attempt to keep her family's livelihood intact. Gradually, his deep anger and unhappiness eases, as the hard physical work and the kindness of the dead man's family heals him. A plus for this easygoing film is its footage of the gorgeous waters and coast of British Columbia. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- R.H. Thomson, Kate Trotter, (more)
- 1988
Three women gather in a self-help group to discuss their relationships and problems in this distaff drama. Martha (Jennifer Dale) tells of the breakup of her marriage. Ruth (Andrea Martin) discusses her painful emotional struggle in dealing with her mother's death. Edie (Lois Maxwell) tells the others how she met the man she has been married to for 40 years. Margaret Langrick portrays Edie in her younger days and co-stars with Kate Trotter and Chuck Shamata in this gang-directed feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennifer Dale, Andrea Martin, (more)
- 1986
Suicide Murders was filmed for Canadian television in 1985. Saul Rubinek stars as a klutzy private eye in a small, peaceful village, where clients are virtually nonexistent. When several mysterious suicides occur in the village, Rubinek senses that there's dirty work afoot. He stumbles around town searching for clues, uncovering an intricate murder plot. The Suicide Murders made its below-the-border debut on America's Lifetime Cable Service in 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
- R
The early ups and later downs in the life of Joshua Shapiro (James Woods) more or less describe the trajectory of this semi-autobiographical film, adapted from the book by Mordecai Richler. Joshua is a Jewish Canadian writer who has returned from living in England for nearly three decades, only to see the major components of his life disintegrate around him. Flashbacks tell the tale of Joshua's childhood -- raised by a father who is an ex-boxer with a creative approach to earning a living (illegally) and a mother who earns her living as a stripper. Leaving this background and his coming-of-age behind him, Joshua flies off to England and gains a reputation as a writer, marrying a politically leftist but socially elite wife. On his return to Canada at the end of the '70s, everything around him collapses. His best friend dies, his brother-in-law kills himself, there is a smear campaign against him, and someone is out to blackmail him. Things only get worse, in fact, before they level off. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Woods, Gabrielle Lazure, (more)
- 1984
A female executive discovers that not all of the boundaries have dropped to give equality to women when some of her male co-workers don't even think of her as an equal, let alone as their superior. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1981
The Plouffe Family, aka Les Plouffe, is a Canadian assault to the kidneys directed by Quebec's "critic's darling" Gilles Carle. The film covers seven years (1938 through 1945) in the lives of the French/Canadian Plouffe clan. Emile Genest is the one "name" player in this phlegmatic character study. Like to try this one on for size? Be warned: it runs (or crawls) 180 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Emile Genest, Denise Filiatrault, (more)
- 1981
- PG
After a Harvard professor (Elliott Gould) comes into possession of a letter by George Washington, he finds that criminals are after the valuable document as well. A young reporter (Kate Jackson) just might save him, in this Canadian production. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elliott Gould, Kate Jackson, (more)
- 1981
- PG
Donald Sutherland plays a brilliant surgeon who becomes a media celebrity after performing an artificial-heart transplant. Jeff Goldblum, inventor of the ersatz heart, likewise basks in the glow of sudden fame. The only person to have reservations about the procedure is heart recipient Mare Winningham, who becomes depressed over the knowledge that she's not altogether human. Several ethical questions are raised and left unresolved; the film assumes that the audience is intelligent and perceptive enough to draw its own conclusions. Released in Canada in 1981, Threshold was not offered an American distribution until after the Barney Clark heart transplant of 1983. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald Sutherland, John Marley, (more)
