Apollonia Van Ravenstein Movies
In 1982, there was a brief cycle of homosexual-relationship films, none of which were successful enough to form the basis of a trend. Producer/director/writer Robert Towne's Personal Best is one of the finest. It stars Mariel Hemingway and Patrice Donnelly as athletes participating in the 1980 Olympics. Growing ever closer during the training process, Chris (Hemingway) and Tory (Donnelly) fall in love. Up to this point, Chris has been "straight," thus has trouble sustaining the relationship with older Tory. Their relationship is counterbalanced with the attitudes held by their male coach, Terry (Scott Glenn). While the homosexual element of the film is secondary to the endless shots of athletes in training, the critics latched on to the film's romantic angle, which may have sabotaged its chances for box-office success (the world was a different place in 1982). Personal Best was the directorial debut for Robert Towne, who was not to direct another film until 1987's Tequila Sunrise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mariel Hemingway, Scott Glenn, (more)
- 1984
- PG
Tom Schiller, best known for the short subjects he wrote and directed for Saturday Night Live's early seasons, made his feature film debut with this offbeat fantasy. In the future, the city of New York is governed by the Port Authority, and aspiring artist Adam Beckett (Zach Galligan) is depressed because the powers that be refuse to grant him a creative license. Instead, Adam is assigned to direct traffic in the Holland Tunnel, where he meets a woman named Mara Hofmeier (Apollonia Van Ravenstein). Adam offers to show Mara a side of New York's underground that few people know about; however, they mistakenly board the wrong bus and find themselves on a trip to the moon, which has been turned into a shopping center. In time, Adam finds his way back to Earth, where at long last he finds artistic success and the love of his life, Ely (Lauren Tom). Incorporating clips from a number of classic silent films, Nothing Lasts Forever also features an interesting supporting cast, including Bill Murray, Sam Jaffe, Eddie Fisher, Dan Aykroyd, Lawrence Tierney, Imogene Coca, and Calvert Deforest (aka Larry "Bud" Melman). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zach Galligan, Apollonia Van Ravenstein, (more)
- 1986
Welcome to The Beverly Hillbillies, Dutch style. Nelly Frijda, Rene Van't Kof, Tatjana Sinic and Huub Stapel star as the low-rent, low-class Flodder family. Through a miracle of scripting, the Flodders move to a prosperous neighborhood. The resulting comedy highlights are all predicated on the old culture-clash gimmick. Flodder was popular enough to inspire two movie sequels (one of them tantalizingly titled Flodders in America), as well as a Dutch TV series, which ran from 1993 to 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nelly Frijda, Huub Stapel, (more)
