Gustav Vintas
- 1996
Atlanta is the setting for a deadly scenario, triggered when a lethal virus is stolen from the local Biological Resarch Institute. The theft involves an illicit arms deal, not to mention a collection of rogue government agents--and the anticipated murder Fortunately, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is on hand to connect the dots and solve the case...but she'd better hurry before the virus is unleashed upon the unsuspecting populace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Supermodel and sex symbol Cindy Crawford made her acting debut in this high-decibel thriller. Kate McQuean (Crawford) is a lawyer who -- in the course of a divorce proceeding -- attempts to seize a 157-foot freighter docked off the Florida coast in lieu of unpaid alimony. It turns out that the freighter is the current base of operations of Kazak (Steven Berkoff), a former KGB agent who has become an international money laundering expert and leader of a crack terrorist team. As one might imagine, Kazak is not especially happy about possible eviction, and soon Kate has a hefty price on her head. Kate, however, doesn't know the nature of Kazak's business and isn't sure why someone is trying to kill her. Loose cannon police detective Max Kilpatric (William Baldwin) is assigned to protect Kate, and romance begins to bloom as they dodge a remarkable number of bullets and explosions. Fair Game was originally slated to star Sylvester Stallone alongside Crawford (the film's location was moved to Florida at his request); when he dropped out, Crawford found herself co-starring with Baldwin, another model-turned-thespian. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cindy Crawford, William Baldwin, (more)
A vengeful FBI agent wages a one-man war against a powerful drug cartel that has kidnapped his family in this action thriller from producer/director Joseph Merhi. The White Hand is a feared drug cartel run by the five most powerful crime lords in the business. When The White Hand takes FBI agent Jeff Douglas' family hostage, they will face an army of one more powerful than any military force, who is ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of his family. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1992
The expensively assembled two-part TV movie Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel is the true story of a successful "bust" engineered by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Part One detailed an undercover attack on the Colombian drug lords' refineries (see separate entry for further details). In part two, DEA agent Mike Cerone (Dennis Farina) risks life and limb--and his job--to reel in the Medelin kingpins in Bogota. Though the villains exact a vengeance upon their tormentors (and several innocent bystanders), victory is ultimately in the hands of the good guys. Part Two of Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel first aired January 21, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Now it's off to Monte Carlo, where Jessica (Angela Lansbury) pays a visit to her old friend, the owner of a luxury hotel.. Unfortunately, the hotel proves to be the final destination for a much-despised businessman. In her efforts to solve this murder and recover a diamond stolen from the victim's wife, Jessica forms an alliance with the relentlessly charming police inspector Charles Morel (Patrick Bachau). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Meticulously researched and elaborately produced, the two-part TV movie Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel is based on a true story. In addition, to quote the original print ads, "This is the one we won!" Incorruptible agents of the DEA declare war against Colombia's Medelin drug lords. To undermine the enemy, the Feds launch an undercover operation, targeted at the cartel's refineries. Alex Farina, Dennis Farina and John Glover head the enormous cast, which includes Julie Carmen in a standout performance as a Colombian judge. Filmed in Spain and Florida, part one of Drug Wars debuted January 19, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
In this family-fun type of film, two brothers who have apparently inherited their recently deceased father's inventor-type genes decide to finish their pop's robot invention, sell it for big bucks, and keep mom out of the poorhouse. They put together the metal man named Newman who somehow has absorbed the dead dad's spirit and can talk. The boys are wowed to find that Dad's back! But then the bad guys arrive (of course) in the form of an electronics company wanting in on the Newman-robot invention and by an abrupt gal reporter who wants the big scoop. Looming out in the troubled fringes too, are the dopes responsible for the kids' dad's demise. These kids are up to all of this and, along with the robot, they're out to rack up one for the 'good guys.' ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joshua Miller, Edan Gross, (more)
- 1989
- R
A TV horror-movie hostess (Lynn Redgrave) is threatened when people close to her turn up dead. The standard version of the film went straight to video, though a director's cut later earned a limited theatrical release. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynn Redgrave, Tony Curtis, (more)
- 1989
Richard Donner's "Dig That Cat... He's Real Gone" is about a man with nine lives, who runs through each life without care -- in fact, he forgets how many lives he has left. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1988
- R
This low-budget fusion of erotic vampire tale and hard-boiled detective thriller pits Roger Sutter, a tough-as-nails, Dirty Harry-style L.A. detective (Jason Williams, who also directs) against Victor Radkoff, a strange and charismatic pop psychologist (Gustav Vintas). Sutter is convinced of Radkoff's role in a spate of gruesome murders, and he soon takes on the mantle of vampire hunter in pursuit of his elusive suspect. Bucking the annoyances of standard police procedure, he sets out to destroy Radkoff before he can transform his next target, a concert pianist (Leslie Milne), into his undead bride. Though Williams owes a sizable creative debt to Hammer's Count Yorga: Vampire, this is still an entertaining and sexy tale, kept afloat by interesting characters and good performances. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Williams, Gustav Vintas, (more)
- 1988
- R
When his partner on the police force is murdered by the former CIA agent Kendrick (Gustav Vintas), Sam (Sam J. Jones) sets out to avenge his friend's death. He teams up with Jun Kim (Jun Chong) and kendo expert Bernard (Phillip Rhee) to rescue a scientist kidnapped by Kendrick. The villain hopes to use his victim's knowledge for the purposes of chemical warfare. Linda Blair plays Sam's sweetheart Sara, with former Playboy model Rebecca Ferrati as a seductive villainess in this well-crafted action feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Jones, Linda Blair, (more)
- 1987
- R
This crime drama tells the story of the man behind the terrible Kansas City massacre, Verne Miller. Miller started out as a South Dakota sheriff and during the 1920s became a notorious gangster hit man. He started out doing jobs for Al Capone in Chicago and was so good at his job that Capone appointed him head of his Kansas City operation. The trouble begins when Miller thinks he has more power than he actually does and defies his boss to save two captured gangsters. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Glenn, Barbara Stock, (more)
LA cop Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), whose wife has recently died, is a loose cannon with a seeming death wish. This makes him indispensable in collaring dangerous criminals, but a liability to any potential partners. Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), a conservative family man who wants to stay alive for his upcoming 50th birthday, is partnered with Riggs. As Riggs gets to know Murtaugh and his family, he begins to mellow, though his insistence on using guerilla tactics to catch criminals is still (put mildly) above and beyond the call of duty. The main villain is The General (Mitchell Ryan), a drug dealer responsible for the death of the daughter of one of Murtaugh's oldest friends. The General is also in charge of a deadly, militia-like gang of smugglers. Adding fuel to the fire is The General's chief henchman, played with all stops out by Gary Busey. Moviegoers familiar only with the relatively tongue-in-cheek Lethal Weapon sequels may be amazed to find out how dangerous and unpredictable Riggs is in the first Lethal Weapon -- and how likely it seems that Murtaugh might not survive until fade-out time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, (more)
- 1987
A kept woman learns to live independently in this made-for-TV melodrama. Her troubles begin after her successful and much loved "sugar daddy" suddenly dies, leaving her with nothing but her own strong will and very few real job skills to survive. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Victoria Principal, Don Murray, (more)
Micki (Ann Reinking) is the wife of Rob (Dudley Moore), an airheaded TV talk show host. Maude (Amy Irving) is an attractive musician who is unaware of Micki's existence, and with whom Rob falls in love. Rob is a guy who can't say no, thus when Maude announces that she's pregnant, Rob obligingly marries her. Trouble is, he's still married to Micki who is also pregnant. To make matters worse, Rob's wives are due to give birth on the same day, forcing the double dealer to work doubly hard to keep both demanding women happy. Matters reach their comical climax when the Big Day arrives and Rob is expected to attend both births at the same time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dudley Moore, Amy Irving, (more)
