Jonathan Ward Movies
Walter Hill directs John Milius's script (co-written by Larry Gross) depicting a revisionist perspective on the "Geronimo Campaign" and how Geronimo, with 34 men, managed to elude 5000 U.S. cavalry men between 1885 and 1886 before his surrender at the Canyon of the Skeletons in September 1886. The film centers upon Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric), the U.S. Cavalry lieutenant who is charged with capturing the elusive Apache leader. Gatewood is torn by a grudging respect for Geronimo and his people and his duty to his country. But then all the white men in the film have a respect for Geronimo, even as they are trying to hunt him down and kill him. General Charles Crook (Gene Hackman), charged with overseeing the forced settlement of the Apaches on reservations, has nothing but admiration for Geronimo. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Patric, Gene Hackman, (more)
- 1992
Although his Mother denies his involvement in a brutal attack that left her critically injured and her husband dead, a college student is forced to deal with his guilt. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sharon Gless, William McNamara, (more)
- 1992
- G
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A man finds himself living among the animals and enchanted spirits of the rainforest, and learns of the true consequences of human destruction in this animated adventure. Crysta (voice of Samantha Mathis) is a young fairy who is being tutored in the powers of magic by the older and wiser Magi (voice of Grace Zabriskie) in an Amazon rain forest. While their home was once on the verge of destruction thanks to the evil spirit Hexxus (voice of Tim Curry), the demon has been trapped inside a tree, and Crysta is free to play with her friends Batty Koda (voice of Robin Williams), a bat who escaped from an animal testing facility, and Pips (voice of Christian Slater), who has obvious romantic intentions toward the attractive young sprite. However, a clear-cutting crew destroys the tranquil peace of the rainforest, and when Crysta sees a runaway logging machine about to run over lumberjack Zak (voice of Jonathan Ward), she saves his life by shrinking him to her own size. However, Crysta isn't able to bring Zak back to his normal size, so he's forced to live among the forest creatures and learn first-hand the devastation the humans have brought to this world -- especially when the loggers accidentally free Hexxus from captivity. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Curry, Robin Williams, (more)
The title refers to those seemingly frail Southern belles who survive any and all deprivations through whims of iron. Robert Harling's original stage play was set exclusively in a Louisiana beauty parlor where an all-female cast of characters laughed, cried and compared menfolk. The film expands the playing field by including scenes at picnics, hospitals and the like, and by visually depicting the males who never appeared in the stage version. Dolly Parton plays the goodnatured beauty-shop owner, while Shirley MacLaine is the cantankerous town eccentric, decked out in grungy overalls and speaking fluent Trash. Well-to-do Sally Field bravely endures several assaults to her sensibilities, not the least of which is the illness (and subsequent death) of daughter Julia Roberts. The performances are first-rate, with the possible exception of Daryl Hannah's overemphatic portrayal of a gawky hairdresser. The film stumbles a bit in its depiction of the male characters as fools and deadheads, and in the final overlong hospital scenes involving the comatose Roberts, which play like a road company version of Terms of Endearment. Otherwise, Steel Magnolias is a prime example of ensemble filmmaking, lovingly coordinated by director Herbert Ross. (Sidebar: Herbert Ross was reportedly rather rough on Julia Roberts, deriding her lack of experience. The rest of the female cast rallied around Roberts and told the director to lay off or pay the price). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sally Field, Dolly Parton, (more)
- 1988
Comic actor Michael McKean delivers a powerful dramatic performance in Father's Homecoming. Long separated from his teenaged son (Jonathan Ward) and daughter (Marcianne Warman), Michael (McKean) comes into contact with them in a most unexpected fashion. He is appointed headmaster of the exclusive New England private school where they both are enrolled. Future Star Trek regular Nana Visitor has a good supporting role. Made for TV, Father's Homecoming was released with a remarkable lack of fanfare on June 19, 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This sci-fi tearjerker has the distinction of being one of the most obviously commercial films ever made with constant plugs for MacDonalds, Coca-Cola companies, candy and other products. These not so subtle endorsements are woven into the story of a wheel-chair bound boy and the stranded alien MAC (not as in "Big" but rather Mysterious Alien Creature) who become friends and help each other with their family problems. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jade Calegory, Christine Ebersole, (more)
Also released under the title The Rites of Summer, this film follows the adventures of pampered city boy Alan Block (Sean Astin) when his parents ship him off to a wilderness camp. Once there, Alan and the other three campers must attempt to live up to the tough expectations of their guide, Vic (Kevin Bacon), who is determined to push the kids as far as he can--and maybe farther. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Bacon, Sean Astin, (more)
- 1985
- R
This grim exploitation drama follows the cruelty of New York gangsters who prey upon young, naive actresses by inviting them to fancy parties where they are to be viciously raped. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- J.C. Quinn, April Daisy White, (more)
Season one of Charles in Charge finds the title character, a 19-year-old college student, securing free room and board by agreeing to work as "male governess" in the New Brunswick home of Jill and Stan Pembroke (Julie Cobb, James Widdoes). With the help of his best friend Buddy (Willie Aames), Charles does his best -- which is very good indeed -- to keep the three Pembroke children on the straight and narrow. Of course, 14-year-old Lila (April Lerman) would rather be chasing every boy in her class, 12-year-old Douglas (Jonathan Ward) prefers to crack wise than to do his household chores, and 10-year-old Jason (Michael Pearlman) just wants to be left alone to do whatever he pleases. In the course of the season, the kids benefit mightily from the wisdom and common sense of Charles, just as he learns a lot about his role in life through his responsibilities as substitute daddy. During his off hours, Charles devotes himself to winning the heart of the toothsome Gwendolyn Pierce (Jennifer Runyon) a nice young lady who sees no reason to tie herself down to just one boy. Some interesting faces pop up among the guest performers this season, among them such stars in the making as Meg Ryan, Kathy Ireland, Christina Applegate, and Matthew Perry. Also, sitcom veteran Rue McClanahan makes a few memorable appearances as Stan Pembroke's mother. Though Charles in Charge enjoyed a sizeable fan following amongst Scott Baio enthusiasts, the series was far from a success, prompting CBS to cancel the property after a mere 22 episodes. Who could have guessed that Charles in Charge would pull a phoenix two and a half years later, re-emerging in off-network syndication and subsequently enjoying a healthy run of 104 additional episodes? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Baio, Julie Cobb, (more)
- 1982
A hark back to the screwball comedies of the 1930s, this made-for-TV movie stars real-life married couple Susan Clark and Alex Karras. When Catherine Abel (Clark), a divorced pro-feminist lawyer, advertises for a live-in maid to take care of her family mansion and look after her two children, who should arrive at her doorstep but unemployed laborer Cal Bullington (Karras). Noting that he has cared for his large family all his life, Cal insists that he would be a perfect maid. Catherine disagrees, insisting that she wanted a woman for the assignment. Using Catherine's own liberal-feminist agenda, Cal takes her to court -- and wins. As Cal begins his domestic duties for the simmeringly hostile Catherine, her sagacious old dad (Fritz Weaver) looks on with amusement, while her stuffy Ralph Bellamy-like fiancé (David Spielberg) suspects that all is not "strictly business" in the Abel household. Maid in America debuted September 22, 1982 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
