James Becket Movies
Mark Wexler is a successful photojournalist who has also distinguished himself as a documentary filmmaker, but in many ways he has spent much of his life in the shadow of his more famous father, Haskell Wexler. One of Hollywood's greatest cinematographers, Haskell is also known as a director (he made the acclaimed feature Medium Cool as well as a handful of documentaries) and as a tireless political activist. But while Haskell is widely respected as a major talent, he's also known for being fiercely opinionated and difficult to work with, and Mark makes no secret of the fact that he's had a prickly relationship with his dad. Mark Wexler takes a detailed look at the life and work of Haskell Wexler in Tell Them Who You Are, which examines Haskell's career in the movie business, his relationship with his family (including his three marriages and his frequent lack of respect for Mark), and how he's viewed by his friends and peers. Interview subjects include Jane Fonda, Paul Newman, George Lucas, Michael Douglas, Milos Forman, Ron Howard, Dennis Hopper, and many more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Haskell Wexler, Mark S. Wexler, (more)
A ten-year-old computer flight simulator enthusiast is forced to put his skills to the ultimate test when his cross-country flight is hijacked in screenwriter/director James Becket's high-flying adventure. As young Ricky and his classmates board a commercial airliner to embark on a cross-country field trip, the amateur airplane enthusiast gets a nagging suspicion that all is not well with the suspicious passengers. His suspicions soon confirmed, Ricky and his frightened classmates do their best to thwart the terrorist's deadly plan. When the brave youngster and his friends discover that the pilot has collapsed, it's up to young Ricky to bring their flight back down to terra firma and ensure that his turbulent field trip has a happy ending. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jordan Garrett, Larry Miller, (more)
Alain Jakubowicz's action thriller Air Marshal follows the title character as he must defend a plane that has been taken over by terrorists. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
A young man becomes the reluctant heir of the family business, only to discover how dangerous and corrupt it can be in this drama. Philip is an aspiring musician whose father runs a Chilean mining concern. When his dad dies, Philip returns to Chile from the United States and soon finds himself battling with his father's former business partner for control of the mines. Philip quickly learns that his new adversary isn't about to give up without a fight -- and that he has more than a few secrets about the company that he needs to keep quiet at all costs. Southern Cross stars Michael Ironside, Esai Morales, and Malcolm McDowell. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
When a vicious arms smuggler (Roy Scheider) abducts his daughter, an ex-Navy Seal (Gary Busey) rounds up a cadre of skilled mercenaries to find and rescue her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Busey, Roy Scheider, (more)
In this tense, politically-charged drama, Carlos (Carlos Riccelli), a widower from El Salvador, comes to the U.S. after his wife was horribly tortured and eventually murdered by CIA forces during that nation's long-simmering civil war. Carlos has decided to find the mysterious Mr. Smith (Robert Pine), the U.S. agent who was responsible for the death of his wife (and many others as well), and tracks him to his home. However, as Carlos is about to take his revenge on Mr. Smith, he suddenly finds himself uncertain if he indeed has the right Mr. Smith. The Best Revenge also stars Christian Svensson and Michael Woody. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carlos Alberto Riccelli, Robert Pine, (more)
- 1996
Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis gets a modern day makeover with this tale of a young man whose mysterious illness prevents him from properly supporting his family. Tom Gregor has always placed family first, though when a strange malady prevents him from going to work, his household is plunged into dire financial straits. His parents to frail to find employment, Tom watches in pain as his younger sister turns to prostitution in order to keep food on the table. After Tom is fired from his job, his abusive boss continues to berate him. Will Tom ever recover from this rotting sickness, or has he already drifted past the point of no return? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1994
In this political thriller set in Bangkok, a young woman finds herself drawn into a scheme designed to assassinate Henry Kissinger, the former Secretary of State. The film offers wonderful views of the Thai city. The film opens with the death of American Rachel McCarthy, who is murdered in her limo as she travels to the airport to meet her daughter Jessie whom she has not seen in over a decade. Jessie, a bit of an innocent, goes to her mother's estate and discovers that her mother had been part of an international plot. Vietnamese refugees were involved. The point of the conspiracy is to sabotage a treaty between the U.S. and Vietnam. Along the way she encounters many fascinating characters. The most important are U.S state Dept official, Fran Jakes, agent Michael Murphy with the CIA, and Major Somchai, Thai detective. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Purl, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, (more)
- 1992
- R
This taut suspenser juggles perspectives of patriotism, media roles and the relationship between government officials and their economic interests. After a journalist covers a story about a secret military transaction between an American aerospace engineer and a Japanese agent, she continues her investigation with the help of a private eye. Before long, she figures out that she is merely a pawn and nothing around her is as it seems to be--including the people she has trusted. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- R
This Austrian sci-fi film set in post-nuclear Earth is about a pair of policemen whose jobs consist (among other things) of executing people who have prematurely used up all their "energy clip" credits in an Orwellian society. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
