H. Gordon Boos Movies
A leading assistant director in Hollywood throughout the 1980s and '90s, writer/director H. Gordon Boos worked on some of the biggest films, and under some of the biggest directors, of his era. Of course, one can't remain in the shadows forever, and with such efforts as 1990's Red Surf (headlined by a pre-superstar George Clooney) and the romantic drama Touch Me (1997), Boos proved that he could take the reigns to turn out a compelling film. The Illinois native's career shot into overdrive after moving to Los Angeles in the early '80s, and it wasn't long before he was working for such notable figures as Oliver Stone (Platoon), Norman Jewison (In Country), and Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather Part III). Though he would only direct four films (the first two of which he also penned), Boos continued to gain credibility in Hollywood for work in such features as Tin Cup and Play It to the Bone. In addition to feature work, Boos frequently kept busy with work on various commercials and music videos. On April 3, 2004, H. Gordon Boos died in his home state of Illinois following an extended battle with brain cancer. He was 45. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Further cementing 2003 as the year of Ron Shelton cop movies, the director continued his vacation from the sports genre with Hollywood Homicide, a police comedy that comes right on the heels of Shelton's Dark Blue, a decidedly grittier cop thriller. The film stars Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett as LAPD homicide detectives Joe Gavilan and K.C. Calden, two cops with bigger dreams. Gavilan moonlights as a real estate agent, while Calden teaches yoga and yearns for a career on the big screen. When an entire hip-hop group is murdered on-stage, Gavilan and Calden are called in to handle the case. As their investigation progresses, they begin to suspect that the rappers were offed for attempting to get out of their recording contract with label head Sartain (Isaiah Washington). Along with Bruce Greenwood and Keith David, the supporting cast boasts a plethora of real-life musicians, including Dr. Dre, Gladys Knight, Dwight Yoakam, Master P, and Ronald DeVoe of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnett, (more)
After covering baseball in Bull Durham, basketball in White Men Can't Jump. and golf in Tin Cup, writer, director, and obvious sports fan Ron Shelton takes on the world of boxing in this comedy. Vince Boudreau (Woody Harrelson) and Cesar Sota (Antonio Banderas) are close friends and aspiring boxers struggling on the lowest rungs of the fight game. When a major boxing promoter needs to fill out the card for a heavyweight bout in Las Vegas, Vince and Cesar both get the call to head out to Sin City. But the excitement sours when they realize that there's a small problem: the promoter's schedule has the two pals fighting each other. Play It to the Bone also features Lolita Davidovich, Lucy Liu, Tom Sizemore, and Robert Wagner. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Antonio Banderas, Woody Harrelson, (more)
- 1999
- R
A group of people from diverse backgrounds set out on an expedition in search of fabled Mayan city. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1998
- NR
In this crime drama, a specially-trained FBI agent suspects that his former professor may be involved in terrorist activities. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Andrew McCarthy, Robert Patrick, (more)
- 1997
- NR
This drama deals with the impact of the AIDS epidemic on modern relationships. Bridgette (Amanda Peet) is an aspiring young actress who pays her bills by teaching aerobics classes. She meets Adam (Michael Vartan), a ladies' man who runs his father's gymnasium business. They embark on an affair. One day, Bridgette is shocked to hear the news that one of her former boyfriends has died from AIDS. She thinks about having herself tested, hesitates because she is afraid to find out the result, and then goes through with the test when she finds out that Adam has taken up with another woman. Much to her dismay, she tests positive for the HIV virus. She figures that her life is over, but she is rescued from her despair by a new, sympathetic lover. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Roy McAvoy (Kevin Costner) is a talented golf pro, who owns his own driving range. That sounds impressive, but the reality is quite different. While it's true that Roy is indeed a talented golfer and does own a driving range, it is in a tiny, unheard of Texas backwater. With almost no customers, he is likely to go broke. His golfing talents remain untapped and his life is rapidly going nowhere. To pass the time, he drinks a lot of beer with his buddies, or swings at a bucket of balls. Sometimes, he even plays real golf, and his friend and assistant Romeo (Cheech Marin) caddies for him. That's all there is for Roy, until he is wakened from his deathlike reverie by a visit from a newcomer in town, psychologist Molly Griswold (Renee Russo). Teaching her how to swing a club reminds him of feelings he had nearly forgotten. Discovering that she is the girlfriend of his old golfing rival, David Simms (Don Johnson), goads him yet further, and he returns to the PGA golf tour to compete in the U.S. Open. Maybe he'll get Molly for himself, maybe not, but in the meantime he has some things to prove to himself. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Costner, Rene Russo, (more)
Most surfer dudes come off as clean-cut types, but not the two surfer lead men in this film. Involved in drug trading, these guys go after a major deal that turns sour when a friend wisens the narcs to their exploits. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Clooney, DeDee Pfeiffer, (more)
- 1987
- PG13
In Allnighter, the viewer sees three roommates who are bound and determined to make the most out of their college graduation night. These fluffs go on a sexathon during their last big beach party, apparently trying to make their last fling a he-man thing. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susanna Hoffs, DeDee Pfeiffer, (more)
- 1987
- R
Never released in the theaters, this film consists of a series of short skits and parodies of television and the movies, and stars Richard Belzer, Martin Mull, and Harry Shearer. The film's 1981 production date explains the presence of Joan Hackett, who died in 1983. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pamela Sue Martin, Joan Hackett, (more)
In this satirical sci-fi comedy, Samantha (Kelli Maroney) and Regina (Catherine Mary Stewart) are two sisters whose father was a hard-bitten Green Beret, but who've grown into typical Valley Girls. They end up spending the night in a steel-lined room just as a comet passes close to the earth, vaporizing the people in its wake. When Samantha and Regina emerge, they discover that they have the city to themselves, and they begin the shopping spree to end all shopping sprees. En route to the mall, they discover Hector (Robert Beltran), the only survivor they've found so far, and they argue over who gets the last boyfriend on Earth. However, the mall holds an unpleasant surprise -- a small army of zombified stockboys who the gals must battle using an arsenal they shoplifted along the way (while lamenting that "Daddy would have gotten us Uzis!" after a MAC-10 fails to fire). Meanwhile, a cadre of soldiers from a special military experiment have come out of hiding, but it seems that they need fresh blood to survive, and Samantha and Regina look like just the refreshment they need. Cult figure Mary Woronov also appears in a supporting role as a scientist. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Catherine Stewart, Kelli Maroney, (more)
Savannah Smiles is a sweet little film that proved a surprising hit on the Saturday matinee circuit. Mark Miller and Donovan Scott play a pair of good-natured escaped convicts who cross the path of precocious runaway Bridgette Andersen. When Andersen explains that she's hit the road because her wealthy parents neglect her, Miller and Scott decide to hold the kid for a huge ransom. You and I both know that the crooks will turn soft before the end, and return Andersen to her folks without a dollar changing hands, but even predicting the film's outcome cannot diminish its charm. Star Mark Miller, who also scripted Savannah Smiles, is the father of actress Penelope Ann Miller. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark Miller, Donovan Scott, (more)
