Richard Friedenberg Movies

Author James Patterson's critically acclaimed best-seller about love and loss comes to the screen in this affecting drama starring Emmy award-winning actress Christina Applegate. Kate Wilkinson (Kathleen Rose Perkins) is a New York book editor who has it all - everything except for love, that is. When Kate meets handsome writer Matt Harrison (Johnathon Scaech) it seems as if all of her dreams in life have been answered. Just as it appears their relationship is reaching that critical point of commitment, however, Matt suddenly and abruptly ends their passionate affair without explanation. At first devastated by her heart-breaking loss, Kate soon receives a package from Matt containing the diary of his late wife Suzanne (Applegate). In the diary, Suzanne details the Martha's Vineyard romance shared between a young housepainter who dreams of becoming a writer, and a female doctor who yearns to experience the joys of motherhood despite her heart-scarred past. As the tragic story of Matt's first love plays out right before Kate's teary eyes, the melancholy measure of closure affords a heavy-hearted New York editor an opportunity to reflect on the love that slowly slipped out of her loving embrace. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

A boy learning the lessons of the Torah wonders if they can be used to avenge an attack on his best friend in this drama based on the novel by Pete Hamill. Michael (Peter Tambakis) is an 11-year-old boy growing up in an Irish Catholic neighborhood in Brooklyn in 1947. While looking for a place to get out of the weather in the midst of a freak snowstorm, Michael meets Judah Hirsch (Stephen Rea), a rabbi from Czechoslovakia, and the two become unlikely friends. Judah fascinates Michael with tales from Jewish folklore, and Michael gives Judah a crash course in the finer points of baseball. But not everyone in Michael's neighborhood is as open-minded as he is, and Judah is attacked by a gang of anti-Semitic toughs. As Judah's life lies in the balance, Michael wonders if Judah's tales of magic and mysticism might hold a key to getting justice for his friend. Snow in August also features Lolita Davidovich as Michael's mother. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this drama, an interracial Virginia couple petition the Supreme Court against the state's miscegenation laws in order to legalize their marriage. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Robert Redford's lyrical direction sets the tone for this evocative adaptation of author Norman MacLean's memoir of his idyllic Montana youth. The MacLean family is presided over by the strict but encouraging Rev. MacLean (Tom Skerritt) and his loving wife (Brenda Blethyn). Craig Sheffer stars as the young Norman, the older son in his family, who takes his school work and writing a bit too seriously for Paul (Brad Pitt), the impetuous younger son, to take much stock in. Paul would rather have a good time, drink and play cards than get involved with academic study. Where Norman wants to be a college literature professor, Paul would prefer to stay in Montana all his life and wrangle some kind of job writing for a local newspaper. But, ironically, Paul is the better fly fisherman and in this way attains a sense of perfection. The film also details the MacLean boys' involvement with a colorful group of town's people -- including a young Indian woman Paul decides to date and the defiant Jessie (Emily Lloyd), whom Norman later marries. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Promise represented the first of several momentous TV-movie teamings of James Garner and James Woods. Garner plays an affable middle-aged salesman. When his mother dies, Garner is compelled to fulfill his long-ago promise to her: to look after his schizophrenic younger brother Woods. What begins as a fitfully painful experience for both men culminates with an unexpected, powerful climax, predicated by a memory-laden fishing trip. Piper Laurie co-stars as an old flame of Garner who finds herself a compassionate spectator to the troubled and bizarrely touching relationship between the two long-estranged brothers. Written by Richard Friedenberg, The Promise premiered December 14, 1986. Emmy awards were bestowed upon James Woods, Piper Laurie, Richard Friedenberg, director Glenn Jordan, and the film itself. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this documentary, the legends, facts and folklore about the dreaded "Bermuda Triangle," which lies between Bermuda, Miami and Puerto Rico, are recounted. Based in some small part on the book by Charles Berlitz, it tells of lost squadrons of airplanes, boats, and mysterious electronic disturbances. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In this wilderness adventure (which later inspired a TV series), Dan Haggerty stars as Adams, a trapper who flees for the mountains when he is wrongly accused of a crime. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide