J. Boyce Harman, Jr. Movies
Sci-fi novelist Bo Aikens (Jay Mohr) is fed up with life in Los Angeles. He heads out of the hustle and bustle of the big city to the small, idyllic town of Black River, where everyone is happy, contented and welcoming of strangers -- except for a burly redneck, but he'll be put straight soon enough. Not by Bo, but by an invisible force that rules the town. Troubled by various, peculiar Twilight Zone-ish twists of fate, Bo tries to leave Black River but finds he cannot -- at first because his car has been smashed into a cube, and later by deadly beams that rain from the sky. What's the sinister secret of Black River? Why is Bo being kept prisoner? And why is everyone so dang happy? ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jay Mohr, Diana Stevan, (more)
- 2000
Bob Hoskins stars as Manuel "Tony" Noriega, former leader of Panama, in this biographical comedy-drama about his improbable rise to power and inglorious fall. Abandoned by his parents at an early age, Noriega grew up fending for himself among the desperate poverty of Panama's slums. In search of a career, he joined the Panamanian Army, and rose through the ranks to become a powerful military leader. In time, Noriega became Panama's dictator, but the widespread corruption of his administration, his inability to tell the truth, and over-reliance on political assassination caused him to lose the support of the people, especially after the mutilated corpse Hugo Spadafora (Ivo Cutzardia), his chief political rival, is discovered in the jungle. Noriega also loses the support of Cuban leader Fidel Castro (Michael Sorich) when he enters into an agreement with a drug ring to refine cocaine in Panama, but then buckles under pressure from the U.S. government and destroys the processing plant. The CIA, who once regarded Noriega as a friendly ally in Latin America, have turned their back on him, and Vice President George Bush starts acting as though they never met. Even Noriega's wife Felicidad (Denise Blasor) and mistress Vicki (Rosa Blasi) seem to have given up on him. In a bid to save face, Noriega hires a public relations man (Richard Masur), who suggests that holding open elections might be a good idea. Noriega agrees, but then changes his mind when it becomes obvious that his candidates will loose. Beset by enemies on all sides and trying to flee American troops, Noriega hides out in the Vatican Embassy, where he confesses his sins as U.S. soldiers try to drive him out with loud music. Noriega: God's Favorite was produced for the Showtime premium cable network and directed by Roger Spottiswoode, who also helmed the James Bond adventure Tomorrow Never Dies. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hoskins, Jeffrey DeMunn, (more)
Writer/director Mike Sargent makes his feature debut with this witty romantic comedy about looking for a lover in the newspaper pages. New York reporter Keith Parker (Malik Yoba) neglects his day job to tend to his two girlfriends. His carefully balanced world comes crashing down when he gets canned from work and dumped by both of his honeys. Keith resolves to get his life back in order by placing some personal ads both under his real name and under his cheesy pen name. Much of the rest of the film details Keith's adventures on the town with a diverse array of women including an angry black militant (Angela Bullock) who denounces Whoopi Goldberg, a depressive poet (Joie Susannah Lee), and a forthright businesswoman who seeks the right man to impregnate her. Personals was screened at the 1999 Chicago Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Malik Yoba, Stacey Dash, (more)
Angela Lansbury shows off her gifts as a singer and dancer in this holiday-themed ade-for-TV \musical. Near the turn of the century, Stanta Claus (Charles Durning) is busy getting ready for his annual toy delivery -- in fact, he's so busy he hasn't had much time for his wife, Mrs. Claus (Angela Lansbury), and his spouse has developed a case of cabin fever. Determined to get away and have some some fun on her own, Mrs. Claus hitches up the reindeer and takes them out for a quick spin around the world; however, she has reindeer trouble over New York City, and is forced to make an emergency landing. Stuck in New York for a week as her deer heal, Mrs. Claus's desire to help others quickly comes into play when she befriends a handful of children working in a sweatshop, as well as a group of women who've embraced the cause of sufferage for all. Mrs. Santa Claus first aired on December 8, 1996. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1996
This version of O. Henry's oft adapted comical short story stays close to the original and chronicles the chaos suffered by two vagrants who decide to kidnap a little boy who turns out to be such a terror that they must pay a ransom for his parents to take him back. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
- PG
Seinfeld's Jason Alexander stars in this made-for-television remake of the 1963 classic musical. Alexander stars as Albert J. Peterson, a man hoping to make his fortune and get the girl by promoting the big send-off for a newly drafted pop star named Conrad Birdie (Marc Kudish). A song-and-dance movie, actress-dancer Ann Reinking served as choreographer of this film. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1995
The FBI investigates a fallen IRS agent who has apparently been using taxpayer's most personal information to formulate and execute kidnapping and extortion schemes. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dabney Coleman, Timothy Busfield, (more)
More than a decade after 1982's Six Weeks, director Tony Bill once again explored romance, sentimentality, and dying young with Untamed Heart. The film stars Christian Slater as Adam, an shy and awkward busboy who saves waitress Caroline (Marisa Tomei) from being raped in a park late one night. Naturally, the two begin to fall in love. As their relationship progresses, Caroline discovers that Adam has a heart defect, though he claims he has a baboon heart. Rosie Perez also stars as Cindy, Caroline's sassy comic-relief-providing co-worker. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christian Slater, Marisa Tomei, (more)
- 1991
- R
A Colombian soldier (Chick Vennera) working to save U.S. prisoners of war is killed during a bloody coup, so his sister (Maria Conchita Alonso) asks one of the rescuers (Christopher Walken) to avenge his death. The man assembles a team of soldiers to invade Central America and get rid of the evil dictator. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Walken, Maria Conchita Alonso, (more)
- 1989
The controversial case of a black man killed in Howard Beach, a working-class all white neighborhood of Queens, NY provides the basis of this docudrama. Much of the story centers around the attempts of Joe Hynes, the state prosecutor to bring the case to trial. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
In this complicated crime drama, Roland Dalton (Peter Weller) is an attorney who must defend a drug dealer who claims he killed in self defense. His worthy opponent is his former flame Susan Cantrell (Patricia Charbonneau), now an effective career-minded prosecuting attorney. Richie Marks (Sam Elliott) is the detective who anticipates that legal prosecution will finally close the book on this case. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Weller, Sam Elliott, (more)
