Richard LaBrie Movies
By conceiving a child via artificial insemination, hip, modern and thoroughly independent magazine writer Julie Davidson (Vanessa Williams) managed to trim the messy nuptial relationship strings so often attached to starting a family. Imagine her shock, then, when her now-six-year-old son, Jason, demonstrates his growing need for a paternal role model by misbehaving in school. Thus begins Richard Schenkman's gentle romantic comedy And Then Came Love. Julie soon sets out on a quest to find the original sperm donor - youngish, self-effacing actor Paul (Kevin Daniels) - hoping he will take some responsibility for Jason's awry behavior. Father and son do indeed forge a strong relationship; but in Julie's wildest imagination, she never expected to fall in love with this new acquaintance. And Then Came Love reached theaters (in extremely limited release) circa mid-June 2007, and received video distribution almost immediately after. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vanessa Williams, Kevin Daniels, (more)
- 1998
- R
- Add Went to Coney Island On a Mission From God...Be Back By Five to QueueAdd Went to Coney Island On a Mission From God...Be Back By Five to top of Queue
Richard Schenkman, who debuted with the disappointing The Pompatus of Love (1996), returned with this comedy-drama, set on the streets of Brooklyn. When young Richie (Rafael Baez) vanishes, rumor has it that he went insane at Coney Island, so pizza guy Stan (Rick Stear) and pawnshop clerk Daniel (Jon Cryer, who co-scripted with Schenkman) spend a winter's day searching for their childhood friend through the deserted amusement park. They encounter a variety of locals in their wanderings, while flashbacks fill in the story of past events, including Stan's alcoholic escapades which ended his relationship with Gabby (Ione Skye). Shown at the 1998 L.A. Independent Film Fest. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jon Cryer, Rick Stear, (more)
Aside from the fact of his disability and the possession of a nickname, what does Tony "Ole" Olezniak (Vincent D'Onofrio), a bitter, blinded, football player have in common with wheelchair-bound Bernard "Bern" Lemley (Gregory Hines)? Absolutely nothing until Bern enthusiastically convinces Ole to join him in a whitewater rafting adventure as part of the first step in Bern's plan to offer this and other extreme sporting adventures to other disabled people. During their arduous journey, the disparate duo learn more about themselves and each other, and in so doing, become real friends. This film features appearances by sports-greats Joe Theismann and Roy Firestone as themselves. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent D'Onofrio, Gregory Hines, (more)
- 1995
- R
In this comedy, a misanthropic graduate student rails at the wretched world that refuses to publish his 3,000 page Ph.D. dissertation, "American Chaos: The Rotting Years." His wife, sick of his cynical tirades, leaves him; later his family and friends do all they can to ease his blues. When he begins experiencing ominous visions concerning his wife's safety, they help him save her. It is only after the two come back together that the man realizes that love is more fun than cynicism. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1990
Billy Zane stars in this direct-to-video gem as a spectacularly unsuccessful car thief. Hoping to reform by leaving LA, Zane must scare up $400 worth of exit money. He decides to pull off one last job, stealing a TV from William Bastiani. An ill-tempered criminal, Bastiani stabs Zane, who then runs off blindly into a cemetary ("Blood" and "Concrete": get it?) Weaving around the tombstones, Zane makes the acquaintance of would-be suicide Jennifer Beals. Love blooms, but it might be too late for both of them: Bastiani is found murdered, and Zane is suspect number one-forcing him to hide out from both the cops and the mob. Luxuriating in its tawdriness and cheapness, Blood & Concrete: A Love Story actually has an offbeat charm all its own. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Zane, Jennifer Beals, (more)
