Eric Laneuville Movies

A mother (Jennifer Love Hewitt) secretly turns to prostitution to support her family, but soon finds herself in trouble with the law and faced with a major decision: reveal the names of her bigwig clients or lose her kids. Based on a true story. ~ Rhoda Charles, Rovi

This made-for-cable "dramedy" represents a change of pace for comedian George Lopez), here cast as a nasty, vituperative Chicago radio "shock jock" sportscaster named Henry Ramiro. Although his show is Number One in the ratings, Henry has managed to alienate everyone around him with his relentless verbal assaults--and when we say "everyone", we also mean his long-suffering wife Diana (Lisa Vidal) and his insecure daughter Olivia (Bianca Collins). This is the status quo until 15-year-old Grant Michael (James Kirk), whose life-threatening illness has not dampened his zest for living and his relentless good cheer, shames Henry into being a nice guy for one whole day. Not surprisingly, Henry's ratings immediately tank--but he manages to learn a valuable lesson (with a few detours along the way) just in time for Christmas. Naughty or Nice was produced by the Hallmark corporation and telecast by the ABC network on December 11, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Originally titled America's Son, this cable-TV biopic of John F. Kennedy Jr. begins at the end, with the plane crash of July 19, 1999, that took the lives of Kennedy, his wife Caroline, and his sister-in-law. From this tragic vantage point, the film segues into flashbacks detailing the very public life of J.F.K. Sr.'s only son, of whom it was once said, "The world knew his name before he did." Based on The Day John Died, a book by George Andersen, the film intimates that "John-John" would have been happy charting his own course in life, but was instead channelled into following in the Kennedy tradition by his iron-willed mother Jacqueline (played by Jacqueline Bisset, who'd previously essayed an à clef version of Jackie O. in the theatrical feature The Greek Tycoon). Thus, John enters law school, where he is twice humiliated by failing to pass the bar exam. Finally, as editor of the high-profile George magazine, John can stand on his own merits and not as an adjunct of the Kennedy mystique. Naturally, the film devotes time aplenty to J.F.K. Jr.'s well-publicized romances, notably his lengthy association with actress Daryl Hannah (here played by Tara Chocol) and his ultimate marriage to Caroline Bessette (Portia de Rossi). Somewhat undercutting the credibility of the restaged scenes is the producers' utilization of interviews with the actual friends and associates of John Jr. -- not to mention film clips of the "real" Kennedy, employed as bridges between scenes. America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story debuted January 12, 2003, on TBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

TNT's first dramatic series, Bull is set in the world of high-powered finance and IPOs. Robert "the Kaiser" Roberts (Donald Moffat) is the head of a business empire, and cannot comprehend why his identically named and ethically minded grandson (George Newbern) wants to break away and start his own firm. Bull's ensemble cast features turns by Stanley Tucci as a dodgy operator, and Ryan O'Neal as the Kaiser's errant son. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi

14-year-old Holly Nolan (Gina Philips) lives unhappily with her hyperjudgmental mother Donna (Talia Shire) and her brother Ted (Eddie Mills). To escape the pressures of her home life and make herself feel important, Holly begins hanging out with an older crowd, and in the course of events falls in love with 19-year-old Chris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) an Army reservist who has been disowned by his family. When Donna violently objects to Holly's romance with Chris, the couple elope and head off to Calfornia, certain that all they need to survive in the "outside" world is their love for each other. But it isn't enough: Repeatedly battered down by disillusionment and deprivation, Holly and Chris can't even return to her home town, where Chris faces charges for being AWOL--and, thanks to Holly's vengeful mother, for statutory rape. With apparently no other alternative, Chris resorts to the "easiest" way to stay alive, becoming a male prostitute on the mean streets of LA. Innovative direction and a driving musical score featuring such artists as Van Halen, Peter Himmelman, Lisa Cerbone and Sarah McLaughlin) helps sustain the viewers' interest and fascination in this sordid (but not sordidly told) made-for-TV movie. Born Into Exile made its NBC network debut on March 17, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this suspenseful drama, a commercial jet filled with passengers becomes a potential agent for widespread death after it is discovered that terrorists have loaded it with a deadly virus. While government officials wrestle with ways of handling the situation and try to avoid the most logical solution -- destroying the plane to save more lives -- the pilot contends with a dangerously low fuel supply. No airport in Europe will allow him to land, and he is too far from the U.S. to return home. At the same time, the passengers grow increasingly restless. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Carol (Julianna Marguiles) goes on a fascinating and frightening ride-along with paramedics Shep (Ron Eldard) and Raul (Carlos Gomez). Back at the ER, Weaver (Laura Innes) continues to rub everyone (except the equally contentious Benton [Eriq La Salle]) the wrong way; Ross (George Clooney) treats Byron (Jameson Baltes), a nine-year-old fledgling pyromaniac; and Carter (Noah Wyle) goes to ridiculous lengths to impress Harper Tracy (Christine Elise). And on the domestic front, Lewis (Sherry Stringfield) has her hands full caring for her sister Chloe's baby daughter, Suzy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Writer/director Rusty Cundieff's satire of gangsta rappers, focusing on a hiphop trio who release a Christmas album called "Ho Ho 'Hos." ~ Nicole Gagne, Rovi

The true story of a mother's search for her daughter's killer is the subject of this intense made-for-TV movie. Markie Post stars as Laurie Philips, a waitress living in a trailer park whose daughter is murdered. The movie follows her as she tirelessly tries on her own to track down the killer and get justice for the crime. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi

Christmas may be a little late for Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel), who faces the wrath of Borough Commander Haverill (James Handy) -- until Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) unexpectedly come to the rescue. Elsewhere, the Yuletide season is rudely interrupted by the kidnapping of a wealthy young girl, and by Janice's (Amy Brenneman) ever-deepening involvement with the Mob. Things aren't quite so bleak for Martinez (Nicholas Turturro), who receives a very special gift. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This Magical World of Disney made-for-television movie is another tale of step-kids coming together to form a new, big, happy family. Don Murray and Barbara Eden star as single parents, each with three kids of their own from previous marriages. When Eden and Murray fall in love, the brood comes together under the roof of millionaire Murray's Bel Air Mansion -- and much brouhaha follows when the culture clash between the families becomes evident. This movie was the basis for the hour-long series that followed. ~ Bernadette McCallion, Rovi

At first glance, Mighty Pawns might not be the best title choice for a "self-start" drama, but in context, it is most appropriate. Terence Knox stars as white inner-city teacher Steve Grenowski an inner-city teacher, assigned to a classroom full of problem students. By appealing to his students' gambling instincts, Gernowski turns the kids onto chess. Soon the teacher's chess team, headed by Frank (Alfonso Ribero), has won the county's junior championship. A shot at a national title is compromised when one of Frank's less trustworthy pals lures him away to a few local "money matches". Paul Winfield and Rosalind Cash costar in this fact-based drama, first telecast February 14, 1987 on the PBS series Wonderworks. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi