Larry McLean Movies
- 2002
This weekly, 60-minute series was based on the true story of one of the FBI's most unusual operatives. Deaf since the age of 18 months, Sue Thomas neither asked for nor received sympathy for her handicap at any time in her life: Indeed, as a youngster she was known to periodically bloody the noses of kids who taunted her in school. As an adult, Thomas became an accomplished pianist, and earned a political science degree from Massachusetts Springfield College. According to the chronology of the TV series, Sue was working as a fingerprint analyst at the FBI when agent Jack Hudson suddenly realized the value of her lip-reading skills. Thus did Sue become an agent herself, specializing in surveillance and deliberately seeking out the most exciting and dangerous assignments. Deaf actress Deanne Bray starred as Sue Thomas, with Yannick Bisson as Jack Hudson and "hearing-ear" dog Levi as himself. Though never shirking in its action and adventure content, Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye was family friendly and upbeat in the best PAX Network tradition. Created by Dave Alan Johnson and Gary R. Johnson, the series premiered October 13, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Deanne Bray, Yannick Bisson, (more)
- 2000
This television series follows the adventures of four teenagers who in their spare time help to serve their community as volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMT's). Hank (Danso Gordon), the son of a successful surgeon, is eager to prove that he has talents of his own. Jamie (Christopher Ralph) is a boy with a checkered past who is under court order to perform community service, which he approaches with a certain reluctance, but also an awareness that this may be his last chance to turn his life around. Val (Reagan Pasternak) is a bright, ambitious girl who wants to be a doctor someday. And Tyler (Shawn Ashmore) uses a cheerful disposition and enthusiastic attitude to camouflage the fact that he doesn't get along with his family. As the four youngsters balance school and their responsibilities as EMT's, they also have to deal with the trials and tribulations of growing up, and Val has to contend with her cynical friend Caitie (Jackie Rosenbaum) and her overly ambitious little sister Brooke (Lauren Collins). In a Heartbeat premiered on the Disney Channel on August 26, 2000. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shawn Ashmore, Danso Gordon, (more)
- 1993
Following up the goofy big-screen comedies Dragnet and Delirious, director Tom Mankiewicz delivered this made-for-cable thriller starring Tony Goldwyn and Lynn Whitfield. After witnessing a murder, Goldwyn finds himself pursued by a group of thugs led by mafia boss Alan Arkin. Whitfield stars as the detective assigned to ensure that Goldwyn not only doesn't flee out of fear for his life, but stays alive long enough to testify at the murder trial. Along the way, as the two spend more time together, a romance ensues. Peter Boyle, George Segal and Will Patton round out the cast, and the film was scripted by Dan Gordon who would later gain noteriety as a scribe on 1999's The Hurricane. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lynn Whitfield, Tony Goldwyn, (more)
After misplacing their stolen loot, thieves focus on an innocent woman whom they believe knows where it is. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Dean Anderson, Justine Bateman, (more)
- 1992
In this made-for-cable-TV crime drama, New York detective Devlin must prove that he is innocent of killing his brother-in-law, a mayoral candidate. It is not easy for the unhappily married, alcoholic gumshoe because he suspects that the man trying to frame him is his arch nemesis, his corrupt father-in-law, a powerful local politician. Now while trying to save his neck and solve the murder, Devlin finds himself pursued by both his fellow cops and the mob. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
When prison psychiatrist Bill Chrushank (Jeff Fahey) loses an arm in a car accident, he receives a revolutionary new transplant from an unknown donor, who is later discovered to have been a recently-executed psycho-killer. During his recovery, Bill is tormented by violent nightmares and aggressive new impulses -- and his limb seems to have developed a malevolent will of its own, acting independently and lashing out beyond his control. He eventually discovers that an artist named Remo Lacey (Brad Dourif) -- whose work is influenced by the same nightmares -- is the recipient of the killer's other arm. Before long, the same donor's legs turn up on yet another man, who harbors the same violent mood swings... and the inevitable "reunion" culminates in a violent, gory finale. Written and directed by Eric Red (based on the novel Choice Cuts by Pierre Boileau & Thomas Narcejac), this is a stylish and tightly-paced film (the harrowing car chase is a definite nail-biter), but the ball is sadly dropped by a weak script that discards the twisted potential of its premise (is the donor arm influencing Chrushank's mind, or vice versa?), lapsing instead into standard slasher-think. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeff Fahey, Lindsay Duncan, (more)
- 1987
- R
The sublimely derivative Blindside stirs up a modicum of tension. The principal character is a onetime surveillance expert, who after purchasing a motel can't resist the temptation of spying on his guests. No, there's no shower stabbing here, but there isa brutal murder. Before long, our peeping-tom protagonist is up to his chin in drug-traffic intrigue. As the voyeuristic hero, Harvey Keitel is the most recognizable performer in Blindside; with the exception of the always welcome Lolita Davidovich, the rest of the cast is unremarkable. Filmed in 1986, Blindside was released in the US in 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harvey Keitel, Lori Hallier, (more)
- 1986
- R
In this violent actioner, the gentle Morris family moves into a peaceful mountain community to find a quieter, safer way of life. Unfortunately, they soon discover that the town in totally controlled by a clan of fiendish thugs, the Cullens, who welcome the new family by savaging the mother, tormenting the father and beating up the girl friend of their teenage son, Matt, who survives the ordeal and soon gets his violent revenge. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephen Hunter, Jonathan Crombie, (more)
