Peer J. Oppenheimer Movies
- 2005
Three siblings must face the emotional damage they suffered at the hands of their parents in this dark independent drama. Elderly farmer Raleigh is swilling whiskey while plowing the fields of his Ohio farm when he suffers a massive heart attack that claims his life. Raleigh's three children return home to tend to the funeral arrangements, though each has attempted to escape their father in their own way. Rachel (Alison Eastwood) long ago left the Midwest to open a restaurant, and has attempted to keep her mental demons at bay by shutting down her emotional side. Her sister, Izzy (Bonnie Root), drowns her inner rage with drugs, alcohol, and casual sex with men she barely knows. And while Yale (James Wlcek) rejected his dad, he has become a man very much like him, a taciturn farmer who has cut himself off from his family. Together, Rachel, Izzy, and Yale confront one another for the first time in years, and confront the painful physical and emotional abuse that has been part of their lives since they were kids. Don't Tell was produced in part by leading actress Alison Eastwood, the daughter of iconic filmmaker and actor Clint Eastwood. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alison Eastwood, James Wlcek, (more)
The coming-of-age drama Blue Car is the directorial debut feature from actress Karen Moncrieff. Played by newcomer Agnes Bruckner, quiet high school student Meg lives in an apartment complex where she takes care of her troubled little sister, Lily (Regan Arnold), while her emotionally unavailable mom (Margaret Colin) is busy at work or school. Since her dad left, the family has been under financial strain and Lily suffers from starvation, delusions, and self mutilation. Meg maintains a calm demeanor and endures her responsibilities but unleashes her frustrations and pain through her poems, which she shares with her supportive English teacher, Mr. Auster (David Strathairn). With his encouragement, she wins a regional poetry competition and makes it to the finals in Florida. However, she is faced with repeating hardships as her sister's condition intensifies, she gets fired for stealing, and her mom kicks her out of the house. Temporarily staying with her friend Georgia (Sarah Beuhler), she meets the delinquent Pat (A.J. Buckley) and gets involved in some petty crime. Agnes eventually goes to Florida by herself, where she meets Mr. Auster's intelligent yet discontented wife, Delia (Frances Fisher), and she finds her relationship with him becoming more complicated. Blue Car premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Agnes Bruckner, David Strathairn, (more)
- 1994
- R
This suspenseful thriller follows the exploits of a young wife as she tries to escape from an abusive mate and ends up on the gritty city streets. Jenefer manages to get away from her husband but must give her baby up for adoption before she can do so. Alone on the scary streets she encounters Ola, a street-wise hooker who takes her under her wing. Ola also tries to protect Jenefer from the murderous Hassan, her pimp and king of the neighborhood. Ola sees Hassan brutally kill another whore, but refuses to testify against him. She resists McClaren, a harsh police officer, and his attempts to interrogate her. She is then deported. The suddenly bereft Jenefer gives into Hassan and becomes a prostitute. This helps her become stronger and streetwise so that she is finally able to confront and dispatch her husband in the blood-filled conclusion. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rae Dawn Chong, Kari Wuhrer, (more)
- 1992
- R
Danny Huston's Becoming Colette purports to be an account of the early formative years of French author Gabrielle Colette (Mathilda May) and her evolution from naive country bumpkin to a Parisian socialite in a George Sand suit. The film turns up the heat with Colette as a teen with a crush on her father. This desire is then transferred to the suave and cosmopolitan Villars (Klaus Maria Brandauer) -- a fatherly twenty-five years her senior. The two start their hanky-panky on her father's country estate, resulting in a whirlwind courtship and marriage. Their honeymoon night is a succession of passionate unbuttonings. Colette writes in detail about it the next day in her diary. Villars then takes Colette to the Moulin Rouge to meet his mistress, the bisexual Polaire (Virginia Madsen). Polaire and Colette hit it off and soon are taking it off in a lesbian embrace. Meanwhile, Villars has taken to publishing Colette's diaries and is making money hand over fist. But finally Colette catches on after realizing that while she is toiling away at home cranking out Claudine books, Villars is busy taking her earnings and spending the cash on a succession of frilly mistresses. Making her stand in pants, she decides to abandon Villars and go out on her own. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Klaus Maria Brandauer, Mathilda May, (more)
- 1990
- R
A young couple go to a picturesque island for a romantic holiday, but when they witness the activities of a terrorist group, they become the next targets. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1985
- R
Based on a play by Kevin Wade, this comedy stars Brooke Adams as a television producer who demands commitment from her free-spirited lover (Ben Masters). ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Masters, Brooke Adams, (more)
- 1982
The year is 1931. Someone is trying to permanently derail the Orient Express. This drama, based on a true story, explains who and why. The mad bomber is Sylvester Matushka, a Hungarian businessman. He has destroyed the train and many have died. Now Dr. Epstein is called in to investigate and find Matushka before he strikes again. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Sarrazin, Towje Kleiner, (more)
- 1976
- R
A Kentucky-born maiden realizes her dream of becoming a country music star, but finds that along the way, her single-minded determination has caused her to lose things far more precious than fame or money when she gets involved with corrupt music executives who are really only interested in exploiting her. The film was later retitled Country Music Daughter. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
In this film, the mischievous girls at a British boarding school concoct a competition to see who can seduce visiting dignitaries. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1965
Set during the Vietnam war before U.S. involvement, this political drama tells the gripping story of an American operative who is sent to Saigon to protect the U.S. ambassador from an unknown assassin's bullet. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
