Ted Pedas Movies
Executive producer Ted Pedas, along with his associates Jim Pedas, Bill Durkin, and George P. Pelecanos founded Circle Films, one of the main backers of American independent cinema. He and the company are responsible for producing Joel and Ethan Coen's Blood Simple (1984), Raising Arizona (1987), and Miller's Crossing (1990), as well as Robert M. Young's Caught (1996). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1998
- R
Susan Skoog wrote and directed this coming-of-age tale set in a New Jersey suburb during the early '80s and seen from the viewpoint of sensitive, rebellious teen Anna Stockard (Liza Weil), who is passionate about art. Anna lives with her obnoxious kid brother and her lonely divorced mom Carol (Kathryn Rossetter), a bitter woman who dates a wealthy but elderly man in hopes escaping future poverty. With little acceptance at home, Anna is eager for life and she hangs out with her party-loving pal Brenda (Chad Morgan), revealed to be a victim of sexual abuse. Anna loses her virginity to another artist wannabe, someone who has interested her since childhood. Anna's constant partying results in a low grade point average at school, and despite the encouragement of her art teacher, failed artist Mr. Chaminsky (Frederic Forrest), Anna is insecure about her talent. Her attitude and lifestyle are beginning to seem like drawbacks to her dream of going to New York to study at Cooper Union. Soundtrack includes numerous pop tunes of the period, including David Bowie, The Ramones, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, and Blondie. Shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liza Weil, Chad Morgan, (more)
- 1996
- R
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Love, lust, loyalty, and betrayal are the themes of this tense adult drama. Joe (Edward James Olmos) and Betty (Maria Conchita Alonso) are a married couple living in Jersey City; Joe runs a fish market, and Betty wishes that Joe showed as much interest in her as he does in his business, since she feels the spark has died in their relationship. They have a grown son, Danny (Steven Schub), who has moved to Los Angeles in hopes of making it big as a standup comic. One day, a guy named Nick (Arie Verveen), who is trying to avoid the police, happens into Joe's store. Joe senses that he's not a hardened criminal, just a kid with a long history of bad luck, so he takes pity on him and gives him a square meal. He genuinely likes Nick and offers him a job in his store; the pay isn't much, but, since Danny's room is empty, he can throw in free room and board. Nick gratefully accepts, and Joe soon discovers that he's found someone special, as Nick shows a natural talent for the fish business. Betty also thinks that Nick is someone special; while Betty loves Joe, and Nick is grateful to him, an attraction between the two leads to a passionate affair. As Nick and Betty both find themselves betraying Joe despite their affection for him, Danny returns from California, hoping to take his room back, and immediately sensing that something is wrong. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Edward James Olmos, Maria Conchita Alonso, (more)
The title character, played by John Turturro, is a Broadway playwright, based on Clifford Odets, lured to Hollywood with the promise of untold riches by a boorish studio chieftain (played by Michael Lerner as a combination of Louis B. Mayer and Harry Cohn). Despising the film capital and everything it stands for, Barton Fink comes down with an acute case of writer's block. He is looked after by a secretary (Judy Davis) who has been acting as a ghost writer for an alcoholic screenwriter (John Mahoney, playing a character based on William Faulkner). Also keeping tabs on Fink is a garrulous traveling salesman (John Goodman), the most likeable, stable character in the picture. And then comes the plot twist to end all plot twists, plunging Barton Fink into a surreal nightmare that would make Hieronymus Bosch look like a house painter. Once more, Ethan and Joel Coen serve up a smorgasbord of quirkiness and kinkiness, where nothing is what it seems and nothing turns out as planned. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Turturro, John Goodman, (more)
